But Prince Ladisla cut him off before he had the chance to lose his temper. 'Gentlemen, enough!' He sprang up from his chair, eyes dewy with drunken enthusiasm. 'I have already decided on my strategy! We will cross the river and intercept these savages! They think to surprise us? Hah!' He lashed at the air with his wine glass. 'We will give them a surprise they will not soon forget! Drive them back over the border! Just as Marshal Burr intended!'

'But, your Highness,' stammered West, feeling slightly queasy, 'the Lord Marshal explicitly ordered that we remain behind the river—'

Ladisla flicked his head, as though bothered by a fly. 'The spirit of his orders, Colonel, not the letter! He can hardly complain if we take the fight to our enemy!'

'These men are fucking fools,' rumbled Threetrees, luckily in the Northern tongue.

'What did he say?' inquired the Prince.

'Er… he concurs with me that we should hold here, your Highness, and send to Lord Marshal Burr for help.'

'Does he indeed? And I thought these Northmen were all fire and vinegar! Well, Colonel West, you may inform him that I am resolved on an attack, and cannot be moved! We will show this so-called King of the Northmen that he does not hold a monopoly on victory!'

'Good show!' shouted Smund, stamping his foot on the thick carpet. 'Excellent!' The rest of the Prince's staff voiced their ignorant support.

'Kick them back across the border!'

'Teach them a lesson!'

'Excellent! Capital! Is there more wine?'

West clenched his fists with frustration. He had to make one more effort, however embarrassing, however pointless. He dropped to one knee, he clasped his hands together, he fixed the Prince with his eye and gathered every ounce of persuasiveness he possessed. 'Your Highness, I ask you, I entreat you, I beg you to reconsider. The lives of every man in this camp depend on your decision.'

The Prince grinned. 'Such is the weight of command, my friend! I realise your motives are of the best, but I must agree with Lord Smund. Boldness is the best policy in war, and boldness shall be my strategy! It was through boldness that Harod the Great forged the Union, through boldness that King Casamir conquered Angland in the first place! We will get the better of these Northmen yet, you'll see. Give the orders, Colonel! We march at first light!'