You send a rider racing ahead to Torchester, explaining that you will be arriving with 850 men in three or four days. With that being done, you set your host in motion. The ride is actually delayed by a full day as you struggle to work out the logistics of sending a supply train behind your men, but once that is settled, you are on your way.
On the way to Torchester, your light cavalry report no Sea Raider sightings. You spend the time in conversation with Denton and Percival, especially focusing on how the younger man is taking the prospect of facing his father's killers. The young Knight seems neither overeager nor afraid, but simply set on seeing off the horde of invaders.
When you arrive, you see the Duke has raised his levies to the field, and there are over two thousand men under arms in addition to yours. A sizeable gathering, considering the damage the contagion did to the lands. You recognize the flags of Count Gorgon, although none from Count Zander. Rumors have it that his land was devastated by the plague. After setting your camp up, you ride with your vassals to a grand tent that the Duke is operating out of. When he sees you, he smiles heartily and clasps you in a crushing hug.
"My good nephew, Count Stone!" He releases you and holds you at arms length. "I hear tell that you brought a nice contingent with you. We'll run these bastards off my land, and then see what we can do about the King, eh?"
He supplies you with details you desire. There is a nascent Sea Raider settlement, no more than a large village, to the west of Torchester. He believes that they put most of their forces to the east of the river, in the King's land. He is not sure the size of their forces, but they do not seem to be mustered at the settlement near Torchester, the majority likely attacking the capital, which at last word still held.
You take in these details as you sit that evening in a council of war. How do you wish to proceed?