Chapter 87 - 8-1
Haider Skyner immediately prepared for war upon hearing that the city of Famana had suffered a second raid by the Kosa people. He departed Maslow with about ten riders before dawn and arrived in Famana in the afternoon.
Climbing the city's watchtower with his childhood friend, Vimherik Bell, Haider was astonished.
The enemy had nonchalantly pitched their tents.
There were about fifty cavalry. They had released their horses and sheep, occupying a single communal pasture of the city. In the fields, which had been beautifully cultivated with varying shades of soil following the contours of the land, there was not a single silhouette. The farmers had evacuated inside the walls of Famana.
"At first, they were over there."
The sentry explained to Haider, pointing toward the walls.
The Kosa people had appeared from nowhere; they were simply there when dawn broke.
"As soon as we fired arrows, they moved immediately."
They had moved to a position beyond the reach of arrows and set up their tents.
Judging by the number of enemy soldiers, there was no intention to besiege Famana. It was a peaceful scene, as if they had merely come to graze their livestock.
"They're mocking us," Vimherik muttered, scratching his head while holding his helmet under his arm.
"It seems so." Haider also laughed at the enemy's audacity.
Driving them away would likely be easy. If they deployed troops, the enemy would probably flee. Were they trying to lure them toward a place where an ambush awaited? If so, venturing too deep was forbidden.
—Even if it were a trap.
With the enemy so close, they had no choice but to strike. If the occupied communal pasture and fields were viewed as a rectangle, three sides—east, south, and west—were bordered by forest. The northern side was the wall surrounding the city of Famana.
There were four exits; two were forest roads heading south, which could be blocked by deploying infantry within the woods. The remaining two were roads running east and west along the wall, which were even easier to block. They could completely surround the enemy.
"Is there any possibility that enemy infantry are hiding in the forest?"
When Haider asked, the sentry shook his head. "Lauro-sama has already finished scouting the southern forest. He says there is no such sign."
After Dico Thora's troops departed, the Royal Army had been stationed in Famana.
The commander was Lauro. A vassal of the Danforth family, he was a large, heroic man. Haider had met him at the Skyner estate.
"Thank you. I shall try speaking with Lauro."
Haider descended the watchtower.
There was a small castle within the city of Famana. Famana Castle. Both this city and castle had already become the property of the Skyner family. However, at this moment, the city and castle of Famana were leased to the Royal Army with the accompanying obligation of defense.
"Young master, may I come along?"
Haider looked back at Vimherik. The eyebrows, which looked like white brushstrokes on a dark face, were now slightly downturned.
"What do you think the enemy's intention is?"
"I haven't the slightest clue," Haider answered. "However, whatever they do, the enemy's goal must be to connect the plains and the north via the road; they likely want to buy time."
"Well, well, if it isn't the young Marquis of Ganlord."
In the hall of the Famana Castle keep, men dressed as warriors in a military fashion were gathered around a table.
A map of Famana was spread across the table.
"I am the representative of the Count of Belgau, Lauro."
Haider introduced himself and greeted the men lined up there. There was one familiar face.
A man in his forties with golden sideburns connected to his cheek-beard; if he recalled correctly, his name was Sibel, the cavalry commander of Dico Thora.
"We met on the road to Bist."
When Haider peered at him, the other responded indignantly.
"Let me make this clear, I have nothing to be ashamed of. Before Dico Thora surrendered to you people, I was recruited by the Royal Army."
"Ah, I see."
"Rest assured, I hold no grudge against Belgau."
Sibel crossed his arms with a sullen expression.
"So, you've seen the enemy?" Lauro placed a finger on a spot on the map. "Your opinion?"
"I am embarrassed that I cannot be of more help, but I have no idea. If I had to say, the cavalry in the pasture might be bait, and while we bite, they may intend to attack Famana from another direction."
"I thought the same, so I've increased patrols in all directions. However, no enemy shadows have been captured."
"The enemy in the pasture can be completely surrounded."
