The Battle for Bahoz (10)

It was already dark when Corvus opened his eyes. A dim lamp burned in the room, gently illuminating the darkness around him. He tried to sit up with a slight pain in his head, but the fatigue in his body limited his movements. His body was still feeling the effects of the poison and the overuse of Lightstone energy.While he was asleep, the city forces had taken control of the whole of Bahoz. Every street, every corner had been thoroughly combed and cleared of hostile elements. None of the elite enemies known as 'black masks ' had been captured. In addition, most of the soldiers, many of whom had hidden in the city disguised as merchants, were either killed or captured.The information received from the captives once again demonstrated the seriousness of the situation. Two important pieces of information were captured: The first was the location of the enemy's logistical resources, which had still not been found. The second was the identity of the enemy. In addition, it was now confirmed that the kingdoms of Galir, Behem and Lakson had formed a coalition against Rhazgord. But it was clear that these small kingdoms alone could not plan and wage such a war.The captured warriors said they were only following orders from men in black masks. The orders were simple: to hide and when the time came, to draw their swords and fight to take the city. But the real plan of the enemy and the purpose of the men in black masks remained a mystery.As Corvus struggled to rise from his seat, a soldier standing guard by the door rushed up to him. "Ilyada, Rasur and the prince of Adler are waiting for you." Corvus hesitated briefly and then nodded. Now he had to face the complex nature of this war, both physically and mentally. He had no time for mourning. He had to do justice to the responsibility he had taken on.Rasur was the first to speak. With a slight hesitation on his face, he did not seem to want to attract Corvus' attention. He still didn't dare to look at Corvus directly or ask if a decision had been made about his father's fate and his own. But he had recovered a little. Taking a deep breath, he began to explain what had happened, leaving out no detail. Corvus kept his eyes on Rasur. He was listening attentively to everything that was being said, even though he was seemingly absent-minded. Rasur's account summarized the state of the battle: The enemy had suffered no major losses, but the city was under control. It was a partial victory, but there were still many problems to be solved. Rasur paused for a silent moment before concluding his speech, then added his final words:"By morning we will have evacuated the civilians who are unable to fight."These words were a reminder that the threat had not completely disappeared. The city would not be completely safe until the main Rhazgord army arrived. Bahoz was too close to the borderlands and there was a chance that the enemy might be on their way for another attack. Corvus looked out the window. In the darkness of the night, he wanted to see even the slightest movement in the distance. His mind tried to comprehend how much time had passed. The vanguard from Sorbaj should have reached here by now. He frowned at the thought and spoke, breaking the silence in the room:"No reinforcements from Sorbaj?"This question echoed briefly in the room. Rasur was not the addressee of the question. Rasur had no information about whether reinforcements would arrive. He had spent the whole day stabilizing and controlling the city. The silence was suddenly broken; it was Ilyada who answered the question."My riders have just brought news," Ilyada said, her voice resolute and cold. She had her usual confident expression on her face."Reinforcements will soon reach the city."Ilyada's words eased some of the tension in the room. But the stern expression on Corvus's face made it clear that he saw this battle as a fight yet to be won. His eyes were still staring out the window into the darkness."And how many warriors have come?" Corvus asked, looking at Ilyada. His voice was determined, but his face was thoughtful. Ilyada's gaze was still fixed on the ground. Under the influence of recent events, she answered in a lower, slower tone:"About five thousand mounted soldiers."Corvus considered this number in his mind. Counting his own forces and Ilyada's cavalry, they had a total of five thousand warriors. Now, with reinforcements, there was an army of ten thousand. But the enemy's combined army could easily exceed seventy thousand. This imbalance caused Corvus to frown even more.He turned his gaze to Rasur. "How many warriors are there in the city?"Rasur thought for a moment. He weighed the numbers in his mind. His voice was clear but a little hesitant as he answered:"About fifteen thousand." He paused for a moment, then added: "But most of them are armed civilians."Twenty-five thousand fighters. Corvus considered this number in his mind. With that strength, they could defend the city until the Rhazgord army arrived. But this did not mean victory; everything depended on the enemy's plans. Corvus had already checked the city defenses and made sure that the gaps were closed. Now he was detailing the defense plans in his mind.Just then Ilyada spoke unexpectedly, drawing the attention of everyone in the room. Ilyada raised her eyes slightly, still staring at the floor, and spoke:"Once we are sure there is nothing left for the enemy, we must leave the city and retreat to the hills in the west."These words changed the mood in the room in an instant. Not only Rasur, but also Corvus were surprised that Ilyada would say such a thing. Coming from Ilyada, who was normally known for her warrior spirit and saw retreat as a weakness, these words only added to the seriousness of the situation."They have dug tunnels everywhere," Ilyada said, her tone stern but serious. "I haven't examined all of them, but it will take us a long time to find and seal all the entrances. Moreover, the entrances are hidden by a strange mechanism."These words intensified the tense atmosphere in the room. Rasur was already