Chapter 63: Seventh Episode: Chapter 8 (1/2)
Chapter 63: Seventh Episode: Chapter 8
Translator: EndlessFantasy TranslationEditor: EndlessFantasy Translation
In the woods where shade blurred out most of the things, a chipmunk was darting around, holding a walnut in its arms. Its cautiousness was as if saying the whole world was its enemy.
The moon was only left with a tiny speck of light through the treetops. There was no wind, only clouds, and chill of hopelessness, everything seemed to be radiating misfortune and pain.
The weather was hot, there was no way to preserve bodies on the battlefield. The Red Tigers could only make a simple fire burial for Lieutenant Colonel de Barry Gol Freed from the Traisen Front. The few people who attended the burial include the military chaplain, Prince O’Neil Andrew Morisette, Division Commander Major General Murat, as well as several followers of Prince O’Neil.
De Barry was laid peacefully in a pile of dried leaves, no one planned to see his face, right now, he’s just another officer who was sacrificed. The Prince took the torch from Major General Murat and sent the Andrew knight off.
”Oh God of Light who art in Heaven! Receive this brave warrior of the Narcissus with thy magnanimity and solicitude…” The chaplain hummed the prayer in murmur, he knew no one really listened, this prayer had been used so many times, most of the knights already had it branded into their mind.
Tree branches crackled in the conflagrative flames, agitating Oscar. The teenager glanced beside his feet, it was de Barry’s armor and lance, the family heirloom of the ancient Gol Freed family of Narcissus. The set would be sent back to his family to be received by his successor, and the successor would continue this century-old fate of their family.
The best lance warrior of the Narcissus Knights, five consecutive jousting champion, he only managed to attack once. However, that was the deciding factor in that battle. The Red Tiger Division believed that, and so did Oscar. It was this belief that roused a sudden, new feeling he had never experienced before. Years after, O’Neil Andrew Morisette found out this feeling had a name, it was called guilt.
”Reporting for duty!” A sudden voice disturbed the silence during the ceremony.
The Prince and the division commander turned their heads.
”Your Highness, Commander! The Fifth Scouts discovered the gathering point of the dead and injured Persians. Scout Captain reckoned we have completely eliminated the enemies.”
Oscar and Murat nodded.
”Your Highness, Commander…” The messenger hesitated.
”What else?” Murat frowned.
”I… I am waiting for further orders.”
”Bury the dead, nurse the living, place them under observation! Need this even be asked?”
”Yes sir!” The messenger turned around immediately, everyone who overheard knew their division commander was not in a good mood.
”Wait!” Oscar stared at the burning corpse of de Barry and sighed. ”Was there any females in the gathering point?”
The messenger shook his head in confusion.
Oscar let out a breath, looks like the Princess had escaped from danger. The teenager didn’t want to see her harmed.
Murat ordered the soldiers to bring them their horses, and everyone left the burial ground.
”Are you blaming yourself, Your Highness?” Murat noticed the teenager was quiet.
”I think so, I don’t really know.” Oscar answered honestly. ”I know that was de Barry’s duty, but he shouldn’t have died here. He deserves to be like a champion, piercing every single enemy that appeared in front of him.”
”It would be nice.” Murat laughed, making the teenager to gawk at him in surprise.
”But Your Highness, do you know? There are times it’s not up to us to decide, it’s not your fault, it’s also not the fault of the Persians. The fault is on the God of Light’s summoning of de Barry. As a Narcissus Knight, this may be a relief.”
”Relief?” Oscar was confused again. ”Even Narcissus Knights would want a relief?”
”Of course, no one liked war.” Murat’s face shifted into a dark shade, like the night sky.
***************
”I like it!” Figg Andrew Tibotty rubbed his hands. After a night of rushing, his brigades were close to the appointed battlefield, and according to the current situation, all factors seemed to be favoring him.
”Do you know? I like this defensive stance. If the Persians were still using this stance by tomorrow sunset, I have the confidence to take down at least half of them here.” Figg’s eyes were almost glowing when he pointed at the places on the map.
”Is that the Triangle Scorpion formation?” An old soldier shifted beside the young marshal. ”Uh… the main cavalry units in the middle rear, a brigade on the left wing slightly forward, another brigade in the right leaning toward deep, I don’t see a flaw there?”