"It is a strange thing. They've even pitched tents. That complete encirclement is the first plan. Surround and annihilate. The second plan is to intentionally leave an escape route to lure the enemy, then block them from both front and rear on the forest roads."
"Which plan will you take?"
"I am leaning toward the latter. If we surround them completely, the enemy will likely rage."
When soldiers know there is no way out, they charge with the resolve of the desperate. Encirclement is dangerous.
It is better to provide an escape route. Soldiers who have escaped once cherish their lives. Generally, it results in fewer casualties for both sides to pinch them and encourage surrender.
"I understand. Belgau has no objection. Could you use the Gallan Unit? They are light cavalry organized by our house."
Lauro looked straight at Haider and nodded. "Just in time. I'll have them scout to see if anyone is behind us."
"Good luck in battle."
When Haider extended his hand, Lauro met it with a forceful clap and shook it back.
The sun tilted west, and stripes of red sunlight and intersecting shadows were laid upon the forest road.
It was a road that could be blocked if ten men lined up side-by-side. The red and black mesh cast an equal shadow over the bodies of nearly thirty dead who lay across the road.
Haider dismounted. "Vim... this is..."
"They're allies!" Vimherik said.
Soldiers had begun treating the wounded.
Haider noticed Captain Sibel was wounded, sitting with his back against a tree. Perhaps the treatment was finished, as a bandage was wrapped around his exposed shoulder.
Only a few dozen minutes ago, Haider had just seen Captain Sibel's brave figure at the castle keep.
The heavy cavalry unit led by Captain Sibel had scattered the enemy Kosa cavalry with a magnificent concentrated charge. The heavy cavalry carrying shields spread out like beaters in a hunt, attempting to surround the enemy. From behind them, archers fired fire-arrows into the nomads' tents.
The Kosa cavalry, driving their horses and sheep, fled toward the entrance of the southern road. Of the two road entrances, one was blocked by infantry lining up their shields. The other, the eastern entrance, was wide open.
Because they were matching the trotting speed of the sheep, the speed of the Kosa cavalry was leisurely.
Rather than a battle, it was like a crackdown on illegal occupation by officials.
However, a few enemy soldiers at the rear fired arrows while looking back from horseback. It was likely the "rear-firing" mentioned in the pamphlets distributed by the Royal Army. Sibel's unit was caught off guard by this, slowed their speed slightly, and broke their concentrated formation.
Nonetheless, they were the pursuers. The enemy was being sucked into the forest roads that served as escape routes. Sibel's unit entered the forest composedly, blocking the rear of the fleeing enemy. Heavy cavalry were waiting at the enemy's destination, forming a wall of spears.
It should have worked. It was a perfect pincer attack. Haider had ridden to the forest road with Vimherik to witness the outcome.
"I am ashamed," Captain Sibel said, grimacing in pain.
"I am glad you are safe. Your injury—"
"This is nothing. My wound is shallow. More importantly, listen to this."
He said that the heavy cavalry unit meant to intercept them had been attacked by ethnic minorities emerging from the forest.
"First, that was thrown. Right into the middle of the infantry."
Sibel frowned and raised his arm, extending a trembling finger.
Haider searched his mind. There was a red lump on the road. It was flesh. It took time for him to realize it was a human torso with the limbs and neck torn off and the skin peeled away.
"That is..." Haider had heard of them.
"That's right. The Canine Tribe. The forest people that wounded soldiers of the Royal Army, who survived combat in the dark forest, spoke of. Those Kosa bastards brought them along."
Sibel continued.
While the infantry were shocked by the skinned corpse, arrows were suddenly fired from within the forest. Arrows rained down from above as well. It seemed members of the Canine Tribe had climbed the trees. Unable to bear it, the infantry held their shields over their heads.
Then, the enemy Kosa cavalry wielded their spears and carved a path through.
They apparently left at a steady pace, leading their sheep. The Canine Tribe seemed to have fought with the infantry for a while, but disappeared before anyone noticed.
