War Path. Chapter 2. Incursion.

Arerto stood with her commanders going over final issues with the intended invasion. Arerto knew from experience that no matter how good a plan was it rarely survived the first contact with the enemy. She took comfort that her chosen commanders could think on their feet and adapt when needed. After the briefing, the commanders took their leave to prepare their troops for the upcoming ****. Arerto looked back at the map one last time unbelieving that just a week ago it was all theory and just on paper now in a few short hours it would be reality. The final report had come in from the tunnellers, under the guise of strengthening the gate and towers they had infiltrated the city and scooped out 100 feet of soil from under the foundations. They had created a hole beneath the towers and gates and shored them up with timber. Ropes had been run from the base of the supports carefully hidden beneath the short earth where they emerged into the open. They would be tied to heavy horses and they would pull out the supports causing the towers and gates to drop into the hole.

Arerto decided to head to field HQ and inspect the cavalry she was soon to lead into battle. She arrived upon her favourite mount Samson and called her troop to attention. She knew there was a buzz around her encampment and she told them of the plan and how soon they would be taking the fight to the enemy. Across the other divisions, the commanders were doing the same explaining the plan and objectives. As they were doing this captain Argento was leading her company of troops into position on the left flank of the planned ****. They watched the bridge waiting for the sun to drop below the horizon waiting for the encompassing darkness. Her 120 warrior's had been split into two groups and the second group had the hardest part. They had to get to the other side of the river to attack that end of the bridge. She had two hours to accomplish her mission because Arerto would be arriving with her 3000 cavalry to cross over the river. The rest of Elandras troops would be close on the heels of Arerto then they could fan out either side of the river and slowly fight towards Guhan.

Pep talks given and the sundown below the horizon the orders for the advanced were given and the **** began. Back at the bridge, the second group had forded the river. A firey arrow lit the sky as Argento's troops came out of hiding and attacked both ends of the bridge at the same time. The enemy put up a stiff resistance but after 90 minutes the bridge was secured but at a heavy cost to Argento, she had lost two-thirds of her troops. She hoped that she could hold the bridge with her remaining 40 troops. It was a matter of waiting either for a counterattack or for Arerto to arrive with her horse troops. Argento took pride in the fact that her troops had been the first to cross into enemy territory. Argento's troops were cheery despite the losses and the healers were doing their best with the injured warriors some even returning to take up positions on the barricades. One thing in their favour was the enemy could only come from one direction so they had a chance. The second advantage was the enemy would have to funnel down the bridge's centre causing bottlenecks and congestion. Now they waited.