A Time of Tigers - From Peasant to Emperor-Chapter 830: The Allied Move - Part 3

A massive meaty hand slapped down on his shoulder. Firyr’s other half – or at least, that was what he had become – had been listening in less subtly, and as soon as Oliver had caught his eye, Judas had given up all pretences. "Your name is Jorah, isn’t it, boy?" Judas said.

"It is, Commander," Jorah replied politely.

Judas glanced at Oliver. "Am I a Commander?"

"I didn’t plan for it to happen, but it does seem to have. I would say that both you and Firyr have proven that, at the very least, the two of you useful as Vice-Commanders," Oliver said.

"Fine, I accept," Judas said easily. It almost made him sound arrogant, but Oliver knew from experience that Judas was likely shaking at the responsibility. "Do you know why I accept, Jorah?"

Jorah shook his head.

"Because I reckon that Ser Patrick knows better than me in this. If he says I’m weak, I’d believe him. If he says I’m strong, it’s more frightening, but I’ll dare to believe it all the same," Judas said. "He’s your Captain, ain’t he? When you put him in command, you lost the power to do anything but believe in him, even if it means overriding your self-doubt."

"…That’s pretty much it," Oliver said. "I believe you will have a use in a position of leadership, Jorah. You’re suited to it, both temperamentally, and in skill. This is not a foe that we can go lightly on. Even if it means bypassing the normal promotion methods, I would like for you to accept – if only for this battle."

Jorah gulped, but finally, he nodded. "…I shall do my best."

"A wise decision," Verdant cut in. "Judas and Firyr lead a strong group, but after their charge is defeated, so are they. Jorah has shown that he has the ability to micromanage the group in that evident, though he hasn’t been tested with so many men…"

Put like that, any further complaints that might have been raised were soon shot down. Firyr had crawled to the edge of their circle to listen in properly, and about the only thing keeping him quiet was the title of Vice-Commander. He was glaring at Jorah with a piercing gaze. From how stiff Jorah was standing, it was a gaze he could feel even without turning around.

"Next," Oliver said, "Blackthorn, you’ll join the Skullic men. They have need of force. Both you and Verdant shall join and provide that."

"…Very well," Blackthorn said calmly, though any who knew her well could tell that she was relieved to finally have something to do.

"Verdant, your position amongst them shall be twofold. You will fight as employed by Northman when he requires someone of force to defend, or attack. In quieter moments, you will assume a position in the centre, similar to that of Jorah. You shall watch, and make adjustments. I give you the authority to take charge of the entire army should you need to do so," Oliver said.

"I have not proven that I am strategically capable in battle, my Lord," Verdant said. "I do not wish to doubt you. This is only a voicing for my own peace of mind."

"I don’t need to know that. Perhaps, tactically, you will be ill-suited to continue total command, but for what I have seen of you, your strategic sense is enough to rival even Minister Hod," Oliver dared to say. At least, he felt that the quality of their gazes was similar. Both seemed as though they could see through a man, and through time itself, towards the future.

On the battlefield, Verdant’s strategy had never been tested, but in the politicking world of nobility, it had been tested countless times on Oliver’s behalf. His seemed to be the purer type of strategy that Volguard held as the ideal: a strategy so broad and dense, that it could be applied to all things.

"That praise seems too high for me, my Lord, but I shall accept all the same," Verdant said, dipping his head.

This content is taken from freёnovelkiss.com.

"So we’ve got another Vice-Commander then?" Firyr said, a finger in his ear. "It doesn’t seem such a big post anymore…"

"No, Verdant shall be a Commander. I wish for him to have absolute authority over the army, should there ever be a situation in which I cannot respond," Oliver said.

"Based on our battle strategy of having you act as a Sword, in killing their General, that seems wise," Northman said humbly. "It will be an honour to lead alongside you, Lord Idris."

"The same to you, Commander Northman. I shall be counting on you to make up for my lack of knowledge," Verdant said.

"If that is sorted, then I would have you begin battling again," Oliver said. "I would like to think these sides are more balanced, but we shall see."

"Will your personal soldiers be fine?" Northman asked. "They’ve been going at it for a while now."

Oliver shook his head. "Endurance they have in spades. Worry about yourself, Commander Northman. They currently hold three wins over you."

"That’s right!" Firyr hooted. "Soon to be four, just you wait and see. Vice-Commander Firyr is going to put you in your place."

"Vice-Commander Judas will be doing more than that. He’ll send you hurtling to the ground like an injured horse!" Judas said.

"Fine, then I’ll do it like a meteorite. I’ll smash them to pieces," Firyr said back.

"Then I’ll do it like Claudia, and make them disappear," Judas said.

"Err… Vice-Commanders. Everyone is getting ready. Perhaps we should..?" Jorah said.

"Oh shit."

Oliver walked over to where Verdant had been posted that morning. It was a good spot, affording him a view of everything that mattered. From here, he could see the fort, and the barricades that they’d set up. Their guardsmen had been moved forward a row, to make it more difficult for the enemy to burn their furthest barricades as they had before.

By now, those barricades had been replaced after the flames had gone out. It was a kick in the teeth to the enemy.