As the angry men in Black argued whether to burn him or bury him or even torture him. They came up with one idea. Pull him to death. The very next day in the southern borders. The soldiers in the Garrison saw a horse. Dragging the bloody body of the captain, with signs of torture. Even his nails, arms and toes. Were pulled out. His eyes were gouged out. Hair was pulled off. Even his throat was ripped out.
When the soldiers recognized that it was the captain of the army sent to the east. They immediately opened the gate and took the horse with the body in.
"Dios mios. Demonyo. Truly devilish. How inhumane."
"Look. A letter." As he picked it up from the Captain's neck. He read it out loud. " We will take revenge for everything. We will pay you back the debt of life. Once we are done with. We will invade your country. Signed by, Black Mountain leader."
As everyone were shocked. They sent a rider to the capital and to the King.
Meanwhile. At a mountain filled with horses and men in Black. The 100 men returned with prisoners. They were greeted by more than 200,000 men. Many were either mutilated or frail. They were the victims of this war. As an old man offered water to the leader. The leader accepted and drank.
That night. They had a feast.
"Cheers to the leader!!!" One man yelled. Others agreed.
"Shut up!!! You'll disturb the horses!!!" A man yelled at the others. It was acceptable. The horses needed rest as well. Since those horses were very wild. They may be strong and fast. But once they hate you. They'll hate you forever. Then the leader said.
"If we want to keep our lives. Stop drinking and follow me. All the captains and their scribes. I want a meeting by now."
As the men quiet down. They had serious faces. It was their anger. Not towards him. But to the Eastern lands for letting their mercenaries pillaged their lands. They followed him to a tent. And a girl beside the leader removed his mask. And it revealed a face so handsome yet so cold. As they were seated.
"We know that they have at least 100,000 men. We don't even know if that's the full bulk or not. I've sent out 4 scouting teams." As the scribes began to write. " We wait 2 days. I ordered them to only scout out the force. We have a accurate map of the Garrison. Which we obtained from those southern bastards."
As the men yelled in joy. They again quiet down.
"However. We only have 150,000 fighting men. If we get double crossed. What can we do?" He asked.
"Leader. How about we send one man. To infil-"
"We won't. If they find out he's a spy he'll definitely die a painful one."
"Then. If we make a double front? Leader. I believe fighting the left and right flanks with at least 30,000 men can weaken the center gate. If we can just break through."
"That's a nice one. Any objections?"
As it was silent.
"I take it as a no. Sheena. Get the meal. We're eating here."
"Yes. Kuro." The girl gently replied.
As Kuro, the leader turned back once more to discuss the matter.
"We will send out all our forces. We have two routed. One is if we fail to breach the flanks. A smaller force will break through the gate. The other, if we breached those flanks. The reserved force will surround the Garrison by two sides. And we take it. Minimize damage to all structures. We will save our money for food and supplies. I reckon we will need to burn down some place to break through."
As they were discussing. It ended when the meal arrived. As they had dinner. No one spoke. With heavy atmosphere, no one dared to talk. There were something on their minds. Until one man took the resolve to say it.
"Leader. How long are we before we get a proper cook? Every day we have to eat such good." That man complained.
"Before we take back our land. We will make and provide our own. Until then. Cough. Cough." Then. Kuro vomited. As he cleared up. Went back. And. " I agree. We will get one after we take the land that once belonged to us."
As everyone eased up. They forced the bad food down their throats. Better there than none.
The next day. The scouts returned. They immediately had a meeting.
"Leader. We've scouted the Eastern Garrison. They have now about 200,000 men. About twice our numbers."
"That's right. That's the problem. But worry not. I know of somewhere we can get more men. Once we take the Garrison we ride 5 days later to Black mine. The most largest dark ore mine in the south east."
"Leader. You don't mean."
"Yes."
"Leader. As for the northern scout. We observed no movements for now. However. They have been gathering in the central path. Probably onto war towards the west. About 300,000 men."
"My grace. That's a lot. Leader. We also observed south and west. West is building defenses by the central mountains. South is recovering from the skirmish we did last time. Probably ready for war two months later."
"I see. Good. We will meet up later on once again. Rest up. By dusk we March." He instructed the men he's commanding.
At his room. Sheena entered.
"Kuro. Don't you think it's time we stopped? You're still young. Don't waste your life like this. Against such odds." She worryingly said to him like a wife telling off a husband.
"Sheena. I know I have to. But I can't afford to stop. I have resolved my self. That we will take revenge on all those who took the land we once owned. To do that. We must go on. Until we can't."
"Yes. But, Kuro. Against those odds. You can't win. The Eastern Garrison was said to have only been broken through once from 600 years ago. We can't."
"If it was done. We will follow through. I have a plan."
"Please. Don't do this. It's not too late. Maybe we can gather more men and then fight?"
"Battles have been won through more odds than this. If we have to cut through we will. Sheena. Don't come out of here for 5 days." He scolded Sheena. Then was about to leave when.
As Sheena had tears by her eyes. " If you're going. Then don't die. Big brother."
"I won't. So don't worry."
And he left. When he heard Sheena call him big brother. He was angry. Those were the words she screamed when she was raped. " Big brother! Help me!" "Big brother. Pls! Don't leave me!" Those words were what he hears.
That dusk. All of them were at horse back. All of them riding such large horses and wearing rusted armor.
"We move out.!" Kuro announced.
And they rode off. By her tent, Sheena watched as his brother rode the band of rogues and thugs.
"Brother. 5 years ago. In those 5 years. You've changed. You're no longer the sweet and warm big brother I know." She paused while crying. " If only. I could've just died that time. He wouldn't have to be here fighting." As Sheena cried and prayed for Kuro to be safe. At the Eastern Garrison.