Her Graceful War Song novel Chapter 1460

Mount Chimera had no name before Rafael claimed it. He chose the name because the mountain's shape resembled a chimera's crouching form. Also, once he had taken control, it became a place of no return for any enemy foolish enough to try their luck.

Not only was it hard to approach, even delivering supplies was a nearly impossible task. So, the Southern Frontier Army had to rely on the dried meat they carried with them. And when they were thirsty, they boiled snow to melt it into drinking water.

The advantage of the location was clear: three sides of the mountain were surrounded by sheer cliffs, making it impossible for anyone to scout from above.

Their position had a natural barrier, so even if they lit a fire, it wouldn't be seen. Still, they couldn't take the risk and build large fires to keep warm. So, the hardest part wasn't hunger but the bone-chilling cold at night. Luckily, the sun shone during the day, so they didn't have to endure the cold for a full 24 hours a day.

A deputy general, Willard Carter, walked over to Rafael and said, "Marshal Sanford, it's nightfall. You should drink some water and rest."

Willard had brought over a cup of water. Freshly melted from snow, its warmth was enough to stir the soul.

Rafael leaned back against a large tree, pulling off his gloves. He accepted the cup but didn't drink right away, choosing instead to warm his fingers before taking the first sip.

"There should be enough stones," he muttered, his voice rough from the chill. "But just to be safe, we'll dig and move more tomorrow."

"Yes, sir!" Willard answered promptly.

Rafael sat down, taking slow sips from the cup. His face was covered in dirt, his beard tangled and matted. When he took off his helmet, his hair hung in messy strands. He took a few more sips, then shakily pulled out a piece of dried meat, gnawing on it slowly.

With the rations running low, they could only afford to eat a couple of pieces a day. When hunger struck, they either ate snow or waited until they could boil it down into water for some warmth.

"Marshal Sanford, when do you think Marshal Crow will make his move?" Willard asked.

Rafael swallowed the dried meat with difficulty, feeling some pain in his stomach.

He quickly drank some water to dull the pain before replying, "It'll be within two days. He can't wait much longer."

"Maybe not so quickly," Willard countered. "He'll probably send scouts first. After all, our forces are scattered. Won't he suspect a trap?"

Willard thought their plan wasn't too complicated. If Victor was more cautious, he might not fall for it.