Chapter 30: Destined to perish
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Eric looked at Moris's group who are charging the caravan's rear, then yelled his command, "let's go down". They have to prevent or at least hinder the front from reinforcing the rear, and let Moris's group mow down the enemies through the flank all the way to the front.
The viscount's contingent of twenty men are on their way down the hill through thick tree roots, the young lord group would release arrows while using the trees as cover to shield them against enemy arrows.
Eric's prime target is the enemy commander whose attention is currently at the rear, probably deciding whether to send some of his men to the back.
Eric ordered, "Halt! Into positions! aim! Release!", the group loosed another volley towards the enemy.
Meanwhile, Eric aimed at the leader, he lets his men release their arrows first and when finally the enemy knight blocked an arrow, Eric released his, covered with concealed aura.
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Bruce was deliberating whether to send men to the back, but his dilemma is that there are also enemies coming for them. The natural instinct of self-preservation made him reluctant to give the optimal battle commands.
Arrows flew to Bruce's group, but now they are prepared for it and blocked most of the arrows with their shields. But just after Bruce's blocked an arrow, the knight felt that something is swiftly coming for him, so he raised his left arm to block it at the last second, but it still went through his arm and punctured his left shoulder. If he didn't react at all it would have pierced through his heart, but he was still hit and now is bleeding tremendously.
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The blonde knight with the crooked nose fell on the ground, he looked at his men who are now battling the enemies who came from the hill. 'These men are strong, they can't be bandits', Bruce tried to crawl to the side towards the forest, looking back he can see that his men are being overwhelmed, even though they initially had the superior number, it is obvious that disorganized regular soldiers can't really contend against knights. In his troops, horsemen are cut down from their mount, while footmen are being stabbed, hacked, and slashed by the enemy. The lead knight then turned towards the south and saw the enemy riders charging to the front, trampling the guards placed at the flank.
Bruce pulled himself up by grabbing a tree branch, he then began to limp away from the battle, but after a few steps blood suddenly splattered out of his chest after an arrow went through his body hitting the ground in front of him. He fell to his face but somehow still have the strength to continue to crawl while desperately grasping to air, the knight then sits up leaning on a tree nearby.
Bruce's vision is becoming blurry while looking at a person walking leisurely towards him, it is a young man in a dark green cloak. The man stood in front of him and stared at him with deep green eyes.
"You're not.... ban...dits... who?", Bruce asked.
"No. Eric Vallen and you sir?"
"Bru..ce.. Karn..eki."
Bruce smiled a little thinking, 'Our fate was sealed the moment we left Nieza'.
Eric looked at the dying man and asked himself thinking, 'what do I feel looking at this? Someone who already yielded to death. I will likely kill more men and or send them to their deaths in the future'.
"I shouldn't think too much" Eric muttered.
"Nothing personal Brucy, let me help you ease the pain. Okay?"
The dying knight nod slightly and closed his eyes.
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Sometime later...
Eric is now sitting with his eyes closed, a foot apart from a lifeless body of a blonde knight, while Spencer and Trim are standing on his sides when a voice sounded.
"My liege."
Eric opened his eyes and saw Drake waiting to be allowed to continue.
"Go on."
"Sire, our forces sustained two seriously wounded and only several light injuries. We also captured someone claiming to be the Baron's younger brother, as well as, twenty-four enemy soldiers, thirty-seven horses (includes the ones pulling the wagons), and most porters. Your orders, milord?"
"Bring the brother and all the able prisoners, we'll put them to good work, and don't leave anyone breathing."
"My lord, regarding the goods", Trim at Eric's side asked, after being ordered to inspect the caravan earlier, which contained luxury linens, silver and gold wares, and extravagant items robbed from merchants and nobles.
Eric remembered something and turned to the blonde at his right side, "Spencer, I'll send you to Evgrad to negotiate with a potential buyer, for now, well store everything at Mt. Dune."
"Yes milord", his guards answered simultaneously.
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Late in the morning...
Baron Jar's dining hall at Nieza...
A refined-looking man with short dark-brown hair in his fifties is eating alone at the head of the dining table, while four attractive-looking female servants are standing behind and at his side. One of the maids waiting has visible bruises on her neck.
Baron Neil Jar was leisurely cutting a piece of meat in his plate when the door opened and a burly knight with short brown hair and neat looking mustache, sideburns, and beard in full silver armor entered, the knight quickly move closer to the Baron's side kneeling two meters away from his lord, "milord, a resident hunter came across a group of corpses along the north road".
The Baron stopped moving his hand and placed the flatwares back on the table quietly, he didn't look directly at the knight but gave his orders, "go see it yourself, and bring me, Uren".
"Yes, my lord."
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An hour after midday...
Baron Jar's study...
Neil Jar is sitting behind his desk while an older-looking man with long tied white hair, in spectacle, is standing to his left adjacent to the window. While a handsome younger-looking knight with long blonde hair entered the room and now is standing in attention in front of the baron.
"My liege", the knight stood straight and placed his right fist on his chest then tried handing a rolled-up paper to the baron.
The baron did not reach out to receive the paper, but commanded the knight instead, "read it".
".....", the knight's face darkened, then turned to his lord while still somewhat hesitant to speak.
The baron got a bit impatient, yet still manage to stay composed, "report!".
"Thirty-eight bodies milord, among them, is Sir. Bruce's and Wilk's, Master Maroone is nowhere to be found, whilst Sir. Benny is trying to track the caravan up north".
The baron didn't show any reaction, but stayed relatively quiet, and seemed to be deep in thought.
The baron eventually looked towards his knight, "Your dismissed."
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Baron Neil rest his elbows on the table and joined his hands, he placed his forehead on his hands with his eyes closed, "what are your thoughts, Sir. Uren?"
The older man in spectacle opened the window and stared outside, "It can't be one of the local bandits, it doesn't make sense, and a force strong enough to take on the guards, it is most likely a neighboring noble, milord".
The baron seemed to remember something and turned to Uren, "the hounds from Mt. Dune, that was recently got wiped out by the Asquith boy".
"If someone in the crew is smart enough to figure that they were dealing with you, milord".
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"News from Piran should've been here a few days ago", a strange feeling arouse from the baron.
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The next day, a messenger from one of their spies in Piran arrived. The new viscount stationed several soldiers on the road to Nieza and blocked the forest, the messenger had to go around south to evade the patrols. The baron also had come to know that the young viscount of Piran had restricted entries and exits to his territory, the young lord also left the town at dawn with his soldiers a couple of days ago.
The baron is at his study looking at the report in his hand while Uren is in a chair in front of him.
"The boy is moving against you, but is trying to be discreet about it, milord".
"Now that the affair with the Earl of Murphory is settled, you should completely take over Piran before the boy becomes more of a threat", Uren continued.
"We attack openly?", Neil asked.
"He attacked you first, let's say you're just responding and trying to get your brother back".
"Very well, It seems I have to properly escort you back to Piran my lord Uren".
"Thank you, milord".