The Border Patrol Cavalry who had followed the decoy force left behind messengers and markers so reinforcements sent from the fortress could follow their trail.
The Barbarian Cavalry moved cautiously. To avoid detection, they split into groups and took different routes toward the camp.
But although it was only a Temporary Camp, Victor's Guard Corps still followed the combat manual to the letter, posting numerous mounted scouts and sentries around its perimeter.
The Barbarian Cavalry traveled under cover, but they were spotted early. At first, the Guard Corps mistook the large force of unidentified riders for allies. When their signals went unanswered, they went on alert.
More mounted scouts were sent to investigate. After the riders attacked them, the scouts saw that their clothing differed from the territory's troops. The Guard Corps commander immediately realized this was likely a Barbarian Cavalry force.
He reported the discovery to the Marquis at once. Victor was shocked when he heard and feared the Border Fortress had fallen.
Victor immediately telegraphed the fortress and the Army Department, demanding confirmation of the Border Fortress's status. Both soon replied that all was well at the fortress and the Barbarians had not attacked that day.
Those replies told Victor the Barbarian Cavalry must have crossed the border by some other means. It still astonished him. Outside the area around the Border Fortress, the surrounding terrain was too harsh for so many riders to pass through easily. He had no idea how the Barbarians had managed it.
Victor was also surprised by how slow the Border Fortress had been to react. Judging by its reply, its garrison seemed unaware that the Barbarians had crossed the border.
Victor sent another series of telegrams in his capacity as Marquis, ordering the Army Department and the Border Fortress to check on