Once the formal greetings were concluded, Mauritane, Everess, and Glennet spoke privately in front of Mauritane's tent.
'I must say we were all surprised by your sudden change of stratagem,' said Glennet.
'That was the idea,' said Mauritane.
'You could have informed as what you were doing,' said Everess, clearly annoyed.
'The best way to keep a secret is not to tell anyone,' said Mauritane. 'That's what my mother taught me.'
'Just so, just so,' said Everess. 'But still.'
After mess, Glennet made his inspirational speech to the troops. The parts of it Mauritane paid attention to were genuinely stirring, and it did the frightened troops some good. These were Seelie soldiers, brave and true, but it had been a difficult campaign so far.
Once the speech was over, Mauritane shook Glennet's hand and thanked him profusely and sincerely. Before he could get back to work, Lord Everess corralled him. Everess was holding a valise.
'I've got a few things to show you, General,' said Everess, patting the valise.
'I don't need any military advice,' said Mauritane.
'Oh, these aren't military documents. And I think you'll be very interested in the story that goes along with them.'
Dawn came, and Mauritane was ready. He'd slept briefly during the evening, and had been up making preparations since midnight. He'd done his best. He was probably riding to his death this morning, but there was no turning back now. If he retreated, the Unseelie forces to the southwest would simply divert from their present course and cut them off at the rear. They'd be caught between two massive bodies of Unseelie troops. The only way to survive was to take Elenth.
When the sun appeared over the plains to the east, Mauritane stood mounted before his troops, with Glennet on a great white stallion on one side, and Everess on a slightly less impressive mount on the other. Glennet still held Mauritane's sword, ready to yield it back to him.
'On this day, we have a special honor,' said Mauritane. 'We are gratified indeed.'
Glennet raised the sword, and the troops cheered again.
'A lesser nobleman would have accepted command of you in name only, and then yielded it back to me. A lesser nobleman would have taken the credit for the battle without actually fighting.'
Glennet looked at Mauritane, confused.
'But not our illustrious Baron Glennet! No, this great man has boldly chosen to retain command, and to lead you all into battle against the Unseelie at Elenth!'
The troops roared their approval. This was unheard-of in the modern day, a historic event.
Glennet shifted in his saddle but said nothing. What could he say? If he contradicted Mauritane, he would be reviled as a coward who had changed his mind at the last moment. He'd be laughed out of Corpus. He looked at Everess for assistance, but Everess only smiled.
Glennet was trapped, and knew it. 'I could not stand by,' he said, 'and watch you ride out today knowing that I had not done everything I could to bring a victory!'
The troops went wild with approval.
Mauritane smiled. 'Then take your position at the front of the line, as is your ancient right,' said Mauritane. 'And call the charge!'
The infantry and cavalrymen took their positions along the wide line. The drums sounded. At the bottom of the hill, the Unseelie were in formation, awaiting the charge. This was going to be a bloody, terrible battle.
As Mauritane and Glennet rode out to the front of the line, Glennet dropped his facade. 'What is the meaning of this?' he growled.
'You wanted a war,' said Everess. 'Here you have it.'
Mauritane turned his horse and cried out to his troops. 'I give you your battle cry!' he called. 'For Glennet!'
'For Glennet!' the troops answered.
Mauritane and Everess rode back behind the lines, leaving Glennet alone before the army.
Glennet paused, and then raised Mauritane's sword. If anyone saw Glennet's hands shake, they never mentioned it afterward.
