Rise of the Horde

“Why don’t you just let them join us?” Adhalia came right next to the chieftain as she wondered why he called them out.

“Sakh’arran needs their assistance here in the camp to organize its defenses since I doubt that the enemy commander would give up trying to break the siege on the city.” His gaze followed the rocks that was just flung by the onagers towards the mighty walls. He noticed that the enemy weapons on the walls have given up firing back as they needed to conserve their ammunitions since they know that they have no way to replenish their supplies.

*****

Five days just went by with nothing eventful happening, the lands under the control of Baron Masud finally came into view. A wide field of gold was laid out upon the vast land beside the only river that runs through Ereian soil, there were small figures that could be seen among the field of gold which are undoubtably farmers as they break their backs while they harvest the golden stalks.

“The golden fields of the south. It has been a long time since I have seen it with my own eyes.” Adhalia muttered as he gazed towards the wide fields in the distance.

“I didn’t know that there is such a wide fertile land here.” Khao’khen uttered as he didn’t have any information about such a thing. This place is a desert and such thing shouldn’t be possible but then he noticed the enormous river that is on top of the fertile lands before bending southwards.

“My mistake, it seems that I have forgotten to tell you about a lot of things not just this place.” Adhalia apologized as she turned her gaze from the fields towards the chieftain.

.....

They were a quarter of day’s march away from the nearest edge of the golden fields to them and it’s impossible for the farmers to spot them unless they have very powerful sights just like Trot’thar.

“The land of Baron Masud provides more than forty percent of the wheat that circulates around the lands of Ereia while his lands…” she pointed towards Baron Husani who was surrounded by the Drakhars at all sides “provides more or less ten percent of the wheat in circulation of the kingdom but the real treasure in his lands are the silver mines and the timber from the forest further south of his lands that is well within the reach of the beastfolks.” She continued as she explained.

“Why would the Ereian royalty leave such important lands at the hands of two lowly nobles?” Khao’khen can’t help but ask as he wondered why didn’t someone from the royal family take control of such a place with how significant and wealthy it is.

“They actually don’t have full rights to their lands as they have to report everything to the Marquis of Alsenna and if I am not mistaken, that old man is rotten to the core and would keep most of the wealth that was supposed to be for the kingdom in his own pockets.” Adhalia explained in disgust after remembering that old man and his lecherous smile. That old man once tried to offer marriage to her when she was young but she resolutely disagreed and so did her house as they knew what the Marquis was really after and they won’t allow him to tarnish the young Adhalia like the many young noble ladies that became his victims.

“So that Marquis is residing in Alsenna?” Khao’khen questioned with caution as he noticed that anger in the face of Adhalia.

“Who knows where that old bastard is at? But I bet he is somewhere in the capital of the kingdom as always since over there he would have plenty of targets to prey on specially new noble families.” Adhalia replied and the expression on her face says that she is displeased by the existence of that Marquis.

“And also aside from dealing with the Marquis of Alsenna, the two barons also had to deal with frequent raids since their territories as too close with the lands of those beastfolks and they would take almost everything that they can during their raids.” She continued to explain.

After hearing her words, Khao’khen can’t help but be worried since if they have to deal with frequent raids, that would mean they have mighty walls to hide behind which would be a huge problem for them and might make this entire trip of his useless.

“How about the walls of their settlements?” Khao’khen suddenly questioned which confused Adhalia with the sudden shifting of the topic and the apprehensive look on the face of the chieftain. She spent a few moments of silence as she processed what could be the reason behind the worry of the chief.

“The walls, they are just normal stone walls. They are just a bit taller than other walls but they don’t have anything special about them since there is no need to because just like your kin, the beastfolks never assault walled places as they just flood in from the south and attack villages in the open and take whatever they can before vanishing to the south.” She explained which eased the worry of Khao’khen. It would really be troublesome if they had to deal with walls that are of the same caliber as that of the City of Alsenna.

“As long as they are just normal walls, we can deal with it.” Khao’khen muttered as he turned his gaze towards the ogres at the rear. The ogres would replace the siege engines since it would be too cumbersome to drag some with them as they move south then drag them back again north as they return.