Volume 2 Chapter 12 Fishing Ambush
"Many galleys are coming from the north. Look at their flags. Could it be... the Ruki fleet?"
"That is what the lookout says. But the flag raised is Suno's..."
"Again? Reinforcements for Derenfran!"
The cry of King Simeon of East Clanf filled the royal palace. His voice was sharp and full of command.
"Send 1,500 troops to Derenfran! Stop them before they join with the Suno people there. Crush them by the water!"
Only 1,500 soldiers could be sent. Sending more would weaken the defenses in West Clanf and leave too few soldiers at Ropsein.
"We will attack Ropsein with the remaining 2,500 troops," Simeon said.
"We may be fewer, but the land is on our side."
"Yes. Let's trust that."
The East Clanf Suno army moved near the border of Rune Delant, at Derenfran, waiting for the fleet.
The soldiers looked to the sky, ready to fire arrows and throw stones. They saw the galleys flying the Suno flag.
Suddenly, from the ships came shouting.
"Sorry! We are a trick! Turn back now!"
The soldiers felt shock and anger. They shouted to change course.
"Join the Ropsein attack army!"
"But their numbers are small," one said.
The Ropsein army looked confused. The enemy was fewer than expected—only about 500.
"They are too busy looting," a leader said. "Their soldiers are scattered. Let's finish them here!"
The Ropsein forces stood ready near Beakryu City. Heavy dwarves held the front line, their large shields shining. Behind them, elf archers readied their bows.
"It takes courage to fight when outnumbered. But it is foolish," said the commander. "They face five times our number. Even with cavalry on the left, they are on open ground with foot soldiers and archers."
"Teach these barbarians a lesson!"
With a shout, the archers moved forward. But before the enemy could get close, the Ropsein archers fired.
"How can they shoot bows but not know their range?" one sneered.
But the elves' arrows flew far, striking heads and chests of the enemy soldiers. The soldiers fell, some crying out in pain.
The elves shot quickly—three arrows every ten seconds. Their aim was sharp and fast. They outperformed the Clanf soldiers.
"Archers, fall back! Heavy infantry, move forward!"
The dwarves raised their shields and stepped forward slowly. The elf archers fired again, but the shields blocked the arrows.
The elves began to retreat, turning back fast.
The dwarves held their line, stepping back a bit slower than the enemy.
"Are you scared? Let's march!" the commander shouted.
The army grew stronger and faster. They felt hope now. Until this time, they had only been attacked, one-sided and weak. But now, they moved forward to close the distance and fight back.
The Ropsein army ran into the city. They did not close the gates behind them.
"Hahaha! Truly barbarians! You do not even know how to make a siege?"
The Clanf army charged forward. They looked at Beakryu city. It was not broken much. Maybe because no one fought back hard.
There were no burned houses. No dead bodies lay in the streets.
They passed through the main street. Then they entered the city square.
The Ropsein army made a small circle. They stood ready to defend.
"Surround them! Do not let them escape!"
The Clanf army commander gave the order. The soldiers spread out and surrounded the circle. They did not rush all at once.
They wanted to catch and kill them to please King Simeon. If they could find Princess Elodia, the reward would be large.
"I give you a chance! Surrender now, and I will let you live. What will you do? Leader, come forward!"
Eleonora stepped forward.
"I am the commander of this army."
She wore full armor, shining and strong. Her body was trained and ready. At first, the soldiers thought she was a man because her hair was short and her voice low. When they saw she was a woman, they felt anger and scorn.
It was shameful that the army of Loriengita was led by a woman like her.
"Why should I surrender? Did you really think I would?"
"Are you blind? Or just stupid? You are surrounded and have fewer men. Surrender quickly!"
"Why does the number of soldiers matter?"
At that moment, reinforcements jumped out from houses near the square. Grayschweik came with them.
On the rooftops, stone throwers loaded their slings and pulled back the leather straps.
From a two-story house, shutters opened. Elves aimed their bows at the square.
"I thought you did not know how to ambush, but you are good at it. Usually, this is done in forests. But in the town, many places hide soldiers."
The Clanf army thought they had trapped the enemy. But now, they themselves were trapped.
The shock of this and the danger made the Clanf soldiers afraid and confused.
Eleonora looked at her left chest pocket. It was empty. Her face turned serious.
"Bow down. I will let you live."
She raised her right hand, meaning she would return kindness if they obeyed.
"How shameful," she said. "How shameful that the blood of Loriengita is now in the hands of barbarians and traitors!"
After she lowered her hand, arrows and stones flew through the air.
Those who tried to run were pushed back by a wall of spears.
Those who stopped were shot and killed.
Few were taken prisoner.
The Ropsein extermination army lost most of its soldiers but won loyalty.
"So this is what Shimazu did. No wonder they called him a berserker later."
"The Ropsein extermination army is gone... Are they destroyed already?"
The Suno countermeasure army was tricked. They marched east.
But they saw no battle. No formation. No signs of being trapped.
They knew they were too late.
The new army, unknown and strong with over five thousand soldiers, wiped them out.
Since the imperial era, soldiers had been shocked by the wars.
They thought they were strong warriors in Naroppa land. But their foundation fell as if it vanished.
There was no way to win with the few soldiers left.
Even the foot soldiers with some battle experience felt bad.
Their only choice was to protect the capital, Clanfurt.
But the western forces would likely attack to take land.
In their minds, the word "destruction" started to appear.
The Suno countermeasure army went back to Clanfurt without fighting.
They prepared for a siege.
King Simeon felt hopeless.
He drank to forget the worsening situation.
At that time, the Ropsein army appeared.
They did not attack nearby villages.
They stood facing the town quietly.
Everyone was scared but waited for the battle day.
But no attack came soon.
Several messengers on horseback rode to the gates.
They carried white flags.
It showed the battle would turn to talks.
Notes:
• Ruki - A military and commercial port in Ropsein. It is a crucial location for merchants and the navy, making it a high-priority target for control.
• Derenfran - Region located near the border of Rune Delant, in the north. It is a strategic location where the East Clanf Suno countermeasure army is deployed.
• Simeon - The ruler of the East Clanf Kingdom. His appearance is not described, but he is portrayed as a strategic leader. He judges the benefits of expanding into the Magelun region as sufficient. His relationship with Elodia is one of opposition, as he seeks to capture her to justify his territorial ambitions.
• Rune Delant - The northernmost region of the Cross Kingdom. A rural but civilized area, considered a safer alternative route for Eleonora and her companions.
• Beakryu - A location connected to Hamburg via the northern route. Its exact position is not specified, but it is part of the strategic plan to control territories.
• Elodia - The second princess of Loriengita. She has shown favor to Georges, who aims to marry her by achieving military merit.
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