Chapter 11: Dalas the red tiger

On that night, fighters from the upper villages raided the lower villages, led by their commander "Dalas," known as "The Red Tiger." He was around thirty-five years old, strong and fierce in nature, as tales of his bravery and ferocity in attacks spread from the summit villages to the lower belt villages and slopes.

He expected to find an easy loot as he did in the previous raid, believing he would find outside the walls the same provisions of food, drink, and fur they provided him before.

However, he was surprised before reaching the first village's wall by a deadly ambush set by a deadly group of fighters; where several of his men fell into a deep trench filled with sharp stakes, all of them perished.

They couldn't cross the trench and descend safely as they were forced to flee until spears rose high in their faces, piercing the chests of the entire front row!

"Dalas" didn't reach the forest surrounding the city until he lost more than half of his fighters, and miraculously escaped death!

One of the elders of his village had advised him not to attack the lower villages for the third time until spies and scouts were sent to ensure their defense, but Dalas, being a young man full of pride and stubbornness, did not heed the advice!

Another old warrior from his village approached him and advised him to retreat until they knew what they were facing,But Dalas refused and pushed him forcefully backward, shouting the battle cry that terrified his enemies and numbed his fighters so they followed him into the heat of battle!

They entered the forest, yelling and running, only to encounter thin wires tied between the trees that decapitated the front rows and signaled the second rows to stop.

Despite this, Dalas did not falter. He ordered his soldiers to crouch and crawl under the hidden wires in the darkness of night. If it weren't for a group of young scouts preceding Dhalas, his fate would have been the same as theirs.

As soon as they crossed the forest, arrows and spears struck them from behind. The trees were filled with trained archers adept at night combat, and they took a toll on them, causing significant damage.

And when they reached the tall wall, they found neither food nor gifts beneath it, but a torrent of arrows, spears, and stones resembling horse heads rained down on them, hurled by trebuchets behind the ramparts, crushing anyone they struck!

A wave of boiling oil struck Dhalas's face, burning him, causing him to scream in terrifying pain. He lost his vision and ceased urging his fighters to storm the wall.

Then, a boulder from a trebuchet struck him with great force, relieving him of the agony of the boiling oil and the darkness of blindness.

He fell headless, his right hand grasping his sword, and his left hand holding the banner of leadership. Panic and defeat seized the hearts of his fighters, causing them to retreat and flee like startled rabbits, scrambling up the mountain to escape the counterattack... And the gates of the city opened, and the soldiers poured out to chase them.