Episode 3 The Horsemen

When Keelize woke up the next morning, he found out that he was laying on straw near the gate in the garrison. When looked around, he could see some of his troop mates had lost their limps; some of them lost an eye, bandages here and there. Not one is uninjured. When he wanted to sit up but his left shoulder throbbed painfully. Laying beside him, his troop mate Ibema gave him a glance.

“Good to see you again Cyrion, let me give you a hand.” Offered Ibema.

“Thanks for the help, feeling better to sit and talk. What happen last?” Said Keelize.

“You really don’t know what happened? I was beside you last night, I pulled you away from Ggrammncrop while Jo and Het tried to shoot as much bolts against that beast to slow it down.” Replied Ibema.

“Must be a really hard time for Diray Jo and Cliea Het huh, it keep on surging even though I shot its forehead.” Said Keelize.

“These beasts… Ain’t gonna stop until their last drip of blood.” agreed Ibema.

“Then what happen next? How did we survive the skirmish?” Asked Keelize

Ibema tried to stand up and walk, “We were struggling a retreat fight, and thought we’re never going to survive it, nonetheless when we started to lose hope, from the East, toward Wensburen, came a swarm of horsemen charging toward our direction.” Said Ibema, “They were in full armour with pike and shields. When we see them coming, those who were injured moved toward the horsemen delightedly while the other keep on fighting harder.” Ibema then show the gesture of horn blowing. “Then the commander sounded his horn and their pikes were thrown over us toward the orcs. I saw pikes raining on the Orcs, they have nothing to cover and let those pikes hitting them like haystack. The pikes had slowed the Orcs greatly, many had fallen pierced by pikes.” Said Ibema with a triumphant smile as he move nearer to Keelize. “The emerge of horsemen really had boost our troops morale. From fighting a retreating battle, we pushed forward.”

“What about Ggrammncrop? I’m sure it fear nothing and keep fighting on.” Asked Keelize tried to move his arm a little.

“Yes, very strong it is but captain ordered us to aim at its head and shoot altogether. The bolts pierced through its forehead, eyes, nose and mouth. Then the horsemen one by one slashed its body from head to body and the commander ended it’s terror by lacerate its head off. When the Orcs saw Ggrammncrop was down, they fleed for their lifes into the forest. The horsemen of of course was swifter, cut throught their road and annihilate them. Not one Orc escape that battle.”

When they were talking, Rildan, Honon, Ceir, Rayev, Dawerst, reach Keelize. Rildan gaze at him with a welcoming smile. Keelize grumbled.

“Hey guys, I can be much better if you guys came earlier! The night strike was a total disaster for us!”

Rildan laugh out loud and replied “I told you to be careful…”

“When did you tell me that?” Said Keelize.
“I told you some time before you come. During our time, it was much more difficult. It was a daylight charge and they came with full force.” Explain Rildan.
“Sigh! How did you know that we are in trouble? We didn’t expect any reinforcement.” Complained Keelize.

Rildan pull out his sword to wipe the Orc blood away and said “We are on a march to battle against Orcs and mountain giants in the Southwest of Wensburen, seems like war is going to happen, we had to take this route anyway. By the time we saw your troops in trouble, we came to help and rest in this outpost.”
Answer Keelize with excitement. “Oh, I’m smelling war here. Do you think that we are going to join you and your troop in the war.”
Answer Rildan when he moved to and fro showing a little fighting skill. “It is still too early to answer any question now, but everyone of us are ready if there is a war.” Rildan keep in his sword and continued ”There seems to be an alliance between the mountain giant and Orc in the South. We were sent there to discover what happen. Alright, we have to leave now otherwise we won’t be there in time to investigate before the war.”

Rildan was just in time to finish his last sentence when their commander blew the horn. Then horsemen leave the outpost in noon.

The Night Strike
The Day Before Dawn