Meta Gods War 3 by B. Miles (the ebook reader txt) 📕

“Not to mention they’re all poorly equipped,” Lagon said. “We barely had enough time to make a spear for every man, let alone give them leathers.”

“Shields and spears will be enough,” Cam said, “if we can get them to fight in formation.”

Key snorted. “I doubt that,” she said. “It took the Medlar fighters months to learn how to work together.”

“We don’t have months,” Cam said. “We have days, at best. Truly, we have more like hours. I doubt the wolves will let us rest and gather strength.”

“What do you suggest, then?” Theus asked.

“I want to hit the wolves now,” Cam said. “I want to find them and pick a fight as soon as possible.”

“Assuming they’ll even take the bait,” Brice said. “You’ll let them pick the ground.”

“True enough,” Cam said. “And they’ll take the bait.”

“It’s a risk,” Key said. “We might walk right into a trap.”

“But we’re fresh now, and the men haven’t had time to get afraid.” Cam shook his head and brushed his fingers over the map. “I don’t propose a full-on battle. I want to take our greenest recruits, put them under your command, Key, and go pick a fight.”

Key leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest. “What makes you think that’ll do anything more than get a bunch of people killed?”

“They need to learn,” Cam said. “And you’re the best teacher I know. But you’ll have to accelerate your course.”

“So you suggest some practical experience.”

“Exactly.” Cam stood up straight. “We’ll pick a fight with the wolves and chip away at their numbers. If we can maneuver the army around their flank and take up a position here, to the north of the valley, then we can cut them off from reinforcements.” Cam jabbed a finger at the map.

“That’d leave a clear path to the Mansion,” Miuri said, leaning forward with a frown.

“I agree,” Cam said. “Which is where your father comes in.”

“My father doesn’t have the numbers to hold against the wolves.”

“Not in open combat. But up those switchbacks? I think your father could slaughter a few thousand wolves before they got close to being overrun.”

“And then what?” Gwedi asked. “You want to just sacrifice my people?”

“Not at all,” Cam said. “He’d fight a retreat back to the Mansion and close its doors. The wolves won’t be able to break in fast enough. I’d bring the army up their rear and smash them against the gates.”

Gwedi tapped her finger against her jaw. “I can see how it might work. But you’re putting a lot of the risk on my people.”

“Your people are more experienced than mine,” Cam said. “I think they can handle it. But I can offer you a brigade of armored fighters if they need help.”

Gwedi snorted and waved that away. “Don’t insult me.”

“Good.” Cam grinned at her. “I had a feeling you’d see things my way.”

She grinned back and shook her red hair. “I’ll see what my Lord has to say about this,” she said.

“I have a feeling my father will agree,” Miuri said. “It’s a good idea, Cam.”

“There’s a lot that’s uncertain,” Cam said. “Getting around the wolves will take more than a few pitched battles, assuming they even let us.”

“That’s where I come in,” Key said.

“Exactly. You’re going to lead the charge and kill as many of them as you can. Make them think we’re being aggressive, when really we’re trying to cut them off.”

“Then we’ll meet the Elves in the middle,” Key said.

“Right.” Cam took a deep breath. “It’s a risky strategy, I know. But I’m banking on a few things.”

“Which are?” Theus asked.

“The wolves are desperate,” Cam said. “They thought they’d come into our valley and sweep over us like we were nothing. But I destroyed their plans when I freed the army, and now they’re reeling from that blow. I think they’re desperate to finish this as fast as they can, and if I present them with an open path to the Mansion, they’ll take it.”

He watched the faces around the table. Some of the older Generals frowned at each other, and Cam could only imagine what they were thinking. But more than a few looked back at him with real interest, like they were sizing him up and liked what they found.

“It’s a solid strategy,” Brice said, nodding her head. “I think it just might work.”

“We’ll have a long road ahead of us,” Cam said. “But I believe there’s a way out of this if we work together.”

“And only if we work together,” Miuri said.

Cam noticed several of the older Generals give her sharp uncertain looks.

“It begins tomorrow,” Cam said. “We make our stand here. There’s no other choice. We fight or we die, and either way we die. So we might as well take as many of those bastards down with us in the end, and maybe even send them home with their tails shoved down their throats.”

A few laughs echoed out. Cam clasped his hands behind his back.

“Lagon,” he said, “come to me after this and we’ll discuss the supply issues. I can request more from Galla if necessary. There are some perks to being married to the Lord of the Mansion.”

More laughter, though Cam noted some subdued faces. He hoped Felin noticed as well.

“For now, though,” Cam said and released his hands from behind his back. He leaned forward on the table, looming over the map. “It’s time we talked details. We have an army that’s half-bruised and half-green, and we can use any ideas to help shore up our strengths before the wolves find all the cracks in our armor.”

The table broke out into discussion and Cam let it wash over him. Brice gave him a smile and a subtle but approving nod, and Key fell into conversation with Theus about the best battle tactics to use against wolves.

This wasn’t ideal. It wasn’t what he imagined leading an army would be. He had enemies at this table, he knew, and enemies waiting nearby.