The very first assassin was hailed from Persia, making them one of the most stable jobs in the Middle East. However, finding a good assassin was extremely difficult, and often relied on the connection. Moreover, high-ranking assassins could refuse the request and act on their own.
Hence many veteran warriors lacked such fighting experience against assassins who weren't just stealthy. When it came to close combat, assassins were as deadly as expert warriors and they often executed precise moves, unlike knights.
" I don't why there are assassins among them but we have to be careful. They must be eyeing us to find an opening."
Marcus already took off his heavy armor which was effective against the daggers and short sword, but he had a keen sense that surpassed normal people.
" Sera, be careful when leaving this place. I believe they are prepared to hunt you down because I can't see through their disguise."
Sera nodded with a calm face, trying to find the assassins among the crowd but how could his untrained eyes spot enemies who mastered disguising and infiltration techniques?
" Move quickly when I signal. This isn't a simple battle."
Marcus noticed Hasan was eyeing for the weakest link. He soon turned his head around to match his vision, motioning them to move as they made their way to the upper area.
" Charge!"
The enemy soldiers rushed down to them while arrows covered their tracks. The quick maneuver of their assault told them that they were probably elite soldiers of their army because they didn't lose any momentum as they carefully approached them.
The spearmen stood in front of the scimitar soldiers, creating some sort of barrier against the cavalry to stop their moves. Moreover, they threw spikes on the ground the destroy their mobility.
Persian army was an experienced army with a lot of ancient weapons and tactics, one of such tactics was to use spike.
" Spikes! Soldiers, get in the front and create a way. Cavalry get behind."
Hasan ordered immediately to avoid the casualty while Marcus who was in the front unmounted his horse. He quickly put his horse behind his back while grabbing a small shield.
" I wish I had a tower shield but this should do."
He muttered with a helpless face. He then raised his shield to head level, blocking his face with it to protect himself from the arrows.
" Follow my lead, my men. Don't falter!"
He roared with a serious face, creating a way for the cavalry. Their horses were protected by the armor and he didn't worry much about them since they were trained to go through situations like this.
" Follow them! Don't fall behind."
Hasan commanded his men to follow their lead as they climbed up the dune. The enemy soldiers rushed to their front starting all-out guerilla warfare.
" Lower your shields, counter their move. Don't split up!"
They were lacking mobility in the sand, so Marcus had to fill that gap with tight formation by forming standard square formation. He led his men in the front while observing enemy moves.
" Attack from the flank. Throw your oil cask at them."
The enemy commander didn't hesitate to reveal his trump card. He bought this expensive item from the merchant with a hefty price, knowing the enemy had no way to block it.
" Throw it!"
The soldiers threw cask to the incoming knights from the upper ground while Marcus was puzzled by their move. He lowered his head to find what they were throwing and found out this was oil.
His face turned pale, thinking it was a trap.
" Retreat. Raise your shields and retreat."
The paladins were too bulky to move around and enemies wouldn't give them a chance to reorganize as they started shooting flame arrows.
The oil was quickly caught on blaze while some of the paladins burned from it. The soul-scurling scream came out from their mouth as their flesh was corroded by the fire.
The burning smell of flesh reached their ears, grasping their hearts with fear.
" Make no one alive."
The enemy commander didn't close his eyes before the horror, watching it with a calm face. In his heart, it was a justifiable action for they were wrong.