Keld bit back a reply. As the King’s guide and advisor, he knew he had some leeway to speak freely and voice his concerns, but push too far, and he would end up missing his head, and the loss of the only source of sound judgement in the entire host might just cost the rest of them their lives as well. As he looked out on the column, he could tell that this army was filled with knights weaned on stories of the time before the blight. Some had seen combat before, but none had ever faced the blight directly. They would hesitate the minute a friend or lover came lurching towards them to tear at their flesh.

In his heart, Keld knew at best maybe half of the column would stagger back through the gates of the rampant, and even that was an unlikely prospect. He’d hoped that after they’d reclaimed the holdfast they were marching towards, maybe he could convince the king that was enough and they could be done with this silly business before having too much of their blood spilt. But given the king’s high spirits he had a sickly feeling that would prove to be difficult. He kept his fingers crossed that maybe after one of the blighted tore a chunk out of one his beloved Bulenhund’s maybe that would ne enough make him see reason.

Trailing along behind the cavalry among the foot soldiers came a long caravan of supply wagons mixed in with the more ornate coaches carrying the wives and children of officers and nobles. The camp followers, those who were desperate or greedy enough to leave the walls, followed behind, keeping a respectable distance so as not to offend anyone by their presence. Keld looked back, grimacing at the encumbrance. Somewhere in that mix was the queen along with her three brats, one not even out of swaddling clothes. He’d watched them play soldier every night, flailing with wooden swords as their father grinned down at them remaking how he’d make them the first knights of his new Dawn Guard. Looking back, Keld heard himself ask again “Your grace, are you sure this is a wise choice? The wagons have been nothing but trouble. At least take some of the cavalry and send them back with woman and children and anyone else who can’t swing a sword. Even from just a tactical standpoint, they’re a liability. Any time we engage the blight, we have to plan to keep them safe, and if any of them should be bitten you’ll be fighting both an external and internal threat!”

The King scoffed at this, “What use is land if you don’t have people to populate it. for too long we’ve hidden behind the so called great rampart, but enough time has passed, surely most of the blight must have thrown itself upon your swords by now. Your kind has served the realm well, but your age is done. It is time for the people you have protected to take back what is theirs so their children no longer have to cower in the sight of their dead loved ones.”

“Milord what exactly do you intend to reclaim?” said Keld coldy. I know you’ve invited me on this expedition to serve as an advisor to your campaign but except for vague reports from the guard’s expedition patrols and crumbling maps, we have no idea what is out here. The scouts almost never range this far out, and they’re instructed to run as soon as they see the blight or we risk losing whatever valuable information they might have obtained.