”Wrong!” Figg raised the whole candlestick, illuminating the whole map with its crimson light. ”Look here, if the scouts weren’t blind, they would have noticed this, the main Mogadishu cavalry troops were too much to the back, as though they were completely out of the battlefield. Their positioning with the left wing even has a ridge between them, that means the old wolf didn’t even plan to fight us directly, they would retreat at anytime.”
”The brigade on its left wing is probably a lure, the Great King of Mogadishu would think that we will attack the left wing, with its forces so spread out.”
”Ziyad! You’re completely right!” Figg was satisfied with his assistant’s answer. ”It looks like they decided to sacrifice their left wing, and then block off the path with their right, so that their cavalry troops could stroll their way back to the border.”
”We can’t let them run away!”
”That’s right, General! Give us the order!”
”Okay! Okay!” Figg stopped his officers’ yelling with his own, ”Of course we wouldn’t let them get their wish, so… we attack their left wing.”
”What?”
”Why?”
”General, isn’t this just going with the enemy’s plan?”
Figg quickly scanned through his officers, he noticed only a few people looked like they were giving it a second thought, and the others… Figg shook his head. The guys who lack the mental initiative would be eliminated on the battlefield sooner or later, he only hoped they wouldn’t take their warriors with them.
”Is that wrong?” Figg stopped them once more. ”Are we going to attack their main party directly and be flanked by their wings? We can only use the most conservative plan to eliminate their left wing before we find other ways to defeat them.”
”That’s it! Listen to my order!” Figg didn’t want to waste his breath anymore.
”Attention!” The officer barked out the command.
Figg straightened himself, ”Listen to my order! The Front’s First and Second Cavalry Brigade of the First Mixed Brigade will attack the enemy’s left wing from south, First and Second Cavalry Brigade of the Second Mixed Brigade will attack the enemy’s left wing from north.”
”The Army Reserves of the Front will meet with the Infantry Brigades of the First and Second Mixed Brigades and take over the ridge entrenched by the enemy before launching an attack on the main forces of Mogadishu.”
”The Front’s Third Army, Second and Third Division, you will be tasked to distract the enemy’s right wing, lock them on their battlefield so they couldn’t support the main forces.”
Traisen Front’s Deputy Commander General Ziyad took down the order from his Commander, he reckoned he needed to voice his concerns.
”Commander, will our cavalry forces be intercepted by the enemy’s main cavalry forces when we flank them? Look here, their point of attack is risky, it’s almost showing the enemy their weak spot.”
”No,” Figg disagreed, ”I noticed something, it’s already been a day, isn’t it? The Persians were there without attacking or retreating, this is not normal! They… seemed to be waiting some people or something, so I insist on my suggestion. Mogadishu army will not attack, their main objective is to retreat safely.”
”But… But out attacking troops are the similar in number of people with the Persians! I’m not confident a frontal attack could do much damage.” Ziyad still looked unconvinced.
”Of course,” Figg shrugged, as if he didn’t care. ”I reckon we could only defeat the enemy’s left wing, the Reserves and the Third Army would not be able to gain any advantage over the enemy. However… Has everyone forgotten about Second Army?”
Ziyad finally realized what Figg meant, causing Figg to be extremely proud of himself and raised both his eyebrows.
”The Front’s Second Army!”
”Communications officer of the Front’s Second Army, on behalf of the Military Commander of the Front’s Second Army Hyman Kuperman, awaiting order, sir!”
”Okay, tell General Hyman, abandon their immediate enemy and return to defend Neliger Valley pronto! Remind him, his mission is to stop the main Mogadishu’s army’s retreat…”
Figg paused and turned his head sideways in consideration. ”Actually, ask him to do his best, he will know what I mean.”
After that, Figg turned to Ziyad who was deep in thought, Ziyad nodded, agreeing to Figg’s plan. However, this strategist famous for his foresight had his reserves, Figg’s plan was undoubtedly to diminish the enemy’s power as much as possible, but to completely decimate the Mogadishu cavalry main forces, it’s take all of their powers.
”That’s it for now,” Figg saluted his officers, and considered the meeting adjourned.
***************
A light shower washed over the mountain. Even though the Narcissus County was landlocked, their quantity of rain in the mountains and hill areas were ample during the summer.
