Triumph Preview

Here is a brief preview of Orc Dominion: Triumph.  Hopefully it will be posted in about two weeks! I Just need to buckle down and finish the last scene.  I already skipped ahead to start chapter 2 though, which I've also made good progress on.  I hope you enjoy!

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Long, winding, strings of soldiers marched along the beaten road headed north towards the Catabrian Hills.  The days where orc armies moving entirely on horseback were long gone.  As the orc population in Zentara and Heste exploded the breeding of horses for war just couldn’t keep up.

Exactly where they’re supposed to be, Amelie thought with grim satisfaction.  Her source’s information was accurate, at least.  Amelie shifted slightly on the ground to get a better look at the incoming army, looking for signs of a trap.  Her source’s information had always been good, but she didn’t want to rule out the possibility that he’d been compromised.  But the loose formation and strung out nature of the Hesten army convinced her it wasn’t a trick.

There’s no way they’ll be able to form up in time.  Her army was perfectly positioned behind the hill to strike at the Hestens.  They had moved in under the cover of night after the Hesten light cavalry scouts passed through the area.  Knowing the enemy’s timetable had allowed her to slip her forces in undetected.  Of course, attacking the main infantry body when it was so dispersed would likely prevent her from destroying it utterly.  Even still, she would do enough damage that by the time the decisive battle did come, the Hestens would be significantly weaker.

Death by a thousand cuts was often more effective than a single crushing blow.  That was one of the things she’d learned during her seventeen-year reign as Queen of Thesta.  In her youth she had chased after massive, glorious victories.  Now she realized that grinding opponents down was much more effective at sapping the enemies morale than large defeats.

“When will we strike?” asked Phillippe, her principal lieutenant. 

“In a little bit, I want to draw some more of them in first.  Let them think they have a chance of encircling us before the trap is sprung.” 

“What do you think then, when that company there passes the hill?  They actually look organized, Your Highness.”  Phillippe pointed out to one of the approaching formations.

Queen Amelie Honore of Thesta took a quick look at company.  They did appear to be better organized, with tighter ranks and gear at the ready.  Clearly they had a disciplined commander.  “Well spotted, Phillippe.  We don’t want an organized unit hitting our flank.  Better to smash them with the first shock.  Any sign of the green skins?”

“Not yet, My Queen.” 

The green skinned orcs were the remnants of the army that invaded the Catabrian Hills last year under the command of Queen Jeanette’s bastard son, Agmar.  Amelie had swept them out of the Hills and back into Heste, but not before they managed to inflict great suffering on the Tribesman.  She had killed Agmar herself, but his son, Bogor, managed to save at least half the army and retreat back to Heste.

Along the way it had been harried first by the surviving Tribesmen, and then by the Hesten human lords who had risen up in rebellion against their orc overlord.  Somehow though they managed to survive, and they lost track of the army when it reached the lands directly controlled by Bogor’s half uncle Belkor, the King of Heste.

As much as she wanted to deliver some more retribution to the orcs, she suspected they wanted revenge just as badly.  They had doubtless linked up with the main Hesten Army and would be looking for a chance to pay back the Thestans.

“Alright, you take the Falcon Guard and pursue any troops that break.  But not too far, I don’t want you running into their main infantry when they form up.  I’ll take the foot and lead the charge into them.”  Amelie crawled down the back of the hill, and then rose off the ground to don her banded helm.  It fit smoothly over her long brown hair, which was tucked up into the back of it.  The reinforced steel helm was of plain, common make with nothing to differentiate her from the other soldiers in the army. 

She didn’t really need any ornate armor for that.  As the only woman in the army, there was never any question of who she was or whether her orders needed to be obeyed.  Instead she wore simple leather armor and greaves with a chain shirt over her lithe, slender build.  She sprinted down the hill to link up with the waiting infantry.  Three companies of Thestan soldiers would form the spearhead of her assault.

Pulling one of her javelins out of its quiver, Amelie held it high in the air to rally them to her.  The commanders of each company knew to spread out in a wedge formation as the came around the hill.  The organized company they were targeting immediately sounded the alarm as her force came into view.

Having been spotted, there was no longer any need to remain quiet.  She signaled for her men to ready their javelins.  As the Hesten company wheeled towards them she threw her javelin.  The missile was soon joined in flight by the rest of her men.  The javelins rained down in a torrent on the orcs, but just before they impacted the orcs raised their shields.

Some fell, but the orcs were disciplined enough to block most of them.  They began to form ranks as the Thestans starts to charge.  “Follow me!  Let’s send these orc bastards running!”  A great cheer rang out from her men as they surged towards the enemy ranks.