[@Terrans]

[h2][color=WhiteSmoke]Andronika Hasikos[/color][/h2]

Andronika gave a dry laugh, leaning back against the wall, "I thought you were listening... yes I do approve of the runner.  Saves me having to ask."

She paused, her smile softening for a moment, "No... no marriage offers.  The elgafolk can't produce children with me, so I'm of no interest as the mother of a future heir... on top of which, the Emperor sullying himself with a human, perish the thought!" she paused again, seemingly choosing her words carefully, "In choosing to take on this life, I still want to retain a bit of the freedom I had on the road... which is a long way of saying, 'I'll marry whomever I like' and the consequences be damned.  And of course, if I marry someone who doesn't mind assuming the name 'Hasikos' then that will probably make the peasants happy."

"Ultimately, supporting me is in the best interest of all the Kings and Nobles in my sphere," she declared, "They're getting enough already without me needing to promise to go to bed with some inexperienced Princeling!"

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[center][b][h2][color=SlateGray]Coralie D'Amboise: The Battle of Katalani, 9:00am[/color][/h2][/b]
[img]https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/M-White-Mt-2-Nov17.jpg[/img][/center]

The Black Army had camped outside the town of Katalani.  Stories of the Red Army's proximity had reached the town already and the burghers (particularly those elgafolk amongst them) were actually grateful for the appearance of the 16,000 strong Black Army, seeing them as an answer to prayer and their deliverance from the ravages of the Reds.  Coralie was more than happy to enjoy their hospitality and spent a very pleasant evening with the Mayor and his family, before retiring to a nice soft, goose-feather bed.

She woke in the morning to the promise of more violence... but at least she had slept well.

With the dawn, Coralie made ready, donning her armour before riding out to meet the troops, who were already forming into a long line across the fields north of town.  Assinger had taken up position towards the centre of the line which afforded him a good view of the largely flat battlefield, "Good morning!" he called, waving to Coralie as she approached on her own horse.

"Good morning Momin, did you sleep well?" she asked.

"I did," he nodded, "Did you?"

"Very!" Coralie looked out across the field, in the distance she could see red banners and what looked like some rather large guns, "I think the bed here was better than the one at our headquarters.  I haven't slept this well in months... so, what do we have before us?"

"I think they slightly outnumber us," Momin remarked, "Where we are at the moment our centre reserves are hidden behind that patch of woodland over there," he motioned directly in front at them at a long strip of dark trees, "But, if you look beyond, you can see a walled farmhouse.  We can send a battaglia to occupy that.  They'd be a nightmare to dig out... there's another to the East, at the far end of the line."

Coralie pursed her lips, "Don't think they'll negotiate?"  Almost on queue, there were signs of movement in the distance as the Red line began to advance, followed by a ripple of smoke puffs from the guns, followed a moment later by the distant roar of the cannons.  Coralie's horse whinnied, tossing its head in alarm.  "Forget I asked," she commented dryly.

"They have us outranged," Assinger remarked.  On the far West of the line the enemy Cavalry advanced ahead of the infantry, eager it seemed, to clash with Coralie's own small mounted contingent.

Coralie paused for a long moment, "Any sign of Viryarus yet?"  Assinger shook his head, "Okay... send the troops to occupy the farms.  If it slows my cousin down then it gives him a better chance to join us.  Also send word to Colonel Zeller's Cavalry to advance.  Send him orders that it is a priority to destroy Ariana's cavalry as quickly as he can - I want him to be able to threaten those guns."