Footmen charge and distract. Horses flank, breaking their formations. Once their forward formations are broken, charge the rear guard and tackle their magic users. If our scouts are correct, we'll get the better of Amaratsu quickly and wrap this up in a couple of hours. Prince Philip is strong, but our heavy cavalry will utterly destroy him.

The horse hoof sound broke Fayyim out of her thoughts. The beast whinnied and shook its mane. Ahead of her was hot and harsh desert, cracked yellow ground and shimmering hot air. Beyond it were the silhouettes of approaching people. The sun was at its highest point, Fayyim felt at her lowest.

'This heat is killing me.' Sweaty garments clung to her skin under heavy chain mail, her white hair was also on her chin like a strap. Fayyim pulled it off and fixed it in a ponytail using red lace.

'We'd walk through fire for our Supreme Leader and our country, isn't that right Commander Tallhart?' Hawthorn rode a black war horse, his steel armour and helmet were polished clean. His white and red striped cloak was dead on his back, there was not even a breeze to cool them. 'You shouldn't complain.' He had been a member of Fayyim's army since the start, and became both a fast friend and a ranked officer almost immediately.

'You really do seem to enjoy seeing me suffer.' Fayyim replied. 'How are the troops, Captain?' She looked ahead with intense focus.

Hawthorn laughed through the metal of his helmet, lending a tin sound to his voice. 'As well as can be expected.' He looked back at the rank and file numbers of men and women, Soldiers on foot and Knights on horseback. They all wore the same colours as Hawthorn, white and red. The same colours that Fayyim wore. They were the colours of the company she commanded, The Red Front.

An entire one hundred and fifty players of her army were present, along with them were other Hurdland armies, all leading the push into their enemy's territory. This battle would be the turning point in a world war that has been at a stalemate for far too long. Thousands from both sides would clash in this desert where their territories were divided., Hurdland from the west versus Amaratsu from the east. Today was the day to impress her peers, to build a reputation. 'I expect the best, Captain.'

Hawthorn lifted his visor and breathed deep. On his exhale, sweat sprayed off his lips. 'We are the best, Commander. The best and the hottest.'

Fayyim caught herself taking a glimpse of her Captain's face. He was a youthful looking man, handsome but boyish. It was a good quality to have in a second in command, as she spent most of her time looking at his face more than any other in her force. 'Call for Shanks and Lupin, it's close to time.'

'Aye.' Hawthorn turned his horse and trotted off. His voice was loud in shouts, but then seemingly died to the heat.

Moments later a white horse came to her side. Sitting atop the animal was a shaggy haired man wearing leather armour and a steel breast plate. It was the ever loyal Shanks. A longsword was secured to his belt and a quiver and bow over his shoulder. He spoke no words until spoken to.

'Where's Lupin?' Fayyim clenched a fist around the leather reins of her horse.

'Hawthorn is bringing him.'

'Good.' Fayyim coughed, her throat dry.

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'Commander.' The man called for Fayyim's attention. When she looked, he tossed a water skin to her.

She happily caught it and popped the lid. 'Thank you, Shanks.' She gulped heavily and then threw the container back to its owner. 'Hawthorn has mine.'

'No problem Commander.' He bowed shallowly.

Fayyim turned to face the oncoming force, blurred in the distance. 'Bronze John will be attacking the enemy's left flank, but his cavalry haven't arrived in suitable numbers.'

'OK.'

'He wants to do his part all the same, his stubbornness wouldn't allow for any help.'

'He's a capable Commander.' Shanks offered his opinion.

'He breaks before he bends. That quality has its uses, but not here. He'll lose us the left flank, but I can't do anything to support him without suffering his ego afterwards. What are your thoughts?' Shanks took a breath and then went silent, Fayyim noticed his hesitation. 'Well?'

'I have nothing, Commander.'

You disappoint me, Shanks. 'I want you to take all of the light Cavalry and break the left most column of the enemy vanguard.'

'Commander, my horses are needed to lead the charge for our Soldiers-'

'Silence.' She commanded. Shanks bowed to her and was silent. 'John is expecting us to take the other flank and attack the front. If you attack where I say, it is still technically the front, despite its proximity to John. The scouts that the Long Strides sent to us have said that Prince Philip's strongest Spearmen are within the left flank. John's horses will be taken down and we will lose. I need you to weaken the left column and then join up with Bronze John. He can't complain about that since it will all happen in the flow of battle. Don't worry, we have enough men to break their vanguard without you leading the charge. Your horses were just a bonus.'

'Yes Commander.'

Fayyim waved Shanks away, just as Lupin arrived. 'Go, prepare your cavalrymen.'

'Aye Commander!' Shanks turned and galloped to somewhere behind Fayyim.

'Lupin.' Fayyim called.

A bald man stepped to her horse's side, a buckler and spear in his hands. 'Commander.' He bowed.

'There's been a change of plan. Shanks' horses will not be leading the charge. You're on your own, can you handle that?'

'I can do that.' He was confident. 'I'll take some archers to support our approach and then lead the charge with spears, then swords.'

'Very good. Go get ready.' Fayyim waved him off. 'Captain.'

Hawthorn came to her side, never too distant. 'Yes?'

'See to it that the reformation goes smoothly.'

'Aye.'

'I'll take position in the rear of Lupin's force. Once you're done, get your heavy cavalry ready to manoeuvre against the enemy's right flank. I expect to win this, Hawthorn, my Red Front always wins.'

'Indeed. My Knights are anxious to begin.' Hawthorn bowed and trotted away.

Good... Fayyim thought. She could make out details of the Amaratsu army ahead of her now, they were many. Because now it does begin.