Rise of the Horde

Plagued by his unpleasant memories, he kept on wandering around till he reached a miniature waterfall that was only a few feet tall. He breathed in heavily to calm his nerves as he proceeded to strip himself of his clothes leaving only behind the simple skirt-like piece that covered his lower body. Scanning his scar-riddled body he can't help it but be amazed that he was still alive with so many scars.

Khao'khen then went into the water and he didn't expect that the water will be so cold which took him by surprise. He thought for a few moments then finally had an idea why the water felt so cold, it was because his body was acclimated to the humidity of the desert. Walking through the waist-deep water, he sunk himself as he sat down to let the water over his body. Moments later, he went forward towards where the water was falling as he let the cascading water wash his body away.

With the resilience of his body, the impact of the waterfall upon him felt like a weak massage. Sitting crossed legs at the center, he started to meditate to calm his nerves while also enjoying the feeling of massage upon his body brought by nature.

While he was enjoying the peaceful and relaxing experience. A messenger from the Fortress of Vir arrived at their camp with an important message to relay to him but he was nowhere to be found around the camp. Dug'mhar and Skorno went around the surroundings of their camp to locate their missing chieftain with some of their soldiers but they weren't able to track him down. They even went as far as to form up near the camp of the Ereians in broad daylight and plain sight just to make sure that their chief wasn't taken as a prisoner by their enemies. Those under the command of Khao'khen were full of worries as they went all over the place to find their chief but little did they know that the one that they were looking for was having a great time right concealed by the waterfall.

It was almost time when the sun would be at its peak when Khao'khen finally opened his eyes. He wanted to meditate to calm himself but he didn't expect that he would fall asleep. Smiling wryly to himself, he got up and stretched his limbs as he made his way towards where he left his clothes at. He knew that both his mind and body were always on the edge during the last few days and the sudden relaxation brought by the waterfall made his body feel so good that he dozed off.

Khao'khen wrung the cloth that covered the lower region of his body and then wore the rest of his clothes after shaking off some water from his hair. He climbed through the rocks that hid the place from plain sight and began his journey back to the camp only to find it almost empty except for the sentinels and the wounded who were still recovering from their wounds. His eyebrows knitted together as he was puzzled.

He approached the closest sentinel that he could find and asked him if the rest of those in the camp went to battle but he was taken aback by the reply of the sentinel. It turned out that almost all who are available went out of the camp to look for him as he went missing without telling them where he was going. They were worried that he might have been taken captive or wounded somewhere without the ability to call for help.

There was a wry smile on Khao'khen's face as he stood there awkwardly for a few good moments before he shook his head and told the sentinel that he is inside the camp and is well.

*****

Baron Masud was thinking of taking a gamble with the rebels as he sent out some of his hidden soldiers who were mixed with those who were conscripted by the Prince to join his army before they were handed to him to complete the task that he was given. According to the reports that he received, most of the normal soldiers were confused with some leaning toward allying themselves with the rebels but a bigger number of them didn't want to take part in it. The reports emboldened him to clash against the rebels.

He ordered his soldiers to prepare themselves as he sent out commands one after another, he had a plan but it was all dashed by the sudden appearance of their enemies near their camp. It was the very first time that their foes showed themselves in great numbers and it looks like they were probing their camp for possible places to launch an attack.

The huge number of the monstrosities close to their camp didn't look like they were there for scouting but for a possible attack. Baron Masud fired off a rapid string of curses as he went out of his tent and saw their foes that were slowly circling their camp. The Ereians thought that they were about to be attacked again as they rapidly formed into defensive positions to repel the incoming attack. They felt that they won't lose out badly against their foes this time unlike the previous times as they were ill-prepared for the fight as they were always taken by surprise and attacked at the most unexpected time.

Baron Masud went back inside his tent and found his fellow Lord looking at him with pity. That look, he hated it. It was Baron Husani who was imprisoned and stripped of his power but the look of pity in his eyes which was directed to him was getting on his nerves.

"It seems like even Faerush doesn't favor you..." Lord Husani muttered as he shook his head before returning to what he was doing before, taking a good sleep after having his fill. Although he was imprisoned, he was still treated the amount of respect and treatment that he was supposed to get as a noble.