None of the other scouts had returned, and they soon met the enemy in battle. Only minor skirmishes, but they cost the Yaloran dearly. Scouting groups began to travel in groups of ten, with at least one mage.
The addition of magic users had been particularly useful. The dog-like creatures that had originally attacked were terrified of fire. The mages could sense them before they arrived, and would set up a few fire traps to either kill or frighten them off.
“The enemy has noticed the ‘dogs’ disappearing, and have sent out more intelligent troops.” Erik said.
“It’s incredible how easily we can label things. 'Days', ‘dogs’.” Alkorn said. “Have they altered their course at all?”
“Not yet. It appears they hope to reach the source of energy before us and make their stand there.”
“Will they outrun us?”
“Undoubtedly, but not by much. We may be able to surprise them before they have prepared any proper defenses. We do not know their battle tactics, and we can only make assumptions about how their army functions, but it seems they do not have the best discipline. Their camp was set up haphazardly, and there seemed to be infighting during the short time our scouts watched them. When they march, they are disorganized. We should be able to send a few units ahead to set up ambushes. They will not kill many, but should cause some chaos.”
“Arrange it. They seem to adapt quickly, however. I want no repetition of tactics, and hold back the mages who have seen the greatest change. I do not want the enemy to know about them.”
Erik left the tent, and Alkorn sat down. His only luxury was a simple chair. He tried to study the reports, but had gone over them already a dozen times, and would get no new information from them. He rose, and went outside.
Alkorn walked amongst his soldiers for a time. It was good for moral for them to see him on occasion. Not that morale was currently a problem. He gave suggestions about the proper way to sharpen weapons, helped a young woman who was practicing her lance-work, fed his own horse, and joined a group of soldiers at their fire for a time. He never spoke to one person for very long, though. It made soldiers uncomfortable. But he made his presence known.
Suddenly, the world grew dark. It came quickly, and within moments the sky was black. The soldiers broke camp in minutes, and formed a defensive circle, guarding their weaker units and supplies as best they could against an aerial attack.
They waited in silence, no sound except for the scraping of armor as soldiers swayed against one another and the whinnying of horses. A low hiss sounded above them, and soldiers began dying.
The mages launched waves of fire over the soldiers' heads. Each was followed by a chorus of hideous shrieks and bat creatures began to fall from the sky. The sound tore through the ranks, forcing soldiers to their knees as they grasped their ears. The archers began to loose arrows, firing volley above the screams of dying men and women. The infantry soon came to their senses and began to finish off the monsters that struggled on the ground. With sword and spear they killed hundreds.
The dusk-like light returned, and the surviving creatures flew away, back towards the enemy camp.
Alkorn ordered half the mages to move through the ranks of soldiers and begin healing, while the rest stayed on guard. This had been a test, a distraction to slow them down, but the enemy had underestimated them. Their camp was packed, and the soldiers were raw from the adrenaline of battle.
Once the healing was finished they cremated the bodies of the fallen, and stowed the injured in wagons, then headed out to meet their enemy.