Rainwater gathered on huge leaves of some shrubs, and when it got so heavy the leaves couldn’t bear it, the water splashed onto the ground.
The sky was dark with barely a twinkle of light, the knights’ torches swayed erratically like a wink of fireflies. In the darkness, they moved slowly, vigilantly, even though the enemies were gone, the two-day operation had left the Red Tiger warriors shaking. To them, it is exciting, of course, to win against strong enemies, but when the enemy’s willpower is as indomitable and as unyielding as they are, the Narcissus Knights would also be a little wary.
The Prince and officers of his direct division found the leftover Persians, these enemies were already harmless to them, they laid on the ground haphazardly, their wounds were infected after exposure to the rain, and they smelled like rotting meat.
Nineteen of them! There were only nineteen Persian survivors in this gathering spot! The knights slowly inspected these survivors who brought them so much deaths and injuries. Weirdly, at this point they could no longer show hostility to their enemy. They cautiously approached the injured Persians, and cautiously checked them for wounds, everything in done in wordless appreciation.
Oscar lowered his body slightly against the leader of the enemy. Using his handkerchief, he wiped the black belt warrior’s face, stained with blood, rainwater, and mud.
The black belt warrior struggled to open his eyes, he looked at the teenager in front of him, then to the machete in his hand. The warrior wanted to say something, but before he could utter a word, he coughed violently.
”Percy, Percy! Quick, take a look at him.” Oscar called for his doctor in panic. He was unsure why he didn’t want his nemesis to die just like that.
Big man, Little Godot joined Oscar, he wanted to take a good look at the tough warrior, he knew the warrior was so strong, he was almost a legend.
”Your Highness, it’s no use. He had been hit by my sledgehammer, his internal organs might even have moved, I don’t even know how he managed to survive until now.” Little Godot shook his head without hesitation.
”Is it really?” The Prince turned to the poison doctor.
Percy who was checking the injuries on the black belt warrior shook his head.
Oscar sighed, he crouched in front of the warrior. ”Can you speak?”
The warrior nodded slightly. ”But… what do I say?”
Oscar couldn’t answer. Yes, what should he say?
”Why do we have to do this?” Oscar knew his question was a little weird, he could tell the knights around him were shocked.
”Why indeed?” The warrior’s dull eyes sparkled for a little. ”I’m happy, I’m so happy someone from House Andrew would think like that.”
”You too?” Oscar got a little excited.
”I have, but I couldn’t find the answer. But whatever the reason is, I was born a fighter, I believe the Andrews are too.”
Oscar went quiet again, ”House Andrew is the God-chosen warrior!’ This was what was drilled into him since young.
”Looks like none of us had any choice.”
”Yes, my true God and your God didn’t leave us much to choose from.”
”If that’s the case… do you mind if I send you on your way? I think… there’s no need for you to suffer anymore.” The teenager placed his machete in front of his chest. He had found out through his driver, the True God of the Persians don’t allow his believer to commit suicide, this usually had to be done by someone else.
”If it’s you… I’m honored.” Sure enough, the black belt warrior closed his eyes.”
Oscar raised his machete while mumbling in a language the Narcissus Knights couldn’t understand, The knights were slightly anxious. They clutched their weapons, afraid that their enemies would jump up to attack them again.
”You’re very kind.” The warrior who was waiting for his death said. He had realized, one of his nemesis was praying for him to True God in his language.
”Thank you!” Oscar was slightly taken aback.
”If you weren’t an Andrew, our Princess Arayna would have fallen for you.” The black belt warrior laughed at himself after finishing his sentence. A Persian princess, and an Andrew descendant, is this even possible?
”Oh?” Black belt warrior’s joke had piqued the teenager’s interest. ”Her name is Arayna? It’s a beautiful name! Are you sure she would be interested in me?”
”Of course!” The warrior, usually expressionless, had a pair of smiling eyes. ”You’re born into nobility, you could wield your machete really well, and you managed to uncover Our Princess’ veil in a fair fight. If all these combined, Our Princess would be happy to become your wife!”
”But… But I am from your enemy, House Andrew.” The teenager’s memory and yearning of the lady disappeared in an instant.
”That’s right… Our Princess hails from your enemy Persia.” The black belt warrior’s tone also sank into darkness.