In fact, Zul'jin taking the field had been part of Lireesa's plan from the start, which was why the Heroic ranger had held back all this time.
Unexpectedly, however, Zul'jin seemed intent on giving his subordinates more trust and training. He had actually reined in his temper and had yet to appear.
The Trolls launching an all-out assault instead played right into the Ranger-General's hands. The rookie rangers had gradually grown accustomed to the battlefield's atmosphere of iron and blood, and it was about time to begin the counterattack.
Before counterattacking, using their defensive advantage to wear down the Trolls once more would naturally be the best outcome. It was also at this point that Lireesa sent secret orders to her second daughter at the Farstriders Camp.
Sylvanas clenched her fist as she read the letter the messenger had delivered.
Had the time finally come... Sister, let me surpass you once and for all!
That very night, the confident female elf summoned four senior officers, including Charlemagne, Yawen, Liadrin, and Xiao'en, for a discussion.
"What!? An encirclement?"
After hearing Sylvanas's orders, Xiao'en was the first to stand and question them.
"Are you sure about this? We may have nearly five hundred rangers here, but completely routing those thick-skinned Trolls won't be easy. How are we supposed to encircle them?"
Sylvanas's expression did not change as she said, "Calm down. Of course, we'll have to split our forces again. Commander Skarren and Adjutant Charlemagne will stay behind at the Farstriders Camp, along with a small number of priests."
"Everyone else will march with me. We'll take the mountain paths around them and head straight for the Sanctum of the Sun to cut off the Troll main force's retreat."
While the others exchanged glances, Charlemagne shook his head, rejecting the plan.
"No. That's far too reckless. If the Trolls discover your movements and turn around without bothering with the camp's defenses, you'll be the ones caught in a pincer attack."
Sylvanas knitted her fine brows in displeasure. Although the plan did carry some risk, the rewards would also be enormous if it succeeded.
Once they wiped out those five hundred troops in the main force, the Amani Trolls should have few soldiers left. The high elves could even attack Zul'Aman again. For Sylvanas, who was eager to prove herself, there could be no more fitting achievement.
Skarren scratched his head and spoke up as well. "Captain Sylvanas, it's not that I'm unwilling to follow orders, but honestly, this plan really is too risky. Why don't we concentrate our forces and rout the Trolls in front of us first?"
Smack!
Sylvanas slammed the table. "These are the Ranger-General's orders! Are you going to disobey?"
"Did the Ranger-General order this risky plan too?"
Charlemagne folded his arms across his chest and challenged her. He did not believe his consistently cautious mentor would devise such a... fanciful surprise attack.
That question stumped Sylvanas. These were indeed not Lireesa's original orders.
Lireesa's intention had been just as Skarren described: rout the Trolls outside the Farstriders Camp with a frontal assault, then make a forced march to try to attack the flank of the retreating Troll main force.
Although this would not allow them to counterattack Zul'Aman as Sylvanas envisioned, it would decisively put an end to this Troll offensive.
Liadrin also looked at Sylvanas in puzzlement. As a fellow woman, she had gained a rough understanding of the Ranger-General's second daughter over the past few days together.
Although Sylvanas was usually rather competitive, she did not seem like someone so aggressive. Could something have happened that Liadrin did not know about?
In the end, Sylvanas used her authority as the highest-ranking officer present to make the decision.
"My decision is final! We'll follow this plan. I'll lead the troops out under cover of darkness shortly. Anyone unwilling to come can stay behind and defend the camp!"
Watching Sylvanas storm away, Charlemagne and Yawen exchanged a look, then shook their heads helplessly.
"Should I say no one knows a daughter better than her mother? Our mentor even anticipated this..."
Yawen stepped forward and patted Charlemagne on the shoulder reassuringly. "Don't worry. I'll be with the second young lady. You and Skarren just take care of the defenses."
He then turned to Xiao'en and Liadrin and asked, "What about you two? Are you coming?"
Xiao'en flicked his bangs with an affected flourish. "Of course! Since the highest-ranking officer at the Farstriders Camp has given an order, I'll certainly obey. Besides, Captain Sylvanas needs the help of us mages, doesn't she?"
Liadrin nodded firmly as well. "I'll go too. I'm worried about Sylvanas's safety. There's clearly something off about her state of mind right now."
Since all three had decided to join the rapid march, they had to lead their subordinates in making preparations. They would be setting out that very night.
Before leaving, Yawen called the two men staying behind outside, his expression solemn.
"Skarren, once we leave, the camp's defense will be in your and Charlemagne's hands. Hold the Trolls up as long as you can. Don't let them break through the camp."
"Yawen, you don't need to worry too much about us. But Captain Sylvanas... Ah, just help her out as much as you can."
Skarren felt utterly helpless about Sylvanas's insistence on having her own way, but orders were orders. Now he could only pray that the plan would proceed smoothly.
That night, Skarren and Charlemagne watched Sylvanas ride away on her Hawkstrider at the head of the troops. With most of the forces taken away, only a little over a hundred rangers and a few priests remained in the entire Farstriders Camp.
With the advantage of their defensive position, however, holding off this Troll detachment would not be too difficult. The key was what results Sylvanas's surprise-attack force could achieve.
The next day, the Trolls launched an all-out assault, just as the high elves had predicted.
The situation on Lireesa's side remained unknown for the moment, but at the Farstriders Camp, even Halazzi, who had been commanding from the rear all this time, drew his weapon—a strangely shaped green scimitar—and charged at the very front.
According to the intelligence Lireesa had provided, Halazzi and Nalorakk were both mid-level Advanced warriors.
If Halazzi really forced his way through the rain of arrows into melee range, Charlemagne certainly could not handle him alone. He could only leave him to the veteran Skarren, who had stayed behind, while providing support from the side and picking off the squad leaders among the Trolls.
"Jibber jabber, wala-la!"
As Halazzi charged, he waved his scimitar and shouted to raise morale.
As longtime enemies, learning the other side's language was essential. Charlemagne and Skarren naturally understood what he meant.
"Heh, you want to break through our camp? Come on, then!"
Skarren was old but young at heart. The sight of the charging Trolls made his blood surge as well. This scene, which he had not seen in so long, seemed to bring him back to the days of the Troll Wars.
He drew the longbow in his hands and aimed at Halazzi, waiting for him to enter range.
Charlemagne likewise drew his bow to its fullest and aimed at a Troll out in front, but inwardly, he prayed that the enemy would focus all their attention on the camp and not discover Sylvanas's movements.
Queen Xi, please don't let anything happen to you. Otherwise, I'll have no way to answer to my mentor and Alleria.
(End of chapter)