The trip took about a week, the last day being on horseback for more anonymity. Along the way, he received a few updates on the war effort. One confirmed that the light Vle had resorted to harrying, with arrows and other projectiles, the dark Vle encampment Taréz was headed to. Though the camp was too far away for such attempts to be effective, neither did they come down from the mountains to get any closer. The general was drafting plans to try to attack any who did try to get closer, but it wasn’t easy.
Another two messages concerned the kingdoms to the north, which said simply that the war didn’t concern them and that they wouldn’t be helping. Those really boiled Taréz’s blood. This concerned all dark Vle! It wasn’t as if relations between, say, Baldia and A’peine were rosy and happy. In fact, they quite disliked each other, and yet the Baldians were apparently refusing a chance to address that dislike.
But the last one was the worst, a frantically scrawled one from Lord Hilonia: “A light Vle force from Kamilea landed on my shores today and have taken over completely My force was no match, but neither did they fight with valor. I will be heading north to Creaz. Please send troops quickly before they overrun Varabia as well!”
Poor Hilonia! The distant cousin of a very important noble near Dronac, his grandfather had been lucky enough to be in favor in court when Hilonia had been taken from Varmac. The family had never really integrated very well, and the separateness kept the area unsteady enough to not be very profitable. Still, its position near the open sea made it an unparalleled port fiefdom, and worth defending at all cost.
“Has any response been given to this one?”
“I don’t know, Sire,” said the army’s envoy. “I do know that copies were sent to His Majesty the King and to Chief Gardric.”
“Send... two hundred of the mountain force. I’m sure there are that many who are better trained for plains warfare. It may be too late, but I have to try.”
“Yes, Sire.” The envoy kicked his mount into a full gallop; even at that pace, the mountains were a day away.
The mountains. Visible as a dark band on the horizon.
Another two days passed, and another report came. Taréz’s father had authorized Gardric to commandeer whatever ships were necessary to get forces across the gulf. More ominous, the King had reason to believe local forces were not necessarily sympathetic to the cause.

The encampment sat on the back side of a foothill, the mountains rising beyond. A cool breeze blew from that direction, and Taréz shivered a bit. Dark Vle were not really meant to be this far south.
He inspected the camp as he approached. Sentries stood on the crest, overlooking prim organization. Things had apparently been fairly quiet. For a moment, Taréz thought perhaps he should have requested a more active post.
A private rode out to escort him, but he waved it off. “I don’t want my presence to be anything special.”
“Yes, Sire.” He rode back to his previous position and went back to his business.
The general’s tent was a non-descript one toward the northern end of the camp. Taréz tied his horse to the post right outside, and saluted at the secretary who met him.
“Saluting to me, Sire? You’re taking this deception to heart.”
“If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right. Is the general ready to go?”
“Yes, Sire...” began the secretary as they headed into the interior room.
“In fact, I’m very anxious to get out of here. I’d like to see some real action. If you don’t mind me saying, Sire, I would never have volunteered for this.”
“It is essentially holdout warfare, isn’t it?” Taréz agreed. “I’m guessing the briefing will live up to its name?”
“Brief, yes. We’ve had 51 attacks in the 18 days we’ve been here, but lately the frequency has been down to about every other day. The last two have even been at the same time of day.”
“They’re as bored as we are. Casualties?”
“Sixteen. Five are due to accidents.”
“Accidents?! I won’t have that on my battlefield. General, do you know Lieutenant Difray?”
“I do. We trained together as recruits,” he replied with a smile.
“He’s here as a disciplinary action. Any suggestion as to an appropriate post?”
Without a beat, the general replied, “Sentry commander.”
Taréz noticed Difray rolling his eyes, but let it go. “So be it.” Difray saluted and went out to his new post.