The following day, despite all the cities leaving sufficiently large garrisons to counter any acts of sabotage or diversion from the elusive Last Tribe cultists hiding among the refugees, the final unit of heavy cavalry, infantry, and Kardum's command arrived shortly after noon. Their arrival marked the completion of the mobilization. With an army nearly two thousand strong, they set out northward with supply wagons in tow, quickly leaving Kaarv and the bridge over the river behind. They maintained a steady pace, one the light cavalry units accompanying Moira positioned on the left flank of the lengthy column. Their task was to scout the terrain and keep watch for potential ambushes, with her feathered companions contributing to the surveillance from above. As agreed with the captain Darva on the briefing they had before marching out.
The first day passed without incident, and they covered half the distance to the last outpost of the district, where Moira’s team had recently defended themselves against an assault. The soldiers were determined and in relatively good spirits. However, this was far from the disciplined, seasoned armies Moira had seen parading in the Empire. The road wardens mixed with the cavalry and the city guards among the infantry provided some semblance of structure, but it was clear that the majority of the force consisted of volunteers with minimal or no experience in organized combat. They marched step by step in a relatively loose formation, barely keeping within their units, constantly reminded by their decurions to maintain order.
Setting up camp for such a large force proved challenging, but fortunately, there was someone educated on the Imperial Academy in the command. This ensured that the layout of the wagons, tents, and temporary latrines was at least functional and organized. Although it took some extra effort and time to get people to do it right in the end. After a full day’s march, most of the soldiers didn’t linger long around the campfires. Apart from a few minor instances of overindulgence in wine or harmless disputes between neighbors, the night passed peacefully.
Moira, accompanied by Ashan, who stayed close to her at all times unless absolutely necessary, briefly shared the observations gathered by her ravens with the commanders. She, too, took the chance to rest while peace still allowed for it. Sharing a tent with Tex, she listened to her companion's chatter as the latter tried to soothe her own nerves. Before long, Tex burrowed under the blankets and furs, quickly falling asleep. Moira, her thoughts preoccupied but her body weary, soon followed.
On the second day, the army passed the last outpost, where they were greeted by the rousing cheers of its garrison, and officially entered the district of Hooren. Moira sent her airborne scouts farther ahead than usual, but even with their extended patrols, they detected no significant resistance in the area. Still, they were now in enemy territory, and the tension was palpable in the camp that evening. Guards were tripled, scouts scoured the surrounding terrain, and everyone seemed more alert, bracing for the unknown.
As the camp settled for the night, Tex unabashedly climbed under the same blankets with Moira, citing the excuse of a colder evening. Moira, who judged the night to be no chillier than the last, said nothing. Instead, she pulled her dear companion closer, holding her firmly. Moira was glad that she had found a friend who saw her practicing her craft and still harbored good will and sympathy toward her. The two talked a bit before falling asleep. Their bond was a support amid the looming uncertainties of the campaign.
"You know, I think there's something between Ashan and me," Moira began, feeling Tex smile even though her face was nestled into Moira's shoulder. "I mean," she added, slightly embarrassed, "I'm certain there is."
"I know. We all know. Even the kid isn't blind enough not to notice," Tex replied with a hint of amusement. She turned her face toward Moira, looking into her eyes with warmth. "He's a good man. A bit old-fashioned for my taste, but seeing how he looks at you, I wouldn’t worry about that too much. I hope that after all this, you two can take a better look at that... something you mentioned," she teased gently with a soft chuckle.
"Oh, come on," Moira groaned, burying her face in the blanket. "I thought I was being discreet," she lamented, only for Tex's amusement to deepen.
Resigned, Moira sighed and said, "Let's just go to sleep."
Tex only murmured her agreement, wrapping her arms around her friend. Before long, both drifted off to sleep, comforted by each other's warmth and presence.
In the following days of their journey, Moira continued to assist in gathering a clearer picture of the situation. The Last Tribe showed no resistance in the area; small groups either moved far from the column or retreated toward Hooren. None of them attempted to use lightning raid tactics to harass the column.
She also took the opportunity to spend time with Ashan. Riding side by side, they spoke in hushed tones, sharing stories of where they had grown up and their childhoods. Though their experiences were vastly different for many reasons, centuries being at the top of the list, they found surprising similarities and drew a quiet comfort from their conversations about it.
