Reincarnated Prince just wants a quiet life

Part 9: Dawn of War

Five men clad in armor stood around a large table looking intently at the small pieces that darted the map that was laid out on the table. Each man looked as if they hadn't slept in days with dark rings hanging low under each of their eyes. The eyes all shifted towards the flap that led outside of the large tent as alarms rang out throughout the camp.

Slamming his fist on the table, "These damn pests! Every night with these raids! Have they no honor?" said one of the men.

"Give it a rest Jan. You are not the only one suffering here." said another man pinching the bridge of his nose.

"You would expect me to remain silent, Henrick? To do nothing after these savages ..." Jan said while gripping the table.

"After what Jan? After they defend their land? After they fight tooth and nail for every inch of land? You bumbling fool. Do you expect Pardaria to simply roll over and surrender?" said Henrnick.

Jan went to say something when the flap to the ten opened, letting in a man wearing a regal looking red coat. He was a normal enough looking man, with dark curly brown hair. He was clean shaven and looked every bit the noble that his fine coat marked him as. As if to emphasize the fact he carried himself like any arrogant noble would, not bothering to salute or even acknowledge the five generals in the room.

"A small band of harpies dropped firebombs from outside the effective range of our bows... again." said the man in the red coat as he strode to the head of the table. "We have already lost a company of spearmen. The bombs hit their tents and trapped them in, they had no chance of survival."

"Damn cowards the lot of them." muttered Jan.

"No, not cowards General Hoebeek. They are quite clever if you ask me. The harpies fly in under the cover of night and wait until they are right above us before they light their fire bombs. Which gives us a very small window in which we can react, it's rather ingenious." said the man.

"Lord Morges, are you praising the enemy?" asked Hennrick

"Only a fool wouldn't." he said, casting a glance at Jan, "But I degrees, how close are we to the capital?"

"We should be there in a half day's march my lord." Replied another man.

"Good then we should be sitting nice and comfortable in the palace by tomorrow night." Morges said as he looked over the map. "I suspect that the night will be long, gentlemen. They are no doubt getting desperate and will throw everything they have at us."

As if to confirm his statement a loud rumbling shook the tent briefly before stopping almost as soon as it started. Loud crashes and screams could be heard as some form of fighting ensued. Soon a man in armor rushed into the tent bowing quickly to each general before addressing them. "Sirs the enemy has used earth magic to create stone golems. The men are currently trying to eliminate them but we have already lost half of a company of shield bearers."

"Good work soldier, back to your post," said Morges before addressing the generals, "Get what rest you can, tomorrow will be one hellish day I fear." From outside of the tent there was a loud crash that shook the very ground, followed by the screams of several men crying out in triumph. In a voice barely above a whisper "Stone golems, heh clever."

"Sir?" asked one of the men.

"Ah, nothing, you are all dismissed." Morges replied, waving his hand at the group and returning his attention back to the war table before him.

Bowing once before leaving the five generals left the tent in silence, each heading their own way once outside. Outside fire raged among tents and the shattered remains of stone golems were laying in heaps where they were killed. Hennrick looked around the camp and sighed. "What an absolute mess this campaign is." he thought to himself before turning and heading to his own tent.