Sword of Kings
Chapter 48– The Uncertainties of War

by Bill W

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Legal Notice:
The following story contains descriptions of graphic sexual acts. 
The story is a work of fiction and has no basis in reality.
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I wish to extend my thank you to Emoe57 for his editorial assistance with this chapter.

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Captain Baith took charge of responding to the various queries from those around him. “I would be happy to apprise you about our deployment and what we went through, but at a more appropriate time. Unfortunately, there are more pressing tasks that need to be performed first. Before we can start to relax, it is essential we go back to where the battle took place, so we can recover and tend to the wounded. The dead can wait until we have more time, but it is imperative we retrieve those who are still alive, before the Dark Lord’s cohorts go out and finish them off.”

Everyone agreed with Baith’s assessment, so work details were formed and dispatched to recover those who couldn’t make it back on their own. As the warriors wandered onto the former battlefield, with lanterns in hand to brighten the way, they chose their footing carefully, stepping over or around the assortment of motionless and writhing forms, as they began the grim task of sorting out the living from the dead. Heavily armed squadrons accompanied these retrieval groups, to defend them, in case some of Madumda’s minions decided to attack while they were performing these duties. However, nothing of that nature occurred. The groups were able to work undisturbed and provide whatever temporary treatment was required, before beginning the job of transporting their comrades back to camp. Some of the rescuers asked what they should do with the enemy wounded, as there were just as many of them lying about in need of assistance, and once more Captain Baith provided the answer.

“It is obvious the Dark Lord does not feel it to his best interests to retrieve and tend to his injured troops,” the dwarf observed, “so the decision about what to do is left to us. We’ve long heard rumors that Madumda’s battlefield philosophy is that the ones worth saving would find their own way back to camp to be treated, while those who couldn’t weren’t worth the time or effort it would take to heal them. That’s why there are so many of his black-clad henchmen left behind to die. If there is time, after we have taken care of our own wounded, we will show compassion and do what we can for the enemy injured. We shall tend to those who might be saved and shall make the others comfortable until they pass into the netherworld.”

Satisfied with this decision, the Tarolian warriors went about performing their chores with untiring devotion. However, their opponent’s callous disregard for life affected each of them, but it seemed to trouble the younger, less experienced soldiers to a far greater extent than the seasoned veterans. Those new to battle found their hearts wrenched listening to a wounded enemy’s pleas for assistance, while knowing the other side didn’t care what happened to them. Not only did the novice fighting men become emotionally affected by the callous neglect and abandonment of the wounded, but some of them also became physically ill from seeing the plight of others such as themselves. It wasn’t easy to admit that the opposition leaders were merely discarding these helpless souls with as little concern as they might have had while tossing aside a broken sword or mangled shield.

The various work details went about performing their duties until the hour grew late and their bodies became too weary to continue on. At that point, they were ordered to go back to camp and get some rest, after being reassured they had done all they could. Some warriors hesitated before departing, as they were unwilling to leave those still suffering behind, even if they were the enemy combatants. However, each of them finally realized he would be putting his own survival at risk, if he weren’t ready for the next day’s engagement, so everyone did as instructed.

Once they rejoined the others and had a bite to eat, a few of them decided it was finally time to discover how Captain Baith had so cleverly pulled off the trap he had set up earlier, so they pressed him for details. They wanted to know how he had so skillfully hidden his troops out in the open, knew the enemy would walk into their trap and how long they had been there or would have waited before giving up. Finally, the young dwarf officer felt he had no choice but to respond to their queries.

“That tactic was devised by Beraut quite some time ago,” he explained. “On his last visit to Thorold, he taught my troops how to camouflage their shields, even though we had no idea what he had in mind for us at that time. Shortly after we arrived for the battle, he gave me orders concerning what he wanted me to do, but I’m not sure if what took place was what he originally intended.”

“Not exactly,” Beraut’s voice boomed from behind the captain. The mage had been making his way over to congratulate the dwarf, after his group returned from tending to the wounded, and had overheard most of the conversation. “I had planned to use you to set a trap, but I wasn’t exactly sure when it would take place or how it would unfold. When I first arrived upon the plains and saw where the battle would be fought, the last details of how I would use your troops suddenly came to me. After advising Captain Baith of my plan, I sent him and his warriors out late one evening, so they could dig suitable positions for themselves and then use their shields to disguise where they were hiding before anyone might have the opportunity to discover them. They were purposefully deployed off to one side of the suspected battleground and I must admit they did an excellent job concealing themselves too, because no one, but I, suspected they were there.”

