“As I was saying, we cannot afford to be scattered. If we fight together, we win. If not . . . Then we’ll all feel foolish when called to account by the Raven, won’t we?”

Laughter rippled about the fireside. No one laughed easier than a body fearing death.

“They want Eskavord. The only way is through us. This is about pride. Prince Saran needs to prove himself. He’ll come, we’ll hold him. And if they don’t break apart on our shields, they’ll scatter when Governor Yanda marches from Kreska.”

He’d no idea if that was true, or even possible. But better a fool’s hope than a savant’s despair. Even a sliver of daylight made a difference in the dark.

“Where do you want my phoenixes?” asked Halvor.

Viktor tapped at the diagram he’d scraped in the ash with a stick and indicated the positions of the two hastily erected palisade mounds, one to the north of the battlefield and the other to the south. The Katya and Kevor redoubts, named for the duke and duchess of old. Thin defences intended as fortifications from which the army’s few pavissionaires would fire.

“The centre. Between the redoubts. I’ll be there with my own Phoenix . . .” He shared a glance with Calenne, who sat opposite. “. . . and the bulk of our new recruits. We’ve a few old soldiers among them, but I can think of no one better to make certain their efforts are wisely spent.”

Halvor nodded. “Don’t worry. My lads and lasses know what we’re fighting for. We’ll let old business lie until we’ve the luxury of . . . conversation.”

More laughter sounded, not all of it friendly. Viktor nodded. “Good enough. Kurkas?”

“Sah!”

“You’ll have the southern flank. Take the hearthguard, and what we have of the 14th.”

Kurkas frowned, as Viktor had known he would. “All things being equal, I’d rather be at your side. Won’t hear the last of it if you catch a shadowthorn spear in the throat.”

“And I need a steady hand and seasoned soldiers to the south. I promise not to embarrass you by dying foolishly.”

The frown smoothed away. “Appreciate that, sir. Let me know if you change your mind.”

“You’ll be the first to hear. Captain Masnar, you’ll have the north. Ground’s too broken there for shield walls or cataphracts. It’ll be bloody. Master Merrik, I imagine you’ll find it to your liking.”

“Do you indeed?” Merrik drawled. “We’ll see.”

“Splitting us up?” asked Halvor. “Worried we can’t be trusted together?”

“If I thought that, you’d not be here. Lord Lavirn? You have the reserve, and what little cavalry we have. We haven’t the knights to match them on the charge, so you’re a counterblow unless I send word otherwise.”