The coalition forces (duchy & count) who'd been collecting enemy corpses and looting the battlefield saw our unit returning in triumph with Count Épinay and the prisoners. They realized this was an unprecedented, absolutely massive victory and came rushing over, cheering their heads off. Watching them cheer like that felt absolutely amazing.
My lieutenants and cavalrymen held their chests high with pride, marching back victoriously and soaking up every bit of those cheers. Fiel and August were beaming with pride too. I wondered how Count Euz, my father-in-law, and the Crown Prince would react to our triumphant return.
Word spread like wildfire, and even though we hadn't sent a messenger, the coalition command sent someone to meet us first. The one who greeted me was Fried, heir to Euznirk. He'd brought his cavalry with him, and most of them were the cavalrymen who'd briefly been under my command.
The ones who'd broken off to chase the enemy.
