Ironfort's Retribution

In the far south, beyond the desert plains of Ironfort kingdom. Sir Darius along with his captive; Prince Notos arrived at a sand hill, and on the horizon was a desert camp in an oasis.

The oasis was a checkpoint that travelers and merchants use often to regroup and replenish their supplies. At this moment, the oasis was occupied by a group of horsemen with jet-black horses.

The Chieftain of the group was called Rayan; a middle-aged man in his 40's, with long black beard and a physically fit body constitution. He has a long golden scimitar beside his waist and a golden glaive in his right hand; he stood before his hundred men army and waited for the arrival of Prince Notos and company.

Darius felt an ominous feeling about approaching the oasis. He noticed the hostile aura emitted by the men camped beside it. He knelt down and ponder alternative action; he was thinking not to enter the oasis; it would be much safer for him, since they are still basically within the boundaries of Ironfort kingdom.

"What? You know that our supplies won't last till tomorrow. What are you so afraid about? Can't you wipe a group of weak desert horsemen yourself?" Prince Notos who was looking quite miserable after losing his right arm indifferently said.

Darius who was thinking seriously replied, "it seems that you are slowly recovering from your misery, took you long enough to talk haha I thought that those two weeks of silence would only just be the begining. Well, welcome back to the real world, Prince Notos. We will be avoiding the army along the oasis haha I'm not sure if I would be treated as a friend by them."

Prince Notos looked beyond the horizon and spoke softly, "They are the horsemen of the rolling hills of Ethos, they call themselves "famine". They are Ironfort kingdoms most famous cavalry led by a Chieftain, Warlord Rayan. You must've heard of them."

After hearing the identity of the hundred men army, Darius was greatly petrified. This was among Ironforts great military. Because of the internal conflict between Royals within Ironfort, Famine Cavalry returned home and strayed away from being used as a toy amidst the internal conflict.

Prince Notos had plenty of experience with them, they had raided bandit camps before and they have grown accustomed with each other. After receiving the news about the destruction of Ironfort, Warlord Rayan and his Famine Cavalry made its way to intercept Prince Notos. They were planning to keep Prince Notos safe, away from the bindings of Hazel Grove.

Over the oasis, Warlord Rayan ordered his men, "Surround them! Quick!"

His men mounted their jet-black horses and split in both directions, surrounding Prince Notos and Darius. Warlord Rayan stood imposing and called out one of his commanders, "Hajim, bring our Young Lord here, safely!"

A brute looking man step forth and charged with his own mount.

On the other side of the desert, Darius saw the commotion. He quickly confirmed what the cavalry movements were. And as he found out the direction the cavalry was taking, Darius panicked and retreated hastily towards the opposite direction.

The Famine Cavalry wasn't known for their speed, these jet-black horses were known for their strength and durability, Ironfort were able to utilize its attributes and advantages by sending them at the vanguard. And because of the desert sand, the horses ran with great difficulty, clearly slowing down the pursuit to save their Young Lord.

As Darius and Prince Notos disappeared from the sights of the Cavalry, Hajim on the other hand dismounted and took off darting on foot.

Hajim's speed sprinted tirelessly across the sand. His muscular frame propelled him forward with remarkable speed, his determination unwavering. The scorching desert sun beat down upon him, but he paid no mind to the discomfort, his focus fixed solely on his mission to bring back the Young Lord.

As the chase continued, Darius realized that his efforts to outrun the Famine Cavalry were futile. The cavalry's horses, though hindered by the sand, were gradually closing in. Panic surged through his veins, his mind racing for a way to elude capture. It was then that he spotted a narrow gorge, its rocky walls offering a potential hiding place.

With desperation fueling his movements, Darius veered towards the gorge, his legs burning with exhaustion. He slipped into its depths, seeking refuge within the confines of the natural formation. The rugged terrain made it difficult for the mounted cavalry to pursue him, granting him a temporary respite from the relentless chase.

"You have to let me go now." Prince Notos advised Darius.

"You have treated me well, release me and I shall ensure your safety."

Darius was breathless, he looked at Prince Notos and admitted his defeat. "I promised… Prince Archilles to deliver you… to Ethos. I knew then… that my life would be in great… danger." Darius told panting.

Prince Notos indifferently affirmed, "treasure your life Darius, go home. I'm different from your Young Lord, I don't exercise unnecessary violence."

Panting, Darius looked seriously towards Prince Notos, "So be it! I entrust my life in your hands Young Lord!"

They both cease their escape and waited for the Cavalry to surround them. And in no time, Hajim was the first one to arrive. As he was 20 meters away from his prey, he calmed himself and walked imposingly towards Prince Notos, "Hajim has come to your assistance Young Lord."