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Mostly, though, they talked about the future. They amused themselves with increasingly bold visions of what they might do once Kardum granted her land. Whether they imagined large estates, modest homes, shady businesses or ventures to faraway places, the common thread in all their plans was that they featured each other. Both found joy in weaving these dreams together, a shared glimpse of hope in the shadow of the approaching battle.
On the fifth day of the march, early in the afternoon, their destination, the city of Hooren, finally appeared on the horizon. Moira sent her birds ahead to scout the city's interior, expecting them to stay out of bow range. By the time the army had begun to set up camp on the outskirts, her ravens were back, and she had already shared her findings with the command.
The defenders were undoubtedly aware of the army now encamped next to their city but had not yet sent envoys to negotiate. Now, the Last Tribe found itself in the same dire position the overthrown city council had faced weeks ago. The town’s meager defenses reflected its history: originally a small settlement with a modest palisade, it had grown into a city during peaceful times that discouraged investment in fortifications. The result was a shabby earthen embankment and unimpressive stone walls that stood only at the north and south gates, built more to collect tolls from wagons that had to pass through the gate that way than to stop an army.
Behind these scant defenses, however, rows of armed infantry and archers stood ready. Bowmen had also taken positions on rooftops and hastily constructed wooden platforms, making it clear they did not intend to surrender without a fight. She couldn't be sure, but just by comparison, it looked like the Last Tribe had, at best, gathered about half the numbers they had in the coalition. If it were not for the discovery of the sect's plans and dates obtained during interrogations, the union would probably not have accelerated its own recruitment, and the situation would be much worse than it is.
Moira worked with the officers to show the positions of the defenders and their roughly estimated numbers on the map of the city, as accurately as possible. Satisfied with her input, they thanked her profusely, and she left the commanders alone as they began to discuss their strategy for the impending attack. Ashan was waiting for her outside the tent. He helped her mount the familiar mare she had spent the last few weeks riding. Once safely seated, she joined the rest of the unit, positioning herself in a spot that offered a clear view of the surrounding area.
Meanwhile, the coalition forces sent a messenger under a banner of negotiations, but he returned empty-handed. A representative of the Last Tribe, styling himself as a student of the Elder, issued a defiant statement. He demanded the coalition forces leave what he claimed were their ancestral lands, accusing them of arrogantly imposing their southern values on the lives of all grey nomads. He declared that all the inhabitants of these territories stood with the Last Tribe and predicted that more villages, towns, and free tribes would join their cause in time.
He urged the coalition not to spill the blood of the gray nomads in the name of the ambitions of the city councils. His message was met with outrage by the army leadership, though they had expected nothing less, predicting that the entire situation would not be resolved at the negotiating table.
To the rank and file, the announcement was simple: the cultists refused to surrender their stolen city, leaving the coalition no choice but to prepare for an assault. Preparations for the siege began in earnest, and soldiers steeled themselves for the battle ahead. They, too, had no doubt that this was how it would end.
The coalition's leadership recognized that the cavalry would be ineffective without a substantial breach in the enemy defenses. Thus, the infantry and archers were tasked with spearheading the assault, focusing their efforts on a section of the earthen rampart that was particularly dilapidated. Despite visible last-minute attempts at repair, the defenders lacked the time and resources to fortify the entire city, which was now being exploited by the attacking forces. Orders were given and troops moved to the designated location, changing the alignment of the entire attacking army.
Moira and the light cavalry unit stayed near the command center, situated on a hill that provided a clear view of the battlefield. Their role was to monitor for magical threats, ready to counteract them if necessary. For now, however, the defenders showed no signs of deploying sorcery.
From their vantage point, Moira and her companions watched the early stages of the siege unfold. The advance was slow but deliberate, the infantry cautiously approaching the weakened section of the wall under the protective cover of the archers. The first volleys of arrows whistled through the air, and the distant sound of shouts and clashing steel carried across the field. The tension in the command center was palpable as they waited to see if the initial assault would gain traction or falter in the face of the defenders' resolve.
The necromancer was convinced that for all these officers, this was the first siege they had ever truly taken part in, and it was certainly not a reassuring realization. However, she did not allow herself to succumb to anxiety. Instead, she focused on her own task, scanning, with Ashan's assistance, for any disturbances or signs of magical activity of the enemy.
"Nothing yet," she muttered, her voice calm but with a sharp edge of vigilance. Ashan nodded, his gaze never leaving the unfolding scene, prepared to act at a moment’s notice. The battle had just begun, and Moira had a feeling that the real test was yet to come.