Kingdom's Bloodline, page 108
He lifted his head and silently said, "Of course."
Sonia nodded.
Constellation's Second Prince gave the crowd an effortless smile.
"Let us depart.
"Follow me to increase your knowledge about the Dragon's Kingdom!"
Hence, the Double Cross-Shaped Stars Flag, which represented Constellation and Jadestar Family's Nine-Pointed Star Flag were erected at the same time.
Wya mounted a Northland Horse with wide hoofs. It was a breed of horse unique to the north. He then pulled Thales up the saddle.
"I swear on my life that I will properly hold the reins, Your Highness," Wya said solemnly, "Please do not worry about your safety."
Thales nodded naturally. "Then, I will let you handle this, attendant." He had already gotten used to Wya's 'excessive' attitude.
Meanwhile, Putray and the few remaining Jadestar private soldiers, who had gone through horse-riding training, rode on the remaining horses.
It was obvious that Ralf could not ride a horse with his current condition, and for some unknown reason Aida shook her head all of a sudden when she saw a horse.
Arracca rode his horse towards Thales' side and the sword-and-shield troops followed him with a stern expression on their faces.
"Do not be scared and wet your pants, little brat," Arracca said coldly, "I heard the people on duty above saying that Eckstedt has prepared a welcoming ceremony for us."
'Ah?'
Thales was momentarily stunned.
Before he came back to his senses, he heard Arracca yell in the direction of the gate's chains.
"Open the gate!"
Broken Dragon Fortress' north gate slowly ascended while the sound of chains rubbing against metal rose into the air.
Thales took a deep breath and slowly made his way out of the Broken Dragon Fortress. He was followed by Constellation's diplomat group, which consisted of less than forty people, and the escort guards, which consisted of more than three hundred people. They then headed north.
First, they had to pass through the five castles, north of Broken Dragon Fortress. The soldiers ahead had already strung their bows, and were ready for battle.
But soon, Thales understood what Arracca meant by 'welcoming ceremony'.
Many people suddenly appeared across the endless white, snow-covered ground before his eyes.
Perhaps he should rephrase that as Eckstedt's army.
Six troops of infantrymen lined up into two slightly curved lines and scattered to both sides of the road ahead of them.
Putray narrowed his pupils. 'The number of infantrymen in each troop is almost four hundred.' This also meant that there were almost two thousand Eckstedt infantrymen waiting for them to head north.
The people of the diplomat group became instinctively nervous. Wya held onto his reins even tighter.
"This is our welcoming ceremony?" Thales stared at the battle formation ahead, which was not really far away from him with a gloomy expression on his face. "They really did cross over the border…"
He turned his head back and glanced at the fortress. He could vaguely see Sonia's figure.
"Prepare for battle." Arracca, who was riding ahead, turned his head around and said to his soldiers in a deep voice, "Do not let your guard down."
"Maybe this is a demonstration," Putray said as he furrowed his brows, "But it is not necessary for them to make a formation in front of the fortress… It will still have the same effect as when we enter the Eckstedt military camp.
"I have a bad feeling about this," Thales said with a pale complexion on his face.
"So, do you want to retreat, young prince?" Arracca said sarcastically, "There is still time for you to turn around now."
"Stop joking around." Thales closed his eyes and exhaled, after which he opened them. "Let us continue onwards."
"Do not worry," Putray said with a low voice, "Lampard is not stupid enough to kill Constellation's prince and heir, who is on a diplomatic mission under the watchful gaze of those at the border of the two kingdoms.
"As long as we do not do anything to provoke them and give them an excuse..."
They moved forward slowly until they entered the premise of the formation, which was in the shape of a mountain.
"They did not mention anything like this…" Ramon nervously nudged a soldier with black hair beside him. "Nothing will happen to the diplomat group, right?"
"Huh?" Willow Ken was taken aback for a moment but he immediately returned to his senses and patted Ramon's shoulder with a smile on his face. "Do not worry! I have met them before… Eckstedt's soldiers are quite nice."
"Quite nice?" Ramon was stunned, but what Willow said next made him go pale.
"If they want to kill you, their swords are very sharp. They will not dawdle too, so you will not suffer."
At that very moment, all six troops of infantrymen began to move slowly.
The members of the diplomat group instantly became nervous!
But luckily, Eckstedt's soldiers did not walk towards them.
The first two Eckstedt troops plodded forward and almost brushed past the diplomat group on both their left and right sides. Thales could even see the Northland soldiers' beard and yellow teeth.
They looked brutish and violent. These burly soldiers were armed with huge hatchets or gigantic, spiked maces.
They also turned around and looked at Constellation's diplomat group with a hostile expression on their faces.
*Thud… thud… thud…*
The sound of heavy footsteps on the snow-covered ground rang out in a disorderly fashion. However, the atmosphere caused by more than two thousand people from all directions made these concentrated sounds of footsteps more impactful.
They walked passed the diplomat group on both sides.
And Thales' expression became stern.
It was his first time facing a battle array made up of a few thousand people and he was feeling a little alarmed.
