183 Surprise Visitor (1/2)
While the war had long begun on the front lines, everything was still peaceful in Corco's tent at the center of their main camp. The feet of his scouts were much faster than the steps of war though, so he could still listen in on some stories from the front.
”King Corco, our officers report that King Pachacutec's probing raids have been repelled, one and all. There have been only very sporadic losses on our side, a mere four soldiers in total. Two of them died from a fall when they panicked atop the walls. According to our scouts in the east, King Pachacutec no longer sends raid parties out of his advanced camp. Instead, he seems to prepare for another move. His aim may be a direct confrontation, so we expect his main army to cross into occupied territory soon.”
”How many?” Corco asked, one hand on his chin. In response, his servant only offered a dull look.
”Please excuse this servant's ignorance, King Corco, but-”
”How many warriors from the enemy side did we kill?” As he asked the question, his brows wrinkled.
”Oh, great King! Our brave men wiped out a total of one hundred and sixteen enemy warriors in battle. Surely, now the opposing lords will regret that they have ever opposed King Corco! Our warriors have brought great glory to our kingdom.”
Once he understood the question, the servant's spine straightened as he told of their troops' exploits with a sparkle in his eyes. However, the recipient of the good news had no interest in celebrations. Still in a terrible mood, Corco waved in the vague direction of the tent's entrance.
”You can go now. Tell the soldiers to get ready for deployment, and send runners to recall all platoons from the front line. We'll be going on the move soon.”
”Yes, King Corco.”
The man failed to notice Corco's poor facial expression, or he chose to ignore it. Either way, he replied in a chipper manner and turned on his heels to leave the king's command tent. A few moments after the servant had left, Tamaya came out from behind a curtain in the tent's back.
”Please excuse the servant's undue enthusiasm,” Tama said. She had really started to cut down on the useless formalities in recent weeks. ”As an ordinary warrior, he fails to see the bigger picture, and in his joy over our victory, he forgot himself.”
Of course Tama would be aware of Corco's general distaste for battle in general, and this war in particular. After all, the eldest son of the emperor considered everyone in Medala one of his subjects. Even more, the humanist Corco considered all of his countrymen compatriots, be they friend or foe. Worse yet, many of the warriors on Pacha's side still carried the name Pluritac, and would have been part of Emperor Corco's household without the machinations of the Ancestral Hall. Despite the servant's inconsiderate actions, he just waved away Tama's apology to offer one of his own.
”Rather than that, I feel sorry you have to hide like this.” As he spoke, Corco offered Tama the empty seat next to his command chair with a troubled face.
After the rumors had spread, even some of the ghosts, Tama's own subordinates, had begun to show restraint and downright fear whenever they saw her. As a result, Corco had decided to keep her out of the public eye until they had calmed down a bit. Still, quasi-exiling one of his own didn't feel great.
”It is no trouble at all,” Tama sat down with a smile. ”I prefer to operate out of sight.”
”So you just won't meet people anymore?”
”If I ever wish to show off a new dress, I can still do so in a more private setting.” The girl's sheepish smile had loaded her innocent words with meaning.
”...sure. Let's leave it at that,” Corco replied in a defensive tone. After a few seconds of uncomfortable silence, Tama's calm voice cut through the awkward atmosphere.
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”It appears as if you decided to face your peacock uncle in an open confrontation, is that correct? While I believe a quick and decisive victory is a good method to limit the casualties on both sides, I am unsure whether we need to take the risk.”
”We're not gonna fight them,” Corco replied with a grin, ”not if we can avoid it.”
”Although I might be speaking out of line, but in war, casualties are unavoidable. We cannot save everyone in this conflict. Even if you consider the warriors under Pacha your subjects, they have sworn no oath of loyalty and do not share your notions. They have come to fight and kill.”
Why did all of Corco's supporters tell him to toughen up? Was his image really so weak?
”Yeah, don't worry. I'm not avoiding conflict because I think we can somehow talk our way out of this. I just don't wanna give the other forces a chance to profit from our movements. You know, Amautu, Divitius and Herak will jump at the chance if they see us weakened. Rather than fight a mutual losing battle, we'll have Pacha chase us around the snow for a bit until we can gain time for your brother to lead the craftsmen south. Then we'll retreat back across the Narrow Sea.”
”Thank you, King Corco.” True relief filled Tama's voice as she lowered her head. Though he understood that the girl had been worried for Fadelio's safety, Corco was caught off guard by her unusual honesty.
”Well, he's my friend too... and I really need another reliable attendant now that you're persona non grata.”
Before Corco could scold her again for ruining her own public image, Tama decided to switch topics.
”King Corco, even if we wish to avoid a clash with Pacha's troops, would we even be able to prevent a confrontation? After all, most of the central army is comprised of warriors, while most of our men are nothing more than commoners. Even if we ignore the fact that Pacha's men know the local terrain better, mortals should not be able to outrun cultivators, should they?”
”In that regard, I can offer two simple answers.” Corco raised two fingers, another cocky grin on his face. ”Sleighs and snow-shoes are the first answer. It's self-explanatory, really. Just look outside. In this sort of weather, we will save a ton of energy with the help of our tools and have an almost insurmountable advantage in terms of endurance.”
”Yet our enemies are powerful cultivators,” Tama insisted. But of course, Corco had his answer ready.
”And those cultivators are the second reason they won't catch us. Don't look at the endurance of our runners as the standard for all warriors. They're a special case, with a special cultivation technique that makes their metabolism that efficient. In fact, most warriors have far worse endurance than well-trained commoners, trading in efficiency for power. They're more sprinters, really, like dwarves.”
”Huh?” A clueless Tama tilted her head to the side. Maybe some day he would find some time to write out those books.
”Ah, it's nothing,” Corco returned to the topic at hand. ”Anyways, all that power us cultivators can generate in short bursts is a real drain on our efficiency. As a result of our massive power consumption, we tend to run on empty rather quickly. That's why warriors tend to fight short, intense battles, or repeatedly charge enemies and then disengage to catch their breaths. It's also why we eat so much.”
Corco picked up a raisin from a bowl before him and threw it into his mouth.
”And that's where Pacha's biggest problem lies: Since his army has thousands of warriors, all that extra food has to be stored somewhere. Though you say Pacha's army is made up of mostly warriors, he has a giant baggage train of commoners with him to carry all the food for the fancy banquets and such. In total, all those levied craftsmen, merchants, magicians, priests, entertainers, whores, thieves and whatever else follows in an army's wake will double his actual army in size, at least. In a longer pursuit, Pacha can't exactly leave them behind and have his voracious hordes starve to death. No, if he wants to catch us, he will have to do it slowly, sidestep, cut off the ring... even then, we'll do our best to slip away and gain time enough for our trapped people to free themselves.”
Grateful, Tama nodded, though Corco felt like he could see a hint of bitterness play around her mouth.
”It is a sound strategy, King Corco. Should we get ready to set off as well?” With graceful movements, Tama got off from her seat and walked towards the entrance.
”Yeah, let's-”
Before Corco could finish, another servant rushed into the tent, this one so flustered he even forgot a proper greeting.