“But how did you know you could draw the enemy into that trap?” one soldier wanted to know.

“We didn’t know for sure,” Beraut informed him, “but we calculated that sooner or later Madumda’s troops would blunder into a position where we could spring our little surprise. It was just fortunate for us that it was late in the day when it happened, when those we were fighting couldn’t see clearly what was happening to them. Otherwise, our good captain and his men could have been in grave danger.”

“How did they know when to put the plan into action?” another inquired.

“That was entirely at Captain Baith’s discretion,” the mage explained. “I told him to be patient and select a moment when he thought he could best aid our cause, but I did inform him that sometime during the battle we might attempt a strategic retreat, so he would be wise to watch for that to happen. We weren’t sure if such a maneuver would work, but apparently good fortune was on our side. However, I’ll let Captain Baith explain to you why he chose the moment he did to carry out the plan.”

The dwarf Captain flushed a bit before commenting, because he had hoped the wizard would handle the rest of the questions for him. Finding himself put on the spot again, he picked up where Beraut had left off. “I instructed my troops that no one was to fire until they saw me loose the first bolt. At that point, they could choose their own targets and fire at will. I merely waited until I saw our troops set the trap and then took advantage of it. It appeared to be the perfect opportunity to take out a portion of Madumda’s army.”

“How were you able to release your arrows and not be seen?” another warrior asked.

“Well, the growing darkness aided us significantly,” Captain Baith informed him, “but it wasn’t all that difficult. We only needed lift our camouflaged shields ever so slightly, in order to aim and release a quarrel. After firing, we would lower our shields again, while we notched our next shaft. Once that had been accomplished, we’d raise our shields and fire again, repeating the process over and over.”

“What would you have done if Madumda’s warriors hadn’t blundered into that trap?” someone else asked.

“Then my men and I would have stayed where we were until we could have been useful. If we hadn’t been used today, we would have waited until night concealed our positions, so we could get out to stretch, eat and do whatever else was necessary. I could have also used that time to sneak back here, to see if Beraut wanted us to stay put or rejoin the rest of you. As it turned out, an opportunity arose to strike today and the growing darkness allowed us to sneak out from our hiding places and block off the enemy’s retreat, without putting ourselves in jeopardy from Madumda’s main force.”

“I was greatly pleased by both your patience and command decisions,” Beraut whispered to Captain Baith, before turning back toward the others. “That minor withdrawal we utilized earlier was a calculated move to draw some of Madumda’s forces after us. We understood how forcefully the Dark Lord’s army might react, to ensure his victory, and felt we might be able to exploit that aggressiveness. We hoped that when the battle-horn sounded retreat, some of his troops would chase ours, in an effort to shift the momentum in their favor. Those who took the bait learned too late about their error in judgment, but most will never benefit from that mistake.” Everyone knew the wizard was referring to the fact the majority of the enemy troops had been slain during the engagement.

“The placement of Captain Baith’s unit was meant to pin the enemy in a crossfire, without putting our own forces in jeopardy. However, the plan did not go quite as it was intended. I was actually hoping that once Madumda’s forces got sucked into our little trap, the northern and eastern armies would be in place to simultaneously attack both of the Dark Lord’s flanks and, thus, destroy enough of his army to defeat them. I’m not sure why neither group showed at their designated time, but that just means we will have to be ready to fight again tomorrow.”

“What do you think happened to those other two armies?” another trooper inquired.

“I have no answer to that question,” Beraut remarked, “but it concerns me greatly that neither contingent was able to complete their assignment on schedule.”

“Do you think Madumda’s army has already defeated them?” another soldier asked.

“I have no way to know for certain, but something major did happen in the area of Tunstan last evening. There was a considerable glow illuminating the darkness, almost as if something major was taking place. That might account for the northern army’s failure to show. As for the eastern army, I’ve had no word from them since they left their homeland.”

“Can we win this battle without those armies?” asked a battle-weary warrior.

“Nothing is impossible,” the wizard informed him, “but their absence will make it much more difficult. We will carry on with what we have, but I doubt we shall have to finish this alone. I strongly suspect the others have merely been delayed.” Even though Beraut had just told the troops he still expected the other armies would arrive in time to be useful, it was not what he truly believed. Although he wasn’t certain as to why they hadn’t shown at their appointed hour, he seriously doubted they would still make it in time to aid their cause.”

