Three Must Decide.

Part 27 River run.

Chapter note. the first 3 chapters have introduced you to the Three. Each faction is controlled, to a degree, by a real life person so decisions have to be made.

Hidden consequences.

Not going out to face an enemy can give them more options.

Decisions.

Ehmet had to consider his course of action which would requier more soliders.

Terrill had a chance to consider more than just battering his enemy with arrows.

Read on to see what they have decided.

Ehmet remained mounted, his army in formation, the vast majority just waiting. At its centre where the river met the canal there was waves of activity by his army. Soldiers carrying wood, soil, entire trees and bushes, steadily being dropped in to the canal at a point to change the waters flow and dry out the northern part of the canal and the lake surrounding Dannamore Hold. Back breaking work and all beneath the threat of Terrills archers who's lethal bows had created a steady stream of dead and wounded the moment the first soldiers had carried their loads within range.

Ehmet had formed the plan to breach the watery defences on the advance down the valley the day before. A smaller force could not have spared the manpower but for Ehmet he had soldiers to spare to stripe the country side and as the sun reached its height so he began the battle. he looked up in to the sky as he felt a strong breeze begin and with it more light rain came with it.

He wanted this part to be over as soon as possible he could steel himself against the looses he witnessed but only by ordering more to the canal. He would not let his soldiers suffer working within range of the deadly arches for a moment longer than was needed and the only solution to complete the task faster was to send more to the canal.

For those of his army who watched, standing ready, they were thankful to not have been given that task. They watched the work being done and the horrific cost to their comrades. Seeing the Terrill archers do thier work almost totally unmolested was raising a bitter hatred for them and a growing desire to march them down and bring them to within the reach of sward and shield.

"My lord I am concerned this will fail to drain the canal as you wish and leave us in the open for to long"

The concern was directed at Ehmet and from one of only a few who would question his actions so openly.

"we cant be sure what action Terrill intends but we know we are on his chosen field, I fear that unless we cross the canal quickly he will be gaining an advantage"

Xalvedor Rollo had joined the army from Ehmets fathers court two weeks prior to them entering the valley. He came as a captain of the kings swards and commanding a company of them. It had been significant that they had arrived, Ehmet knew that his father had no need to send advisers. The King and Ehmet had not seen each other since he left Bronze Gate but they had never stopped corresponding. The arrival of a Rollo ment that the crown was beginning to be pressured by the higher lords of the kingdoms and there were few indeed as powerful as the Rollos.

Ehmet would have to suffer Xalvedor, ignoring the Rollos was not possible.

"The army is encamped and a corridor to the works at the canal is protected. Let Terrill come if he is inpatient he would be fighting on our terms if he does" Ehmet hated explaining himself and expressed the position with confidence but he felt much less sure than he let on to those around him.

"I can lead an attack on one of the bridges with the swards my lord we are very likely to break through with The Swards as the tip of a spear of solders. At the very least it will be a distraction my lord." Xalvedor said. The last words were said with only just enough respect not to cause offence

Ehmet paused to gather himself "no" was his only reply and he settled himself again, not turning to the Rollo again.

As the time went by and there was no sign of Terrill doing more than inflicting easy casualties on his army the flow of the river and canal slowed and then stopped as the water chose the easy remaining path around Dannamore Hold. The first part of the battle passed in to the night and in the early hours of the following day those chosen to fill the canal where replaced with those who would cross it to advance on the hold its self.