Aeneas directed the retreat calmly. The Dardan light infantry formed the rearguard. They maintained a precise distance from Helenus's troops.
The Sarduran mountain guards and the elite light slave soldiers covered the flanks. Harassed the enemy. Their agility frustrated the heavy Trojan hoplites.
Melanippe, however, was like an enraged lioness.
Helenus's words had infuriated her. Then she'd seen Aeneas embrace Thaleia. Seen him shield her so carefully in the chaos. Jealousy and fury boiled together in her chest.
Her knuckles were white on the reins. Her dark brown hair whipped wildly in the wind. Her sharp eyes burned. More dangerous than ever.
Aeneas noticed her state. He moved carefully to her side.
He looked up at the Amazon princess, who deliberately turned her head away. His voice was soft. "Melanippe..."
He reached out. Placed a hand gently over hers on the reins. "Please. Trust me. I need you."
Melanippe's hand trembled slightly. But she stubbornly refused to look at him.
"Please, stay by my side for now," Aeneas continued. His fingers tightened gently.
"Later, there is a critically important task. One only you can accomplish. I must ask this of you. Our victory depends entirely on you!"
Hearing "only you can accomplish" and "victory depends entirely on you," Melanippe finally turned her head. A faint blush colored her cheeks.
She struggled to suppress her anger. Her voice held a hint of unmasked pride. "Hmph! No task is too difficult for me!"
Nearby, Ainippe couldn't help but lower her head to hide a smile. Melanippe is actually very pleased! Our princess is completely wrapped around Lord Aeneas's finger...
Meanwhile, Nisus and Euryalus had led the thirty-five longbowmen into position. Silently. They occupied all the high ground around the town.
Archers dotted the rooftops and slopes, each positioned for maximum reach. Their longbows shimmered in the sun, angles crisscrossing like a web of death.
From these positions, they had a clear view of the Trojan formation. Chaotic in the town square. These handpicked, excellent marksmen were ready. Ready to prove themselves to the world!
After the long march and the earlier clashes, the Trojan hoplites were exhausted. Gasping for air.
Their heavy bronze armor and shields were no longer protection and pride. They were agony. Sweat soaked their tunics. Their steps grew heavier.
Aeneas observed from the rear. His sharp gaze scanned the enemy's condition.
He saw Helenus's army fully enter the kill zone. A cold smile touched his lips.
"That's about enough. Time to make these bandits pay," he murmured to himself. Then he gave the waiting longbowmen a clear, cold order.
"Loose!"
"No mercy."
"Lads! Let the young master see our skill!" Euryalus's excited shout rang clear across the battlefield. "Let fly!"
Perched high above the town, the longbow corps loosed their strings as one. The swish of thirty-seven yew longbows firing in unison sounded like death's own whisper.
From their firing positions on rooftops and slopes, the chaotic formation of Trojan hoplites in the town square made for perfect targets.
Instantly, a rain of arrows fell like death's kiss. They struck with precision at the exhausted Trojan soldiers.
The carefully planned counterattack had finally begun.
The Trojan soldiers, who had been chasing the Dardan light infantry, were now bogged down. Harassed by the guerrilla tactics of Callippus's light troops.
When they raised their heavy bronze shields to block attacks from the front, they had no defense against the death falling from the sky.
Thwip—thud!
Arrows fell like rain. The yew longbows demonstrated terrifying penetrating power at close range.
The bronze armor the Trojan soldiers took such pride in was like parchment against the specialized arrowheads. Shafts punched through armor easily. Blooming with sprays of blood.
Screams rose one after another. The hoplites who had been hunting Dardan light infantry moments before now fell to the ground.
"It... It's impossible!" Prince Helenus stood on his chariot, nearly paralyzed with fear.
Moments ago, his troops had been chasing those pesky light infantry—annoying as flies, if not truly damaging. But now...
The battle's tide had turned in a blink.
Trojan soldiers fell in droves under the arrow storm. The five survivors dropped their weapons. Fell to their knees in terror, begging for mercy. They were quickly captured by advancing Dardan soldiers.
Helenus's face was ashen. All princely dignity forgotten, he shrieked at his charioteer in panic. "Go! Now! Back to the estate!"
The two-horse chariot began to turn. Its wheels crushed a fallen comrade as it fled madly for the town's outskirts.
Aeneas, standing at the rear of the chaotic battlefield, spotted it instantly.
He turned to the Amazon princess beside him. His voice was urgent. "Now! Melanippe!"
He pointed at the fleeing chariot. "Don't let that scum escape! Use the Amazon light cavalry's speed and horse-archery! Shoot his horses! Shoot the driver!"
But when he saw the excited, bloodthirsty grin spreading across Melanippe's face, he realized he might have sent an unclear signal.
He quickly added, "Capture him! Don't kill him... But if he resists, putting a few arrows in his arms and legs is... acceptable."
Melanippe's face had fallen at the 'don't kill' part. But at the second half, her fierce eyebrows shot up. A warlike smile appeared. "Fine! Your wish!"
She and Ainippe spurred their horses in pursuit.
Nearby, Callippus heard the order. Stared at his young lord in shock.
The old veteran, his face scarred from battles, couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "You call that gentle?... 'A few arrows in his arms and legs'?"
Then he remembered all the atrocities committed by that scoundrel prince Helenus—burning the outpost, looting the town, threatening the people. He decided the young master's orders were absolutely right. A loud, hearty laugh burst from him.
Melanippe and Ainippe shot forward like lightning. The two Amazon warriors urged their horses into a gallop. The thunder of hooves pursued the fleeing chariot.
Their long hair streamed in the wind. Their sun-bronzed skin gleamed in the afternoon light. A beauty unique to Amazon warriors.
Helenus hadn't even cleared the town's outskirts when he heard the pursuing hoofbeats. He looked back in terror. Saw Melanippe drawing her longbow to its full extent. A magnificent, terrifying sight.
"Shoot the driver!" Melanippe shouted to Ainippe. Her voice thrilled with the excitement of the hunt.
Two arrows flew almost as one. One struck the charioteer precisely in the throat. The other pierced the neck of the left-hand horse.
The chariot veered wildly out of control. The horses screamed, collapsing. The vehicle flipped from its own momentum. Hurled Helenus out violently.
Thud!
The Trojan prince hit the ground hard. Dust plumed. He struggled to his knees. Realized his trousers were soaked—fear had emptied his bladder.
He stared in horror as the two warriors closed in. A dark memory surfaced. The elite troops he'd stationed in Red Bean Forest. The ones Aeneas had wiped out. They had raided and slaughtered an Amazon trade caravan.
Worse... he had given that order. He didn't know if these two Amazons were aware.
"Don't kill me!" he shrieked, his voice shrill with panic. "I'm a prince! A prince of Troy!"
Melanippe dismounted. Her short sword was in her hand. A bloodthirsty smile played on her lips as she advanced.
Helenus curled into a ball on the ground. Covered his head with his hands. Trembled uncontrollably.
"Princess," Ainippe murmured a reminder. She gestured subtly toward Helenus's limbs. "The young master's orders."
Melanippe scowled. But she reined in her killing intent.
She hauled Helenus to his feet roughly. Bound his hands with rope.
She let out an undisguised snort of contempt when she noticed the prince's soiled trousers.
By the time Helenus was dragged before Aeneas, he had regained some composure. Or rather, his habitual arrogance had resurfaced.
He straightened his back. Despite his torn, filthy clothes and coating of dust, he adopted a princely posture.
"I am Helenus, son of King Priam," he announced loudly, as if he were a visiting dignitary, not a captive. "I demand the respect and treatment due to a royal prince and high priest!"