“What is your plan for tomorrow, then?” someone else inquired.

“I haven’t had a chance to work that out yet,” responded the beleaguered mage, “but I will meet with my advisors shortly and address that very issue. If things go well, I suspect our other armies will show up during tomorrow’s engagement and we shall be able to end this conflict once and for all. But that’s enough talk for now, as you all desperately need your rest. It is imperative you renew your strength, so you will be ready for whatever is demanded of you tomorrow. All of the officers are to report to my tent before sunrise, so I can give you your assignments. Until then, I bid you all a restful slumber.”

Hesitantly, everyone concurred and moved off, as the wizard left for his own quarters. Hastily, the various troopers sought out a spot to bed down for the evening, often merely selecting the next open spot they came to. After Beraut made it back to his command tent, it wasn’t long before King Brolin, King Dylan, Balaster Rombaire, General Daveel, Captain Baith and a few other senior staff members joined him there. The group worked for over an hour preparing their strategy for the following day, including contingencies to prepare for the other armies arriving late or not at all. Once they were satisfied with what they had accomplished, they also attempted to get as much rest as they could.

After the others had left, Beraut took the opportunity to try to conjure up an image of Kieren, but by only using a minimum of magic. Even though he wanted to see if he could learn anything about the lad, he also knew it was imperative to keep this attempt below a level that might attract unwanted attention from the Dark Lord. Beraut had even considered not looking in on Kieren at all, but couldn’t resist the temptation of finding out how he was doing. He was desperate to assure himself that Kieren and his protectors were fine and see what kind of progress they had made.

For nearly half an hour, he struggled to produce a recognizable image of his ward, but could only summon faint outlines in the darkness. Reluctantly, he acknowledged he would have to use much more magic to get a clearer picture, while concluding he couldn’t risk such an effort, especially with Madumda in such close proximity. Unfortunately, the visions he did conjure up gave him nothing new about where the group was or how they were doing. The only useful information he gleaned was that they were still alive, although he couldn’t tell if they were still attempting to complete their mission or if they had been captured. He didn’t, however, feel any magical powers around them, so he was pretty sure Madumda was unaware of Kieren’s existence. Finding some comfort in this knowledge, the wizard laid his head upon his rolled up cloak and slowly drifted off to sleep.

Throughout the evening, guards walked their posts along the perimeter, even though no one expected any surprise attacks during the night. The camp remained quite peaceful, except for the scattered coughs and groans of the resting troopers. Other than that, only the pleas for help from Madumda’s discarded wounded disturbed the quiet. Those helpless creatures continued to beg for someone to come to their assistance, but the Dark Lord’s minions did not appear to be willing to offer them such aid. Sadly, by the time daybreak approached, hardly any of those requests could still be heard.

The hours of darkness seemed to pass by quickly, so it wasn’t long before the guards noticed that the first rays of sunlight were nearly upon them. Reacting to these signs, one of the sentries went in to awaken Beraut, while others went off to rouse the senior officers. The wizard hurried through his morning ministrations, and then began to prepare himself to meet with his subordinates. As the rest of the camp began to stir to life, all of the officers arrived for their briefing.

Beraut greeted each of them personally as they arrived, before indicating where he wanted them positioned. When the last of them had made his way to his assigned place, the wizard began his remarks. “I will not try to deceive you,” he began, “the situation, as it stands now, is fairly bleak. Without the support of our missing armies, I doubt we shall be able to survive for more than another day, possibly two.” There was much murmuring at this point, although only a few of the junior officers seemed shocked by his announcement. The others indicated they had already come to the same conclusion.

“We are greatly outnumbered without our reinforcements,” Beraut continued, “so unless any of you knows of some scheme I have overlooked, I shall eventually be forced to call my evil brother out for a magical duel. I have little confidence I can overcome his combined powers, but I will do what I can to aid our cause. Our only other hope lies in Kieren, and his ability to find the Sword, so we must do our best to give him time to succeed in carrying out that task. Surrendering will not be an option, because Madumda will most likely choose to slaughter all who survive anyway. I doubt he will take prisoners or show any mercy to any who had the audacity to oppose him.”

