Chapter 73: The War Ends

Hours later, as the sun rose, Gwynnis, supported by Rosalyn, limped to the front of the castle. All those waiting anxiously for the return of their warriors, including the injured, pregnant women, and children, erupted into cheers at his sight. Baldwin was especially moved, tears streaming down his face. Having served three generations of family heads, he had never faced such a dire battle. From the tower, he had watched the entire battle unfold on the hillside below.

Initially, when Gwynnis ordered all citizens to join the fight, Baldwin thought the baron had gone mad under the immense pressure, sending women who could barely hold a knife to face the ferocious Hafdan people. But now, Gwynnis had proven his plan was not only sound but also highly effective. He had gambled and won gloriously.

Amidst the echoing cheers and seeing Gwynnis approaching, Baldwin was deeply moved, kneeling with his forehead to the ground, not wanting to rise until he heard Gwynnis's voice, tinged with a smile, asking him to stand up.

The battle was over.

Gwynnis had gambled his ten-day supply of fish oil, prepared for the Hafdan siege, but in the face of victory, all sacrifices were worth it. Over eight hundred Hafdan soldiers were burned alive, and the remaining two hundred were killed in the subsequent fight led by Gwynnis. The cost was high for Targas too, with hundreds of conscript soldiers injured or killed, but the overall loss ratio of one to ten was still remarkable.

Afterward, including Gwynnis, all the wounded received emergency treatment from Rosalyn. Meanwhile, the cavalry, after a brief rest, went out again to scout the nearby area, preventing any surprise attacks during this vulnerable time.

Once everyone had caught their breath, the task of cleaning the battlefield began. The Hafdan people left behind no armor or shields, all burned to ash, leaving only axe heads lying forlornly on the ground. The Hafdan soldiers were easier to collect this time; many were charred to the point of being shoveled up and carried away. Some on the outskirts, who had escaped the fire but were severely burned, were also dealt with efficiently.

As for the two hundred or so Hafdan soldiers who had broken through the spear formation, some still lay groaning on the ground. Gwynnis ordered them to be finished off without mercy. There was no need to take prisoners or care for the wounded. The Hafdan people, known for their ferocity, couldn't be kept as slaves, and imprisoning them for ransom was not a Hafdan custom.

Interestingly, while collecting the Hafdan bodies, some charred remains revealed small metal trinkets, mostly silver, which had begun to melt under the high temperature, forming tiny, nail-sized droplets.

Hours later, as the sun rose, Gwynnis appeared in front of the castle, limping with Rosalyn's support. Cheers erupted from everyone waiting anxiously, including the injured, pregnant women, and children. Baldwin, who had served three generations of the family, wept openly. He had watched the entire battle from the tower, fearing for the worst.

Initially skeptical of Gwynnis's plan to mobilize all citizens, including women, against the fierce Hafdan people, Baldwin now saw the successful outcome of Gwynnis's gamble. The victory was a testament to Gwynnis's effective strategy.

As Gwynnis approached, Baldwin knelt down, deeply moved, and remained so until Gwynnis himself lifted him up.

The battle was over.

Gwynnis had gambled his ten-day supply of fish oil, but the victory justified the cost. Over eight hundred Hafdan soldiers were burned alive, and the remaining two hundred were killed in the ensuing battle. Although Gwynnis's side also suffered hundreds of casualties, the overall ratio of losses was still impressively low.

All the wounded, including Gwynnis, received emergency treatment from Rosalyn. Meanwhile, the cavalry, after a brief rest, scouted the area to prevent surprise attacks. The cleanup of the battlefield began only after everyone had rested.

The Hafdan soldiers left behind little of value. Most of their looted treasures had been sent back to the north. Gwynnis, however, generously distributed the small trinkets and melted silver found on the bodies to those who participated in the battle, especially to the families of the fallen and severely wounded.

Thankfully, most of the wheat fields were saved, maintaining hope for the people.

By mid-May, the Hafdan Springtime Raids were winding down. Gwynnis's scouts found no more enemy forces. As the rye in the fields matured, word finally arrived from Count Annon of the River Valley. The count, having encountered a Hafdan force, suffered a crushing defeat. His hastily assembled conscripts were almost entirely routed, and the count himself suffered heavy losses. After regrouping his remaining forces, he decided to return to his castle, abandoning any further rescue efforts in the western part of his domain.

The messenger first arrived at the Windermere encampment site, only to find it overrun and deserted. It took several days before the message reached Gwynnis.

Holding the letter, Gwynnis was silent. He was grateful for his decision to stay in the castle, relying on his own strategies. It seemed that one could only truly depend on oneself.

As Gwynnis pondered the future, a crow landed on the windowsill of his study. It seemed to him that crows, like hyenas, were drawn to the scent of death. With the number of bodies across the north, they must have feasted well.

As Gwynnis reached to feed it, the crow flew away, disappearing into the blue sky.