Lords of Freedom 2 - Chapter 17
Introduction
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Lords of Freedom 2 - Chapter 17 - More Training and Recruits
The day was overcast and muggy as the Freemen engaged in yet another mock battle. They’d been learning Fabian Tactics for several weeks under Knox’s direction, with Xan supervising. First Lieutenant Lindsey and his team were still at large, recruiting more soldiers and securing weapons and supplies. Rising Moon and his comrades had not returned either, still gathering natives to join the Freemen, as promised.
Knox expected both groups would return any time now; then the new men would engage in Fabian Tactics training. Further, there would be plenty of trained men to serve as instructors over smaller groups to ensure all soldiers mastered the Fabian Tactics prior to battle.
Xan, overseeing the training, signaled Knox, who called a halt to the mock battle. Sheba had appeared from the forest and was conversing with him in her way. Xan sent her off, toward the area of Safe Haven where archery training was conducted, likely to summon Hon to join them.
Knox left the field to inquire as to the delay when a large group of natives rode into view. Led by Rising Moon astride a black and white pinto, over two hundred natives fanned out on either side of him, all of them riding bareback.
Cheers of greeting erupted from the soldiers, answered by war whoops from the natives. Rising Moon urged the pinto, Jacy, into a gallop, and the others fell in behind him to circle Safe Haven before stopping their horses before Knox and Xan.
Rising Moon dismounted, trusting Jacy to hold steady as he approached the pair. Hon strode into view then with Sheba at her side and smiled a greeting, looking over the assembled group.
“Could we speak privately?” Rising Moon asked.
“Of course,” Xan said, noting that the brave's gaze was locked on Marius.
He dismissed the men for a brief respite, and Rising Moon did the same with the natives. Then the four, along with Sheba, headed for the briefing room.
Once there, Xan, Hon, and Marius took seats at the table. Sheba paced the room’s perimeter before settling on the floor between Xan and Hon.
Rising Moon remained standing, arms folded. “In the course of gathering warriors, I visited my own tribe, of course, and was surprised to find Hailey waiting there.”
“Hailey?” Marius leaned forward.
Rising Moon nodded, fishing a parchment from the pack he carried. “She had a vision, in the form of a dream, and recorded it here. Let me read it for all of you.
I, Hailey Knox, thought I wakened in the wee hours last night to find an angel in the room before me. She said her name was Mercedes and that I would play a key role in the fight for freedom underway.
She advised that you, Marius, have a polished steel mirror on your person prior to going into battle.
When I asked how I would find you, Marius, she directed me to take a mirror to Rising Moon’s village the following day and to entrust it to him.
Then I did waken, alone in our room. The dream was very real though, and the room was glowing for a moment or two, in the place where Mercedes had been. I am convinced this was a dream vision and that we should heed it well.
I shall go to Rising Moon’s village the moment this letter is finished.
You must heed Mercedes’ counsel, Marius, and carry this mirror into battle. My love and prayers are with you.
Xan and Hon exchanged a knowing look as Marius took the note from Rising Moon. As he read through it silently, Rising Moon fished a polished steel mirror from his pack and set it on the table.
“When I arrived at my village, Hailey had been there for three days, awaiting my arrival,” Rising Moon said. “As you know, my people love Hailey and were happy to accommodate her, especially given her dream vision of the angel Mercedes. Our elders have frequent visions, and they were most intrigued by Hailey’s—the entire tribe was.”
Marius nodded, not speaking and clearly emotional. Tucking Hailey’s letter into his pocket, he reached for the mirror, turning it over and back in his hand. Then, with a nod, he tucked it away with the letter.
*****
The soldiers and warriors continued their training at Safe Haven, focusing on Rapid Retreats, which were difficult to execute. First, they had to pick an attack position they could rapidly retreat without being caught or cornered. An exit strategy was paramount—onto a mountainside, into the forest, onto rivers, or into swamps on boats.
During mock battles, the men were divided into two groups, one of which would charge the other at top speed as though launching an offensive. The other group would rapidly retreat, seeking the best venue given the terrain. After a successful Rapid Retreat, positions would be reversed until all the men mastered the skill.
The natives were naturals at this, their stealth and skill proving how effective the tactic could be. This was how they fought already, but Xan had a few pointers even for them.
Most of the women Lindsey recruited joined with Hon in archery training, along with the natives. As with the Rapid Retreat strategy, the natives learned new tactics with their bows, and their prowess, along with Hon’s, demonstrated the skill of archery to the soldiers.