At this point, the Dwarfs’ King Brolin decided to speak up. “I have been in other situations that also seemed hopeless at the time, but I have discovered that circumstances have a way of changing unexpectedly. There are an endless number of factors that may yet come into play, so we mustn’t despair until all of those other possibilities have been exhausted.”

There was some murmur of agreement with his observation, but apparently not everyone was convinced, so he continued. “Either or both of our armies may still arrive at any given moment or the prophecy may be come to pass when we least expect it. Therefore, we must continue to hold out as long as we can, to give these situations time to unfold.” He didn’t mention Kieren, per se, as only the senior staff knew about his mission, but that didn’t stop a broad grin from spreading across Beraut’s face, as he listened to the dwarf monarch.

“I have long admired your eternal optimism, my dear friend,” the mage told him, “and I agree that we must do all we can to provide an opportunity for any of those scenarios to come to pass. However, I must also be pragmatic and acknowledge the odds do not favor us at this time. Therefore, we shall have to do something out of the ordinary to delay the inevitable.”

“What if we were to dig in and just try to defend our current position?” the commander from Cassander suggested.

“It is my estimation that a defensive tactic such as that would only hinder our ability to succeed,” the sorcerer replied. “Once we were dug in, Madumda’s army would be able to surround us and attack from all directions simultaneously. If that were to happen, their superiority in numbers would definitely work to their advantage. No, I believe we must remain mobile and keep on the offensive. We must be able to strike as quickly as possible, whenever we see a weakness exposed, or be able to retreat within seconds, if the situation dictates that would be our best response. We must be like wolves on a hunt, striking wherever and whenever the chance arises, while selecting our targets carefully.”

“I agree completely,” interjected General Daveel. “Our best chance to prolong this conflict, or possibly even gain an advantage, would be to do the unexpected. We’ll need to be like a mosquito and make annoying little bites that will distract the target long enough for help to arrive. We must also be able to respond to situations as they arise, which we will not be able to do if we commit ourselves to a defensive posture.”

“Most definitely,” retorted the military leader from Leander. “Beraut is correct in his assessment of the situation. We must allow our most senior battle commanders to use their instincts and take control of the various situations as they arise. It will be our ability to respond rapidly to the changing winds of battle that will determine if we are successful.”

Seeing his senior staff was in agreement with his strategy, the wizard now instructed them to assemble their troops, so they could move out at first light. “Before we adjourn, however,” the weary mage added, “I have one more request to make. I need to ask a favor of the dwarf’s Captain of the Guard.”

All heads turned, nearly as one, toward Captain Baith, and all eyes focused on him. He had been standing off to one side of the tent, trying to stay out of the limelight, especially after enduring the unwelcome attention from his exploits of the previous day. To his extreme discomfort, however, this was no longer possible.

“My young friend has proven himself to be an impassioned orator,” Beraut announced to the others, “so I humbly request he do me one more honor. If he is willing, I would like him to make a brief address to the troops, before we engage in battle today. Perchance his words can provide the inspirational spark we so desperately need.”

Many of the others, with the exception of the other dwarfs, began to murmur their surprise at this announcement, but eventually they all quieted down once more. While this had been going on, King Brolin patted his young officer on the back and encouraged him to accept the offer, after noting Baith’s mild embarrassment at having been singled out yet again. After a brief delay, the dwarf captain nodded his acceptance of the task, while his mind raced to come up with a challenge that would be appropriate. What could he possibly say that would ignite this eclectic army’s passion and encourage them to try harder than they already had? As the meeting began to break up, each participant set about carrying out whatever tasks he had been assigned. Beraut used these precious moments to review his options a final time, hoping to discover that one elusive possibility, which he had unconsciously overlooked.

The camp was now abuzz with activity, as the Tarolian army prepared themselves for battle. Soon, all of the warriors were falling into formation and standing in silence, as Captain Baith made his way to the forefront. As he turned to address this varied army, he still hadn’t finalized exactly what he wanted to say, so he sought inspiration from the faces of those in the foremost ranks. Taking a deep breath and swallowing hard, he began to speak.