aware of these tunnels. Until now, however, he had only considered them a superficial threat. The warriors were busy examining the tunnels, but Ilyada's revelations took the seriousness of the situation to a new level.Corvus frowned and weighed the situation in his mind. He realized that he would have to abandon all defensive plans. If the situation was as serious as Ilyada said, the enemy could use these tunnels to their advantage and completely collapse the city's defenses.After a moment of silence, Corvus turned his thoughts into a clear decision. With an authority in his voice that did not waver, he gave his order:"Get all the fighters organized and ready to retreat. And don't tell anyone about the tunnels."These words changed the mood in the room. Rasur hesitated for a moment, but recovered quickly. He nodded at Corvus' order and quickly left the room. Ilyada paused briefly when she heard Corvus' order. She parted her lips as if she wanted to say something. But when her gaze shifted to Corvus, a moment of indecision silenced her. What she wanted to say seemed to be drowned out in the room. After a brief pause, she left the room without a word.Belisarius watched these events in silence. Now he and Corvus were alone. The silence in the room deepened once more. Corvus bowed his head slightly and closed his eyes for a moment. The weight on his shoulders was as intense as the silence around him. Belisarius spoke as if to break the moment."I still do not know the Rhazgord language," Belisarius said with a slight smile.These words brought a momentary smile to Corvus' face. It was obvious that Belisarius almost always did not understand what was being said, and yet everyone treated him as if he did. Corvus turned his gaze to his friend. The tiredness in his eyes had given way to a brief relaxation."In short, ' Corvus said with a hint of sarcasm, "I have twenty-five thousand warriors, a city with crooked walls and underground enemy tunnels. And my war-mad fiancée says we should retreat."Belisarius took a moment to assess the weight of the situation. Although he did not speak Rhazgord, the conversations he had heard and the events he had seen over the last few days had taught him much. He could clearly see that Ilyada's proposal was a sensible option. The city was in no condition to withstand an enemy attack, and the tunnels posed a great threat. But Belisarius quickly realized that Corvus was undecided. He could sense the expression on his face and the small hesitations in his speech. The source of this indecision was, in Belisarius' eyes, revenge. He knew that Corvus had not forgotten the pain of his lost friend Kragan. Staying and fighting might bring him some kind of relief.After gathering his thoughts, Belisarius spoke. His voice was calm but serious:"You know you have to put your feelings aside in these matters, don't you? You will have your chance for revenge."Belisarius' words elicited an unexpected response. Corvus looked at him as if he did not understand. He tilted his head slightly in confusion, the look in his eyes filled with a momentary emptiness. Belisarius relaxed a little at this reaction. He even laughed at his own thought: "For a moment I thought you were thinking of facing the enemy," he said with a wry smile.Corvus gave a completely different answer than Belisarius had expected:"Yes, I am thinking of fighting, but not because of revenge."Belisarius was silent for a moment at this answer. Puzzled, he took a few steps closer and sat down heavily on the corner of Corvus' bed. The expression on his face made it clear that Corvus was waiting for an explanation for his decision. He stared at his friend as if asking why.Corvus thought for a while. He took a deep breath before he spoke. "If I manage to defend the city to the last moment..." he said, then paused for a moment. It was as if he was weighing how to phrase what he was about to say. "I feel as if they will be useful to my plans."These words echoed in Belisarius' mind. For seconds he tried to decipher the meaning behind it. When he understood, he jumped. His eyes widened in astonishment and he looked at his friend in disbelief."No way!" he exploded."You're going to defend the city to the last moment and try to win the loyalty of the townspeople?!"The thought was unbelievable to Belisarius. Political intrigue and winning the loyalty of the people were common in places like the Kingdom of Adler, where sophisticated strategies were employed. But in a warrior culture like the Rhazgord, such a move was highly unusual. Belisarius was completely baffled that Corvus had undergone such a transformation in such a short time.As Belisarius pondered the idea some more, anger rose within him. He turned to Corvus, his voice much harsher this time."It's not human, Corvus! You can't gamble with the lives of thousands of people. It is not humane!"Belisarius' words did not change Corvus' expression in the slightest. Corvus listened in silence to his friend's excited and angry speech. When Belisarius looked at him as if demanding an answer, Corvus finally spoke."A man who behaves like a man cannot change this country, Belisarius."Corvus' words made the atmosphere in the room even heavier. For a moment Belisarius did not know what to say, seeing his friend's determination and composure. If Corvus succeeded, he would be one step closer to his plans to change the Rhazgord. But if not, it was inevitable that many people would die. Belisarius decided to think from Corvus' point of view for a moment. After all, he was the heir to a kingdom, and Corvus' success or defeat in this battle would directly affect him. "What is your plan?" he asked reluctantly.A moment later, Corvus and Belisarius were standing at the table in the room, looking at the maps that had been brought in on Corvus' orders. They were spread out on the table, showing in detail the strategic points in and around Rhazgord, the city of Bahoz and the surrounding area. Corvus, focused on the map, pointed to a spot and began to speak:"The enemy has no choice but to enter Bahoz before the Rhazgord army."Belisarius