Chris

Walking out of the tent, I saw everyone else rushing to strap on armor and gather up their weapons. Helmets were latched tight, chest plates were donned, and the thick fur cloaks were removed.

Cloaks were good for warmth, but bad for a battle. My own bear-furred cloak was left behind in the tent as well.

Faces were determined, rather than grim. Determined and resilient. A good combination to have, and much better than the grim and fearful I'd seen a few times before. The faces I'd seen before charging into a valley of demons were considerably different. There was also the uncertainty from the test, when we had been ready to stand against the unknown.

Determined and resilient.

A culture Abigail would claim I had a heavy hand in creating, but I didn't feel that way. It wasn't me that did anything, it was others who stepped up when they had been called.

Pride swelled in me. Pride in what I had built, and who I had built it with.

Eyes were drawn to me, like they always had, and I made sure to show no fear. It helped that I had no fear to show.

The tent encampment was left behind, and I stood at the front as line upon line of soldiers started gathering. Elliot, Hal, and Gabriel, the three Order Masters, stood beside me along with Jonathan, the Guard Commander.

Behind them, and in the first row, were all of the Lieutenants.

Anders, with his heavy fur-lined metal armor and large two-handed battle axe. Hugo, with a warhammer and armor similar to my own. Valerie, with a great sword as tall as she was. Cole, with a sword and shield to match his Order Captain. Avery, with a mace and shield. Lastly, Zion, standing off to the side with his glaive propped against his shoulder and a bonded bison by his side.

Hal's Lieutenants were further back, but were no less impressive. Sydney, Killian, Gavin, and Justin stood tall in front of their respective units, bows strung and ready.

Gabriel's Mages were last, but certainly not least, representing a large percentage of the firepower. Jacks, Meredith, Bayley, and Shawn stood with thick mana wrapped around them and staves of various colors in their hand.

The regular Order members were numerous and stood no less impressively than those who led.

All eyes were on me as my aura blanketed the crowd. I tried to make it as comforting as possible, but there were still a few winces and tight faces from those I suspected were the weaker members.

I used it to carry my voice to everyone present. I still spoke with enough weight for the moment, but I wasn't shouting.

"We stand here today to carry out our duty to our allies and honor our word that we would fight with them should they be attacked. We are here not for ourselves, but for those we have sworn to aid. Just as I have asked before we departed on this journey, I will ask again before this battle. I ask that you stand with me. I ask that you fight those who ride against us. Your oaths to me were to protect our lands and our people, so I can only ask that you shed blood, not demand."

A cry of assent rose from the gathered men and women, and I paused to smile. That pride I held bloomed brighter. Not a single one had denied the call, even though it wasn't compulsory.

I nodded with a smile.

"Then we shall stand united, and our enemies will break upon us and turn the snow under our feet red. Know that by fighting here today, you Live with Honor, And, if the unfortunate is to happen, that you Died with Glory!"

"HAYAAAA," The cry crescendoed.

I waved to Ashley and Gabriel, who gave the signal for the buffs to be cast. Magic swirled around the clearing as everyone with a boost, bonus, buff, or any other support skill cast what they could.

None fell upon me, as was usual, but the Warriors who would lead the charge lit up to my mana senses as boosts fell down upon them. Rangers received damage increases without the additional defensive or endurance boost, while mages received mana bonuses.

Potions were passed out matching their Classes, with Health and Stamina going to the Warriors and Rangers, and Mana to the Healers and Mages.

The thundering of hooves could be subtly heard in the distance, and I knew it was time.

"Into formation!"

Stolen novel; please report.

Everyone spread out to where they were needed while I walked to my spot in the vanguard. The wall we had spent so long preparing was still hidden in the earth and under the snow, and wouldn't be raised until the Reservation committed to a charge.

Those designated to raise it were in place and had practiced doing so already.

Supports manned the siege weapons as ballistae were drawn, taught, and catapults locked back.

At the head, staring out over a field of white, I leveraged my Law and funneled it into [Tundra's Descent] out in front of us. It was difficult to control the direction with so much power coursing through it, but I did the best I could.

Small shapes in the distance began to break up the sea of white, and they grew larger as the distance closed. Over a thousand horses led at the front, ready to charge our lines.

Zion and his group of five hundred bison riders started to thump the ground in return. Sarah brought over Icebreaker, and I climbed into the saddle. I hadn't spent much time with the mount as I should have, but it was about to be remedied. I'd spent two weeks with Zion getting as comfortable in the saddle as I could, and now it was time to use it.

