Just a little longer and you'll be able to retire," the woman said, knitting in her chair by the fireplace, the ball of yarn shrinking with every movement of her needles.
"Yes," Andor replied, reading a book beside her, "in two years, when I turn fifty."
"Thirty years of service, since you were twenty, when you joined the scouts. You've given your whole youth to this kingdom."
"Yes, after all the wars, a peaceful era came and I didn't have much work, so I think I got off pretty well," he said as the flames cast shadows across the room.
"Will tomorrow's mission be dangerous? It's been a long time since you were on the border," she asked.
"Maybe. You never know, but Elstan will be with me. So I think it'll be fine," he reassured her, quietly taking her trembling hand.
"When you return, we should visit our daughter and grandchildren. It's been too long," she added.
"That sounds," Andor said as the burning wood crackled and spat embers, "good."
---
"An…" Elstan bit his tongue to stop his words, then drew his swords from their sheaths. "Take cover, this is an ambush!" he shouted as arrows flew toward them.
Desimir and Ujiyoshi stood frozen, staring at Andor's blood pouring from his body.
"This is—" Desimir's lips trembled, unable to finish the sentence, as Elstan shoved him aside to avoid the arrows.
"Move!" shouted the captain, pointing to a shed a few meters away.
"Hide behind the shed," Elstan instructed while deflecting arrows. The men kept staring at Captain Leoma. "He's beyond help now." The expressions of the two inexperienced knights were desperate and frustrated as they fled the barrage. Arrows flew from behind houses on the other side of the square, but when they took cover, the fire stopped. A few soldiers approached Elstan from behind.
"Captain," one said, approaching the shed, "all the houses on this side are abandoned, no one's here. No word yet from the other side."
"What a damn situation," Ujiyoshi thought, gripping the hilt of his katana with trembling hands.
"A huge man, and he fell so easily," Ervin thought to himself, masking the expression on his face.
"Fuck," Elstan cursed, motioning for Captain Caerwyn to come over. He and his team were kneeling about five meters from Elstan, behind a half-collapsed brick wall. Caerwyn signaled the others to stay while he crossed. As soon as he stepped from cover, an arrow zipped past his head, but it didn't stop him from reaching the shed quickly.
"Looks," Elstan said, "like we've been completely deceived."
"I agree, this is more than just an ambush. It's like they were just waiting for us to split up," Caerwyn added as the calm continued.
"Incredible, we've fallen right into their trap," Elstan thought.
"I don't remember the Darni ever being such skilled tacticians," Captain Slanei remarked.
"Exactly, whoever leads them now is no ordinary warrior," Elstan concluded.
Soldiers of Luganor were slowly gathering on that side of the square.
"Captain," approached a soldier, arrow in his leg and muddy, supported by another.
"We walked right into a trap. Only seven survived," he gasped, catching his breath. "The entire opposite side is under their control, and they have at least as many as us."
"Thanks for the intel, get him back," Elstan said.
"It's fine, we're not surrounded. Now we just need to get out of this situation," he thought.
The men were slowly regaining their composure, though their minds were racing.
"Captain Leoma… if I hadn't been so careless," Desimir thought, his expression betraying his regret.
"Hey," Elstan grabbed him by the collar, "no time for self-pity. Time to strike back." He turned to the soldiers who had gathered; most were present while some remained scattered through the city.
"Okay, here's the plan. Move slowly and take a wide path around. I want to attack them from two sides. Captain Slanei, can you take thirty soldiers with you? Take these two as well."
"Understood," Caerwyn replied, "you're coming with me. Are you Luganor soldiers or what? Don't let some mercenaries and wannabe warriors take your land," he shouted. Everyone stirred and followed him.
"Okay, we'll move from the other side," Elstan said, leading twenty soldiers, including Ervin and Osgar.
On the other side of the square was a mixed army of mercenaries and Darni.
"Looks like they're retreating," said a man in his thirties, wearing a light green long-sleeved tunic of thick leather, chainmail underneath, brown trousers tucked into black boots, and a dark green cloak with brown embroidery.
"No, I don't believe they'd retreat so quickly. These aren't amateurs. Though we surprised them, they seem to have regrouped fast. Prepare for a flank attack," replied a younger man, in his early twenties, wearing a chain shirt over a black leather vest, reinforced leather trousers, heavy black boots. His long brown hair was tied back, a few strands falling by his cheek. A red scarf covered his beard, and a black, dirt-stained cloak marked him as a mercenary.
"I know you have more battle experience than me, but you're still younger."
