Filed To Story: Queen of the Battlefield Her Return to Glory Novel Online Free
Tyler nodded in agreement. “General Farrell’s words are wise. I also think the same.”
Malcolm lifted his gaze, a suspicious frown crossing his face. “If the Hell Monarch was feigning defeat, he wouldn’t truly be missing. In that case, the soldiers delivering the grain should know his whereabouts. Why, then, has this urgent report come back with such alarming news?”
His words brought the sense of calm that had been creeping into the room to a halt, reigniting the concern that had been momentarily quelled.
However, Thomas remained composed and explained, “The grain was sent from Simonton City, and Sandoria has held the Southern Frontier for quite some time. There could be hidden spies or traitors within the ranks. If a strategy was planned, it wouldn’t be widely disclosed. They would only share what was necessary with those not involved in the fight.”
Thomas had handled intelligence work himself, so his words carried weight. It wasn’t far-fetched to suspect the presence of spies, especially given Sandoria’s long occupation of the Southern Frontier.
Patrick spoke up, adding, “Even if General Farrett’s analysis is correct, it’s only theoretical. There’s no guarantee it reflects the current situation of the Southern Frontier Army What if the Hell Monarch is truly missing? What if their forces have been defeated and scattered? This would undoubtedly be a blow to our kingdom. Should we send reinforcements?”
He turned his gaze toward Sophie. “Commander Devin, you’ve fought at the Southern Frontier and faced Marshal Crow yourself. Also, you know Prince Rafael better than anyone. What do you think?”
Patrick was actually doing Sophie a favor. As the Hell Monarch’s princess consort, she had the most reason to worry about the war, especially with Rafael’s disappearance. By suggesting reinforcements, no matter what Salvador ultimately decided, Patrick had at least spoken up on her behalf.
The room fell silent as all eyes turned to Sophie.
She looked up from the map and asked, “Did the urgent report mention the casualty numbers after the ambush?”
Davis shook his head. “No, it didn’t.”
“If the casualties had been severe, they would have reported it,” Sophie said, her tone thoughtful. After a moment of quiet contemplation, she looked directly at Salvador. “Your Majesty, I trust General Thomas’ analysis. I believe Marshal Sanford has feigned defeat. Even if he truly is missing as Mr. Lloyd mentioned, the army would not be leaderless.
“General Timothy and General Louis are seasoned warriors. They’ve fought countless battles, and I’m sure they’ve prepared multiple strategies. Even in adversity, they can still turn the tide in our favor.” Sophie’s confidence in Thomas’ analysis stemmed from her own knowledge of the casualty situation. She believed that the lack of mention in the report meant that the casualties were not substantial. The true concern lay in the Hell Monarch’s disappearance.
Patrick was taken aback by Sophie’s calm response. For a brief moment, he stood there in stunned silence, then couldn’t help but admire her. Even with her husband missing on the front lines, she managed to stay composed and offer such a level-headed analysis.
Sending reinforcements now could mean sending Chester’s forces, those from Victory Pass, or even the Capital Army under Thomas’ command. However, all of these options were too far away to make a difference in time.
The real issue wasn’t the battle at the Southern Frontier, but the situation at the Atamore Mountain Range. The reinforcements would only serve to hold the Southern Frontier, not to change the course of the battle already unfolding.
Salvador listened to everyone’s opinions, his face unreadable. He didn’t make a decision, merely saying that they would have to wait.
It was clear-no reinforcements would be sent.
Later that evening, Thomas and Rosalind paid a visit to Sophie. Thomas could sense that Sophie might still be worried, so he brought Rosalind along to discuss the situation further, hoping to put her mind at ease.
“This battle is bound to be tough, but our army’s aim is to eliminate several enemy leaders and strike a blow to their morale. Marshal Sanford’s strategy is likely to draw the enemy into a trap. If they can use the terrain of Mount Whitemist to their advantage, it could be the deciding factor,” he said.
“Do you know the Atamore Mountain Range well, General Farrell?” Sophie asked.
“Not in great detail, but we’ve done reconnaissance in the area before. The terrain is complicated, and the Southern Frontier Army has been stationed there long enough. They’ve probably already scouted the favorable positions. If they make good use of the mountain range’s geography, they’ll have a strong chance of success.”
Sophie nodded thoughtfully. “I believe in him.”
