I stood upon the elevated platform once used by performers the night before, surveying the crowd assembled at the heart of the village. Almost all of them bore the clan's military trait, yet few donned armor or any other distinctive attire. Legionaries and elite warriors alike had gathered, and even though delivering a speech carried risks, maintaining morale in the coming week and throughout the battle was crucial.

"We have united as one to navigate the treacherous currents of life, and now we find ourselves at a critical crossroad. Two potential outcomes lie before us—one vastly superior to the other, yet requiring our resilience and sacrifice to secure the brighter future. Failure is not an option, for it would spell doom for our friends and family. You have all made the choice to sacrifice in defense of those you hold dear."

"Regrettably, I cannot assure safety for anyone, including myself. But trust in my words when I say that I am willing to lay down my life to preserve what we have here. However, dying also signifies my failure, as I can no longer protect if I cease to exist. It's crucial for you to grasp the weight of this truth. While I know you are all prepared to lay down your lives for what we've built, I urge you to fight with every fiber of your being. Each moment you continue to battle brings us one step closer to accomplishing our objective."

"I have unwavering faith in our shared vision—a life of peace, free from the interference of those who seek to claim what's rightfully ours. Let it be known to all who dare trespass upon our lands with ill intent that we shall spit upon their graves, then forget they ever existed. Together, we will forge a future for ourselves, and it begins right here, right now."

"Sharpen your blades and ready your shields, for we have an enemy to vanquish—one who seeks to enslave us. Let us show them why they should fear us!" I roared the final words, which were met with an even louder, unified battle cry from the gathered crowd. I let the war cries reverberate for a few moments before raising my hand, signaling for silence that descended almost immediately.

"You all know what you must do. Move out." I issued the command, and I could see how the villagers struggled not to bring their fists to their hearts, as saluting was currently forbidden. Everyone dispersed, moving with purpose and determination, fully aware of their tasks. I too departed, entering the village hall, where I promptly found the two mages. Their faces were ashen, but they sported wide grins. They gave me a quick nod before shuffling off to rest.

Clad in full armor and adorned with an array of jewelry, I embodied the noble who was meant to be in command. Earlier that morning, the mages had informed me that they had detected a spying spell cast upon our village. The mages of the Slave King had finally come close enough to employ one of the most common reconnaissance spells used in warfare.

We could have had our mages dispel the intrusion, but we chose to seize the perfect opportunity to feed them misinformation. The fact that we had held a celebration the previous night played into our hands, and as for the speech I had just delivered, our adversaries would have heard a completely different version.

In the fabricated version of my speech, I boasted about my greatness and claimed I would single-handedly slay the Slave King while our forces swiftly dealt with his army. The amusing aspect of this charade was that if my plan unfolded as intended, that might indeed be the outcome.

I longed to join the soldiers in their endeavors, but my role required me to remain and act the part of a pampered noble. Time flew by, and I began to discern when the spying spell was active. Luckily, my evenings were still my own, allowing me to carry on with my little project, which I completed before we commenced marching with half our legion. The other half had already departed two days prior and should have been establishing a more permanent camp just beyond the future battlefield.

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As I stepped out of the City Hall, ten fully armored knights awaited to escort me, befitting a noble of my stature during wartime. The remaining villagers had been asked to line up and witness my departure. I had hoped to avoid such a spectacle, but with the reconnaissance spell in effect, we couldn't afford to reveal our ability to counter it at will.

Upon leaving the village, I was greeted by the legionnaires standing in formation, awaiting my arrival. One hundred and sixty of them were assembled in groups of forty, their demeanor professional and disciplined. I appreciated their scowls directed at me—it was only fitting for the character I portrayed. Despite feeling exhausted from the constant acting, I couldn't deny the enjoyment and significant progress in my acting skill that resulted from playing this role.

I had to use a stepladder to mount the horse prepared for me, and as I waited for my knights to do the same, the legionaries busied themselves by readying the carts and assuming their traveling formations.

The only peculiar sight was the massive cart Francis pulled. It appeared to be laden with tents and firewood but in truth concealed my secret project and two dismantled ballistae. One of the ballistae originated from my farm, while the other was crafted by George and a few others, with some input from me.

At my command, the legionaries began their march towards the forward camp. We anticipated reaching it in two days, towards the evening. This would afford us ample time to establish our position, allow our troops to rest from the march, and ensure everyone was prepared for the impending battle.

I expected the battle to commence the following morning, assuming our adversaries were not foolish enough to engage in nighttime combat. If they pushed themselves even harder to arrive by evening, I wouldn't object.

The rapid pace of the Slave King's army was a nuisance. They had made good time, which meant the goblins were still amassing. Although not all would arrive before the battle, a substantial portion of the requested skirmishers would be present. A small elite group would be stationed at the goblin gathering point to assist them in crossing the river using the devices we had crafted.

POV Slave King

"The noble in charge has just given the order for them to move out. Regrettably, according to our calculations, they will reach the other half of their forces before we can intercept them. If we push ourselves a bit faster, we might reach the campsite at roughly the same time, around evening," one of my mages reported.

Seated on my horse, I couldn't help but feel disappointed that we wouldn't be able to engage only half of the United Freeholds army. Surveying the marching soldiers, I noted the fatigue etched into their postures. "We will slow down a bit and engage them in the morning," I announced, hearing a few sighs of relief but choosing to ignore them.

I struggled to grasp the root of their concerns. True, the United Freeholds army appeared somewhat more trained than we had anticipated, but they were merely villagers. I expected them to flee once our armies clashed, allowing us to swiftly overpower them.

The only individual who concerned me was the ranger leading the other half of the United Freeholds army. He seemed experienced and competent, having established a well-ordered and consistently guarded camp.

However, we held the advantage in numbers and superior combatants. I couldn't fathom why they chose to face us in open battle, but I wouldn't complain. The recent celebrations among their ranks likely indicated that we had little to worry about—only fools would celebrate mere days before a crucial battle.

The terrain surrounding the campsite also appeared favorable for combat. It was open enough for us to capitalize on our greater numbers and utilize the adjacent forest to flank the United Freeholds army with our elite fighters. If I had ranged units at my disposal, the hill near the river would have been an ideal vantage point, but merely thinking about the lost fighters filled me with rage.

I planned to torture that ranger for weeks until his mind shattered completely. Contemplating this outcome helped me regain my composure and clear my thoughts. This battle would serve as a fitting end to my campaign, leaving only the question of how many people would we enslaved and how many we will kill.