Chapter 36: The dance of swords, spears, blood, and grasses (4)
The battle of Dogbones.
80000 men, the largest army of the Khals in the Grasslands is marching on the Dogbones Road. A scout of them ride from afar and report to his general:
- Your mighty, Khal Kjartan is spotted three miles from here with about 7000 riders. Seems like they're waiting for us.
Although the sky has gotten dark, we can still see the shining red eyes of the rider leading the horde. Red like the flames, giving a dangerous look as any demon humans can imagine. He is Enkhtuya the Red Flame, riding a red horse that gives an appearance similar to his eyes. He is known to kill the first man when he reaches 3 years old. He rides to high ground and observes, notices the cavalries line under the banners of the Heathen, he murmurs:
- The Moon Riders.
He rides back to his ranks and inspires his men:
- MY BROTHERS, THE ENEMIES ARE AHEAD. WE ARE HERE TO PUNISH THEM FOR GIVING UP ON OUR GOD AND SEEK FOR A STABLE LIFE. ABANDON THE LESSONS GIVEN BY OUR ANCESTORS. AND WHAT WILL WE DO TO THEM?
- KILL!KILL!KILL!....
- THEN RIDE WITH ME.
Enkhtuya the Red Flame, leads the vanguard with his spear pointed ahead. His riders follow him, the army forms an arrow formation, which is extremely strong if there is a capable man who leads the charging, which can penetrate anything that gets in his way.
Khal Kjartan looks at the riders coming toward his the much smaller one, he simply orders:
- Halt.
Before the Grasslands riders reach the Heathen ones, the Heathen formation split by half and run in different directions, the arrow formation of the Grasslanders keeps moving forward but misses the Heathens. Unexpectedly, there are different groups of Heathen riders who come from the flanks and rears of the Grasslanders' formation. Some Grasslanders fall into the spears traps dig in their ways. Heathen infantries and bowmen rise to the ground from the secret basements, fire arrows, and wield their axes.
Surprise by being ambushed, the Grasslands army is inevitably damaged heavily. The Moon riders who run away earlier countercharge the Grasslanders. The battlefield soon turns into a brutal place, where men fighting to their deaths. Although being ambushed, the Grasslanders still outnumber their rivals, and after regaining their morale, they fight back.
Khal Kjartan, who cut the throats of two riders with one swing of his sword, realizes that the enemies are slowly getting back their fighting"s spirit, he roars and an awkward sound comes from his mouth. And thousands of similar sounds come from afar.
THE BLESSING OF THE FALCON KING, the blessing gives the users the ability to control any falcons that he feeds, which is utilized by Khal Kjartan in hundreds of battles and brings victory to him. Falcons fly from the mountains and attack the Grasslanders. They rip off their enemies' eyes with their fangs. Some Grasslanders' are shaken and they start to flee the battlefield. Enkhtuya violently throws his spear, which pierces a Moon Rider's head, and him to hell. He notices that his men are routing from the battlefield. He takes out his sword, which is shining even in the night.
He wouldn't be called Eukhtuya the Red Flame for no reason, he is the one who climbs to the volcanoes of the Grasslands, and takes the legendary sword of the Grasslanders, the Sunbinder. Wielding his sword skillfully, Eukhtuya becomes a god of war. Everyone is sliced by his sword is burned by a pure red fire. Anywhere he goes, the Heathens run from him like seeing a devil. Cannot neglecting any longer, Kjartan takes a bow from his retainer and aim at Eukhtuya.
The Falcons change their movement and go to attack Eukhtuya, which throws him off his horse. The arrow fired by Khal Kjartan pierce his arm, makes him groans in pain. Luckily, the Grasslands loyal retainers charge and fight recklessly to save their Khal, Eukhtuya are dragged onto a horse, which is tied to a rider. He hails his horse and with his companions' help, he brings his Khal out of danger. Eukhtuya shout:
- REMEMBER TODAY! KJARTAN. ONE DAY I'LL DEVOUR YOU UNDER THE NAME OF THE TRUE GODS. I WILL COME BACK AND DESTROY EVERYTHING YOU'VE BUILT.
Although being chased closely by the Moon Riders, Eukhtuya manages to get out of the dangerous zone and flee to the south, collect every soldier he meets on his way.
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The Battle of Crumble.
The Prince of the Heathen arrives here much earlier than his enemies and manages to build a strong fortification among the high mountains. He has to face only 20000 riders, the Heathen men defense successfully every time the Grasslanders attack them and give their enemies heavy casualties.
The Prince soon turns ignorant and thinks that his enemies are weak and can't stand a strike. After routing the waves of the Grasslanders, he gathers his generals and together they feast, ignoring the advice of the veteran Tumens in Khal Kjartan's army.
Just before midnight, flame arrows light the skies, and Grasslander heavy cavalries charged, the gate of the Heathen camp is burst open, and the savage riders of the Grasslands start their slaughter, burn every tent they pass, kill every man they see. Being drunk, the Prince walks tiredly out of his tent, intend to behead the men who are causing the noises. However, seeing what is happening soon dry every liter of alcohol in his body.
The Heathen soldiers are being slaughtered, some pick their weapons and fight back, but drunkards can not match with fighters. Not for long, the Prince finds him dragged around the burning camps by a rider among the laughter of others. His clothes are torn down and he is forced to dance a Heathen song with his bodyguards. Some cannot withstand being dishonored bite their tongues or use other ways to commit suicide.
The defeat of the Heathens in the Crumble Road is a huge blunder, now nearly 20000 riders are heading toward Carrasona, with nothing in their way to forbid them plunder one of the wealthiest cities in the Peninsula.