The sky was already full of stars when the squadron leader walked out of the little widow's wooden house. He had slept with the little widow for half a day in the afternoon, and enjoyed the love feast that the little widow had meticulously prepared at night before he was taken to bed again. It took a lot of effort to tame the woman who was like a little wild cat, but in the end, he was too tired and fell asleep again.
Stretching his body and mind comfortably, the squadron leader looked around and found that the guards who were usually guarding outside the door were gone. After a long time, he realized that it was very likely that the bastard had really gone to slack off after telling him to get lost in the afternoon.
"Don't let me find you, or I'll give you a few whips …" the squadron leader muttered and looked around. He found that the small mountain village was especially quiet tonight. It was not strange that the villagers usually slept early, but the military camp was usually noisy in the middle of the night. Why was it so quiet?
However, the squadron leader was relieved when he saw the flickering figures standing guard in the distance. Everything was normal. Maybe he had overslept. It should be around three or four o 'clock in the middle of the night now.
There was a faint smell of blood in the air. The squadron leader sniffed and wanted to curse. Needless to say, those bastards must have beheaded those mercenaries who had been interrogated in the open space of the village. That was why the smell of blood was so strong. Damn it, couldn't they have walked a few more steps to the big tree outside the village to kill them?
There were more than a dozen tents in the corner of the open space of the village. The squadron leader remembered that the guards of the fallen viscount were camped in the village. Seeing that the big tent in the middle was brightly lit and people were going in and out, it should be a pharmacist from Vanades City who was treating the viscount. Should he go and take a look himself …
Before he reached the camp, a guard came out and said respectfully, "Mr. Squadron Leader, the viscount has invited you in …"
The squadron leader did not think much of it. He walked towards the big tent and asked, "The viscount has woken up. Is he alright? If he can move, I think you should return to Vanades City. It's more suitable for the viscount to recuperate there than this shabby mountain village … "
The guard only responded with a "hmm" and followed the squadron leader to the entrance of the big tent.
After lifting the curtain and entering the tent, the platoon leader was stunned. He thought that Sir Viscount, who should be groaning in pain on the bed, was sitting on the opposite side of the tent, smiling at him like a fox.
Turning his gaze, he saw two mercenaries sitting in front of the viscount. They were wolfing down their food. The mercenary on the left even took off his leather armor while eating and asked a guard behind him to bandage his wounds.
These two people look familiar … A thought flashed through the platoon leader's mind. Weren't these two the mercenaries who were caught smuggling in the afternoon?
"Shing!" The Squadron Leader drew his sword, and a white light flashed. "You … … Who are you people … …"
"Shut up and stay there. I have something to ask you later." A glint flashed in Laurist's eyes, and the killing intent that seemed to materialize caused the platoon leader's limbs to go numb. Despair filled his heart, as if he had become an ant in front of a giant dragon, unable to even think of resisting …
"Continue, Redi." Laurist turned to Redi who was still eating and drinking.
"My lord," Redi swallowed the meat in his mouth, "Fatty Shi is worried to death, and no one can think of any good ideas. So I said that I would go back and ask my lord. Four days ago, Jim and I secretly crossed Egret Lake with ten guards and followed a small path in the swamp to the forest here. Originally, we only needed to sneak past one of the checkpoints to cross the mountain to the main road, and then go to Vanades City to buy a horse to return to the north. Who knew that we would meet a group of bandits hiding in the forest in the morning, and a fight broke out, alerting the patrolling soldiers. The bandits escaped quickly, and we were not familiar with the place and were caught … … "
"Count yourself lucky that you met us. Otherwise, your head would be hanging on the tree over there." Laurist said and waved to the platoon leader, "You, come here."
The platoon leader's entire body trembled as he gripped his sword, "You … Aren't you afraid that I'll alert the soldiers in the barracks? Then … then you won't be able to escape … …"
"You can yell and alert the soldiers. As for the soldiers in the barracks, there are 427 of them, isn't that a platoon? Their necks have already been slit. If you can wake them up again, I'll make you my boss. "Laurist said.
"Pfft." Redi and Jim both laughed, especially Jim, who spat out a mouthful of wine.
"No … Impossible … …" The platoon leader thought of the faint smell of blood in the air, and his heart sank. He thought that the one who was beheaded was sitting here drinking and eating. Then who was the one who died? As for the sentries and patrolling soldiers, he only saw their figures. Thinking about the viscount's hundred guards … …
The sword in his hand fell to the ground, and the platoon leader asked in despair, "Can I still live?"
