Hunting pack animals

King Farkas returned to the main imperial army. He still had his primary army but had lost his elite warriors, the scarlet riders.

He rode through the camp alongside a couple of his warriors. The Varangians stared at him, with Farkas just showing the middle finger back. He entered a tent where Berig waited.

"Where is the emperor?" Farkas asked.

"Don't worry, you dog. Your owner will be here and, based on your performance. He will tighten your leash," Berig said while reconnecting his bronze prosthetic arm that he had taken off for the time being.

Farkas laughed.

"I have done more to the emperor than you could ever. Your failure in Etna is still fresh in the emperor's mind. Or has it disappeared from yours, seeing as you have a nice reminder of that day on you for all eternity," Farkas said and pointed to the lost limbs and eye of Berig.

"What a great insult, my fair petty despotate," Segeric said and entered the tent.

"Can not say much about you either, demon lover. And I am no despotate. I am a king," Farkas said.

"A king who is only a king when he put a knife in the back of his father and begged a foreign ruler to place him on the throne," Segeric continued.

"A king whose men despise him because he is more of a frog than a stallion," Berig continued.

"ENOUGH!"

The emperor entered the tent, and all three of them bowed. Behind him walked Gadaric, his shadow.

"Still no news from your other shadow?" Farkas asked.

"He died in Etna, in battle most likely. That is why only Gadaric is behind the emperor currently," Segeric said.

"Farkas, where is the allied force now?" emperor Ala asked.

"My emperor. We fought them near the Cypriot river. A week's march from Nicea," Farkas explained.

"You have done well. Now join our remaining force. Together with you, we will destroy them once and for all," the emperor ordered.

"Will we make it time?" Berig asked.

"No. A few will die while they siege our capital, but the allied army will be unable to take it before we arrive. A few sacrifices will not demoralize our men," Ala explained.

~~

The imperial army was so vast and extensive that its columns stretched for kilometers while they marched. As they kept moving, the lines and distances between the imperial forces grew longer, making communication while marching harder.

In the bushes, far from the reach and eyesight of the imperial scouts, hid a person who looked at the massive army. The one scouting was Rufus, alongside Amala and a couple of his Gherseng warriors.

"In the mountains, when we would hunt for pack animals, we would wait until they walked through a narrow path and strike them from the back. We would strike them from the rear when the pack stretched out too much. That way, the defending large pack leaders can not rush behind to defend their herd," Amala explained.

"And it seems you would want us to view this army as a pack of animals?" Rufus asked with a smile.

"Why not."

~~

Believing a battle would be near, the imperial soldiers in the first column prepared for battle. Varangians in the front started to ensure their axes were in the best shape and had their chainmail armor put on. The nobles with divine powers prepared for battle, ensuring they were mentally ready. They all were tired as they had marched for days and nights with little to no rest.

Soul watchers arrived at the imperial army, as they had been sent to scout on the allied force besieging Nicea. They arrived and reported first to Gadaric, as he was their leader.

"Speak," Gadaric said.

"My lord, we arrived from the capital," the assassin said.

"How many men are sieging the capital. Tell of their positions and numbers. Tell me everything so we can have this war over," Gadaric demanded.

~~

Gadric rushed to the emperor's tent and even dared to wake him.

"WHAT!" the emperor yelled.

The imperial army quickly rushed out and prepared to march out immediately. As the army was so vast, the rear guard, led by Samanilde, took longer to prepare to leave.

The emperor came out of the tent and mounted his steed.

"Wake up Farkas, and have him ride forward. Tell them to wait for us in Nicea!" he ordered Berig.

"Yes, my emperor!"

"And Gadaric. Have a couple of your soul watchers executed. This kind of failure will not be tolerated," the emperor ordered.

Gadaric clenched his fist but still followed orders. He was a loyal servant of the emperor still.

~~

The imperial army finally arrived at the walls of Nicea, only to see them intact. No holes or ladders on the walls and no burning buildings. The city was unharmed

"What the hell is going on!?" Berig said and crushed a rock in his palm.

All the siege equipment had been left behind. Barricades had been set ablaze and no army, carriage, or soldier could be seen sieging the capital.

At that moment, a large explosion was heard. Locusts were seen flying toward the rear of the imperial army.

Before anyone could realize what was going on, the emperor thrust from his steed. The horse was set ablaze as the emperor flew toward the rear of his army. Like a rocket, he flew up into the sky.

When he landed, he saw thousands of his men obliterated. A large crater was on the ground, with soldiers being cut apart on the edges of the giant hole. Locusts were feasting upon soldiers, with some Varangians being eaten to the bone. Crystals had pierced many warriors through even the thickest of chainmail.

An allied army had ambushed the rear of the enemy while an other army was baiting them in by besieging the capital of Nicea.

No enemy could be spotted. As the emperor walked through the wreckage, he saw his daughter. Samanilde, panting crazily and badly wounded.

"Father...." Samanilde could say before she collapsed.

She had battled all by herself and was only alive because the battle was brief.

Emperor Ala couldn't care less that his daughter was hurt. He was mad that he had been once more fooled. Fooled by a person, he saw beneath him. Like he did everyone.