Thomas handed her a map of the terrain, one he had drawn himself. “This map isn’t perfect, but it gives a fairly clear idea of where the Southern Frontier Army is positioned.”
Sophie unfurled the map, her eyes scanning it before she looked up at Thomas. “So, you want me to send this to Marshal Sanford?”
Thomas shook his head with a knowing look. “Marshal Sanford has probably figured it out himself by now.”
Sophie understood immediately. Thomas assumed she wanted to head to the front lines herself, so he had brought her the map to aid her. It seemed the married couple’s quiet forays into battle had become somewhat of an open secret.
She smiled and shook her head. “I have faith in him. If he can’t win this battle, my being there won’t make a difference. It would only hinder him.”
Thomas exhaled in relief and smiled in return. “Yes, you’re right. It’s better this way. It’s best if you stay here.”
–
Rafael stood atop Mount Chimera with 3,000 elite soldiers, watching the cold embrace the land. The days were warm, but the nights were far colder, colder even than Mount Whitemist.
Yet, there was an advantage to this bleak place-Mount Chimera had only one entrance. It was a high, narrow pass surrounded by towering cliffs, with a deep valley beneath it, directly facing Mount Whitemist. It was a perfect stronghold, easy to defend but difficult to attack.
Victor would never manage to scale these heights, but once his forces entered Mount Whitemist, a natural trap would be set.
Rafael was waiting for the right moment, a moment he would create himself.
Louis currently had 30,000 men stationed at Mount Whitemist, with the latest shipment of grain stored there as well. Victor desperately wanted that grain. His soldiers were so hungry they had resorted to slaughtering their own warhorses for meat.
The moment Victor moved to seize Mount Whitemist, the Southern Frontier Army would retreat. Once the latter army was out of the way, boulders would rain down from Mount Chimera, followed by a full-scale assault.
Rafael had initially considered a surprise attack, but that would only wear down both sides. He needed a decisive victory, one that could turn the tide.
So, he took a team of elite soldiers to find a path up Mount Chimera, where he could control the entire situation. The timing was perfect-the grain supplies were delivered just then, which would surely make Victor drool with greed.
For Rafael, it was truly the perfect combination of timing, location, and people. Now, he just had to wait for Victor’s greed to take over, and he could spring the trap.
Victor would definitely fall for it. He had no choice left. His men were starving, their hunger so intense that scouts reported they had consumed nearly every bit of tree bark in sight.
Rafael’s gaze drifted toward the distant capital, a twinge of longing filling his chest. For soldiers, the hardest struggles were hunger and cold. But for him, the hardest battle was missing his wife. Without him by her side, she was probably also having a difficult time during the New Year celebrations.
Mount Chimera had no name before Rafael claimed it. He chose the name because the mountain’s shape resembled a chimera’s crouching form. Also, once he had taken control, it became a place of no return for any enemy foolish enough to try their luck.
Not only was it hard to approach, even delivering supplies was a nearly impossible task. So, the Southern Frontier Army had to rely on the dried meat they carried with them. And when they were thirsty, they boiled snow to melt it into drinking water.
The advantage of the location was clear: three sides of the mountain were surrounded by sheer cliffs, making it impossible for anyone to scout from above.
Their position had a natural barrier, so even if they lit a fire, it wouldn’t be seen. Still, they couldn’t take the risk and build large fires to keep warm. So, the hardest part wasn’t hunger but the bone-chilling cold at night. Luckily, the sun shone during the day, so they didn’t have to endure the cold for a full 24 hours a day.
A deputy general, Willard Carter, walked over to Rafael and said, “Marshal Sanford, it’s nightfall. You should drink some water and rest.”
Willard had brought over a cup of water. Freshly melted from snow, its warmth was enough to stir the soul.
Rafael leaned back against a large tree, pulling off his gloves. He accepted the cup but didn’t drink right away, choosing instead to warm his fingers before taking the first sip.
“There should be enough stones,” he muttered, his voice rough from the chill. “But just to be safe, we’ll dig and move more tomorrow.”
“Yes, sir!” Willard answered promptly.
Rafael sat down, taking slow sips from the cup. His face was covered in dirt, his beard tangled and matted. When he took off his helmet, his hair hung in messy strands. He took a few more sips, then shakily pulled out a piece of dried meat, gnawing on it slowly.
With the rations running low, they could only afford to eat a couple of pieces a day. When hunger struck, they either ate snow or waited until they could boil it down into water for some warmth.