“The hour has arrived for us to face the Dark Lord’s brigands yet again. Although yesterday’s battle was exceedingly costly, in terms of lives lost, I rest assured that those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our cause did so willingly and would not hesitate to do so again, if they were able. They selflessly gave their last, full measure in a hope that we could retain control of our beloved kingdom and not allow it to fall under the rule of an evil master. Needless to say, today’s sacrifices will be just as dear and many more of our ranks will pass from this world, but we must stiffen our resolve and persevere. No matter what we are asked to do, we must resign ourselves to the fact that we shall lose much more than just our lives, if we fall short in our efforts. Not only will our homeland be doomed, but the freedom and bright future we have promised our loved ones will be gone forever.”

“Yes, we all realize how precious life is, but it is meaningless if we are forced to live as slaves, or worse, to toil under a despot such as Madumda. You’ve seen his callous disregard for others, when he left his wounded on the battlefield to die, and you know his reputation for cruelty and treachery. Is that what you want for your families? I yearn for something better than that for mine. I don’t want them to live in fear or to have to perform tirelessly for the Dark Lord’s benefit and profit. That’s why it is imperative we prevail. It is vital we control whatever doubts and fears we now harbor in our souls and plunge wholeheartedly into the task ahead. We must forever purge this world of the likes of Madumda and end his quest for power. We must pray to the Gods and seek their divine intervention on our behalf, or anything else we can think of, which might enable us to be victorious. If we should prevail, our countrymen will forever praise our names, but if we fail, they shall curse the memory of our meager existence just as strongly.” He paused here, momentarily, to give the meaning of his words time to sink in. Once this had been accomplished, he passed on his final, calculated remarks.

“May the Gods bless Tarolia and may she be forever free. I proudly and enthusiastically salute the brave souls who will be marching out to defend her. Today it shall be victory or death!”

At that moment, Captain Baith slammed the thumb side of his closed right fist into his chest, before extending it straight out, chest high, in salute. This caused a cheer to erupt from within the ranks and that roar continued to increase until every warrior was chanting, “Tarolia, forever free. Long live Tarolia.”

The dwarf captain seemed somewhat surprised by the extent of this response and confused as to how his few words could have been the catalyst for such enthusiasm. As he pondered this further, he began to realize he was becoming the target of more unwanted attention and praise, so he desperately sought to withdraw into the background. He visually scanned the area looking for someplace he could seek refuge or find someone to come to his rescue, and that was when he spied the wizard. Immediately, his eyes became transfixed by Beraut’s gaze and he noticed the wizard appeared quite smug. Did the mage know this was going to happen all along?

Eventually, Beraut gave the young dwarf officer a barely perceptible nod, to let him know he understood his predicament. In an effort to rescue his young friend and regain control of the troops, the magician lifted his left arm skyward and slightly in front of his body, with his palm extended outward. It took several more minutes before everyone noticed and responded to this signal, but finally order was restored and everyone fell back into his place in formation.

The stage was now set for the battle to begin. After a brief delay, one of the senior officers barked a command, which was quickly passed along by the junior cadre. Almost immediately, the army was in motion and marching at a fairly energetic cadence. It wasn’t long before the senior staff and those in the foremost ranks could soon see the outline of the enemy army advancing in their direction. Both groups were slightly east of where the previous day’s battle had been fought, as they wanted to avoid getting entangled with the mass of corpses that still littered that site.

Both groups continued to move forward, steadily closing the gap between them, as each side thought about the butchery that would soon become commonplace. Before the bloodshed began, however, both forces came to a halt, less than fifty meters apart. The Tarolian army began to realign into their battle formation, once they saw Beraut lift his right arm above his head and sweep it from side-to-side, across the sky. They were planning to start out in the same formation they had the previous day, so the soldiers felt very comfortable while scurrying to their assigned positions. However, before this task was even halfway completed, the Dark Lord’s army let out a war cry and began to charge across the expanse. The black-clad troopers closed the gap between the two groups in a very short time and immediately engaged the allies, before they had been able spread out, as desired. It was obvious Madumda wished to dictate the course of the action today, as well as its timing.

As Madumda’s generals took control and mounted the first assault, the Tarolian forces hustled to get into a position to stop them. Some of the archers were able to get off a few scattered shots at the onrushing horde, but there was too much confusion along the Tarolian lines to get everyone responding in the same fashion. The allies just didn’t have the time they needed to fully deploy to their assigned locations, which allowed the charging enemy to partially encircle them. Since Beraut’s forces were unable to spread out across the terrain as they had hoped, they found themselves being squeezed in, on three sides, giving the early advantage to the enemy. Seeing their bows would no longer be effective, the archers slung them across their backs and drew their swords, ready to take part in the hand-to-hand fighting.