Nonetheless, he was not the only one who felt the same way.
Even the sword-and-shield troops from the Fury Guards could not help but feel anxious.
*Thud...thud...thud…*
"Keep your composure," Arracca said in a deep voice.
Thales, who was feeling apprehensive, tried to calm himself down, so he turned around and got a good look at the Northland soldiers on either side.
From their armor, weapons, movements, to their advancement, Eckstedt's infantrymen were obviously not as uniformed and orderly as Constellation. There were some soldiers who held axes and wore chain armor, there were also some soldiers who held single-handed swords and only wore chest plates. There were even some blade-and-shield soldiers who resembled Constellation's sword-and-shield troops, but Thales could obviously feel that these infantrymen were different from Constellation's.
They all had one similarity: their gazes were hostile, their expressions were fierce, they had an aggressive and threatening presence, and their faces were filled with contempt as well as disdain.
These infantrymen were holding flags with the picture of an iron fist—the symbol of the Lampard Family. However, they occasionally stroked, pounded, and swung their weapons as if they were demonstrating. They were ferocious like beasts that could go wild at any moment.
*Thud...thud...thud…*
'This is not right,' Thales secretly told himself.
'If this is a demonstration…'
"They are all light infantrymen, at least according to Northlander standards.
"Eckstedt's famous Doppelsöldners and heavy-armored axemen as well as the Northland heavy cavaliers are not here, not even the light cavaliers," Putray pondered and said softly.
"If these troops had been the ones I mentioned just now, it would be too simple for them to kill us, what with them being at the back now… As they are light infantrymen, they are probably just demonstrating."
"Then, why did they not send those powerful armed forces to demonstrate?" Thales furrowed his brows tightly and asked, "A troop of Doppelsöldners walking around with an astonishing presence beside us… Surely, the effect would be even better?"
Putray also furrowed his brows.
'This is indeed strange…'
*Thud...thud...thud…*
"Do not let down your guard!" Arracca Murkh's voice could be heard again.
"Even though there are only more than two thousand light infantrymen, if they swarm at us, they can chop us into pieces in just half an hour." Arracca tightened the silver-black, metal bow across his back and turned around to speak to them coldly.
"On the battlefield with thousands of men and horses, without any support and protection, even a supreme class elite cannot hang on for more than eight minutes."
However, right at the very next second, the situation completely changed.
The six troops of Eckstedt were moving slowly. After the first two troops passed by, they suddenly turned around under their military officers' commands and merged with the other party.
*Thud...thud...thud…*
The disorderly sounds of two thousand footsteps continued to rise into the air!
Eckstedt's light infantrymen surrounded them and slowly changed their formation from two curved lines, which formed a mountain into a square.
"They are surrounding us!" Wya yelled in anger, "What is the meaning of this?"
Putray stared at the Eckstedtians before his eyes in shock.
In his disbelief, Thales stared into the distance, wanting to see what was happening in front clearly.
'This should not be happening.'
"Stop!" Arracca roared angrily and had the entire diplomat group as well as the escort group come to a halt, "Form your formation in your place!"
Even though they were nervous and apprehensive, more than three hundred Constellation soldiers, especially the veterans still stopped in their tracks. They proceeded to turn around in an orderly manner. They formed their shields into a wall and surrounded the prince in a circular formation.
"It is already impossible to break through their formation now." Arracca stared at the surrounding citizens of Eckstedt in agitation. "These bastards…"
The Constellatiates stared at the surrounding, murderous Eckstedt infantrymen in bewilderment and fear.
"What are we going to do now?" Wya clenched his teeth and asked.
"Do they have anyone that we can communicate with? A military officer or a commander?" Thales asked nervously, "Due to Lampard's best interests, they will not dare to kill me…"
But at the next moment, a few unfamiliar but forceful commands could be heard coming from Eckstedt's battle formation.
Arracca and Putray's expression quickly changed!
So did many of the veterans'.
They recognized the type of military order from Eckstedt.
Within the next second, all six troops with over two thousand Eckstedt infantrymen raised their weapons and roared angrily!
*Wooh! Wooh! Wooh!*
Thales was terrified of the deafening roars. "What… is happening to them?"
Shortly after, Eckstedt's infantrymen could be seen walking in huge strides with a ferocious look on their faces.
*THUD! THUD! THUD!*
Sounds of footsteps that were louder than before came through like thunder.
More than two thousand infantrymen raised their weapons and rushed madly towards Thales' diplomat group from all six directions.
"Kill them!"
Eckstedt's light infantrymen were roaring in fervent ardor and charging towards them.
Thales was in a daze as he stared at everything before his eyes.
'Did they not say that Lampard would not dare to jeopardize my safety?'
"He is waiting calmly for the prince's arrival."
'Then, why…
'Why does he want to… kill me?'
"Damn it." Putray widened his eyes in shock as he drew a half sword from his waist. "How could they…?"
A louder roar exploded in the air and cut off Putray's speech.
"Enemy assault!"