"Please heal your wounds. Next time, it will surely be our turn."
"I'm counting on you."
With a face lightly covered in sweat, Sibel nodded.
Lauro had arrived here before Haider and the others. They joined forces and confirmed the information. It was almost the same as Sibel's story.
"So this was the enemy's aim," Lauro said.
Since it had come to this, there was a need to expand the defense. If there was an enemy that used the forest as their primary battlefield, they had to guard against forest incursions. Unless soldiers were placed near the forest exits to maintain vigilance, Famana could not be protected. The overall defense would become thin, and the Royal Army would be pulled away from Famana.
"This is already..."
"Yes, we have no choice but to march. Let us intercept them at the fields of Brazm."
"A pitched battle?"
"There is a chance of victory."
This tragedy was due to his own naive outlook. Haider regretted it. He had fallen perfectly for the enemy's trick. Next time. Next time, he would surely prepare everything and settle the score.
On their side, they had the Royal Army of Ganlord and the Capital Defense Force led by General Hilboro. They had the troops of the eastern lords and the volunteer army of Saranti. Compared to that, the total number of enemies was by no means large—.
—Could he say that?
Haider asked himself with a trembling heart. He believed nine out of ten parts were certain.
What was the remaining one? Haider did not want to think that it was his own fear.
The Gallan Unit of Belgau's light cavalry returned to Famana the next morning.
Captain Gallan reported the disappearance of the enemy cavalry at the Famana Castle keep.
—The Marsh Fort has been fallen.
Haider, Lauro, and everyone present became agitated.
The fleeing enemy cavalry had apparently entered the Marsh Fort.
The Marsh Fort was, as its name suggested, a fort built in a wetland area called the Caterpillar Marsh. The surrounding footing was poor, slowing the movement of cavalry. Thanks to the wetlands lying between the southeastern region and Ganlord, as well as the fort, the Kosa cavalry had no choice but to detour using narrow roads. The fact that the Kosa cavalry appearing around Ganlord were small in number was largely due to the influence of the Caterpillar Marsh.
"Which means, the true objective was the Marsh Fort?"
Lauro looked up at the ceiling.
Everything had been for the capture of the Marsh Fort. The fifty or so enemy soldiers who appeared in Famana were likely a distraction to stop reinforcements from Ganlord; it could be thought of that way.
—No, it's a bit strange.
Haider searched for the identity of the discomfort budding in his mind.
The fifty who mocked Famana did not take maneuvers to delay their deployment. For example, they didn't do things like move around to buy time, but immediately entered a breakthrough maneuver in cooperation with the Canine Tribe. Even if there was an intention to help the capture of the Marsh Fort, it likely wasn't the primary objective.
The purpose of the cavalry who came to Famana was clear. According to the rules of Siddim, it was a demonstration saying they would not fight, but would bring their own rules here. In other words, 'The forest will no longer be your protection.'
—Kosa can release slaughterers into the forest at any time.
They had come to teach this new rule.
What about the capture of the Marsh Fort? If construction were carried out on the Caterpillar Marsh, a direct road would open from the southeastern region occupied by the enemy to Ganlord.
The above two points clearly meant that an enemy attack on Ganlord was imminent.
—Do they have that many troops?
About twenty days ago, the Royal Army discovered a scout from the encamped Kosa army and succeeded in a night attack.
The scout unit surrendered immediately, and they were able to take about eighty prisoners. All of them were thin and lacked nutrition. Just by showing them food, they began to speak honestly about what they knew. Although they didn't grasp the entirety of their own army,
—The Kosa army is impoverished.
That much was guaranteed. Food and new soldiers were apparently being supplied only bit by bit, pushing through the dark forest.
—A bluff?
If what the prisoners said was correct, then the provocation at Famana and the capture of the Marsh Fort were bluffs to prevent a pitched battle.
He cannot judge, Haider thought. Should they strike out, or commit to defense?
"What is it? You've gone silent."
Looking up at Lauro's voice, everyone at the table was looking at Haider.