Time after time, retreats were too late, too slow, or too vulnerable. The soldiers were averse to running, so Xan had them run a mile first thing each day and another mile at day’s end. This would condition them both physically and mentally and prove invaluable on the battlefield.
The Indians were accustomed to long runs and quick sprints, and observing their effortless strides motivated the soldiers greatly—in particular those wanting to be a part of Lindsey’s Riflemen. The natives enjoyed running, which was hard to imagine for most of the soldiers...until they developed a bit of endurance. At that point, most of them caught the vision.
Xan told them time and again: "You will usually be outnumbered in which case your choices will be to engage Fabian Tactics early on, initiate a Rapid Retreat if victory is unfeasible...or die."
In connection with long-distance shooting, Xan issued the grooved-barrel guns, previously purchased by Solomon. As promised, everyone’s accuracy and range increased dramatically. Xan’s black powder training emphasized shooting accuracy, and he counseled against shooting into a group. Rather, the men were to take deliberate aim at one target.
First Lieutenant Lindsey had impressed Xan greatly with his marksmanship during the brief training session conducted prior to his recruiting mission. Lindsey, in turn, had been astounded at the difference grooved-barrel weapons made.
After Lindsey and his recruiting team had departed, Knox remarked to Xan that Lindsey was known for remaining calm and objective, taking aim with his weapon. Even in the heat of battle, he was reliable and kept his head, which reassured those around him and kept them focused.
The natives were wary of the guns, but once they handled them and grew familiar with the inherent noise and recoil, they saw the advantage black powder weapons offered.
Xan explained that most of them would fight with bows anyway, but he wanted all of them able to handle pistols and rifles, just in case.
It would take many weeks of practice to hone their accuracy with black powder weapons, which the natives understood, conceding that in the heat of battle, weapons they were more familiar with made more sense. Still, they dutifully practiced with both rifles and pistols for an hour or so each day.
“Since it takes about a minute to reload, make every shot count,” Xan told them. “Time your shots so that some will always be shooting while others reload. When under fire and outnumbered it is easy to lose your head so stay focused and trust your fellows to keep theirs."
*****
First Lieutenant Lindsey returned with over 1,000 recruits two days behind Rising Moon and his braves. There were some hearty women in his ranks, as there were among the natives, and Lindsey assured everyone that more recruits would arrive over the next few weeks.
Lindsey also had cannons with him along, with ammo and much-needed supplies. It was a good start, but a supply system needed to be established to keep Safe Haven well-stocked.
While the new recruits settled in, Xan, Hon, and Knox held a debriefing with Lindsey on Guardian’s bridge. Over light refreshments, Lindsey gave his report, surprised that Sheba was nowhere to be found.
“Sheba is scouting,” Xan explained. “She returned just before Rising Moon and his comrades arrived but departed the following evening. We expect her back very soon.”
Lindsey and his team had visited several cities between Safe Haven and Leighford, gathering men and supplies, along with transport wagons. By the time they reached the capital city, they’d recruited roughly 700 soldiers.
Hailey was fine and in good spirits, Lindsey assured Knox, and she sent her love, along with a lengthy letter. Knox tucked it away to peruse later on, in private.
After recruiting over 300 more men and women in Leighford, the company departed. They were about halfway back to Safe Haven when Sheba joined them. This caused a bit of a stir, but Lindsey and his original team calmed everyone down, explaining that the giant tiger was on their side and was a great asset.
“Sheba shadowed me the entire time she was with us,” Lindsey shrugged. “It was...rather remarkable, I have to admit, raising me up in the new recruits’ eyes. After a day or so, traveling with us, she took off.”
“You may be interested to know what happened between your arrival in Leighford and her arrival back here,” Hon said.
Knox nodded when Lindsey met his eye, and he said, “I would indeed.”
Hon looked to Xan, who explained: “There was a small squad of Kingmen sent to scout Leighford with a troop of about two hundred men poised to invade. The scouts watched you march in and then saw the recruits in uniform, forming up.
“Sheba was watching them, of course, and launched an attack. She let them escape to inform Banastre of the military force stationed in Leighford.”
Lindsey raised a brow. “Sheba drove them off before they realized it was a recruiting venture and that the entire company would soon depart.”
“Exactly,” Hon said. “When Sheba departed, it was to assess Banastre’s plans now. Once she returns to Safe Haven, we’ll make our move.”
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