Rise of the Horde

Chapter 236: Chapter 23

“Hey old man! It seems like you are correct! Here comes the main army!” Nader shouted towards the most senior of them all in the room after he caught sight of the massive cloud of dust in the distance. After Haguk and his group passed by the small town, Jahann told Nader that there would be a main army following after the group that just passed by them when they were drinking.

The two youngsters peeked out the window and soon saw the huge formation making their way towards them. Fear was apparent in the eyes of the two youths as they have never experience war or have never engaged in real combat before.

“Are you sure that we should keep the gates open?” Nader turned his gaze towards the old man who was still busy drinking wine and seemed to not care about their possible impending doom.

“What do you think will happen if we shut off the gates?” the old man questioned without turning his head, his eyes still focus on the wine in his hands. The three kept their silence as they knew all too well what would surely happen, a siege and a slaughter.

“You see, if we keep the gates open even after knowing that they are upon us. There will be a possibility that they will leave us alone and spare us since we didn’t cause them any mishaps, unless they are bloodthirsty maniacs. According to what I know, those warmongering creatures won’t attack the hapless since there is no honor in doing so and for us long as I know, they are creatures who value honor and glory above anything else.” Jahann explained as he stood up from where he was seated and headed towards the window.

There in the distance, moving towards them at a steady pace was an army which was huge enough to give their kingdom serious trouble.

“If I am not mistaken old man, each tribe or clan of the battle-loving creatures have unique banners each of their own to identify themselves from the others, right? Nader questioned to which the old man just nodded his head in response.

.....

“Can you identify which tribe or clan do they belong to?” he continued as he pointed at the banners of the approaching army.

“My eyesight isn’t as good as when I was in my youth so have to fill me in with the details of the banner that you see.” Jahann replied as he headed towards his chair to seat down as there was no reason for him to continue watching the approaching army.

“Let’s see, which tribe has a Snarling Wolf on their banner?” Medo beat Nader in asking. All three pairs of eyes focused on the old man who was mumbling ‘Snarling Wolf’ under his breath while stroking his chin as he tried to recall the deep buried knowledge that he had about those battle-loving creatures.

After a few moments he replied, a very short “I don’t know.” Before gulping down a mouthful wine as he let out one satisfied breath.

“What about Melting Wings?” Nader quickly asked to which the old man replied again with same “I don’t know.”

“Tsk... Is there anything that you know?” Nader questioned with an annoyed tone.

Jahann just shrugged his shoulders as he headed out of the room and towards the top of the gate with a piece of cloth in hand which was made up of multiple pieces of cloth that was sewed together. He took down the banner of Ereia and replaced it with the rough white cloth that he had in his hands.

His three companions followed after him and witness him taking down the flag of the kingdom.

“Won’t our heads roll if the proud nobles or that new king finds out about this?” Medo panicked as he watched the old man bring up the white cloth.

“Yeah, our heads will roll, definitely.” Jahann replied with smile on his face.

“And yet you still dared to do it knowing full well about its consequences.” Medo was starting to get even more nervous after hearing the confirmation from the old man.

“You should worry that the ones who are heading towards us are nice enough to spare our lives after our surrender rather than worry about those who are far away and most unlikely will not come to avenge your death for holding up the glory and pride of this damn kingdom.” The old man lectured as he spat on the floor.

“Old man! Look!” Nader suddenly chimed in as he pointed towards something at the distance excitedly.

“What is it?” the interest of Jahann was piqued as he was curious what would even excite Nader in their current situation.

“That banner! That’s of the House of Darkhariss.” Shouted Nader in excitement as he pointed at one of the banners that was being displayed by the army that was heading towards them.

“Boy, you are right! It seems that we don’t have to worry too much about our heads rolling as long as we are obedient.” Jahann happily replied as his nervousness decreased quite a bit after knowing that they have someone of their kin among their enemies. His primary worry before about their enemies was that of differing language even if they surrender since a simple wrong interpretation of their words could lead to their deaths.

“But I wonder who among the Darkhariss is it since according to the rumors that I have heard, the House has fallen with its members either fleeing, hiding or dead.” Nader muttered softly while standing beside the old man as they gaze at the army that was less than a hundred meters away from the simple walls of the town.

“It seems that the people of this town are fairly wise.” Khao’khen said as he stared at the flag of Ereia being taken down before being replaced with a sign of surrender. If he was not mistaken, his warriors were all excitedly waiting for the command to attack which to their dismay didn’t came as their enemies seems to have no intention to fight.

About eighty meters away from the walls of the town, the horde and their companions halted in their tracks and five riders broke off from the side of the Ereians to gather information and also to make sure that they aren’t heading towards a trap.