"Just as a divination," Haider said with a bitter face. "Let us try releasing one prisoner and proposing a hostage exchange."
If the enemy stubbornly refused unnecessarily, the enemy's goal was indeed buying time; if they intended to attack Ganlord, they would not hesitate to ensure the safety of the prisoner. The prisoners were collected and housed in Maslow, the central city of Ganlord.
—However, it's not a very clever method.
No matter what reaction they showed, there would likely be no logic sufficient to estimate the enemy's combat power.
For Haider, even a faint sensation would do; he wanted information.
Mozu Wolf stepped into the dark forest for the first time.
In Mozu's eyes, the road looked almost completed. Along the way, there were two places where the road width had been expanded and logs piled up, like fortifications. They had driven away the enemy hunters hiding in the forest, but they hadn't annihilated them. Vigilance likely couldn't be dropped.
—Come to think of it.
It was when he returned the Canine Tribe members he had borrowed for a short while. Mozu remembered that the forest engineers who came to receive them seemed relieved from the bottom of their hearts. It seemed that being in the forest without the guidance of the Canine Tribe was exceedingly frightening.
Pusiteto was waiting for Mozu at the third fortification.
"Did you come to see how things are?"
Unusually for the cleanliness-loving Pusiteto, there was mud on his cheek.
When Mozu pointed it out, Pusiteto wiped the dirt away with saliva.
"I'm sorry to bother you while you're busy, but I have a bit of a consultation. Regarding the Marsh Fort that fell the other day, a single prisoner who had been captured by the enemy has returned..."
Mozu explained the circumstances.
"Ho, a hostage exchange?"
"Yes. Apparently, they want to divine our reaction."
"And...?"
"As a mediator, they apparently want to send an Enagamo merchant. A man named Mendes Gilanhart. You know him, right?"
"Yes. A peddler who was trying to connect the King of Carossa and the King of Tawaru," Pusiteto said in his naturally quiet voice. "The King of Tawaru trusted him."
"Is he steadfast?"
"Rock solid. If he has a contract with Ganlord, he probably wouldn't betray them no matter how much gold was piled up."
If both sides knew him, it would be difficult to propose a change of negotiator.
Mozu sighed. "How about we dare to call him to the main camp, greet him with lined-up troops, and show off our power?"
"That is far too contrived. Besides, the Gilanhart clan would see through it. He is a shrewd merchant. Why not negotiate at the Marsh Fort?"
"Wouldn't the enemy find some meaning in the fact that we negotiated at the Marsh Fort?"
"You're overthinking it."
Probably so.
However, Mozu thought. The fact that they proposed a hostage exchange meant that the enemy was unable to determine their combat power. It could be said they feared them. He wanted to maintain that fear. He couldn't afford a clumsy response.
If the actual situation were revealed, the enemy, who had been frozen in fear, would suddenly boil with rage and come flooding in like a broken dam.
"Is something the matter?"
"Don't laugh, okay?"
Mozu looked at Pusiteto and spoke.
—I feel like we're being toyed with.
After all, the enemy had a large army. They could crush them at any time. Despite that, what was this slowness in proposing hostage negotiations?
"I feel like we're being played with in some way."
"Kosa warfare has been fast, especially since the era of the Great King," Pusiteto said. "They might want to irritate us. No, perhaps it's just that the next commander-in-chief hasn't been decided yet?"
"No, the enemy army must have a hierarchy."
"If so, based on that hierarchy, the man who became the next commander-in-chief is simply slow. That's all it is."
Mozu tilted his head and thought. Come to think of it, the prisoner man had said something about being told by a battalion commander of the Famana army.
"We'll reply that Mendes Gilanhart must show proof that he is the representative of their commander-in-chief."
"Would that not be fine?"
"Yeah. Not bad." Mozu praised himself.
He might at least find out the name of the new enemy general.
The Gallan Unit went to the Marsh Fort almost every day. They approached the fort provocatively, sometimes stepping into the marsh to intimidate the enemy. One day, a single arrow was fired from the fort toward the Gallan Unit. It was an arrow-letter.
