Battle of oxen and fire
The war against the empire had gone well, even though no decisive battles had been fought for a long time. Still, after a while, problems started to appear. The emperor had changed strategies.
"What happened," Rufus said and came to greet queen Alexia, who had returned from pillaging.
"All the fields and grain storages had been burned down," Alexia explained.
"What of the villagers?" Rufus asked.
"Dead."
More raiding parting arrived. All of them informed that all the villages and towns had been destroyed already. Grain stocks were burnt, and villagers were killed, with nothing left for the allied force.
"So the emperor is making our work easier?" Haley said.
"No. This is a disaster," Doreen explained.
"How so?"
"We have no supply lines and will start to starve before long. We also have to keep moving so we are not forced to face the emperor on an open field," Doreen continued.
Joan rode to the camp.
"The emperor is only two days' march away. We have to move out from here," Joan yelled.
"But we were unable to gather any supplies. We just have grain and cattle for a few days," Doreen yelled.
"We then march on empty stomachs," Alexia continued.
~~
Days turned, and the pace of the allied army slowed down. Soldiers were given broth for food, and men chewed on bones. Grass was also eaten by the most desperate soldiers, so they could have something to fill their stomachs. These men, unfortunately, fell ill, causing just more problems.
As pillaging parties were sent forth, they found devastated lands and people. Such was the resolve of the emperor. He was willing to destroy his own people.
The emperor's reputation was slowly changing among his own men and citizens. While his men went without sleep while chasing Rufus's army, the emperor and his children slept in carriages. They ate superb food, while the imperial soldiers had to hurt their own people. Before long, even some loyal and fearsome Varangians started to desert the cause, and those caught were swiftly executed.
"The men are hungry. They need some food now," Joan said to Rufus.
He looked back as his cheeks had caved in, as he also had not eaten much. He has eaten as much as his men, eating the same broth or none, which motivated everyone.
"I know, but what are we to do?" Rufus asked, looking sickly.
~~
The allied army was in a valley, and the imperial army was only a day's march away. The basin was shallow but large enough for a large army to inhabit it. Trees grew all over and weren't similar to the grasslands where they had previously fought against the imperial troops.
The sun was about to set, but they knew that in whatever direction they marched, the empire would burn all the fields and crops ahead of them.
The allied army still had some oxen to pull the carts. It wouldn't be long, though, before they would be killed.
"Where is Satifa?" Rufus asked Maxim.
"According to our scouts, she and her army are not that far," Maxim explained.
"How about the imperial army?" Edward asked.
".....Too close. We won't be able to encircle the imperials, and they will be able to arrive here first and destroy us before the queen arrives," Maxim said.
The situation was hopeless, and a solution was not coming to anyone.
~~
Gwon had gone hunting and returned back with a large stag. He quickly devoured the animal before Liana came and stopped him.
"You greasy furball. Why don't you share any with some of us," Liana yelled at him.
Gwon then, still in his Seng form, reluctantly pushed forward one loin of the dead stag.
"How did you even manage to hunt this?" Liana asked him.
"Its large horns are easy to spot, making it look like it's glowing in the dark."
At that moment, Liana had an idea. She dropped the loin and rushed to Rufus and the rest of them.
"She could have at least not dropped this on the ground. Now it's covered in grass," Gwon said and picked it up.
Liana rushed into the tent where Rufus was with Doreen. They shared a cup of broth, as they had nothing that could be chewed.
"Rufus, I got an idea!" Liana yelled.
~~
The imperial army arrived at the outskirts of the valley during the night. They were also tired, but they had large food carriages that they protected with great determination. The imperial soldiers could be fed, though they were now forced to march for three days without sleep.
As they reached a higher ground to see the valley. They spotted a line of lights marching away, far away from them.
"Get the emperor here. We have them now, and they won't be able to escape," Berig said.
At that moment, the emperor was already standing behind the prince.
"Get the men ready. We charge now," Ala said and walked forward.
"Yes, sir, but where are you going?" Berig pondered.
"I will stop their advance. Whip the soldiers up and start running toward the enemy from their rear," the emperor said before he blasted up into the air and flew at the allied army that was marching away.
~~
The emperor stopped and waited for the allied army to come to him on a ledge. As he saw the torches coming closer, he sent forth a vast fire attack. He waited for a response, thinking he would have to fight Rufus and his friends. But no divine person attacked.
He walked through the scorched earth, and as he did, he didn't see burned corpses of soldiers. Instead, he saw something else burnt. Horns and creatures larger than humans.
~~
As the Varangians got closer to the allied army, they started seeing torches in the dark. They then sprung and rushed into the marching allied army column. The imperial soldiers were startled when they spotted the enemy.
Oxs' heads in the dark.
"What the hell is going on here?!" Berig said and moved forward.
Oxens' had torches tied to their horns. As they were set free in the darkness of the night, it looked like the allied army was moving.
"Has anyone seen the emperor?" Berig yelled.
A large burst of flames lit up the forest. Berig walked toward the explosion and found the emperor killing the oxen in a fit of fury. No soldier dared to get closer, and some were even trampled as the beasts ran in fear of the flames.
Gadaric appeared from the darkness and spoke to the prince," The other allied army has been spotted by the Hephthalites. They are on the entrance to this valley."
"You are saying we are now surrounded by enemy forces in this valley?" Berig said in an angry tone.
The two of them then spotted a locust resting on a leaf. A brown locust, like the one the queen controlled. The locust jumped off and headed to the rear of the allied army. The same direction where they had their supplies.
~~
A few moments later, Berig found the imperial army's rations sacked and stolen. What food they couldn't take, the locusts had devoured them. The empire's grand army was fully encircled inside a valley, with sleep-deprived men without food or water.