The bait in the forest

The battle erupted just as the massive group of mercenaries prepared to set off. In a sense, attacking right as they were formed up and prepared for march sounded like a stupid idea. But in order to understand this attack, one had to look at the situation from a broader perspective. 

"Boss, the first group, just engaged," one of Ation's officers reported, pointing the heavy blade of his ax towards the outside of the forest. 

"Let them fight for a few more moments," Ation replied calmly, resting his back against a random tree. With his hands crossed on his chest, he didn't appear like a commander who just sent a tenth of his people to battle. Rather than being stressed out, he calmly played with a small piece of wood that he had previously carved from a random branch. 

In the distance, the battle was reaching its breaking point.