Gallan brought back the arrow-letter, and a military council was immediately held at Famana Castle.
The letter was written in the Enagamo language.
"They say they cannot negotiate unless it is with the representative of our commander-in-chief."
After reading the letter from the enemy, Lauro summarized it thus.
Everyone present laughed. Among them was Aram Danforth, who had been newly appointed as the Eastern Governor.
Aram Danforth had brought a letter that arrived yesterday from the capital city of Malfa to Famana. It was a letter written by Chancellor Gilma Rigardie, framed as a hearsay of His Majesty the King's discourse. The commander-in-chief was Glen Hilboro, who was moving east; the Eastern Governor was Aram Danforth. The Skyner family was in charge of supplies. Regarding the matter of the Skyner family expelling Dico Thora, a sentence was added as the words of His Majesty:
'It was undoubtedly a rampage, but there is room to accept it as zeal.'
Though ambiguous, it was likely a sentence to maintain balance by sharing His Majesty the King's authority with the local eastern lords. With this single sentence, it became easier for Haider to work. Lord Rigardie's measure was as meticulous as if he knew the power dynamics of the place.
Along with the reorganization of the Eastern Royal Army, there were instructions regarding future operations.
The Royal Army of Ganlord would pressure the southeastern region from the north; if the enemy overflowed from beyond the Twin Forts, they would be guided west, where Hilboro's army would intercept them.
"First, we reclaim the Marsh Fort and establish a base on the other side of the marsh," Aram said. "If we drive away the enemy cavalry pressuring the surroundings, the roads to Dint and Carossa will be liberated. The enemy's destination will become limited."
"To the west, then. However, it's possible the enemy might hole up inside the pot," Lauro said, likening the space between the Twin Forts and the dark forest to a pot.
"It would be easier than if they could get out of the pot."
Aram wore a cold smile. It meant they could simply close the lid of the pot.
However, if they holed up for too long, the forest road would be cleared.
That said, if they let the enemy cavalry escape, even if they closed the lid of the pot, they might be pierced from the rear again, repeating the previous battle.
"Haider, what will you do about the reply to the hostage negotiation?"
"We should take it as far as securing a guarantee that neither side will harm the prisoners," Haider answered Aram crisply. "Please let me proceed with it."
"Very well."
Vitality was returning to the air flowing through the room. With a single letter from Gilma Rigardie—taking the form of His Majesty's words—everything began to click into place.
—It went well.
Reading the enemy's arrow-letter that arrived from the Marsh Fort, Mozu Wolf smirked.
The enemy had changed their attitude, avoiding any mention of their own commander-in-chief and attempting to start the conversation from the treatment of prisoners.
—They fear us.
They intend to buy time and organize their posture.
Mozu called Hazab and had him write a reply. While agreeing to the basic point of not harming prisoners, he tried mixing in a bit of a counter by saying, 'Before that, we should confirm the number of prisoners held by both sides.'
"Will it go well?"
Hazab had a dull expression.
"Fool," Mozu scolded. "What will you do if the enemy sees a face like that? Just lead it so that it goes well."
However, five days passed, then ten, and there was no reply. Mozu's face clouded over.
It was then that the enemy infantry marched south and surrounded the Marsh Fort.
It was around twilight.
Woken up by a messenger and receiving the report, Mozu Wolf mounted his horse and rode alone to the vicinity of the wetlands. Climbing a hill from which he could look down on the marsh in the distance, his eyes widened. The number of enemy soldiers was three times his imagination. They were laying planks in the mud to bring in battering rams, striking the gates with shouts. Archers fired fire-arrows into the logs surrounding the fort. The sight of the infantry attacking the fort while becoming covered in mud was like maggots writhing, drenched in the marsh mist.
—They've organized their posture.
The Marsh Fort would not hold. Those guarding it were about fifty southerners. He had let them perform superficial expansion work, but in the end, it was a bluff. He had instructed them to surrender if attacked.
