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You don't have anywhere near the necessary experience to act in such an aggressive manner; choosing instead to be careful, you order your skirmishers and horsemen to move out through the hills and plains, scouting the region for the presence of any enemy forces as your regiment continues to march up the road to Panergo. With your horsemen scattered all over in small groups, <span class="mu-i">you are left with only your knights to serve the role of horse within your forces.</span>
For the first aday, there is little that happens: the army wakes up, and continues their march northwards, stopping only for lunch and then upon the evening, to set up camp for the day. You have hopes that perhaps the enemy may indeed be entirely unprepared; or perhaps Don Carles has made a landing, and all the banners of the Nera have gone their way to face him. You wonder, for a moment, what would become of you were Don Carles and his army to perish on the field; what would happen if the ships of Nera, or a horrible storm perhaps, sunk the Third Fleet as it went? You would be left alone in this hostile land in a doomed war. If you attempted to call for a fleet to rescue your forces, would it be answered? Or would you be forced to attempt a long and painful retreat through Santula and Mabria, through Bascoña and Camponia?
It is early in the morning of second day, and you are yet again upon your horse, travelling with your vanguard. Suddenly, however, a small group of horsemen seems to arrive from the hills ahead of you, galloping through the roads at great speed. Horsemen, you can tell, as they hold aloft their lances in a show of identification. Your knights, of course, stop them at a distance, properly ensuring they are members of your forces, before letting them past. The group of five or so men waste no time in moving towards you, escorted by your retinue members. As they arrive within talking distance, the five bow their heads in a sign of respect, before the one you assume to be the leader of the group begins to talk.
"My lord, we bring you urgent news." they say, appearing exhausted and weary; for how long did they gallop?
"Well, report it then, soldier." says Hugues, standing besides you on his horse
"<span class="mu-i">We have spotted the enemy.</span> It was yesterday, about noon by the sun's position, a ways northwest of here. We spotted a cleared out hill near a turn in the road, so we thought to reach it for a better view...but when we reached the top, I was able to see it! I've got good eyes, see, it's why I became a Jinete. In the distance, right far into the road north, there was a sizeable force! I could tell, they occupied the entire road, and went past even where I could see..."
And there it arrived; the portent of doom. Forcing down any errant thoughts, you continue to question the man.
"Are you completely certain it is an enemy force? How far off are they?"
