The Harvand forces harried their foes all throughout the night, blindly shooting crossbow bolts into the camp at a high angle until the Marradi had enough and assigned roughly half of their men to guard duty, pushing out their defensive perimeter far enough that the skirmishers were out of range. They didn’t let up, of course, taking potshots at the defenders and making a ruckus to try and prevent their foes from sleeping. Several times the Marradi tried to chase them off, but each time they simply vanished deeper into the woods. Twice the pursuing Marradi soldiers just barely escaped an ambush after moving just a little too far from their positions.

By the time the sun peeked over the distant horizon, Lindvar division’s leadership had realized that continuing the siege was impossible and their camp badly positioned to defend against attacks from any direction other than the road, so they packed up and left, marching south past Giant’s Head while lobbing a few last fireballs into the shooting floor just in case anything was still operational up there. The soldiers and adventurers of 5th division saw them off with taunts and laughter, then packed up what little gear they had and began moving as well. The command staff, thorough as always, had decided on courses of action and meeting points for near enough every scenario imaginable, and by mid-morning the two halves of the advance force were greeting each other with hollering and whistling as they met up on the field close to where the enemy camp had been.

Spirits were high on the back of their success, and while squads roamed the hastily broken camp, looking for anything left behind in the retreat and counting the dead, Colonel Harrick showed off their prized prisoners to their impressed comrades.

“Absolutely incredible, Bordan!” Asher said, the general seeming more alive than ever with his boyish grin, wearing the light armor as naturally as he had his uniform. “Your men truly are worth their weight in gold!”

“We got lucky,” Bordan said, but his favorite deflection tactic proved ineffective against Asher.

“Then maybe your luck is exactly what we need,” the general said with a laugh. “Whatever it is, just keep doing it and we shall be home before harvest!”

“Without their healers their morale must be in tatters,” Colonel Meller said. “I can’t imagine them doing anything other than tucking their tail and running for Artelby.”

“And that means the immediate threat is neutralized,” Asher added, nodding. “Let us finish up here and march to Giant’s Head. Either way, the situation there will dictate our next course of action.”

--- ----- ---

As they approached the northern face of the mountain that Giant’s Head fortress was carved into, Edwin couldn’t help but whistle in awe.

“They really did a number on it,” he told Bordan, the former soldier straining his eyes to make out what his teammate was pointing out. Around the large slits of the shooting floor, black patches marked the spots where fireballs had missed their target by a meter or two, bathing the magestone in magical flame. Not far below the openings, the progress of the Marradi could be easily identified by the wooden siege ladders that snaked their way up the sheer stone. They hadn’t had too far left to go when 5th division interrupted them. The highest ladders and ropes were attached to sharp protrusions that had been cleanly cut out of rock and magestone alike.

The defenders hadn’t taken it lying down, however. Dead bodies and broken siege equipment had been pulled to the side where rocks had been dropped from up high, and much of the hardy flora that grew in the cracks of rock and at the foot of the mountain had burned away under a deluge of burning oil and pitch.

As they came closer, a horn called down from the fortress in greeting and a blue-and-white banner was waved from the shooting floor. By the time they reached the entrance, a walled area at the foot of the mountain that protected the tunnel leading inside, a small party had made its way outside to welcome them. The soldiers were looking bedraggled and tired, and Edwin couldn’t spot a single one without some kind of injury, but their smiles were bright.

“General Asher, Captain Udris reporting!” the leader greeted them, saluting. “I can’t put into words how welcome your arrival is.”

“It was our pleasure, captain,” Asher replied with a fatherly smile. “We are simply glad that we could be in time. You and your men have done awe-inspiring work, though, holding out as you did. Where is Colonel Ezzer? I must congratulate him for a job well done.”

The captain grimaced. “He was pulling a crewman from the burning wreckage of a ballista when a second fireball hit. I have since assumed command.”

Asher nodded gravely. “Then it is you I must congratulate, but that can wait. While most of our healers and mages are still with our train, let me send for the few that accompanied us to aid your wounded.”

While one of the defenders led the mages inside, the officers turned their attention to other matters.

“We don’t have anywhere near enough cells for your prisoners, but we have plenty of empty storage rooms below. They won’t be comfortable, but they’ll be safe until they can be escorted north. We also have plenty of supplies in case you need anything. Food, water, ammunition, spare parts. We’re out of lamp oil, but our other stocks are fine.”

The officers exchanged looks, eyes narrowing.

“Two hours to rest and restock?” Meller asked.

“If that,” Harrick said, looking out over the soldiers that had taken the opportunity to sit down and relax. “When does our train arrive?”

“Tomorrow, most likely,” Meller answered immediately. “But if we can replenish everything here, we don’t need them.”

“With our wounded and the men we need to keep here to guard the prisoners, are we even strong enough? We did damage, but they still outnumber us quite a bit.”

“Not in a fair fight,” Major Gerrack interjected, “but we still have an ace up our sleeve.”

“Right, the new spell,” Harrick said, frowning. “It’s been so long I actually forgot about it. Yes, that could work.”

“If we leave soon, we can be on their tail before sundown,” Asher said, looking from one of his commanders to the other. “But while they will be tired and demoralized, we have also gone to great lengths to get here. Are your men up for it?”

“Let’s ask them,” Meller suggested quietly, pointing up at the still-intact wall next to the pile of rubble that had once been a gatehouse. The general nodded, and the group went for the nearest set of stairs.

From above the wall, Edwin could see across the sea of blue and brown that filled the field at the foot of the mountain. Some were napping, making use of that mystical skill to sleep wherever they wanted that many soldiers learned to master, while others were chatting, sharing stories with friends from other units or making use of the break to chew jerky and drink from their waterskins. They were tired, but wherever Edwin looked, he saw smiles. They had sent their enemy running in fear and it felt good. Harrick whistled sharply, and after a bit of confusion the soldiers quieted down and turned their attention to the wall.

“Men!” General Asher began, his commanding voice carrying across the field. “Four days ago we sat at a river, watching the fires of hell rage between us and our foe. Since then we have marched with little rest to reach an enemy that outnumbers us two to one, we have engaged them in battle, and we have soundly defeated them!”

The soldiers cheered, the noise uncomfortable as it bounced off the sheer cliff behind them.

“Giant’s Head is safe!” Asher continued once the jubilation had died down a little. “The garrison has held heroically and with no regard for their own lives, knowing that we would not forsake them – and they were right!”

Again, Asher had to wait for the cheers to die down. This time, his voice was lower, more compassionate.

“You all deserve a rest. The fortress is stocked with food and water, and nobody could begrudge us if we spent a day enjoying the sun while our train caught up to us.”

There was a smattering of cheers and shouts of agreement, but most stayed quiet. With a quick jump the general climbed up onto the crenellations, spreading his arms wide.

“Yes. We could be content with the victory we have won and let our enemies run back to Artelby to lick their wounds and fight another day. Or we could replenish our stocks and keep marching. Lindvar division is scared. We have beaten them soundly, we have destroyed their supplies, and we have captured their healers! They are on the brink of complete and utter defeat! I would not ask this of any other force, but you men are the finest I have ever commanded. Do you want to let them scurry away into their hole, or do you want to crush them underfoot like the vile insects they are?!”

The roar that answered him was almost a physical thing, shooting a jolt of pain through Edwin’s sensitive ears and making him worry about General Asher being blown backwards off the wall.

“I’d say we have our answer,” Colonel Meller said with a grim smile.