Mozu, conversely, became calm.
As he ran down the hill, he happened to meet Hazab, who had caught up leading cavalry.
"You're prepared, right?"
"I'm trembling with joy!"
Hazab shouted. He was a man more hot-blooded than he looked.
"We fall back to the fields of Brazm. Gather the cavalry. Everyone, prepare your spears. We slay the enemy cavalry! Huchi!" Mozu spoke to Huchi Bass, who happened to be in sight. "Can you hit the enemy's rear by going around the west!"
"I've been wanting a rear I could hit!"
"Leave the maggots before our eyes alone! Field battles are the flower of Kosa; let the Great Bird God peck the enemy!"
Roars of "Yeah, yeah, yeah!" returned.
Mozu Wolf's hair stood on end.
It was the hour when the sun reached the center of the sky. Kicking up the damp earth, horse hooves scraped the grassland one after another, leaving black trails.
At this time, an unseasonable wind began to blow in Siddim.
Pusiteto, who felt as if he had completely blended into the dark forest, looked up at the sky upon noticing that the forest had begun to raise an untimely voice. Countless leaves were torn from the clamoring trees, becoming black dots flowing in the sky, dancing and scattering against the headwind.
The wind stopped quickly, and Pusiteto returned his gaze to the messenger who had come from the Marsh Fort.
Then, a ferocious gust shook the forest, making the previous wind seem like nothing more than a herald. It was a wind that made giant trees bend. Fallen leaves spiraled upward in the shape of a tornado, and branches snapped with a sound. The engineers nearby all crouched down. They could not keep their eyes open.
—What is it, what is it!
Pusiteto clutched his head in fear.
Due to that terrible wind, the bells of the Euryas Convent began to ring irregularly. The bells of the bell tower, which were supposed to mark time with absolute precision and bring order to daily life, were being struck wildly as if possessed by a demon.
The nuns were in the fields.
"Wait, Lucy, this—"
Chloe's slender body flew into Lucy as if pushed by the wind.
Lucy Alish caught Chloe and reached out her other hand to pull Sheri close. It was a roaring wind. Dust flew in streaks, becoming waves that blew past Lucy's feet.
—What?
Lucy looked toward the east, shading her eyes with her palm. The sound of the nuns' clothes fluttering echoed. The first-year nuns gathered around Lucy and Chloe. Huddling together in a single mass, the nuns were like small birds enduring a storm.
In the eastern sky Lucy saw, thick clouds slid by, glowing brilliantly. A giant blur, like a sandstorm, covered Malfa Castle.
Larisa Syllabus was also crouching near the prison tower of Karnain City. Her giant older brother, Ness D. Syllabus, stood like a guardian deity to protect Larisa.
Larisa, who delayed marriage to care for her brother, once a week took her brother out from the prison tower of Karnain to let him exercise.
Amidst the stinging gusts, Larisa managed to look up at her brother's face.
Ness Syllabus, while narrowing his eyes, wore a smile and was talking to someone invisible. Because the wind pressed against her ears, Larisa could not hear what he was saying. Then again, since his mental state had deteriorated, her brother often spoke incomprehensible monologues.
Larisa pulled her brother's trousers.
Miraculously, her brother seemed to notice what Larisa wanted to say. He helped Larisa up and, holding her, opened the door to the prison tower. As they entered the tower together, the roar of the wind receded somewhat.
"Larisa."
Her brother's expression was calm.
"Tell Laicanel Thora. The time to avenge Father is near."
"I wish you would tell him directly, Big Brother."
Even as she spoke, her brother's pupils grew cloudy in an instant.
"Big Brother?"
"Who are you? A younger sister? It's strangely cold. Has it become winter?"
The largest forest within the Kingdom of Siddim was the Great Sea of Trees lying between the west and the north.
The One-Eyed mage Zarko, who intended to return to that forest, endured the strong wind in the grasslands along with Laje Jink, who had visited him after a long time.
