Steel and Sorrow: Rise of the Mercenary king

The sun hung high in the sky, casting its golden rays down upon the bustling scene below. Despite the morning hour, the work on both sides of the conflict continued unabated, with neither side showing any sign of respite. Upon the city walls, guards stood watch with spears in hand, their eyes trained on the enemy's efforts to fill the moats below. Meanwhile, slingers stood poised, their projectiles aimed at the workers below, ready to rain down stones upon them with jeers of triumph whenever their aim proved true.

Amidst this scene of activity, Alpheo ascended the stairs of the main gate, emerging onto the wall with purpose in his stride. His gaze swept over the enemy forces below before turning to search for Jarza, his second-in-command. Spotting him leaning against the wall, Alpheo made his way over, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips.

"Mind your step," Alpheo advised with a hint of humor as he approached ''We don't want one of our commanders to fall down''

Jarza's eyes widened momentarily at the sight of Alpheo, a flicker of surprise crossing his features before he composed himself. "I'll keep that in mind," he replied casually, though there was a subtle note of respect in his tone. "Decided to grace us with your presence, Captain?" he quipped.

Alpheo chuckled softly. "You could say that," he replied cryptically, his expression thoughtful as he surveyed the scene before them.

Jarza's gaze shifted to Ratto, who stood nearby, his presence drawing attention. "What's he doing here?" he inquired, his tone indicating both surprise and curiosity.

"He brought me good news," Alpheo explained, a faint smile touching his lips. "And I was getting bored, so I decided to keep him with me." He glanced at Ratto, who shifted uncomfortably under Jarza's scrutiny.

Alpheo reached for the letter in his pocket and handed it to Jarza. "Take a look at this," he said, gesturing toward the parchment. "It's from a pigeon."

Jarza took the letter, his eyes scanning the contents briefly before he looked back at Alpheo with a quizzical expression. "Wow these words really do looks nice" he remarked with a joke.

Alpheo snorted a laugh , "It says that the prince is moving toward us with his army," he reported, his voice tinged with a hint of excitement. "And in a few days, he should be arriving here. It seems the siege will be short-lived."

Jarza's eyes widened slightly, a spark of excitement flashing in them as a smile spread across his face. "That's great news, Captain!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with optimism.

Alpheo returned the smile, pleased to see Jarza's reaction. "Indeed it is," he agreed, a sense of relief washing over him. "We should share this news with the troops. It will do wonders for morale."

Jarza nodded in agreement, his enthusiasm evident as he turned to walk along the wall, heading toward the various groups of men stationed there. With purposeful strides, he began to share the news, his voice carrying across the bustling activity of the camp.

As Jarza moved from group to group, spreading the word of the impending relief from the siege, Alpheo watched with satisfaction. He knew that news of the prince's approach would lift the spirits of the men and instill renewed determination in their hearts.

The guards atop the walls erupted into cheers, their voices ringing out in a mighty cry that echoed across the camp and into the surrounding countryside. The unexpected outburst caught the workers below off guard, causing them to pause in their labor and glance up in confusion.

Confusion rippled through the ranks of the workers as they exchanged puzzled glances, searching for an explanation among their fellow laborers. Finding none, they shrugged off the interruption and returned to their tasks, albeit with a lingering sense of curiosity.

With heads bowed and backs bent, the workers continued their laborious efforts, moving alongside the wooden walls erected between the various steps leading to the moat. Some reached their designated covers without incident, their progress unhindered by the commotion above. Others, however, were not so fortunate.

Amidst the rhythmic thud of pickaxes striking earth and the scrape of shovels against soil, the air was punctuated by the sickening sound of stones striking flesh. Lone projectiles found their mark, striking workers in the head or smashing through their chests with brutal force. Bones shattered, ribs splintered, and internal organs were punctured, inflicting agonizing pain and ensuring a slow, torturous demise.

Meanwhile, the archers of the enemy army attempted to retaliate, their arrows slicing through the air in volleys aimed at the defenders atop the walls. Yet their efforts were often in vain, as the slingers swiftly sought cover behind the sturdy stone walls before reemerging to launch their own projectiles in return.

Alpheo rose the young boy up to look over the walls, where they could see the enemy army filling the moat in preparation for an attack on the city.'' Can you tell me what they are doing?'' Ratto's voice held a sure tone as he answered "Yes, they are filling the moat ," he stated before turning his gaze towards Alpheo, who was holding him tightly.

"But do you notice something off about their tactics?" Alpheo asked, gesturing towards the men below.

Ratto's brow furrowed as he looked down at the enemy army and then back at Alpheo. "They may be doing something wrong," he admitted with a shake of his head, "but I don't know what it i''

"The advantage of being on the defensive is great," Alpheo explained, "you have time to fortify your position, lay traps for the enemy, and prepare the terrain for battle. The attacker, on the other hand, is at a disadvantage. They must march towards the enemy in a position that has been chosen for them. They can try to avoid battle, but that only wastes more supplies so there will be a time when they cannot retreat and they can only go forward. Eventually, they will be forced to make their way forward, regardless of their fighting condition. The only advantage they hold is maneuverability - they get to choose how to fight. And as such, they can plan and anticipate the enemy's response to their tactics."

Ratto remained silent, his eyes fixed on the scene below as Alpheo continued to enlighten him. "Right now, the enemy is focusing their efforts on one section of the moat," Alpheo explained, gesturing towards the workers laboring below. "While this approach may speed up the process of filling the moat, it also limits their flexibility and exposes them to our defenses. By concentrating their forces in one area, they're essentially making themselves vulnerable , as we can amass all our troops on one point ."

Ratto nodded slowly, processing Alpheo's words. "But why would they take such a risk?''

Alpheo's gaze remained fixed on the enemy lines as he pondered the question. "They're driven by desperation knowing they have wasted a lot of time ," he responded after a moment. "The prince is determined to capture this city, as its fall would greatly enhance his strategic position in the war. However, he's racing against time, knowing that if he doesn't succeed before reinforcements arrive, his chances of victory diminish significantly."

He then paused, a furrow forming between his brows as he continued, "They likely didn't anticipate the strength of our defenses, which has disrupted their original plan. Now, they're doubling down on their efforts to breach the city before it's too late."

Ratto looked at Alpheo then nodded ''Still, why do you think they thought it would be easy to conquer the city?''

''Well the garrison had low numbers before our arrival.So that's one reason ''He answered keeping the other one to himself.

Or maybe they had an insider in the city, he thought as he looked back, wondering what were the chances of that and if he were to strike first without proof.