The Courtesan

Chapter 62

KRON

“FALL BACK! REID, WATCH OVER THE RETREAT! PLATOON 10, COVER CAPTAIN REID!”

“YES SIR!”

The battlefield was chaotic, as always. Our soldiers were doing well but the formation kept getting distorted. There was definitely someone turning the tide of the battle, someone who wasn’t supposed to be there; someone like me. I could feel it in my bones.

“Your highness! Please return first!”

“Have all the troops and the survivors retreated?”

“Yes sir! Captain Reid just passed the border line.”

“Alright! Let’s go!”

Surrounded by a heavy cavalry, I started my journey back to the camp. The sun was just rising; we had been fighting overnight. The enemy attacked the troops stationed to the front and I ran there as reinforcement. If I had been slower, the advantage we built would’ve been lost.

“Your highness, watch out!”

My horse was pushed away by one of the riders and not a second later did a boulder crash into the middle of our formation. I had almost lost my head.

“They’re using trebuchets! We have to go faster!”

“Your highness, the horses are exhausted. I’m afraid we can’t go faster than this.”

“Our lives depend on it! Onward, men!”

I had felt my life flash before my eyes too many times just that day. I was definitely being targeted and I was going to be scolded for being behind the retreat. However, I couldn’t stop then.

We continued to ride, avoiding the trebuchets. I winced as I steadily lost horsemen and horses to the boulders that rained down like hail. The camp was in sight. We rode a little further and we were safe from the boulders.

Reid was already in front and beside him were archers. Our trebuchets were also arrayed and ready to fire. He nodded at me as I rode by and began our counter attack.

The sounds of boulders crashing into each other and the feeling of the ground shaking followed me into the camp. My horse was led away by a stable boy who was already looking skinny.

Reid jogged into the camp, a clear look of disapproval on his face.

“Your highness, what were you thinking?! How could you be behind the retreat?!”

“I was trying to…”

“Forget it. I know I would just hear some shite about morale. Please stay and rest. We’ll take it from here.”

“I cannot rest. We have to secure the camp and the supply route.”

“Your highness, please rest.”

“... Yes sir.”

I’m sure if I tried defying Reid, he would have extreme measures up his sleeve. He watched carefully as I removed my armor and lay on the bed, helping with the difficult parts. It was a stretch to call it a bed; it was made from sticks and fur.

Unlike my armor, Reid’s was drenched in blood. He had a hardened look on his face and was sporting a new wound on his arm.

“You should get that treated?”

“I’ll pour some mead on it.”

“... Come here.”

He hesitated but came to sit on the bed while I rose to look for the medical supplies he had given me. I removed the parts of the chainmail covering the wound and began treating it. He didn’t flinch or say a word, just stared at my hand as I treated him.

“Your highness, please return to the main camp.”

“... Why so suddenly?”

“Please don’t pretend to not know you’re being targeted. Their attacks are more relentless because they know you’re here. Please return.”

“I just secured this place. I cannot return so suddenly nor can I leave you here.”

“I will escort you back. Please prepare to leave tonight.”

“You’re not even going to let me argue?”

“No. Thank you for treating me. I will go end this now.”

“... Be careful.”

“I always am, your highness.”

The flap of the tent signified his departure. The environment was noisy but the thoughts that swirled in my head were noisier. I initially thought it was a good idea to go to the battlefield instead of waiting behind to talk strategies. My father did not disapprove and since he did not, the commanders did not either.

It had been two weeks and it had become increasingly evident that I had lost the advantage I initially had. If I had followed the plan, we would’ve taken Turia. Now, everyone would just be disappointed in me.

The ground shook more violently this time and I could guess the source; bombs. Supplied by the infuriating Duke Erik, they were the only reasons why we had been able to maintain our position in the forefront.

However, supplies were dwindling steadily. The people in the main camp and the enemy camp were surely aware of this. Sending supplies was dangerous but for the enemy, we might as well be easy pickings.

I sighed and closed my eyes. Thinking like that rarely did any good. I needed to think of a better plan and fast or else, when I returned, I would not be allowed to go out to the forefront anymore.

I couldn’t sleep, not with the unsettlement of my heart. Reid was out there risking his life for me, there was no way I could close my eyes.

The tent flaps lifted and someone walked in. I assumed it was Reid but their footsteps were unsimilar. I grabbed the dagger beside my bed and waited for whoever entered the tent. When the person got closer, I launched for them and pointed the dagger at their kidney.

“Who are you and what do you… Farow?”

“Y-Y-Your h-h-highn-n-n-ness!”

It was my new squire, a small child of barely 12 years. He was incredibly malnourished and therefore smaller than kids his age. I picked him up on the way to Fort Gracia and he had been in charge of cleaning my armor.

“You came to get the armor. Sorry for scaring you. You may take it and leave.”

If it wasn’t for the fact that my armor was heavy, he would’ve taken it and ran out as fast as he could. It was never my intent to endanger the life of a child on the battlefield.

Reid soon returned, this time covered in more things. He saluted and began to report.

“The enemy has retreated for now so we should be able to leave soon. I have long asked the scouts to find an escape route for us and have prepared an escort for you. I have also received a message from a crow that troops are on their way to secure this place and renew supplies. Therefore, you have nothing to worry about, your highness. You can safely return.”

“I guess so. Thank you, Reid.”

“You can thank me after you’ve rested well. I’ll see you later tonight, your highness.”

“Alright.”