Side Story 103: The Two Strategists (10)

"Has Aarsel sent out troops?"

Kruger, the commander of Ing's forces deployed near the border, received the report with displeasure.

I had told Ozald to provoke the northerners and drive them back, but that man is more useless than I expected.

Well, it doesn't matter. In any event, the men of Aarsel have neither the nerve nor the strength to attack us. We need only wait here until the northerners return. It's an easy assignment.

"And where have Aarsel's troops deployed?"

The only real drawback to this mission was the terrain where they had established their camp.

The land on Ing's side slopes gently downward from the border with Aarsel. This is because immediately beyond the border stands a long, narrow hill known as the "Horse's Back."

Moreover, dense forest spread all around their current position, making it unsuitable for a camp.

It would be ideal to place their camp atop the Horse's Back, but crossing the border would provoke too much opposition from Aarsel.

As far as they were concerned, they intended only to keep pressuring the King of Aarsel from within their own territory. "Which side is truly reliable?"...