Chapter 141: Fire
’’Frederic!’’ John called out. ’’Stop the wagon! The horses won’t survive the sudden launch in motion!’’
Frederic immediately pulled on the reins.
’’Ho! Ho!’’ he shouted, calming down the panicking horses.
As they slowed to a halt, John had already positioned himself behind the ballista.
CREAK! CREAK!
He began turning the aiming mechanism, adjusting the enormous weapon towards the fleeing horseman.
Roderic glanced at him and bit down on his lip.
’Can he actually hit him from here?’ he thought. ’With this little practice?’
The scout was already quite far away, and the distance was only increasing.
John, however, remained focused.
He adjusted the ballista’s angle slightly, aiming ahead of the fleeing horseman.
A second passed.
Then another.
CLICK!
THWOOOOOM!
A massive metal bolt shot through the air.
Roderic’s eyes could barely keep track of how fast it was going.
Meanwhile, the fleeing scout lowered himself slightly.
’There!’ he thought, eyes widening. ’Almost there!’
He could already see the distant campfires of the Deres camp through the trees.
’Just a little further and—’
BOOOOOM!!!
His torso exploded in an instant.
The bolt had struck his side.
Yet its sheer force had been more than enough to tear through the rest of his body.
Blood and pieces of flesh scattered through the air.
What remained of the scout was violently thrown from the saddle, while the bolt continued flying before burying itself deep into the ground.
CLATTER! CLATTER! CLATTER!
Startled by the explosion, the horse continued galloping without a rider.
For several seconds, no one spoke.
Roderic stared at the scene with wide eyes.
’’Holy fuck...’’
He had expected the ballista to be powerful.
But expecting and seeing it were two completely different things.
’’That’s fucking ridiculous!’’
A wide grin spread across his face.
’’Hahahaha!’’ he burst out laughing. ’’Magnificent shot, John!’’
John finally stepped away from the firing mechanism.
Despite trembling slightly, he formed a smile on his face.
’’Thank you, young master.’’
Unfortunately, they couldn’t celebrate for long.
They were technically in enemy territory, after all.
’’Alright,’’ Roderic said, calming down. ’’Cover it back up. We’re moving.’’
Peter and Paul immediately began pulling the cloth over the ballista.
Meanwhile, Frederic took hold of the reins again.
’’Same direction, young master?’’
Roderic nodded slowly.
’’Yes, but focus on staying hidden now,’’ he replied. ’’Especially once we get close to the camp.’’
Frederic listened to his words without hesitation.
Over the next several minutes, they continued making their way through the fields.
With every passing moment, the distant glow of the Deres encampment grew brighter.
Eventually, Roderic could make out the individual tents and the soldiers patrolling between them.
’We’re close enough,’ he thought.
He turned to Frederic and nodded once.
Frederic didn’t hesitate and guided the horses towards a nearby patch of bushes and trees.
’’Is this good, young master?’’ he asked, glancing around.
’’Yes,’’ Roderic replied, jumping off. ’’It’ll suffice.’’
As he walked forward, his gaze narrowed.
From here, he had a clear view of the enormous encampment.
Hundreds of tents stretched across the fields, illuminated by countless campfires.
Soldiers moved between them, while patrols guarded the outer perimeter.
’Now then,’ he thought, glancing up.
The moon would finally reach its highest point soon.
’We’ll need to be ready for Finn’s sign... whatever that may be.’
He let out a quiet breath.
If that signal didn’t arrive, he would infiltrate and bait the mage out himself.
’That creepy bastard better keep hi—’
WHOOSH!
Roderic’s head snapped back to the Deres camp, his eyes wide.
His mouth fell wide open.
’’Oh shit.’’
...
A few minutes earlier.
Inside the Deres army’s command tent, Baron Aldric sat across from Baldwin.
THWACK!
Aldric planted a knife into a map.
’’They’ll try something tonight,’’ he said coldly. ’’No one just sits behind their walls, knowing they’re doomed.’’
Baldwin nodded slowly.
’’I’ve already increased patrols,’’ he replied. ’’Even Baressa is keeping an eye on the surroundings.’’
He took a sip of wine.
’’It’s utterly impossible for anyone to pull something clever now.’’
Aldric leaned back in his seat, clearly not completely convinced.
’’Good,’’ he muttered. ’’I don’t want them to have a single opportunity.’’
Tak!
Baldwin placed his glass down, now empty.
’’The surrounding forests have those nasty traps inside them and the fields are empty,’’ he said. ’’If they try anything, it’ll be to wear down our supplies.’’
Silence fell inside the tent for a moment.
Aldric’s expression darkened just at the thought.
’’It’s useless,’’ he replied coldly. ’’Even if they do pull something, resupplies will be coming through.’’
A smile appeared on Baldwin’s face.
’’Of course,’’ he said, lifting his empty glass. ’’The Ironhart Viscounty is glad to help you win—’
Just then, a distant shout reached their ears.
’’HELP!’’
Barely a second later, several more rang out.
’’FIRE! THERE’S A FIRE!’’
’’GET WATER! THE SUPPLIES ARE ON FIRE!’’
Both men looked up.
Their expressions twisted slightly, already well aware of what was going on.
’’But how?’’ Baldwin whispered, frowning. ’’There are hundreds of men wandering around...’’
Before either of them could say another word, the tent flap was thrown open.
WHOOSH!
Reynolds hurried inside, his expression pale.
’’My lord!’’ he shouted. ’’The supply wagons! Someone set them ablaze!’’
Turning towards him, Aldric raised one hand, signalling for him to continue.
’’Nearly a third of our supplies are burning. The men are trying to contain the flames, but they’re spreading rapidly!’’
Silence fell inside the tent.
Baldwin glanced towards Aldric, expecting an outburst.
However, none came.
Instead, the Baron simply stared at Reynolds for several seconds.
Then, without saying a word, he stood up.
’’Let’s go.’’
Baldwin immediately followed him, his eyes narrowing.
The moment they stepped outside, large clouds of black smoke greeted them.
CRACKLE! CRACKLE!
Several supply wagons were already engulfed in flames.
Soldiers rushed back and forth, desperately carrying buckets of water towards the burning supplies.
’’MORE WATER!’’
’’GET THOSE WAGONS AWAY FROM THE FIRE!’’
’’HURRY UP!’’
Baldwin frowned as he surveyed the situation.
’A fire in the supply area...’
It was a common tactic.
Hell, it wouldn’t be wrong to call it a basic principle of warfare.
And as an experienced commander, Baldwin knew that all too well.
However, that wasn’t what bothered him.
’How the hell did they manage it?’
He had personally increased the patrols around the encampment.
There were guards stationed near every entrance, and the supply wagons themselves were under constant watch.
Even Baressa had been instructed to keep an eye on the surroundings.
’This shouldn’t have been possible.’
Just then, Aldric’s voice rang out beside him.
’’Baldwin,’’ he said coldly.
Snapping out of his thoughts, Baldwin looked up right away.
’’Yes?’’ he asked.
’’Where’s that mage of yours?’’ Aldric asked coldly. ’’Why hasn’t he put out the fire?’’
Baldwin froze for a moment.
That was a good question indeed.
An unsettling feeling began creeping into his stomach.
’’I’ll check his tent right away,’’ he said.
Without waiting for a response, he hurried away.
A short while later, he arrived at the tent.
Baldwin didn’t even bother calling out to the mage.
Instead, he pushed open his tent right away.
But... everything was empty inside.
’Oh fuck.’