Time moved quickly after we arrived in Bohemia. The city was much larger and more defended than its sister, making planning our defense here a simple task.
The city itself was sprawling wide - massive communities littered the outside of the walls connected to the main city by road, creating small towns on their own right. Each of these towns were protected by a kind of fort, and the edges of what makes up the entirety of the land collectively known as the City of Bohemia was also guarded by a series of forts.
Our army was assigned to guard 5 forts on the rear of the city, while the local army guarded the front. Governor Janus split up our forces into 6 - 1000 soldiers were left on each fort, while 5000 were encamped all around. We were part of the group encamped outside the fort, and my unit in particular was tasked with scouring the surrounding woods every few days to make sure that no enemy was trying to outflank the city defenses.
It has been a couple weeks since we arrived at this city and, so far, there has been no further developments. The trees have begun to wilt, leaves turning a bright orange all across the region. Our periodic march is now accompanied by the crunching sound of dried leaves. Soon, all the trees would be naked of their leaves and snow will begin to fall not long after.
That would mean the end of any potential hostility, as it is a fool’s endeavor to wage a war in winter. Instead, we’ll most likely spend our days watching the endless white waiting for an attack that won’t come but that still didn’t make our work any less important.
Indeed, the passage of time has clearly been of great concern for the Governor as well, as he stopped the daily training that he subjected our troops into and instead ordered them to begin preparing for winter. Supply trains from Alsace arrive periodically, giving us both food and clothing. The United Kingdoms and Galileo also sent provisions our way - this, after all, would be an important endeavor for both countries.
This would continue for some time, with us doing our usual rounds and nothing really exciting. The soldiers have started slacking, but Janus kept them up with surprise drills and other tasks. It has been a month since the treaty was signed, but nothing came of it just yet.
Not until one day.
The train from Alsace arrived as usual but, unlike before, the supplies have been greatly reduced. Instead, a letter came in its stead - a letter that reads:
Lorraine is under attack. Naval has invaded.
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It was brief, to the point. No new orders were given, nothing else was said. But everyone who saw that letter knew - the war had begun. It may not have started where we first thought it would, but it has started nonetheless.
The soldiers began mumbling among themselves as soon as the letter was read. Rightfully so, as many of them have families and friends within Lorraine itself. They were soldiers conscripted to defend their Kingdom.
“We’ll stay here,” Governor Janus said, quite firmly. “We’ve been given orders and those orders have yet to change. Besides, this was all within consideration - it’s why the Duke and Governor Vulcan remained in Lorraine.”
He’s right. The two armies remained in Lorraine in case Naval invades us while we’re tied up in war with Kyther. Sure, Kyther is currently not in the battle but it’s still important for us to stay here.
“Or do you have no faith in our Duke? Or your Governors?”
An almost unanimous disagreement chorused across the crowd. Even if there were dissenters among them, I doubt anyone would be quite so bold as to voice it in front of Janus, the Hero of Wyrm Hunt.
“Understand this, soldiers of Lorraine! Your purpose is to protect our Country, your fatherland! In this country lies your families, your friends, and the history of your life! And to defend this country of ours, Rhapsody must not fall to Kytherean hands!”
As the governor let out a mighty roar after his little speech, so did the crowd of soldiers. And he’s completely right, too - if we are to let Rhapsody fall to the Empire, then they will gain the ability to directly invade Lorraine from this side. We’ll have to fight on two borders and would thus be stretched so thin on our own lands.
Keeping the battle within Rhapsody lands for as much as possible is in our best interest.
In another couple days, we received a new letter - this time from the United Kingdoms.
The letter simply informs us that they’ve finished drafting up their army and would be able to enter the war soon. In the meantime, they’ve set up defensive positions along their border with the Empire and are currently laying siege on the city of Transmare, disconnected from the Kytherean Empire by sea. They aim to capture the city as soon as possible.
As for us, we held onto Bohemia just as we were ordered, even though no attack from Kyther came just yet. Despite Governor Janus’ best efforts, the soldiers remained anxious about their families back home. I can’t say I blame them, as even I found myself wondering about how Verrigo is doing at this moment, seeing how my town lies on the border.
“You’ve a family, don’t you?” I asked Paul.
“Yeah…” he sighed. Paul’s been anxious himself since the news arrived, his usually stoic face looking more and more clouded by the day. “I wonder how long we’ll be staying here…”
Just as he said that, one of Janus’ soldiers came to my tent, handing me a note. “Not for long,” I said as I read it. “Tell our soldiers to start packing, the Governor has ordered us to move out.”