The fierceness of combat was intense. The Tarolian army at first tried merely to slow the momentum of the assault, but was quickly forced to worry only about its own survival. The combatants had no time to worry about what the other side was doing or how to prevent it from happening. All they could do was try to keep from being killed and prolong the battle long enough that someone might have time to come to their assistance.

After some very heavy fighting and many deaths, Beraut’s army began to negate some of the opposition’s advantage. Even though they were still outnumbered and being driven into an ever-tightening ball, they had been able to significantly slow the rate at which this was happening. However, they would need to do more than this, if they hoped to survive the day.

The battle had been going on for over an hour, when the cavalry commander finally found an opportunity to reorganize his troops and initiate a counter attack. He had hastily formulated a plan to shift the momentum back in their favor and now acted on his own to do so. While the foot soldiers held off their foe’s continued assault, the cavalry regrouped and made a quick and violent charge at the enemy’s eastern flank.

At first, this maneuver went almost unnoticed by the leaders of either side, since most of their focus was still on the main front, but the cavalry’s foray was hard to miss by the combatants in that area, especially after the pikes of the horse-soldiers began to slam into the rear of the Dark Lord’s ranks. This not only accounted for a great number of enemy dead and wounded, but it also had a severe demoralizing effect on that portion of Madumda’s forces. Once that group recognized they wouldn’t last long under this dual assault, the Dark Lord’s ranks began to split and give ground, while a few of the soldiers even made an effort to flee the battlefield altogether. This caused a panic to spread to adjoining enemy ranks and helped to reduced the intensity of their attack against the allies. When the cavalry leader realized his infantry had began to regain the upper hand in that area and was now driving the black-clad warriors back, he signaled his units to withdraw and follow him once more.

Eagerly, the horse soldiers wielded about and followed their commander behind their own lines, and it wasn’t long before they were mounting a similar charge against Madumda’s other flank. At this point, they once again pinned their opponents between their two forces, making an immediate impact on the course of the battle. As the Dark Lord’s henchmen buckled under the intensity of this new assault and the immense carnage it wrought, the enemy’s western flank also began to crumble. The Dark Lord’s army was now in nearly total chaos, as the allies took control of both flanks. However, the middle of the Tarolian lines was still slowly folding under the aggressive attack.

By now, he sun was nearly at its zenith and the heat it generated only helped to drain each fighting man even more. The allied soldiers fighting at the center of the melee were giving it their best effort, but they were nearly exhausted and doing all they could just to keep going. Slowly, they were being pushed backward, with many of them falling under the intensity of the assault. The lucky ones were killed outright, and quickly, but that was rarely what took place. In most cases, the warriors were merely wounded and then met their end as the onrushing horde trampled them to death or they suffocated under the weight of bodies falling on top of them, thus enduring a slow and agonizing demise.

The officers in charge of the center section of the beleaguered allied infantry continued their struggle to regain control of their crumbling ranks by shifting bodies from adjacent areas, where they had begun to successfully drive their opponents back. However, even with this intense effort, there still was insufficient numbers to stem the tide of battle. Just when it appeared that the center ranks were about to break completely, something else happened.

At first this change was nearly imperceptible, but it soon became evident that Madumda’s army was losing its impetus. As Beraut and his senior officers tried to ascertain the reason for this shift in momentum, the wizard’s keen vision gave him the clue he needed to understand what was taking place. His prayers had been answered. The Northern Army had arrived, led by the dwarf commander, Elgin. The dwarfs had not only been busily attacking the western flank, but they were now also engaging nearly half of the central segment of the Dark Lord’s army.

Beraut was uncertain as to when they had arrived or how long they had been engaged in the battle, but their timing could not have been more fortuitous. Gradually, the advantage belonged to the allied forces again, as the newcomers eagerly thrust, parried, and hacked at the enemy, showing the same enthusiasm the others had displayed the previous day. Since large sections of Madumda’s army now found themselves trapped between a rock and a hard place, the embattled sorcerer grudgingly admitted to himself that he needed to regroup his tattered command, before it was completely decimated. Reluctantly, Madumda gave a signal to his minions, to let them know they could retreat, without threat of retribution. Beraut, on the other hand, wasn’t about to allow this to happen. Now that the impetus had shifted in his favor once more, he was determined to take full advantage of the situation.