And Here We Go

Now that she had some idea of what to expect and prepare for, the Arbiter was ready to get started with defenses.

"Let's not waste anymore time. We delegate the work and get Nicolaus and Wim moved to a safer location. If it can be manage, we should use the apothecary's wagon as another barrier."

Markus couldn't understand the decision. By clearly and openly stating that he and the soldiers would fall back to the mine where all Odonine refused to enter the man had alienated three quarters of the fighting men in the camp. The Odonine outnumbered those from Ostiarium 3 to 1.

He saw Tarmen's words spread through the crowd, like wildfire.
He placed a hand on the old miner's shoulder and exchanged a few words with him and watched as he went to speak among the others.
"You are not getting any of the Odonine to help after telling them that you will let them fend for themselves if the worse happens." He sighed. "Protect the forges if you can. I will try and do some damage control." He said hefting his battle axe over his shoulder instructing the other blacksmiths and workers from Ostiarium to help with the defence of the Slag and fall back to the mines if all else failed.

He turned and moved towards the assembled angry miners on the way to calm them down in case they turned on the group.

As everyone began dispersing and urgently attending to their delegated preparations, Gonyaul went up alongside Alexis with an apologetic look on his face. He gently touched her arm and offered,

“Maybe not same? But you can fight in front line of me. Front line of us?”

“…”
Alexis glanced at the understandably furious Odonine, closing her eyes for a moment with a pained expression. Still she squeezed her friend‘s shoulder to let him know she wasn’t angry at him.

Any anger that she had was currently directed at herself.

"Perhaps I could try to win them over, if a woman is willing to enter the mines, it my damage their pride. It is worth a try, nnn?" Voah suggested to Markus and Alexis.

Tarmen had expected the miners to be pissed and didn’t very much care. With all of the arrogance they had shown he wouldn’t much mind seeing a few die.
What drove his anger up again was the other’s concern over placating them. Why hide the truth? Wouldn’t that make it worse when they sensibly took cover in their ‘forbidden’ mine?
He had too much on his plate to bring it up now, let them waste time with the clansmen.
He ordered a group of the Ostiarium soldiers to follow him to prepare, leaving the others before he pissed them off too somehow.

Gonyaul volunteered to run and inform Nicolaus, as well as help him get his wagon and Wim over to the mine entrance.

He took off at a sprint. He was tired and worn down; however, facing deathly odds had a way of spiking your adrenaline.

“I doubt it.”
Alexis curtly stated.

“We don’t have much time left. Wouldn’t spend to much of it on this.”

With that the mercenary joined the soldiers in their fortification efforts.

"Understood. I will assist the others."

It was unfortunate and the resolution only made her more aware of how sore her body still was, but if they were lucky, they wouldn't even have to retreat. She went off to help with whatever she could to set up the barriers and snares.

Examining the layout, Voah's idea was to block as many ways for them to reach them as possible, bottle-necking the riders or putting them on a linear path toward the areas they wanted them. They could use the choke point areas to their advantage. If one horse went down, it would be harder for others to get through.