Steel and Sorrow: Rise of the Mercenary king

Chapter 267: Chivalry vs Pragmatism

Chapter 267: Chivalry vs Pragmatism

The sun shone brightly in a cloudless sky, its golden rays warming the earth below. Egil reclined on his horse, lying on his stomach over the beast's strong back with one arm draped lazily over its neck. The horse, a sturdy creature with a glossy black coat, trotted steadily beneath him, seemingly accustomed to its master's unconventional posture. Behind Egil, a line of ten riders followed, their horses kicking up small clouds of dust as they moved in unison.

It had been three days since the letters were sent out, and the tension among his men had shifted into a kind of restless anticipation. Egil had sent out a quarter of his forces as scouts, and their efforts had paid off. They had successfully located the enemy army without being detected themselves. Their reports confirmed that the enemy force was still two days away, moving at a fast but predictable pace.

Egil adjusted his position slightly, raising his head just enough to peer at the horizon. A faint smirk played on his lips. Two days. Two more days until the real fun began.

Egil had not spent the past two days idly lounging. His camp had shifted positions twice already, small raiding parties continued to harass nearby villages, succeeding in manipulating the enemy's movements, drawing them along paths of Egil's choosing.

The chosen battleground was nestled within a hilly expanse. It was a place of natural advantage, where the uneven terrain provided countless opportunities for concealment and ambush.