"That depends on your performance." Laurist looked at the platoon leader and said, "I'll tell you the truth. The convoy that was blocked by the Grand Duke at the border belongs to my family. My goal is to meet up with the convoy, so I want to use the small path at the fork in the road to reach Egret Lake. If you help me reach my destination, I can let you go in the name of my family. "
The platoon leader shook his head, "It's useless. Even if you let me go, I won't be able to escape death. Losing a platoon is already a capital offense. The Grand Duke will not let me go, nor will he let my family go …"
"That's easy. You can cross the river with us. When we reach the Andinac Kingdom, I'll give you a hundred gold fords. You can change your name and start a new life. If they can't find you here, they'll think that you're missing or dead. That way, the Grand Duke won't touch your family."
The platoon leader thought for a long time before nodding, "I want to bring someone with me."
Laurist smiled, "Your young widow?"
The platoon leader nodded again.
"I promise you. I didn't expect a burly man like you to be so affectionate. That's praiseworthy. I swear in the name of the Norton Family, as long as you can help us cross Egret Lake, I'll fulfill my promise. "
…
The sky was just beginning to brighten. Laurist and the others, wearing the brown leather armor of the Madras garrison, arrived at the checkpoint at the fork in the road. They dismounted and lined up.
The captain of the guards at the checkpoint hurried over.
"Eh? Platoon Leader Bosch, why are you here? Also, isn't it too early to change shifts? Isn't there still two days? "the squad leader asked in surprise.
"Don't mention it. These bastards harmed two women in the mountain village last night. They're causing a ruckus over there now. I used patrolling as an excuse to sneak them out and left them here to prevent the villagers from finding them. Hurry up and assemble. Tell your soldiers not to spill the beans when they return. Just say that you're here to patrol and not to change shifts, "the platoon leader said helplessly.
"Understood." The squad leader excitedly ran back to assemble the troops. Who would want to stay in this godforsaken place? There wasn't even a place to eat, drink, and play. Those bastards ran here to avoid trouble after fooling around with women. Who knew how long they would have to stay here for? Serves them right!
Very quickly, a small team of guards at the checkpoint was assembled. After the team was lined up and their names were called, the team leader ran back. "Reporting to Squadron Leader, the seventh team of guards has assembled. All 104 people are here."
The platoon leader said, "My job is done."
What did he mean? The squad leader didn't understand. "Fire!"
Arrows rained down. The unprepared garrison soldiers became target practice. Screams of pain rang out continuously.
"You …" The squad leader was shocked. He felt a chill in his abdomen, and his body trembled in pain.
"I'm sorry. I had no choice but to live …" The ferocious face of the platoon leader was the last image in the squad leader's mind …
"Check them. Give them another stab. Drag the corpses over there and throw them into the ditch. Don't let them be discovered prematurely, "Loriste ordered.
"The patrol team will only pass by here at eight o 'clock. Even if they find something, they'll have to inform me at the village. It'll take at least one or two hours to report the situation there. That's why we have one morning to hurry. However, there's a platoon of garrison soldiers stationed at the intersection of the two small roads in front. They're responsible for patrolling the lakeside. I can help you open the camp gate, but the rest is up to you. Also, you promised not to let anyone discover my whereabouts, "the platoon leader said to Loriste with the map in his hand.
Loriste nodded. "Don't worry. I'll kill all the garrison soldiers who saw you."
Taking the map from the platoon leader, Loriste said to Peter and Pat, "Open the camp gate and kill the enemy immediately. After we take over the camp, use the camp's wooden fence to transport them to the lakeside to make rafts. Also, set up a position on the hill between the camp and the lakeside to guard against our pursuers. Alright, we're leaving now. "
… …
It was already afternoon when they arrived at the camp of the garrison soldiers. The four guards at the gate recognized the platoon leader and thought that he was here to deliver supplies when they saw the five large carriages following behind. They opened the gate without notifying anyone and were immediately slit their throats by Redi and the rest.
Peter and Pat led nearly a hundred cavalry archers and charged into the camp. They occupied the empty space in the middle of the camp and shot arrows everywhere. The guards who rushed over after hearing the alarm fell to the ground. The sounds of killing and screams of pain mixed together in the camp.
For the platoon of garrison soldiers, they were only responsible for patrolling the lakeside and the path leading to the Fortress of Lezhada. They only had to deal with those who violated the Grand Duke's ban by illegally crossing the Egret Lake. They never dreamed that they would be forcibly attacked. Some of the garrison soldiers did not even understand what had happened before they died.
