The next day, at noon, when the sun was at its fiercest, atop Boulder Heights, surrounded by the Bagnian military camps.
Chris stood on a hastily built watchtower, holding a brass telescope steadily to his eye.
Through the lens, a torrent of steel came surging over the distant horizon at astonishing speed.
It was Raitelia's armored cavalry. The dust raised by twenty thousand warhorses resembled low-hanging storm clouds, blotting out the afternoon sunlight. Even at this distance, the deep, relentless thunder of hooves seemed to faintly shake the solid ground beneath the heights.
Sunlight struck their gleaming breastplates and spearheads, reflecting swathes of dazzling, cold light, like a restless silver river flowing across the earth.
"They're finally here."
Chris lowered his telescope. There was no surprise or tension on his face, only the calm of a man whose wait for the other shoe to drop was finally over.
The clerk beside him had already opened his notebook and was waiting for orders.
"Send word."
Chris's voice was clear and steady, carrying even over the wind howling across the heights.
"The entire army is to enter the highest state of combat readiness. Artillery positions are to complete their final adjustments. Load all Sixteen-Pounder Cannons with solid shot and preset their sights to the limit of maximum range.
The Second Army Group is to assemble at its designated positions and await orders. Deploy the Han-Tang Warriors Battle Group in the center of the heights as our reserve.
All ranged units, including gunners and riflemen, are to take their assigned covered positions. No one is to expose themselves without orders."
"Yes, Your Highness."
The clerk swiftly wrote down the orders, repeated them back without error, then turned and hurried away to have them carried out.
Chris raised his telescope again, carefully studying these