Rise of the Horde

While they were retreating, everything was going well as Bakrah was making use of the caltrops to cause trouble behind them. The Ereians chased after them for a few kilometers before entirely giving up as their steeds were being taken down one after another because of the scattered contraptions along the way and it also didn't help them that those they were pursuing would turn around from time to time to shoot at them with their weapons which caused them a lot of casualties.

Out of the thousands that went after the group of Kroth, there were only less than 600 of them remaining after pursuing after their targets without even causing any damage to their group except for exhausting their enemies as they chased after them under the scorching heat of the sun. They did manage to get close enough to them for a few moments for a close combat engagement but they were just too scattered to mount a proper attack and their targets just pick them up like children before being hurled towards their comrades to cause more confusion among their ranks.

Upon realizing the fact that their strength as cavalry was useless since they can't stay together in a tight formation to charge at their enemies to cause maximum damage because of the threat of iron bolts flying towards them with higher accuracy than they are when they are scattered. It also didn't help that another group of enemies showed up to aid the ones that they were pursuing who are armed with the same range weapons and annoying contraptions that made them cautious on where to lead to their mounts at, less they are rendered useless by those sharp things in the ground.

The commander of the cavalry raised his right hand up to halt the pursuit and his men all stopped next to him as they watched their enemies go further and further away before disappearing entirely. He was incensed and wanted to chase after them still but their casualties were already over the limit that he can endure and the possibility of more groups of enemies waiting for them and lying in ambush to assault them made him waver and give up on the chase entirely.

Looking behind him, he could see his men and their steeds scattered all around with varying injuries, rolling and moaning in pain on the ground while others were no longer moving. Behind them was a path of blood and slaughter which extended all the way to where their camp was which was a definite proof that they aren't dealing with normal monsters as the prince named their enemies but highly trained soldiers of who knows who or what since they don't have a lot of details about their opponents.

They were sent here first along with the two barons to secure a stronghold but it turned into a hunt and harassment. Their lord tasked them to hunt them down but after successive defeats, he no longer knows if it was them who is hunting or they are the ones being hunted by their supposed to be prey.

Spurring his steed around, he looked at the haggard faces of his soldiers before leading them back towards where they came from.

"Let's go!"

"We stop here and return or else we may never return if we continue on our pursuit." his voice trailed off as he felt pained hearing the sufferings of his soldiers.

"Save those who can still be saved and end the suffering of those who can no longer be saved, soldier and animal alike." he dropped the ultimatum on his soldiers before leading his steed away. And if you looked closely, there were tears along his cheeks as he approached one of the soldiers who had three bolts of iron on his body, one on his thigh and two on his chest but the most fatal one was on his left chest right on his heart which has claimed his life.

The commander dismounted from his steed and kneeled in front of the dead soldier. His trembling hands reached for the face of the soldier before caressing his cheeks and putting his forehead against the forehead of the now dead soldier as a stream of tears flowed out from his eyes.

"I pray you to have an easy journey... My son..." he uttered softly before closing the eyes of the soldier with his right hand then proceeded to carry the corpse with him as he mounted his steed and went away towards their camp. Such was the cruel fate of soldiers.

*****

"Useless!"

"You are all useless!"

"You were only against a handful of them! And yet, you suffered more than a thousand casualties while not even drawing blood from a single enemy!"

"Imbeciles!"

"Idiots!"

"If I am not lacking soldiers right now!"

"Your heads would have long rolled in the ground!"

"Ah! Why do I have imbeciles like you!"

Baron Husani's furious shouts could be heard echoing throughout their camp as he confront his soldiers and commanders who had their heads lowered in silence and without the courage to look at their lord in the eye, less they incur his wrath and lose their heads.

"And you!"

"You went after them with a cavalry!"

"A cavalry!"

"Yet you didn't even manage to take out a single one of them! You are useless!"

The furiously shouted at the commander of the cavalry with his saliva showering the poor commander who didn't bother to even evade the rain. A sudden kick from their lord threw him a few feet back as he grunted in pain while clutching his stomach. He didn't even bother to stand up as the Baron rained down a few kicks on him before turning away as he slapped anyone who was at his reach as he headed towards the confines of his tent.

After the Baron was out of their sight, the other commanders swarmed towards their fellow commander as they helped him up to his feet and consoled him of his loss. They all learned of the fate of his only son who he cared for and it was apparent in the look in his eyes how painful it was to him to lose him but he had to endure.