September 18th
Who : Fredric Mekhal When : September 18th, evening Where : 60 Miles north of Mekhal territory, deep in the Wilders. What : Fredric sends a time sensitive report to the Chaldean.
Fredric's army had made great strides, the local tribes and communities had no chance to ready themselves against the combined assualt by the collected forces. The Legion's heavy armor put an end to the resistance they encountered, the Western scouts and horses cut down retreating warriors and warded off enemy attempts at reconnaissance against his men. The troops from the other lands had done well also, committing themselves to his orders and leadership. He was proud of the men and women under his command. Their progress was evident in land taken, resources gained, and prisoners taken. That isn't to say it's all been cake and honey. There have been casualties. Two days ago a scout team of Eastern troops had come under attack by a heavily armed Danaan warband and a Legion had been forced to pack up and force march through 4 miles of brutal terrain. The Danaan were routed but it had been a rough battle until the Legion broke their lines and tore their archers to pieces.
The pace of advance and battle had been so rapid that this was one of the first nights the Army had encamped for any length of time. This had been the reason for the lack of reports headed down south to the Capital. This didn't spare him from rumors and near assurance coming from the south. The most disturbing rumors had been confirmed by one of his own loyal friends who had kept tabs on the young noble from the East. That Eoin Viorel had spent the night with the Queen, and much time together afterwards disgusted him. It was of course the Queen's choice to pick a suitor, but honor and good conduct was missing in the Palace. No sooner than Fredric had been sent to fight in mortal peril the scamp had made his move and it was returned in kind. Fredric didn't have any time for his close friends in his war council who said nothing is official and those were just rumors. He wasn't stupid and he knew the man's reputation. Fredric was now only happy in the conduct of his war, he had something he could turn his attention to beside the fires of vengence that burnt in his heart. Lost however, was the sword bestowed upon him by the Queen. After meditating on the rumors and thinking them over he impaled the blade in the chest of an enemy in a particularly bloody battle and left it on the battlefield, among the corpses of their enemies.
Now he looked at the candle burning on his desk in his tent, the bit of parchment before him. He had a report to write and had thought about who best to send the dispatch to. To send it to the Queen would take too long and it wasn't essential information for her anyhow. Sending it to Judgment would be a waste, the man cared not for Fredric and even if he did respect his action and background it might take too long to reach it's intended target, the same with the fair Lady Dubghail, who the letter concerned. Fredric decided he had to take a chance and send it to the Chaldean herself. The woman could be his word in this matter. She had these old opponents ears and could be the deciding factor in making sure this information was received and quickly. He put pen to paper and begin to write his report. Other reports to Houses would follow, assuring the Lords and Ladies that their troops were in good hands and functioning to the best ability that could be hoped for, honorable and capable. Of course with heavy hear casualty lists would be included, something he did not relish as he looked toward the stack of letters written to the families of the fallen, something he charged his subordinate commanders with, written by the men who served with those lost.
Esteemed Chaldean, I write to you in hopes my message will be received well and thoughtfully considered by yourself before being passed onto those who will benefit from the contents. Before I begin I'd like to reconsider my encounter with you in the Hound's Tooth Inn my actions and words were unjust and driven by a drive to stand strong against the opposing forces in the court. I put you in unnecessary danger, something I as a member of the realm did not know was such a concern. My actions in the end did much more hurt than help and it is with penance that I send my heartfelt apology. I do hope this letter finds you in better health than you had when I left the Court to take the helm of war and lead our nations forces against those who put you in that state. I also would like to send to you first my resignation from the chase of the Queen's hand. Her betrayal to me has hardened my heart and I agree that the games of the court hold no place for me. As it were I sent this letter to inform you of intelligence I've uncovered concerning our friend's lands to the west. Our scouts have uncovered the movements of a well equipped and trained warband headed toward the border of Lady Dubghail's lands. This company sized force has been a force to reckon with and are responsible for multiple raids and damages suffered by the Auxiliaries guarding my own borders. I cannot intercept these forces before they reach the western lands but Lady Dubghail's Generals would be able to hold them with advance warning, this would give us the time we need for a Legionette, broken off from my main force to close in behind them. This combined force of arms would be able to crush these enemies and rid us of another contingent of the Danaan forces, giving us the opening needed to push the line of battle even further, toward the feet of the mountains far through the formidable forests still north. I ask you consider this message and turn it over without too much deliberation.