"Hajim!" Prince Notos recognized one of the pursuers and nodded.

Hajim unsheathe his scimitar and readied himself for a fight. Prince Notos immediately noticed his intentions but he still kept his silence. Prince Notos lack of reaction against Hajim frightened Darius, who thought that Prince Notos would protect him against his enemies. "Young Lord!"

Prince Notos smirked miserably, "at least let the man vent. He had been chasing us, you have to honor his determination now Sir Darius."

"Fuck!" Darius unsheathe his sword and carried his small shield as he readied himself against Hajim.

"Hahaha! Thank you, Young Lord!" Hajim got a little bit of understanding of what was happening, and he laughed in satisfaction. 'Young Lord Notos really knows me well! Hahaha' in his mind, Hajim celebrated. He was a battle maniac like Prince Notos, and they both enjoyed sparring against each other since they were younglings.

Hajim darted and pounced against Darius, and their battle commenced.

Meanwhile, the cavalry has arrived and had surrounded Prince Notos and company. Figuring that their Young Lord is safe and secured, the cavalry watches on as the duel between their commander Hajim against Darius was on full display.

After sometime, Darius knees gave up. He let go of his sword and with his two hands, brought his small shield above his head as he defended against Hajim's final blow.

Pakkk!

Darius small shield broke apart, and Darius was brought down by Hajim's strength, he raised both his arms as he admitted bitterly his defeat. "I give up! tsk!"

The crowd exploded in cheers and celebrated the defeat of Darius. Hajim stood before the defeated Darius, "Hahahaha your impressive Sir! To be able to last that long against me! Hahahaha" he reached his hands out and helped Darius on his feet.

"You're a tough wild beast indeed Sir!" Darius replied bitterly.

"I am Hajim of Ironfort's Famine Cavalry!" Hajim's voice exuded power and authority.

"You can call me Darius, of Hazel Grove hehe" Darius replied awkwardly.

Hajim and the rest of the Cavalry was silenced as they heard the kingdom that destroyed their own, 'Hazel Grove! Those puny secluded bastards that took advantage of our internal conflict!'

Hajim gaze was domineering, but he kept his cool and ordered, "Secure our Young Lord! And return to camp!"

"YESSS!!!" The entire cavalry replied in unison.

Darius was frightened, it was inevitable, he shall trust Prince Notos to keep his words this time. He gazes directed towards Prince Notos, as if pleading for his life. Prince Notos noticed him and smirked, even though Prince Notos looked very terrible and miserable due to losing his sword arm, he still looked very charismatic and exudes a pure regal aura.

Darius smirked back and let go of his worries. 'what am I even worried about? haha Prince Notos is not Prince Archilles. Prince Notos reputation is of noble and dignified honor. I can trust him.' Darius thought to himself.

Amidst the vast expanse of the Ironfort desert plains, the oasis, 'Gentle Tears oasis' stood as a sanctuary of life and respite. A jewel amidst the arid landscape, it offered a stark contrast to the barren sand dunes that surrounded it. As weary travelers approached its shimmering shores, they were greeted by a scene of breathtaking beauty.

Lush palm trees swayed gently in the desert breeze, their vibrant green leaves providing shade from the scorching sun. The rustling of leaves created a soothing melody, offering a momentary escape from the harshness of the desert. The trees were adorned with succulent fruits, their vibrant colors a testament to the oasis's abundance.

Crystal-clear water sparkled under the golden rays of the sun, forming a tranquil pool in the center of the oasis. Its surface rippled softly, reflecting the vibrant hues of the surrounding flora. The water beckoned with its coolness, inviting weary travelers to quench their thirst and revive their weary spirits.

The Gentle Tears oasis was more than just a physical oasis; it was a symbol of hope and survival in the face of adversity. It represented the resilience of life in the harshest of environments, a testament to the enduring power of nature. For those who stumbled upon its ethereal beauty, it offered a momentary reprieve from the challenges of the desert, a reminder that amidst the harshest of landscapes, pockets of beauty and sustenance could still be found.

As Prince Notos approached the Gentle Tears oasis, they felt a renewed sense of hope and furious determination.

'I cannot mourn for my family yet! Neebo is still captured by those madmen! I cannot succumb to my defeat just yet!' Prince Notos determination burned, his eyes emitted a powerful killing intent that could be felt by those around him.

Hijam noticed this, and he felt ashamed for not being able to protect against their enemies.

As they stepped on the lush lands of the Gentle Tears oasis, Hajim spoke, "Young Lord, welcome home!"

Prince Notos heard Hajim, his motivation was sky-high, "I am!"