Calculations

Night fell, and all was quiet as everything sank into stillness.

The camp where Suleiman's soldiers were stationed blazed with light. The soldiers on alert remained lined up at the fortifications, ready for anything, their presence steeped in deadly seriousness.

Suleiman ordered Lushen and Roslyn's troops to take turns on duty, while the other unit rested where they were.

But they had to be ready to reach the scene at once when the signal sounded!

Inside Suleiman's temporary tent.

Suleiman looked at Roslyn. "How were our casualties in today's battle?"

Roslyn took a deep breath. "Two men died."

"One was unlucky. A Burned Men Wildling charged over and threw an axe. It sailed past the first three rows and struck a man standing in the fourth row right in the head."

"The other poor fellow panicked when the Wildlings charged. He ran straight into the fence."

Luck certainly played a part on the battlefield. Suleiman fell silent for a moment, then said, "I'll honor my oath and record the details of those two men. If their lands are taken from them, we'll bring their families to Foulkeep."

"Yes, Lord Suleiman!" Roslyn answered loudly. But then he rubbed his head and asked in confusion, "Lord Suleiman, why didn't we pursue the Burned Men Wildlings when they retreated?"

He was clearly bothered by it, though he had obeyed Lord Suleiman's orders without question.

But in his view, when the enemy was fleeing, that was the perfect chance to kick them while they were down and press their advantage.

Suleiman put down the map in his hands and looked up at Roslyn.

"Why?" Suleiman's voice was calm, without the slightest hint of emotion.

"Yes, Lord Suleiman! They were in disarray. If we'd gone after them then, we could've killed every last one!" Roslyn said urgently, his face eager for action.

Suleiman smiled. There was a trace of understanding in his smile, and much more resignation.

It seemed he'd have to make the two of them read more in the future. Perhaps he could write a simple guide to military law himself.

"What are these people?" Suleiman asked, pointing to the soldiers around them, some resting and others on alert.

Roslyn froze, unsure why he was being asked that. Then he answered, "We're your soldiers, Lord Suleiman!"

Suleiman nodded, but immediately changed tack. "What did they do before? What did you do before?"

Roslyn rubbed his head. "They were all farmers and craftsmen."

"Lushen and I were farmers. We worked your land, my lord."

"Exactly!" Suleiman's voice rose slightly as he met Roslyn's eyes.

"You're farmers and craftsmen from a small town. Just a few days ago, you picked up weapons for the first time."

"This is only the second time you two have been on a battlefield. For the others, it's their first. Most of them have probably never seen so much blood."

He paused, as if waiting for his words to sink in.

"Pursuing the enemy on the battlefield!" Suleiman continued, raising his voice. "It's extremely dangerous and risky!"

"It takes a disciplined unit that can work together and keep its formation and its wits in the chaos!"

"Can the troops under your command do that?"

The eagerness vanished from Roslyn's face. He fell silent, as if deep in thought.

Suleiman paused, then pointed at the brightly lit fortifications. "Behind the fortifications, with the wood and trenches protecting us, standing shoulder to shoulder and following my orders and the two of your commands..."

"We stopped the Burned Men Wildlings' first charge because we had the advantage of terrain and made good use of the fortifications."

"Most importantly, we gathered individuals weaker than the Wildlings into a single force."

"All they had to do was hold their ground, follow orders, thrust their spears, and loose their arrows."

"But what about pursuing them?" Suleiman asked, looking at Roslyn.

"Pursuit means leaving the familiar safety of our fortifications and entering open ground, where the Burned Men Wildlings might have laid traps or be waiting to counterattack."

"You're recruits who've only just learned to keep formation. The moment you charge out, it'll be easy for you to scatter and end up fighting on your own!"

"If that happens, we lose every advantage we have, while the Burned Men Wildlings get to make full use of their skill in close combat!"

"Can your soldiers hold their own against the Wildlings in close combat?"

Suleiman suddenly thought of all the idioms from his previous life.

Looking at Roslyn's suddenly crestfallen expression, Suleiman patted him on the shoulder and smiled.

"There's one more thing I need to tell you, and it's the most important."

"As a commander, you must observe. Pay attention to every detail."

"Tell me, did the Wildlings leave any of their dead along our line?"

"Do you know what that means?"

Roslyn clutched his hair in both hands, deeply troubled. Lord Suleiman was testing him.

Suleiman smiled at him but said nothing.

Roslyn slapped his forehead as if he'd just discovered something momentous.

"I understand! I understand it all!"

Suleiman frowned. "What do you understand?"

Roslyn straightened up. His eyes held more than confusion now; there was a hint of realization in them.

"When the Wildlings retreated, they dragged or carried their wounded with them, whether they were dead or alive!"

"That means their army wasn't fleeing in rout, but withdrawing in an orderly way! Is that right, Lord Suleiman?"

"All right, you really do understand." Suleiman's face twitched.

Suleiman took out the map and ignored Roslyn's excited self-congratulation, beginning to consider their next move.

There was only one reason they had appeared here.

They couldn't get into Valleydeep Town. According to the refugees, the town was completely surrounded, with at least a thousand Wildlings around it.

Taking his men inside would be harder than climbing to the heavens. Trying to break the siege of Valleydeep Town would be like throwing meat buns at a dog—gone for good.

There was only one way: fight the Mountain Clans Wildlings using the method they were best at—guerilla warfare.

They could pick off the Wildling units scattered around in search of food.

They could even lure the enemy into a trap and strike the reinforcements.

So all they could do was hope their unseen allies in Valleydeep Town would hold strong.

A small force had its own advantages. Three hundred men could be commanded quickly, respond quickly, and move quickly.

All they had to do was figure out the patterns in the Wildlings' movements in small groups.

Then they could use their advantages to eliminate isolated enemies or those patrolling the outskirts, weakening their numbers and forcing them to spread their attention.

They couldn't rescue Valleydeep Town directly, but they could cause trouble around it and keep the Wildlings laying siege from resting easy.

It was the only thing he could do now.

It was easy for their allies in Valleydeep Town to see them as friends in danger and still refuse to lift a finger.

He put away the map and stood. The night breeze brought the stillness of the distant mountains and forests, leaving him feeling relaxed and at ease.

His gaze grew resolute.

As long as Valleydeep Town held firm, there would be a way!

Roslyn had been watching Lord Suleiman the whole time.

When he saw Lord Suleiman put away the map and finish thinking, he went over at once. He was curious about what Lord Suleiman would do next.

"Lord Suleiman." Roslyn rubbed his hands together. "What should we do next about the Burned Men Wildlings in the village?"

Suleiman turned and looked at Roslyn.

In the dancing firelight, a smile appeared on his face.

Roslyn watched the firelight play across Lord Suleiman's smiling face and felt a little afraid. He thought Lord Suleiman's smile looked rather sinister, giving him an inexplicable sense of dread.

It wasn't like Lord Suleiman's usual gentle expression. There was something hard to describe about it, as if he were a hunter plotting against his prey.

"The Burned Men Wildlings in the village?" Suleiman repeated Roslyn's words, his smile growing wider. "Haven't you been wanting to attack them and fight them properly?"

"Your chance!" Suleiman's voice dropped, his smile turning even stranger. "It's coming soon!"