"Exactly, that's why I'm here. The captain sent me because you fools have no idea about guerrilla warfare," the younger man replied.
"Tch, you don't hold back in words, do you?"
"Just speaking the truth," he said, standing. "Seems like we'll have close combat soon. Tell everyone to prepare."
"Close combat? And your trap?"
"My trap was to thin their numbers as much as possible. Tell the archers to tighten their bows and aim for the flanks. It's hard fighting between these houses—they can emerge anywhere, so stay alert."
"Yes, this sucks. But taking this city is crucial—it's the first step to overthrowing the current regime in Tolan."
"Yes, yes. I don't care about your politics, as long as I'm paid, I have no problem using my katana."
At that moment, Luganor soldiers appeared through several alleys.
"There they are," the young man shouted. "Fire at will, then move."
The battle for Ogrvol had begun. Skirmishes erupted in multiple locations; mercenaries and Darni were scattered, just like the Luganor soldiers.
"If we can drive them into the open, Ogrvol is ours," Elstan thought. But the mercenaries expertly used buildings and alleyways, striking quickly and retreating, exhausting their enemies.
"Tch, need to find the commander, this is a mess," Elstan thought, moving through the alleys with Osgar and Ervin. Suddenly, four men attacked—two from the front and two from behind.
"Guys, take care of the two behind," Elstan ordered while attacking two mercenaries.
"Well, Osgar, it's time."
"Yes," he replied, gripping his spear with trembling hands. Both were breathing heavily, sweat streaming down their faces, gathering natural energy—would they be able to use it?
"I won't be a burden," Osgar encouraged himself, taking a deep breath.
"Let's go, I'll take the one on the left."
"Hmm, then I'll take this one," Ervin said, closing the distance. He swung his sword upward, which was blocked, but in vain as the mercenary was sent flying a few meters back, landing on his back. Ervin quickly recovered and swung again, splitting the mercenary's skull. The other mercenary turned around, only for Osgar's spear to pierce his gut. When pulled out, the enemy collapsed in a pool of blood. Both were trembling, drenched in cold sweat, breathing rapidly.
Elstan dispatched his opponents swiftly and turned to the others.
"Guys, no time to rest—that's what happens when your enemy is human. Get used to it," he said, unsettling them. Osgar vomited a little, while Ervin managed to hold his, spitting it out.
"Let's go, we have to take this city."
On the other side, Desimir and Ujiyoshi faced similar trials.
"So, this is the feeling of killing a man."
"Disgusting, isn't it?" Ujiyoshi added.
"Yes, now you're men. Move on, I don't want to linger," Captain Caerwyn said not giving them a minute to process. But before they passed two alleys, they encountered the young mercenary commander.
"You—" Ujiyoshi started.
"You," Slanei immediately realized, swinging his sword. "You're important." Then he attacked. The young man blocked but was thrown twenty meters back, crashing through a house into a larger courtyard.
"Cover me, guys," he said, moving toward the enemy.
"Ouch, that's going to leave a bruise," the young commander thought, getting up among boards scattered by his flight. He dusted off, stretched painfully, groaning. Caerwyn approached, each step shaking the ground with natural energy.
"So, are you responsible for the little surprise that greeted us?"
"I can claim I am," the young man bowed, as Caerwyn's sword came down on his head,but he dodged with a quick step back.
"Whoa, faster than you look."
"I believe you're fast too…"
"Niiro is my name. I'm one of the mercenaries fighting for Darni. Please don't take this personally, this is my job," he said, approaching cautiously.
"I am Captain Caerwyn Slanei, captain of the 2nd Royal Division of Tolan. I'm here to crush you."
They attacked simultaneously; sword clashed against katana, sparks flying. Natural energy crackled, concentration at its peak, the ground cracking under them. Slanei had the advantage in stature, slightly taller, allowing him to push Niiro back again and again. Niiro could only block.
"Incredible," he thought, parrying and dodging, no space to counter, out of breath. "Enormous, yet moves brilliantly. Not just raw strength, but full control."
Then he leapt back.
"What, just going to run? That's not interesting," Caerwyn said, spinning his sword.
"I really don't stand a chance, but I'm paid for this," Niiro thought, then attacked. He swung from above, blocked, dropped low, kicking while letting go of his katana, but the opponent jumped. Niiro anticipated and drew a hidden dagger. Slanei, airborne and immobile, blocked, dagger piercing his palm, then Niiro disarmed him with a quick move with his hand striking at the elbow.
