"It would seem that your plan was the right one, my friend," the man stated. "I cannot say I am surprised, of course, as I expected that your acumen when it comes to battle strategies is not to be underestimated. I am glad to have been able to fight alongside you."
He didn't quite know how to respond to that. Of course, it had been a decent enough tactical call, but it hadn't only been made by him and it sure as hell would have been much better if his counterpart hadn't held his people back for as long as he had. It made no difference that those who had died weren’t Knights. They were allies and their losses couldn’t be easily replaced.
But the Prophet wasn't finished speaking and had merely paused as they began to scale the next step.
"Of course, I will note that your losses were harsher than expected. Indeed, they were tragic, and I would not wish a repeat of them. Your Knights and the townsfolk fought valiantly but were forced into a less than desirable position, I think, by the need to draw their numbers out fully."
"It would have been an improvement if your men had been able to move into position on time," Hammerhand replied. His mood was still a little foul over the result of the battle, despite the victory. "We were forced to engage them out in the open when outnumbered while we waited for your men to sweep in to deliver the final assault."
"Indeed, and I am aware of the delay. However, the necessity to cut them off completely from the mesa was paramount and I could not engage my forces until then. Of course, your men's bravery was something for mine to envy and we would prefer to be at the front lines and take the most dangerous positions like yours did when the time comes for us to engage our enemies again. I feel as though this will happen soon, so they will have a chance to prove themselves as your men did."
Once again, he was unsure how he should correctly reply to that. Bravery wasn't something he considered enviable. It was more of a requirement that came with being a member of the Knights Mechanica, but it was meant to be tempered with wisdom. From his perspective, it was wise to not force themselves into positions where their bravery would end with their unnecessary deaths.
But maybe the people from the desert didn't see things in quite the same way. Their culture was different and so were their ideals. Maybe sacrificing themselves for a good cause and being seen as brave when their sacrifice was witnessed was something that was considered desirable.
Before Hammerhand could speak, he saw Tinker push his mech a little faster to be able to catch up with the two leaders. If he knew the man at all, he knew he was all kinds of pissed and they would both hear an earful.
Hammerhand steeled himself for what he could only call an assault.
"Oy, the both of you—slow the fuck down, because I have something to say and by every single god out there, even those who aren't paying attention, you will hear my words."
Oh yes. Tinker was pissed and he wouldn’t be restrained from venting on the men he considered responsible for his ire.
"Tinker—"
"I'll fucking get to you in a minute, Hammerhand. You, Prophet. I don't know what your real name is, but the title has some connotations about seeing the goddamn future, so how the hell was it that your group ended up coming into the fight about ten minutes late? You're a clever bloke, so I suppose you would know how to fucking count?"
"I understand your anger, my friend, and I commiserate with it. Your losses will not be forgotten and neither will the bravery of the fallen."
"Bollocks to that. You were supposed to attack the moment their heavy mechs were out in the open. You held back on that and it cost way too many lives. Explain that."
“I regret your losses. Truly I do. Yet from my vantage point, had we joined battle sooner, we would not have been able to flank them and we would, even as I speak, still be fighting. And for a far higher price.”
Tinker looked like he had no clue what to say to that either. He was still angry, though, and mumbled something under his breath like it was building into a crescendo. Hammerhand knew he needed to intercede before the man blew a gasket.
"Tinker, take a deep breath."
He was grateful that the glare he knew was on the older man’s face wasn’t visible.
“Shit to that,” Tinker said finally.
The Prophet moved between the two men. "I would not wish to interrupt your conversation, but I have already assured Hammerhand that the next time there is a more dangerous position that cannot be avoided in the battle, my men would be more than happy to equal the valor and bravery of your Knights and allies. They would feel insulted and their courage diminished otherwise."
"Yeah, I'll take what you have to say with a large fucking pinch of salt there, mate."
"Pinch of…salt? I do not understand this."
"It means I'll believe it when I fucking see it!"
"Tinker! That's enough."
The Prophet was again quick to interrupt. "Please, he is right to raise his concerns, and it is a poor leader who does not listen to them."
Tinker seemed to feel it was enough as well, though. Either that or he'd said all he had to say on the matter. Whatever the mechanic’s feelings, Hammerhand didn't want to risk potentially alienating their ally due to his anger, even if it was well-placed and well-meaning. The man felt a great deal of responsibility toward the Knights and those who fought with them and would always react to their lives being lost with anger he directed toward an attempt to make sure something like that never happened again.
Still, the Knights’ leader couldn't help but feel that the