sensed the determination in his friend's voice. Corvus's face was serious, his eyes moving over the map. He continued:"It is now clear who they are. They know that if they lose their current advantage, we will destroy them when we gather our forces. So they either attack now or lose."Belisarius nodded silently at this logical analysis. He knew that the Rhazgord army was one of the most powerful and experienced on the continent. Even if half of it was responding to Demon attacks in another country, the remaining forces in Rhazgord were still strong enough to take on the Kingdoms of Galir, Behem and Lakson. But a question lingered in Belisarius' mind: What would happen if the enemy captured Bahoz?Corvus pointed to another spot on the map. His fingertips hovered over it in a distinct movement."The fact that they still haven't reached Bahoz means they don't have many horses. So, assuming that cavalry does not make up most of the army, the enemy forces should be at this point now."The point Corvus pointed to was dangerously close to the city of Bahoz. Belisarius' face showed discomfort, but he said nothing. Corvus shifted a little further away from his point and pointed to another place."This is called the Black Plain," Corvus said, highlighting a distinct area on the map. "It is flat. That's why the Iskats often run horses here."Belisarius was trying to understand where Corvus was getting from here. But Corvus continued his explanation:"The enemy does not have much cavalry. The soldiers of the three kingdoms do not wear light armor. So they have no choice but to move slowly. Many soldiers even travel without armor to avoid fatigue."Corvus tapped another point on the map."Right now I have seven thousand good cavalry, two thousand of them Iskat cavalry. If I gather the warhorses from the city, that number will grow even more."Then he tapped his finger on the point several times, as if to emphasize the importance of this idea."If we reach the Black Plain before them, we will have the advantage on the open plains."Belisarius was impressed by the detail of the plan Corvus had developed in such a short time. By constantly harassing the enemy, Corvus and his cavalry could slow their advance or even stop it altogether. Corvus pointed to an area a little further away from where he had been pointing earlier. "While we do that, the rest of the soldiers remaining in the city will prepare at this point. Even if we fail, we can hold off the enemy on these hills."Belisarius accepted the logic of Corvus's plan, but he still felt that there were some things he was not sure about. He studied the map carefully and pointed to a forested area some distance from the Black Plain."This forest area here is not far from the black plain. What will you do if the enemy continues on its way here? After all, fighting you is not their priority. Their goal should be to reach Bahoz and the surrounding hills."Belisarius' observation brought a triumphant smile to Corvus' face. His friend had a point, but it was clear that Corvus had already considered the possibility. He ran his hand over the map, then spoke in a determined voice:"They will expend a lot of energy fleeing into the forests. Moreover, we will keep attacking them until they reach the forest. If they want to move through the forest tired, they are welcome to do so. I will gain the time I want to gain. But they won't do it. They can't."Belisarius did not expect such a definitive answer. To him, retreating into the woods seemed the enemy's most logical move. He voiced this question openly:"Why shouldn't they retreat? Even if they slow down, they can reach Bahoz before the Rhazgord army."Corvus's eyes turned to Belisarius and there was a vague satisfaction in his expression. As if he had been expecting to hear this, he began in a relaxed manner:"That's what you would have done! But if you were the commander of a kingdom that has lived on our borders for hundreds of years, you would never do this."Belisarius' brow furrowed. He was trying to figure out what Corvus meant. He got the idea that the armies of the Rhazgord had secret techniques for fighting in the woodlands. This could be one reason why their enemies did not want to retreat into the forests. When he mentioned this guess to Corvus, the grin on Corvus' face made it clear that his guess was wrong.Corvus moved his finger on the map closer to the Black Plain and continued speaking:"When they see us, their first thought will not be that we are trying to slow them down. Not when they see the Iskat cavalry and Ilyada!"Before he finished, he pointed to a spot on the map where a square had been drawn. It was the capital of Laxon."This is the capital of Laxon." he said. He added, his eyes on Belisarius: "And we are barbarians. They'll think we're out to burn their houses to the ground instead of making strategic moves."Belisarius nodded instinctively when he heard this explanation. The explanation made Corvus' plan clearer. He remembered what Ilyada had said when she first arrived, that they should attack even before the city was under control. Corvus' plan was based on using the image of the Rhazgord as barbaric and unintelligent to deceive the enemy.Still, the doubt in Belisarius' mind was not completely erased. He asked with hesitation in his voice:"What if they don't think so and head for the forest?"Corvus took a deep breath at this question. He could understand Belisarius' concern. But there was no panic or fear in his voice:"If they dare to attack us, they will have left no soldiers behind. So I will send Ilyada and her cavalry to attack the defenseless Laxon. They will take Bahoz, but we will destroy the three kingdoms. Then there will be no point in them taking Bahoz. And we will have time to retreat."This answer did not reassure Belisarius, but it showed that Corvus had calculated every contingency. The cold determination in Corvus' gaze made it clear that he was prepared to take the risk. Belisarius was silent for a moment, then looked at the map with a sigh. "You're crazy." he muttered, but he said it with some admiration.