Rise of the Horde

After causing a huge mess inside the camp of their enemies. The Fourth Squad of Verakhs rendezvous with the Twelfth Squad in their camp and Bakrah just eyed the trolls who didn't screw them up. He had nothing to say as they were able to safely withdrew from the camp of the Ereians with them watching their backs.

The Twelfth Squad remained silent as they joined with the Fourth Squad. Kroth just nodded towards the members of the Twelfth Squad and their leader who just smiled at him in response. Bakrah was still annoyed by the fact that he smells like horse dung, which was irritating his nose.

Together with the Twelfth Squad, Kroth and her group waited for their chieftain, who was heading their way in order to help them to give the Ereians some trouble.

*****

The sun was still not up but Khao'khen was already up; he had already decided to keep the name that his warriors had given or how they pronounced his name. His name would be like a symbol for his ambition to be the leader of many, not just orcs, but all that he could gather and put under his command.

He wants to make the name Khao'khen come into reality with its meaning 'Chieftain of all chieftains'. The chieftain of the southern region of the Orcish lands was now his, as there was no one who could really challenge the might of Yohan in the southern part of the Orcish lands. There are still many tribes and clans that he had to conquer, but he had to do everything step by step as he still doesn't have the resources to launch multiple assaults at the same time.

"Did you bring with you some caltrops?" Khao'khen looked towards Skorno and the other trolls, then towards Dug'mhar and his clan. Skorno brought forth the pouch that was attached to his waist and made took some caltrops out and showed them to their chieftain while dropping them back inside his pouch as his kin also did the same.

Dug'mhar patted the bags that were attached to his steed, then smiled towards their chieftain with a knowing smile. He had a bunch of them with him as wants to abuse the new weapons that were introduced to them and his first victim was Haguk who was nursing a wound on his left foot after he was lured by Dug'mhar out of his quarters without his sandals. The poor Haguk was the first one of the orcs who had a taste of what it feels like to be hurt by the caltrops due to the actions of Dug'mhar who earned an earful from the Sakh'arran, Trot'thar, Gur'kan and Khao'khen himself.

Khao'khen nodded his head at them, then rode out first out of the formation grounds beside the command center. It was still a little dark as the sun was still not out and only the patrols and the nocturnal workers of the fortress were there to send them out.

Two hundred of the best riders from the Rhakaddon Cavalry followed after their clan chief and their tribe chief, who led the way. Khao'khen had his enormous spear in his hands and his two swords quietly sheathed behind his back. He was hoping that his new spear won't break too quickly and would last longer than his last one as Zul'jinn and his companions were nowhere near to make him a new one.

*****

The Twelfth and Fourth Squad of Verakhs continued to harass the Ereians for many days, as every single night, they would infiltrate their camp and set fire to anything that they could set ablaze and kill anyone that they can to reduce their numbers. Even a single enemy killed by them was still good enough for them and is considered a victory on their side, as it would mean one less enemy on the battlefield for them to deal with when the time comes.

Khao'khen, two hundred of the Rhakaddon Cavalry and all the troll skirmishers under the lead of Skorno travelled inside the endless sands. In his last life, he had undertaken missions that had desert as the terrain but nowhere close to the endless sands that had harsh winds kicking up the sands now and then. It was like they were walking through an endless sandstorm with no clear end.

It took Khao'khen and those with him more than a week before they were able to link up with the Twelfth and Fourth Squad of Verakhs, who were causing the Ereians a lot of trouble every single night that they can. They would burn their supplies, free their steeds, or just kill some of their sentries. Whatever opportunities were presented to them, they would gladly take it.

*****

"Are all the soldiers at the ready?" Baron Husani questioned the commanders, who had their fun disturbed when Bakrah set their gathering place ablaze. His right eyebrow was missing because of the fire and he had half of his right upper face burnt because of the event. He was consumed by trying to enjoy Tina that he was a step too late when a burning part of the tent fell right on his face and caused him some disfigurement.

"Yes, my Lord. They are all prepared to catch those who have been attacking us for the past days. We will make sure that they will pay for what they have done...." the commander of Baron Husani's army replied as he tried his best to endure the pain that he was experiencing. Unluckily, his weapon between his crotch was burnt, albeit only a small portion of it, but it still felt like hell to him.

"Make sure to secure our supplies and put all those fake supplies out in the open for them to take the bait and infiltrate our camp once again. Inform also the Ereian Royal Cavalry and the Royal Army to be on standby. We will pursue those bastards tonight even if it's the last thing we will do." Baron Masud chimed in as he gritted his teeth while Evelyn was applying a healing balm on his back that was burnt by the fire.

"Endure it, my Lord... This will help in healing your wounds faster..." Evelyn whispered unto the ears of Baron Masud, then nibbled on the tip of his earlobe before pulling back and applying more of the balm on his back which earned some grunts of pain from the Baron.

*****

Khao'khen stared into the camp of the Ereians, who were obviously preparing a trap to catch the Fourth Squad who have been harassing them for the past nights. He helplessly shook his head as he observed their camp. Their movements were too obvious.

He looked towards Dug'mhar, who was checking his weapons. "Prepare your clansmen. We will be raiding their base tonight and give them a surprise. Let us give them more trouble." he muttered as he grinned, then looked towards Skorno and his kin, who were quick to rise to their feet with excitement plastered on their faces.

"No... You will be with the Verakhs this time... I will not be bringing you with me..." Khao'khen extinguished their excitement quickly as the trolls sat down with disappointment. They were expecting to join the battle with their chieftain and show the Ereians what they can do. They wanted to let them know that the orcs won't be the only ones who will be giving them a lot of trouble but also them trolls.

*****

Khao'khen, Dug'mhar and the rest of the chosen Rhakaddon riders rode out of their camp, which was situated on a nearby hill that was overlooking the camp of the Ereians. Their enemies never suspected that they were just nearby, as they lacked proper scouting of their surroundings. They were overconfident of their previous victories and their numbers, that they didn't even bother to send out scouts to observe what was around them.

"Remember, just ride through their camp and shoot with hour weapons. Don't get entangle with them in close combat. Refrain from engaging with them for a long time or you will risk getting yourselves surrounded and killed." Khao'khen reminded his warriors as they make their way near the camp of the Ereians who were obviously prepared to counter the expected infiltration of the Verakhs. There were only a few sentries out in the open but Khao'khen had already known where they were hiding at when he observed them from their vantage point up in the hills.

"See those tents... The bigger ones near the center... Ride through them at full speed..." Khao'khen ordered the Rumbling Clan, as that is the place where many of their enemies went in while dressed in their full armor. Dug'mhar nodded his head and informed his clansmen of the orders of their chief.

The few sentries that were posted at the periphery of the Ereian camp felt the ground trembling, but they just ignored it as they thought that it was just a small quake, but little did they know that Khao'khen and the Rhakaddon Cavalry were heading their way.

"Don't shout! Just ride!" Khao'khen shouted towards Dug'mhar, who was preparing to shout the battlecry of their clan, which he always does before getting in contact with their enemies to announce their presence. Dug'mhar swallowed the air that he prepared to shout out their battlecry and leaned forward closer to his steed in silence as their steeds thundered forward, closer to the camp of their foes.