It was a strange wind. The mages' robes fluttered like flags, swelled like sails, and trembled with a vibrating sound. Both Zarko and Laje lowered their hips and planted their feet to avoid being blown away.
"What is it, what is this—"
Laje said. Zarko didn't know either.
However,
"Something came. Something entered."
That much was certain.
"Something has entered our country, entered Siddim."
At Marvel Boony's feet, Rivet was kneeling and whispering words of prayer. Marvel took the wind with her whole body. It was a wind that made one's hair stand on end.
After infiltrating the Marsh Fort disguised as a village girl and leading the soldiers in, Marvel did not return to Mozu Wolf but continued her intelligence gathering. Now she was heading for Saranti.
The grassland was like a sea. Waves of light slid one after another over the grass. The fierce wind tore the grass and danced it up to the heights of the blue sky. It was a roar that pressed against the eardrums.
—It is the wind of the Great Bird God.
"A wind like this would not blow in Futsuria!"
Marvel spoke to the black nun.
"It would not. This is the wind of Kosa..."
"Fall back!"
In a wind that could blow away helmets, even horses faltered.
"Retreat! Fall back!"
Mozu Wolf screamed. The enemy shadows gathered on the plains of Brazm were also having their course skewed by the wind. But the enemy was undoubtedly trying to come toward them.
It was a wind that made it impossible to keep one's eyes open. He couldn't understand the situation.
—Curse you, Udowa!
Mozu cursed the ancestral god in his heart. Arrows would not hit in a wind like this.
Fall back, fall back, Hazab shouted in Mozu's stead.
The Kosa people drove their horses through a wind that made breathing difficult. It was a strong wind that made even the powerful Kosa horses stop frequently.
The Twin Forts came into view.
At the same time, he saw infantry and cavalry approaching from the north as if blown by the wind.
"Lord Mozu! General!"
Hazab screamed ahead.
"Don't look back! Beyond the forts!"
The gale blocked Mozu's eyes. He felt his horse stop.
Refusing to lose to mere wind pressure, he raised his face and saw the cavalry barely rushing through the gap between the Twin Forts. The gap between the forts, which towered like a gate, was suddenly blocked by the southern Kosa infantry. The heavy cavalry of Siddim, who had come fiercely from the north, charged into them.
Around Mozu, who had completely failed to escape, the enemy infantry held their spears.
After raising both hands to show his intent to surrender, Mozu Wolf dismounted.
The gale that had stopped Mozu's horse seemed to have been the final gust. The wind stopped before he knew it. Like a calm sea surface, every single thing stopped moving. Because the roar of the wind that had continued in his ears suddenly vanished, the entire area seemed to fall into a profound silence.
Even the war seemed to be in a state of brief respite.
The Siddim army seemed to be reforming their lines to block the way.
With his weapons taken and his wrists tied behind his back, Mozu was brought up onto a small hill. On the hill, several Siddim people in armor were lined up. They were captivated by the Twin Forts and did not even glance at Mozu.
Mozu also looked back toward the south. The sky above the dark forest was pitch black.
A staggering number of birds were flying. The birds were crying noisily. It was as if they were calling for vigilance in Siddim. Or perhaps the ancestral spirits who had become birds were celebrating Kosa. There were so many birds that the forest seemed to be shaking in Mozu's eyes. Mozu's ears caught his own heartbeat, and that sound sounded like the approaching footsteps of a giant.
—Did they come? Have they arrived?
Thinking that, his breathing quickened with joy.
The infantryman who had escorted Mozu untied the rope from Mozu's wrists. In exchange for his hands becoming free, he was now fitted with leg chains and shackles.
A blond youth approached and tossed a red fruit. Receiving it, it was an apple.
"Is something happening? In the forest?" the youth said in the Enagamo language.
"Who knows. Why do you think so?"
"Why? Because the presence is strange..."
Mozu Wolf finally couldn't hold it back and burst out laughing. He looked up at the sky and roared with laughter. He continued to laugh as if to carve it into the foreign land.