"What?!"
"It seems to me that this Horbid is an enemy state, My Lord." Epaminondas surmised, to which Alexis nodded solemnly, "Horbid is a dominant city-state here in the continent. We are also near them. It seems that the recent activities in Vinya alerted some of the Horbid scouts."
Turning to face Karsi, Alexis said, "I can't introduce you all properly, but this is Epaminondas, a friend of mine. He will be your commanding officer. His military orders are equal to mine, so follow him.
Although Karsi and the others were skeptical of the stranger's capabilities, suspicion won't save them. Looking at their king, the Night's Guard nodded. Seeing their affirmation, Alexis ordered his new general, "I am sorry that your first day here in Vinya is immediately with an enemy, but I have no choice."
In response, Epaminondas shook his head, "You need not worry, My Lord. I understand the fickleness of a tyrant regime. How many men do we have?"
"Our manpower is currently at a pitiful thirty." Karsi responded, which pleased Alexis. "How about the enemy forces?"
This time, Bertolt was the one who responded, "According to Gebert, the warriors they sent were Kerosh's group, so that will be about eighty men."
Everyone became somber. It was more than double their forces. Oddly, as everyone became down, Epaminondas smirked, "Easy picking."
"Oi, don't forget about this dwarf right'ere!" Baron yelled, mad about being ignored. Brandishing the great axe that Alexis miraculously missed, he grunted, "Those bastards think my master is easily bullied, le'em get a taste o' my Bashnir!"
Seeing their support, Alexis felt grateful and thankful that they were the one that he summoned. With renewed conviction to fight, he curled his fist and snarled, "Let's show these Horbidians who the new rulers of Horbid are."
Leading the Night's Guard, Baron, and Epaminondas, Alexis and the group rushed to the center of the town. Midway, they were met with Alvert and Leisandra, who immediately flew into the embrace of Alexis, worried about their fate.
As the glorious Shrine of The Northern Lights stood, Alexis looked upon everyone from the platform, from hunters to farmers to settlers of Vinya. "You are the people of the Goddess, the Goddess will not turn her back on us!"
"But, My Lord! It is the Horbidians we are talking about! Their strength is something we alone can't take!" One of the citizens of Vinya cried out in fear.
"The Horbidians will not reach Vinya alive!" Alexis yelled with fervor, shocking everyone who heard him. "As I have said before, the tyranny of Horbid ends! We shall stand equal, if not higher, than that wretched realm!"
"This I tell you! No Horbidian that is loyal to the old system will ever step foot on my territory alive. That I swear to you!"
Silence. No one thought that Alexis was serious about his claims, but with his tone alone, they felt otherwise.
Suddenly, One man stepped forward, "Lord Alexis! The Goddess blessed me with two healthy twins yesterday. I cannot, for all that is good, let the Goddess' name be trampled by greedy Horbidians!" Behind the man was a pale woman carrying two rose-cheeked babes. The man's eyes were filled with determination that cannot be faked.
Following the man, several more, both men and women, stepped forward, eager to help. To this, Alexis sharply waved his hand, "Silence!"
"Do you desire to leave your family, without no one to support them?" Alexis asked the man coldly. Shuddering, the man replied, "N-No…"
"Then live!" Alexis shouted. "I say fight for your families, for your land, for Vinya. But I say too, live! Live for your families, for your land, for Vinya!"
"Live!"
"Live!"
"Live!"
"Long live Vinya!" Shouts and cheers of valor and fervor spread throughout the town. Soon, more and more volunteers stepped forward to give their support. Those who couldn't went and sheltered themselves within the pagoda, praying their hearts out.
Those who could were led by Epaminondas and Alvert who, upon becoming familiar with each others' capabilities, immediately went to work to craft elaborate defensive fortifications surrounding the town. In just about two hours, a multitude of traps were laid northward and westward, directions where possible attacks could come from.
The Night's Guard, while they have time, rested. Some of them couldn't, which is why they trained.
Baron went and gathered some men to craft makeshift shields and spike fortifications that they have to supply to Epaminondas' group. The devices were made from the extra chopped wood from the forest clearing operation that happened a while back.
His craftsmanship made those watching him move amazed. The efficiency in using the sparse resources available to him while keeping the strength and durability of the fortification was applaudable.
Slowly, the forest that Vinya was in became a tight fortress. Scouts were spread across the forest, hanging above the trees that served as the forest's canopy, and now theirs.
Sometime later…
"Elder Kerosh, We'll be nearing the suspicious village." A skinny man squeaked at the man in front of him. Standing at about six feet tall with bulking muscles, the man's cold and dark eyes growled, "Very well."
With a deep, sonorous voice, the man boomed, "Men, get ready!" His shout prompted the eighty men of nearly similar build arrayed behind him to stand erect, with their domineering presence resonating to those who saw them. Their shields and spears amplified even more the terror that they are causing.
"Such audaciousness still actually exists inside Habascus? They still have the nerve to disobey the doctrine of presenting their religion and paying tribute to Horbid? Once I'm done with this, I'll be hunting a beauty inside their village and please myself in front of them as payment." A lascivious grin faintly grew in the man's face before returning to normal.
If they just followed the laws inside Habascus, he wouldn't be this disturbed.
Ruffle!
Suddenly, Kerosh's eyes darted. It scanned the surrounding foliage.
Swoosh!
Thwack! Splat! Thwack! Thwack!
In a matter of seconds, several arrows began flying around them. Kerosh was startled for a moment, but immediately regained composure. "Men! Shield wall!" The Horbidians swiftly moved, forming a tortoise-like formation around him. When they did, the rain of arrows immediately ceased.
"Those bastards! They dare?!" A mad look showed in Kerosh's blood-red eyes.