Building a Kingdom and Conquering the World

197  Luther's side

At the southeastern border between Stahl and Luak, a chaotic scene was unfolding as hundreds of Luakian pursued a small cavalry troop of twenty men, racing toward the edge of a dense forest.

Agusa, the promising young archer under General Luther's tutelage, was at the head of the cavalry. His eyes darted between the forest ahead and the pursuers closing in behind. He waited for the perfect moment before shouting - "Turn!"

Agusa pulled the reins of his Snowfire Horse, and the cavalry turned around in unison, bows drawn and ready. In one smooth motion, he reached for the bow strapped on his back and knocked an arrow.

"Loose!" - Agusa barked, his fingers releasing the tension of the bowstring. Twenty arrows flew through the cold air, finding their marks in the packed rank of the pursuers. Some fell dead immediately, while others collapsed in pain, clutching their wounds and screaming. However, their comrades didn't care and pressed on, trampling their fallen comrades.

Agusa wasted no time. He slung his bow over his back again and spurred his horse toward the forest, casting a quick glance over his shoulder to ensure the enemy followed behind them.

"After them!" a voice bellowed from the middle of the pursuing army. "Anyone who brings me a head will have gold enough to live like a noble for their whole life!"

The promise of riches made them to pursue the enemy like a pack of hungry wolves, blind to the dangers of chasing a cavalry into the thick woods. Greed overtook reason and they charged into the forest, scrambling without setting a formation.

Agusa and his troops urged their horses to go faster, weaving through the trees with ease. His heart raced, not from fear, but from adrenaline and antecipation. When they neared a towering tree with a thick rope tied around it, he raised his sword. As the last of his men passed the tree, he slashed through the rope.

"Now!" Agusa shouted.

With a groaning creak, massive, sharpened logs swung down from the trees, crashing into the crazy pursuers. The first wave of attackers was crushed instantly, bodies flung into the air like ragdolls. The rear ranks faltered in confusion, unable to stop their forward momentum.

Before they could grasp the situation, Stahl's infantry burst from the behind the trees, descending upon the disoriented soldiers like trolls after their preys. Swords flashed in the sunlight, and blood sprayed across the snow. Luak's forces had no clear leadership. They were slaughtered before they had a chance to defend themselves. The few who tried to fight back were quickly cut down.

Agusa patted the neck of his Snowfire Horse, watching the massacre unfold with a detached expression. His eyes were cold, emotionless, as if he had grown accustomed to the sights and sounds of war. The screams, the blood, the desperate pleas, it was all just noise to him now.

When the last of the pursuers had fallen, the once pristine white snow was littered with corpses. The bright red of blood seemed to be a stain, impossible to be removed or washed away. It could only be hidden by the falling snow and devoured by time. Not a single soul could escape Stahl's hands.

"Go back and finish off the wounded," Agusa commanded, his voice calm. "Make sure none are left breathing." His soldiers obeyed without hesitation, moving to finish off those who still clung to life, even those outside of the forest. Agusa gave a final glance at the carnage, pulled his reins and spurred his horse deeper into the forest. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"I will report to the General" - he muttered, disappearing into the shadows of the trees.

-x-

Luther sat by a crackling fire near his tent, gnawing on a leg of roasted rabbit, a rare delicacy in Stahl but abundant in the forests of Luak. The snow around him was trampled from the movement of soldiers, whom had left for another mission. It was a rare peaceful silence.

The sound of hooves crunching through the snow interrupted his quiet meal, but Luther did not need to look up to know who had arrived.

"General" - Agusa's voice echoed, calm and composed, like a true leader - "We have eliminated another platoon of the enemy."

Luther didn't respond right away, calmly tearing the last bits of meat from the bone before tossing it into the fire. He wiped his hands on his cloak and finally turned to face the young archer.

"Good work, boy" - Luther said, his voice sounding strangely warm. He rose to his feet and gave the young man a heavy pat on the shoulder. "Seems you've got more than just talent with a bow, you have got a good head for strategy too."

Agusa lowered his eyes, unsure whether to feel proud or embarrassed by the praise. His respect for the white-haired general was clear in every movement he made.

"There's only two weeks left until the king arrives," Luther continued, his eyes shifting south toward the heart of Luak. "Until then, we will keep thinning their numbers, little by little. By the time the king attacks on the capital, Luak will be too weak to put up much of a fight."

Agusa nodded, glancing in the same direction. "Shall we hit another city, General?"

Luther chuckled softly, then tapped Agusa lightly on the head with his finger. "See? That is what I mean. You have got a good head on your shoulders."

Agusa smiled faintly as Luther continued - "We will hit more cities near the border, yes. We have spent weeks setting up this perimeter, taking out villages and drawing their soldiers into our traps. No sense stopping now."

For weeks, Luther had led his forces in precise, guerrilla-style warfare, raiding villages within a five-day ride from Mirante, the heart of Stahl's forces in the border. Each time, they struck hard and fast, minimizing civilian casualties while baiting Luak's soldiers into pursuing them. The pattern was always the same, set the trap, let the enemy come, and wipe them out before they could regroup. So far, five villages had fallen, and over a thousand of Luak's soldiers had been killed.

Luther's strategy was working. Using the dense forests to their advantage, Stahl's forces moved like ghosts through enemy territory, setting traps and ambushes that left only their enemies' bodies. However, Luther knew that such strategies wouldn't have worked in open plains or deserts, since they didn't have much knowledge about it. It worked here because the environment was largely similar to Stahl's lands.

"There are only two more villages within range" - Luther said, heading toward his horse - "Let's hit them hard. By the time we're finished, the king will have an easy march straight to their capital."