"This technique," Caerwyn thought, then aloud, "so you think you can beat me in hand to hand combat?"
"Ah, I think I have a better chance," Niiro panted.
"Then let's see."
---
"Finally," Elstan said, spotting the Darni commander giving orders to three archers.
"If I kill you, Ogrvol is ours."
The commander noticed him.
"Everyone, cover me. Kill this one, Ogrvol is ours."
Arrows flew at Elstan; he blocked easily with his two short swords. He swung one through a shooter's chest like a knife through tomato, blood splattering. Around them, separate fights erupted, surrounded by blood and steel, screams ringing out. Elstan closed in and retrieved his sword. Another arrow flew; he dodged. He saw a frightened young archer struggling with the next shot, quickly knocking him out with a sword hilt to the stomach.
The third archer was killed by a Luganor soldier, cutting his arm then stabbing through the head, brains left at the back of the skull.
"Now, it's just you and me," Elstan said, spinning his swords, each movement effortless, blades gleaming, full of natural energy.
"If you think this is the end, you're wrong. Our prince has a plan, a plan that will change Tolan."
"I'd like to meet your prince. He seems interesting," Elstan approached, each step heavier than the last.
"You laugh, but he only wants what's best for our people. You may not see it now, but one day you will." he was shouting while moving backwards,surrounded.
"Maybe I should take him prisoner; I'm confident I can knock him out without killing him," Elstan thought tactically.
Then he attacked from the right; the opponent blocked, but Elstan dropped one sword leaving his hand free, striking his stomach, knocking the air out. He fell motionless.
"Announce that we have the enemy commander, this fight is over."
Everyone around cheered victoriously.
The noise reached Captain Slanei and Niiro.
"Tch, what did that lumberjack do now?" Niiro thought.
Slanei swung; Niiro bended backward, dropping on his hands, pushed off, landing on his feet.
"No time to worry. Damn, he's agile, like a dancing mountain. One wrong move and I'm done."
Then he attacked: right hook, left hook; putting Caerwyn was defensive but not for long. After a missed direct, he grabbed Niiro's arm, pulled him toward his fist.
"Now you're mine," he said, swinging; Niiro wrapped around his arm like a monkey, avoiding the blow.
"What," Caerwyn muttered, then got struck, dropping Niiro. He fell kneeling, but what was waiting for him on the ground was only Slanei's knee which sent him flying, bloodied nose and mouth. Niiro lay barely conscious in the dust.
"Oof, everything hurts. Feels like muscles will snap.I used to much energy,probably over my limit"
"You're good, kid, but not on my level," Caerwyn said, approaching.
Their fight moved them near the village exit. Horses approached—the remaining mercenaries and Darni retreating, no more than twenty. One mercenary noticed Niiro. Behind them, Desimir and Ujiyoshi with Luganor knights, all bloody and exhausted, kicking up dust.
"Captain," shouted a mercenary. Niiro stirred, realizing the battle was lost, bloodied face betraying it. Caerwyn turned, but the horses passed, raising dust.
"Tch, almost had him," Slanei thought.
"Let's go, Captain, today's not a good day to die," he said, lifting his captain from the ground.
"Yes, completely agree."
Niiro turned; soldiers watched.
"Everyone mount, we won't let them escape," Caerwyn yelled.
"Let them, enough fighting for today," Elstan said, coming from battle. "We hit them hard ,the mission continues later. We achieved our goal for today. Ogrvol is ours." Everyone cheered, tired but victorious.
The sun was high; the battle had lasted all morning, ending with Luganor's victory, but not without losses. Slowly, the wounded rested, others loaded bodies onto carts, covering them with cloaks. Sixteen bodies, enough for three carts. They would later send them back to Luganor,along with a messenger to explain the situation.
Desimir stood before one; inside was the body of scout Andor Leoma, dead, immobile, pale and cold. Elstan approached, placing a hand on his shoulder, reassuring him he wasn't to blame.
"In war there are no guilty or innocent, Desimir. Only dead and alive. This isn't the last time you'll see a comrade's body. Here, I see sixteen, all covered, never to see this beautiful sun again."
"I know, I know, I know," he said frustrated. "That's why I must be better, stronger," a tear rolling down his cheek. "So I won't have to see friends in carts."
"Exactly, Desimir, don't let this break you. This is just the beginning," Elstan thought, walking away.
"So, what do we do with him?" asked Caerwyn, standing before the Darni commander, tied to a post, sweaty and dusty.
"I'd like to ask him a few questions," Elstan replied.