In the center of the group, Arracca Murkh's was livid and filled with rage. He controlled his unstable steed and forcefully pulled out a menacing two-handed sword. He roared at Constellation's escort team, his Fury Guards.
"Get ready for battle!"
Chapter 103: Gamble (One) |
Frightening war cries shot up from more than two thousand Eckstedtian's throats. They charged towards the Constellatiates, who were like a lonely boat caught in a raging ocean.
Thales' first experience of a large-scale battle came while he completely did not expect it.
The sword-and-shield troops of the Fury Guards were at the frontline. They used the long swords in their hands to shield the comrades beside them, turning their bodies to the side to form a battle formation.
Arracca had already dismounted from his horse. He used his hands to raise a large, frightening sword which was almost as tall as a person. Eyes burning with the fiery desire for war, he took large strides forward.
Taking the initiative on their own, the soldiers in front made room for their commander. The space was enough to fit three people.
"First charge!" Arracca looked around and spoke loudly, "Hold up the defense line!"
The enemies charged over like flood water and closed in on them.
Right in the middle of the battle array, Wya immediately pulled Thales down from the eye-catching battle steed. He placed Thales in the middle of a circle formed by six soldiers for firm protection. He then joined Aida, Putray and Ralf in guarding the four corners of this tiny battle formation.
"Go and help the frontline!" Thales urged them, "If they collapse, you all won't be able to protect me either!"
However, his mind was in an extreme state of chaos. He could not fathom why he faced such a situation when making a diplomatic trip to Eckstedt.
'What on earth is happening?'
Wya and Ralf looked at each other. After Putray nodded, they approached the frontline.
On the hand, Aida exhaled and spoke to Putray in a low voice, "This is a real battlefield, and even supreme class elites must be extremely careful.
"And a battle with such a great disparity in strength…
"If you all have any ways to prevent the battle, immediately tell me!
"If there is none, immediately think of one!"
Thales gritted his teeth while watching the enemies who charged towards them from all directions—those six large troops of Eckstedtians.
'The enemies, there are… too many of them.
'We are surrounded tightly.
'We don't have enough military strength at all… No, more appropriately, we did not prepare for battle at all!
'What should I do?
'Shout my identity out loud?
'However, those people don't seem to care about it at all.'
Facing the impending battle, a lot of Constellation soldiers exhaled, gripped their weapons tightly, secured their shields and looked at the fierce soldiers of Eckstedt with a grim gaze.
Roaring furiously, the first Eckstedt infantryman charged towards them.
*Boom!*
His shield crashed hard against the shield of a shield and sword soldier.
With the help of the comrades beside and behind him, the shield and sword soldier of Constellation gritted his teeth and endured the impact from this tall and lofty opponent. He then waved his sword to block off the opponent's axe, which swung towards him from the air.
However, more Eckstedt soldiers charged towards the Constellation diplomat group's battle array.
*Boom! Boom! Boom!*
The Eckstedt soldiers were all howling furiously. They continuously crashed into the battle array of those from Constellation from all directions!
"Kill them!"
"Hold them back!"
Amid the furious roars of the soldiers from both sides, the clashing of shields and the sounds of weapons meeting mingled together. It was as though thunder crackled endlessly from the ground.
Genard and two soldiers from the Fury Guards stood at the frontline. He resisted the shield with all his might using his shoulders.
A swinging spiked mace pounded hard on the shield. Genard's entire body trembled and almost fell backwards.
The comrade behind him supported his back and helped him steady his body.
Genard, whose face was distorted, vehemently resisted the impact.
'Damn it!' he thought in pain.
'These Eckstedtians… They are way stronger than those rebels from the southwest, both in terms of strength and built.'
A sword came thrusting towards him aiming for his forearm, Genard moved slightly and let his comrades take care of it. The veteran himself pushed the spiked mace away and kicked its owner's knees hard, making the man stagger. He then thrust his sword into the man's totally unprotected neck.
Blood splattered out. His opponent fell face-up while mumbling.
'Fortunately… They are not very agile either.'
Having just thought that, a longspear grazed pass Genard's ear and pierced through the stomach of a soldier on his left. Screaming, the latter crumpled onto the ground.
Roaring furiously, Genard took the position of the dead person within the battle array. He cleaved the longspear and blocked a blade that was trying to attack through the gap. A soldier behind Genard rapidly filled in the empty space left behind.
Such a scene appeared at various points of the frontline.
Furious roars and miserable screams were still interweaved with the clashing of metals and the striking of weapons. Eckstedt's light infantrymen pounced again and again, as though they were fearless towards death. They were then warded off or even killed by the members of the Fury Guards and the diplomat group again and again, leaving behind many dead bodies. However, on Constellation's side, people were also falling continuously. The snow-covered ground was gradually dyed red with blood.
However, the veterans from the Fury Guards at the frontline continue relying on their rich experiences and skills to forcefully maintain the frontline so that the terrified Thales would not see everything around him, where thousands of people intermingled with each other in the battlefield.
Blood that splattered everywhere.
Roars that can never be forgotten.
