Stormlands ( Book 2 of the Torrent Skies Saga)

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Effective Tactics and a Heavy Burden

Graiden wanted the war to end. Everyone was tired of fighting, of losing friends, being injured and breathing the smokey air. He wanted it done so badly that he missed his stuffy, paper filled office, and thought longingly of Mikhale and his duties at a desk.

But the war continued despite the scarred landscape, despite the dead and dying, and despite the smoky air. And it would keep on, until they routed and crushed the orcish forces. This was an obvious fact, by now. It did not matter how cautious they were, or how wise. The orcs had no intentions of ceasing. They would push their boundaries until there were none left. So here he stood, watching his allies discuss whatever tactics they could use.

"We can't just charge them," Vauldra said, hands on her hips. "They will have every advantage."

"They won't push back, they need the hills for half those advantages," Beymor said.

"They could stay up there until the snows have come and gone, and they can laugh while we freeze. They have already shown they are patient and cunning," Veit said, with obvious forced calm.

Graiden gave him credit for at least trying to remain civil.

"Will they not try and pick us off, while we push forward?" Avris asked, sitting with one hand atop the table, and likely the only person in the room with a relaxed expression.

"They have always had more advantages, for we underestimated our enemy when this began. It is dangerous, but it is a good plan." Ihr'kahn spoke without hesitancy, eyeing those around the table who might disagree.

Lugaria leaned forward from the wall, pointing at the map. "We cannot attack them head on, unless we plan and succeed in taking that hill. Without it they are on level ground with us, their machines useless. They will put everything they have into keeping that from us, but if we assault them, that is where we need to be."

Vauldra sighed. "Would it not be better to face them in the open here," She tapped a spot familiar to everyone. The plains outside of Aughk'tor's gates.

"That is cautious, but caution will not end this war," Ihr'kahn said, frowning.

"We could split our forces," Beymor began. "Attack both sides and move around to the hill. That would cut off—"

"That is not a good idea," Lugaria interjected. "Behind them are steep hills and they have them easily protected. The sides are trees, rigged with barrels of pitch and sap. Any man or group you send will be dead before they reach the hill."

Many more plans were sent forward and shot down. And the clamor in the tent kept Grenadian from his ruminations, late into the evening.

"Our only true option is a united front. We take the hill, the gates, then the courtyard and the buildings." Avris spoke with a sigh, weariness heavy in her words.

"That's going to be more difficult than it sounds," Lugaria said.

"Not more difficult than burning to death in the trees." Beymor's words were tinged with tired sarcasm.

"Regardless, This will all be precarious until we secure the gates," Graiden said as he studied the weary faces. Everyone is tired of debating, too, he thought.

"We will win." Ihr'kahn spoke with a fierce certainty, his eyes still bright and attentive. "No one can scorch our great trees without our response."

"True," Avris agreed. "But while we search for our way to victory, let us not for that this—" she gestured over the map. "Is our home and that these—" She rubbed her thumb across one of the many polished wooden pawns, "Are our friends, and our kin. We must still hold caution."