Icebreaker's level had risen, and the power rolling off him had grown. Sarah had done good work tending to him, making him into a worthy mount I wasn't afraid of breaking. His fur held flakes of snow, and the beast huffed out plumes of frost with every breath.

He was just as ready as I was to charge into battle.

The best part was the frosted over metal layering his flanks and head. Armor crafted specifically and fit him perfectly covered up his weakest spots. It had been unusual to craft something so... different, but I was proud of my work.

I still wasn't completely at home fighting atop him, but I didn't plan to do so for long. My first task would be to take the fight to the ground.

"Remember the plan, Zion, strafing runs after I dismount Tasunka. I'll leave Icebreaker in your care, but he should know the way back on his own." I said.

He trotted over, and I knew he was still disappointed, but he nodded all the same, "Understood."

Charging them was unnecessary and ill-advised. It would be giving up our defensive position for no gain, while also putting them at undue risk. Even so, Zion had advocated for just that while we had been planning.

The man was slightly crazy, but in a good way.

Icebreaker chuffed, ready to charge the enemy now that they were in sight.

"I wish you good fortune in the battle to come, Zion," I said to my companion.

The man ginned behind his helmet and gave his bison a pat, "Leave the Fortune to the others, I don't need it with Titan here." Titan, the man's mount, was nearly at the same level as Icebreaker.

"All the same," my hammer settled into my hands as everything settled into place.

My legs braced around my mount, and I readied to charge.

Tasunka

"Are those fucking bison?" Mo said in surprise, "And is that armor covering them?"

Tasunka was also surprised. Not so much about the bison, but about how many there were and the fact that they were armored. They had known Frostheim had them, from their use during the test, but not that they had so many and that they were trained into a Cavalry unit.

He knew firsthand how hard that was and how much training it took. Formations needed to be drilled so much that it was instinctual for both the horse and the rider.

The surprise didn't change anything. "There are barely five hundred of them, less than a third of our number. The plan continues."

At his back were fifteen hundred of his finest riders atop specifically bred horses. Sure, the bison were heavier and armored, but nothing could beat them in speed. Of that much, Tasunka was assured.

They would outmaneuver them and outnumber them.

"I sense a large working of magic in front of them. Traps most likely, but it's too smothered in arctic mana to make out specifically." Andrea warned. Such things were expected by this point after running into so many traps.

"Anything else?" He questioned the mage.

"Yes, but I can't tell what it is. It feels... smothered, and the mana hides it well." She answered.

Surprises were the last thing he wanted, but it would be more worrisome if there weren't any.

"I think they mean to charge us," Mo said, and even though such an action was foolish, Tasunka couldn't help but agree.

Out in front of their lines, bison stood in formation. Some were pounding their hooves on the ground in preparation. Something was being said, but the distance was too much.

After coming into view with the enemy, he slowed the pace and stopped a couple of thousand yards away. Perception being what it was, it was still within eyesight.

Tasunka ground his teeth in frustration, "I can't sense anything with all this fucking snow."

At that point, as if to mock him, the white menace began to fall from the sky. The only thing that kept him from cursing was the mana signature saturated in the flakes.

It was unnatural, and the result of a skill, not nature itself.

It seems things have started.

His fingers ached inside his heavy gloves, and his face felt like pinpricks were being driven into it. Blinking became more frequent, as it felt like his eyes would freeze over if he didn't.

"He has a much higher control over the weather than we thought," Mo said while shaking his limbs to remain warm. "This puts us on a timer."

"I agree, but it also puts him on a timer. He will run out of mana eventually." Tasunka said. He wasn't sure how much it took to maintain this, but it would cost something.

There was also a Law layered in, which took mental power as well. While reducing the mana cost, it was another resource being drained.

All their tricks will amount to nothing under our charge. Hooves will grind them into the very snow they love so much.

"Line up!" He called, and over a fifteen hundred horses shifted into position.

There was no point in waiting. The plan was set, and it wasn't changing.

Tricks or no tricks. Traps or no traps. Snow or no snow. All would fall to his spear, and his faction would grow stronger.

No speeches were necessary. His people knew everything he could say already.

The line of horses was perfect, just as they had trained, ready to charge. The only thing they were waiting on was his order.

Tasunka smiled as he gave it.

"Charge!"

From a trot to a run, to a full-blown gallop. Hooves thundered into the earth, and snow was flung from their path.

Unexpectedly, as they charged full speed at the enemy, an opposing order thundered from the other side. Clear enough that everyone on the field could hear it.

"Charge!"

Those idiots really were charging back. Outnumbered three to one, yet they did it anyway.

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