Loriste led Jim and Redi and charged around the camp. They used their spears to pry open the tents to prevent the hidden guards from escaping.
As for the platoon leader and a few squad leaders, they were nailed to the ground by Loriste's spears the moment they stepped out of their tents. They died with their eyes wide open.
The camp was not big and was quickly searched and cleaned up.
Pat walked over and reported with a serious expression, "My lord, there are only three hundred and eight corpses in the camp. We're missing a squad."
Loriste raised his eyebrows and looked at the platoon leader beside him.
The platoon leader thought for a while and said, "They might have gone to patrol, but I don't know if they went to the lakeside or the small roads leading to the fortress …"
Before he finished his sentence, Jim called out from beside him, "Over there …"
Laurist turned his head and saw the figures of a group of soldiers appearing on a small hill in the distance. They were walking in his direction. Perhaps because they were looking down from a high vantage point, they saw the corpses strewn all over the camp. They were bewildered and stopped in their tracks.
"Peter, quickly take the cavalry archers and eliminate them. Try not to let them escape." Loriste quickly ordered.
Peter whistled and half of the cavalry archers followed behind him as they charged towards the small hill.
"I'll go too." Jim got on his horse with a few guards and chased after them.
"Enough. Redi, Padt, get these horses to pull up the wooden fences around the camp. We need to move faster." Loriste ordered the rest of the cavalry archers to tie the ropes to the wooden fences. They tied the ropes to the back of the horses and urged them to pull up the fences.
"Wait, my lord." The platoon leader stepped forward and stopped Loriste.
"Yes, what's the matter?" Loriste asked.
"My lord, we don't need the part of the fences in the ground. The top part is already half dry, but the wood below is still wet. If you throw it into the water, one end will be heavier than the other, and it will be hard to balance it. Why don't we cut off the bottom part? That way, we can make a raft that can hold more weight … "The platoon leader quickly explained.
Loriste understood immediately and followed his advice, "Listen to him. Cut off the bottom part."
"My lord, give me a sword, I'll help too. Also, we can tear down the wooden hut used as a warehouse to make a raft … "The platoon leader said.
"Give him back his sword," Loriste said to Redi.
The platoon leader pulled out his sword and used his combat energy to create a flash of light. He raised his sword and chopped at the wooden fences. One, two, three. The flash disappeared when he chopped at the fourth log, and the sword was stuck in the middle.
"Not bad, using combat energy to chop wood is still faster." Loriste said, "Padt, get the Silver-ranked to chop the wood. Redi, bring some men to tear down the hut."
Jim and Peter came back when they were almost done.
"My lord, a dozen escaped into the forest. We couldn't chase after them," Peter reported.
"What about the casualties?"
"There were no casualties. They fled as soon as they saw us. They were all by the lake and had nowhere to run. We shot those who jumped into the lake to swim to death. Half of them ran into the swamp, and more than half of them got stuck in the swamp. We killed a few of them, but the remaining dozen were lucky enough to run into the forest. We couldn't cross the swamp, so we could only watch them escape …"
"Sir," Platoon Leader Bols came over while wiping the sweat off his forehead. "It will take about an hour to get to Lejidana Fortress Castle on horseback. It will take two hours even if the garrison soldiers who escaped to get there. It will take another hour for the troops to get here. We still have three hours."
"Very good. Everyone hurry up and tie the wood to the back of the horses. Let them drag it to the lake and build rafts there. Redi and Jim, bring some men to search the camp. Don't leave behind any materials that can be used to build rafts." Loriste shouted as he clapped his hands.
They built a total of five large rafts, just enough for one carriage. All the mounts were stripped of their saddles and reins, and even the dozen or so horses seized from the garrison company were chased into the water to swim across the river.
More than a hundred men were split into five large rafts. They used poles to push off the shore and slowly rowed to the other side.
The sky gradually darkened, and a faint white mist appeared on the surface of the lake. Occasionally, the neighing of horses could be heard, and the sound of wooden paddles slicing through the quiet surface of the lake could be heard.
The distance between the two shores of Egret Lake was about four to five hundred meters, and it was considered a narrow area. Only after they crossed the middle of the lake did they hear the faint sounds of people shouting and horses neighing.
That was a slow reaction. Loriste laughed. They would soon reach the other shore, and he would soon see his companions. Now, it was up to him to bring them home.
… …
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