Rise of the Horde - Chapter 337: Chapter 337:

After experiencing their first victory against their new foes, Khao’khen find it odd that the enemy remained holed up inside their camp with no sign of any major movement. The enemy commander was still in possession of a sizeable army that can no doubt contest against the numbers of Adhalia’s army alone without the aid of the orcish horde but their foes seemed to be shying away from battle which heightened the boredom of the orcs who had nothing to do but wrestle against each other just to ease the dullness of the situation.

Unlike their smaller allies who were thirsting for some bloody fight, the ogres spent most of their time snoring away as they hide themselves in the depths of the river or fooling around with mud along the river banks far to the west at their side of control of the kingdom. The trolls were preoccupied in fully taming their new steeds as they play a game of chase and smack with the Ubiris who remained defiant to their commands despite the fact that they have mounted them multiple times already.

It seemed that the creatures that were known to loiter around battlefields to feast upon the dead were resistant to idea of having masters that will ride them. Whenever a chance was presented, an Ubiris would make a break for it and ran for the wide expanse of the desert with its rider chasing after it. The chase would end with the troll being able to catch up to the furious Ubiris after some time since the scavenging creatures doesn’t have the ability to sustain their burst of speed for long periods of time. A smacking session or the taming session would begin after the troll managed to get his hands on his runaway steed.

Khao’khen watched in amusement as the trolls smack the living daylights out of the recaptured Ubiris. Although their taming technique is very violent, the trolls found success in their own way to discipline their chosen steeds. Some of the wild creatures were now docile and were following after their masters.

“Chief!” a voice caught the attention of Khao’khen who peeled away his eyes from the show that was being displayed by the trolls.

“What’s wrong?” Khao’khen was puzzled by the alarmed face of Haguk who was sweating all over his face. Judging by his current appearance, he must have travelled a long way under the blazing sun to be as drenched as he is right now and even his steed right behind him was visibly exhausted by its current behaviour.

“Trouble… Far to the east— A four day of riding is a huge army heading towards us.” Haguk managed to squeeze out the words that he wanted to say despite his throat feeling so parch.

“We have already engaged against enemy armies that were considered huge in size but none of them have ever triumphed against the might of the horde. There is only one fate for those who dare to oppose the might of the horde—That is death.” Sakh’arran who escorted Haguk towards where the chieftain was at joined it as he uttered what he had in his mind.

The Horde Chief believes that no matter how big the enemy army is, they would somehow find a way to pummel them. After their consecutive victories, his confidence was to the sky and he already considered that the horde is unstoppable.

“There numbers and the composition of the army?” Khao’khen selectively chose to ignore the words of Sakh’arran and focused more on what was vital, which was the information that Haguk has about their foes who they will soon meet upon the battlefield.

“By the estimation of my most trusted scouts, more than forty thousand. It’s a proper army and by the looks of it, they are prepared to lay siege upon any fortified settlement in their path as they brought along with them some siege engines. There marching formation stretched out over the horizon and according to our estimates, they also brought with them ample supplies to fight a prolong engagement.”

A Yurakk came by with some water and the thirsty Haguk was quick to grab it. The parched clan chief of the Warghen Clan raised his head then downed a few mouthfuls of the water then presented to his steed the thirst quencher which the warg happily accepted with its tail wagging behind it as it quench its thirst.

‘Where did they pull the amount of soldiers that they have?’ Khao’khen had this question in his mind. The number of enemy soldiers that they have fought and defeated in the previous battles should already be the limit of the kingdom’s population of soldiers. “Unless…” he muttered to himself and finally had a hunch of the swelled number of the enemy army that was heading towards them.

“Send word for the two shamans to join us here at the frontline. We will need their help to contain the magic practitioners of the enemy army or help us devastate them. Sakh’arran, get the entire horde in shape. Haguk, go get your friend to the north and have his most trusted clansmen continue with the patrol. Council will be after dinner.” Khao’khen uttered his words clearly then turned to head towards the trolls who were still busy dealing with their steeds.

*****

The prolonged peace upon the battlefield was somewhat weird especially with the presence of two opposing armies just eyeing each other out from their camps with no further actions.

“Welcome to the camp Your Grace.” General Trakaros bowed his head as he welcomed the head of the noble family that he serves.

If not for a coincidence, General Trakaros would be rotting in the garrison by the borders towards the Kingdom of Alberna, preoccupied in dealing against the border garrison of the opposing kingdom without any proper achievements to boast of. It was the duke who pulled him out of that wretched place and introduced him to the real world.

Duke Hanbal was but just younger than the general by seven years but he still respects him because of his achievements in the multiple skirmishes in the borders against their neighbours. With the exception of Commander Nassor and his most successful students, the old general in front of the new duke would be by far the most celebrated commander of the kingdom but fate never favoured him as he was always outshined and never gained the favour of the royal family.

“How are you faring against the enemy?” the duke questioned as he dismounted from his steed while waving off his servants who were supposed to support him as he gets off from his mount.

“Uhm…About that…” the general paused as he didn’t know on how he should explain about their previous defeat against their foes. He even boasted before he departed to the duke that he will crush the opposition thoroughly in one fell swoop but reality slapped him hard in the face as he was smacked with defeat after a long time.

After not receiving any answer, the duke turned towards his most trusted commander who had his head bowed, “Did you lose against them?”

General Trakaros nodded his head in silence.

“Oh… so it seemed that the enemy army has a good commander to have even been able to best you.” The duke spoke praises for the enemy commander who was able to defeat his most successful and trusted commander in battle.

“I just overlooked their infantry’s weapons which gave us a lot of trouble during the initial clashes.” The old general stated as he tried to justify their previous defeat. He knew that he was just making excuses and it was his fault for not being able to find out about the gear of their opponents but what can he do against their foes that were very strong against espionage activities rendering their scouts useless as they weren’t able to gather any information about them.

“The enemy army is almost the same like the Albernans with the exception of the longer spears of their spear and shield infantry and the absence of sword and shield infantry. They have a decent amount of riders to support their infantry but they are all just light cavalry.” General Trakaros made his report as they walked towards the commander’s tent inside the camp.

“Are you sure that that is all that the enemy has to offer upon the battlefield?”

“What do you mean by that Your Grace?” the old general was confused by the words the duke.

“Since you manage to make the presence of your heavy cavalry hidden from the enemy army, didn’t it occur to you that the enemy commander might also have withheld some troops of his in similar fashion like what you did with your troops.” The duke cracked his neck then headed towards a chair.

dα- |m

“You mean to say that the army that defeated me wasn’t even the full strength of the enemy army?”

“Although infuriating, that is the truth.” Duke Hanbal quickly responded as he grabbed the cup of wine that one of his servants brought to him. From the words of his informants deep in the territory that was in control of the enemies, the House of Darkhariss really re-emerged and the one leading it is none other than Adhalia herself but that wasn’t the most surprising news that he had received from his spies but the report about the presence of the orcs among the warriors of Adhalia.

The duke didn’t know when, where and how did Adhalia manage to enlist the aid of the orcs but he was certain about one thing, those creatures are a headache to face against on the battlefield.