The sound of the leather shoes and its heels sounds on the mosaic floor of the keep. Then slides his foot in front of the door where the commanders and the meetings are happening. The messenger holding the piece of paper that was given to him by the commando captain.
Then he knocks three times. Then he hears an authoritative tone of voice.
"Come in."
When he opens the door, he sees Baron Roswald standing in front of him. Messenger gave the piece of paper to the Baron, then he said with a calm tone of voice.
"My Lord, this piece of paper handed to me by the commando captain. I believe they have executed the orders you have wanted. And currently in engagement with the enemy camp, sir."
The messenger put his clenched fist to his chest, bowing. He stepped back before the door closed. When the door closes in front of him. He sighs in relief because the atmosphere inside of that room was different.
I didn't expect that every commander under the Baron was inside that room. The pressure was different when I entered the commando captain's meeting. It was another level that I have experienced.
***
"Regroup on my sword! On my call, Ready for the attack!"
"I want those first lines of those bastards dead and bring them their heads back to me!"
The Duke Warlord said while raising his long sword. His angry emotion and vigor have gained a lot of support from soldiers who are low in morale and in chaos. Because of that command, some commandos from the captain underlings choose to retreat.
Because they have heard a lot of gossips before that the Duke Warlord got promoted from the ranks because he has struck down a lot of Demi humans.
"The Dragon horn cavalry! Retreat run! Retreat sounds the retreat whistle!"
A commando shouted to alarm the others. But when he turns around, a Dragon Horn cavalry is right in front of him. The sword of the cavalry man as he swings sliced and decapitate the head of the commando who was about to fire his rifle. The other commandos who were at the rear saw the gold and red armor of the Dragon Horn cavalry.
"They are monsters. We need to retreat to the forest. We need to move, captain!"
The commando captain was firing his pistol and shot down a Dragon Horn cavalryman. Each bullet pierced through the armor, but like any cavalryman, it needs 5 bullets before it falls down to his horse.
"They are not like the cavalrymen and horse riders we know; they trained them differently. Those monsters, we are no match for their strength and tactics. We need to retreat and sound the retreat whistle!"
The commando captain looked at the whistle man who was beside him. And low on the whistle, and every commando started running. But the Dragon Horn cavalry killed mercilessly some who were at the vanguard of their attack.
Blood drips from the end of a sword of a Dragon Horn cavalryman. With a frightening design of his armor made their enemy retreat with fear in their mind.
"RUN! RUN! DON'T STOP RUNNING AHHH!"
The cavalry killed every strangler that was left behind. No mercy was the order from the Duke Warlord and that is what they have delivered.
When they arrived at their camp, everyone was bloody or near death because of their wounds. There are those commandos who tried to cover themselves in blood. As they use as camouflaged to hide from the Dragon Horn cavalry.
"Medic! Argh!"
"The pain, it's hot… damned those dogs arghh"
"I am bleeding help! HELP please! Ahhh"
In each tent, there were groans and moans of pain that they could hear. A bullet that was fired at him grazed the commando captain on his neck that almost killed him. He lays down on the bed while a medic from the camp is addressing his wound.
***
"My Lord, the battle of the delay in the enemy's camp has been successful, according to the messenger that was sent by the commando captain. The reports for the casualty are still undetermined because they are still gathering the numbers. They have also reported that the enemy cavalry known as the Dragon Horn have also arrived assisting the Duke Warlord Reyes."
The Knight kneels in front of the Baron while reporting the message. Then the Baron replied with an authoritative tone of voice.
"You may tell the messenger that I also need the report for the casualties of this battle. Don't let the commando captain not answer my message."
"Yes, My Lord"
The knight leaves the meeting room, and the Baron turns around while half of his officers are still present. It was already morning and most of the commanders were on the floor sleeping or sitting while looking at the table. They were tired. In front of the baron are a thousand strategies that play out by both the enemy and them.
Most of the battles that they played out on the table. Are a loss on their side, that only means that it's a do or die situation. And their death signifies that there will be a lot of children who will be fatherless.
"We cannot surrender in times that our freedom from tyranny will diminish. This will not end like this. If we retreat our forces to the cave that we are working on. The army can be saved, but not all of them. Because we still need to trick the enemy forces that I am still in this keep."
***
"My Lord, we have routed the enemy forces. Congratulations My Lord Reyes."
One lieutenant said with a confident tone of voice. As he grips his saber and pulls the leash of his sword. But when the Duke Warlord heard about this, he looked at the lieutenant. His deep voice and authoritative tone. Made all of his officers look at the lieutenant.
"This is not a victory for us, so there is nothing for you to congratulate a failed officer I am right now. That way, they attacked us to our vulnerable side. Tell us one thing, that if we go further without proper supplies and army size, they could destroy us. Our enemies have won for the past few days, but they won't last."
With his message to his officers, he turned his horse back to the tent while the other forces tried to pull out the remaining blazing fire.
***
On the commando side, most of the skilled commandos have not yet returned. Mostly wounded commandos from the squad AB and CD have returned. And those who are in reserve are still in their tents.
"Captain, we need to address the commandos that have died. We need to replenish our numbers if they order us again to raid the enemy. Because right now we are lacking in personnel. Especially those who are in direct response to the enemy."
A squad leader from AB said while looking at the lying commando captain. Then another squad leader enters the tent from the CD squad. The squad leader said with a calm tone of voice.
"Sir, we need fresh recruits. Give us the order to recruit from other nearby villages that will join for the cause of the commandos. We will not be letting those bastards step into our land and ravage it. Their emperor is mad, calling themselves a cleanser for their emperor."
The commando captain turned his head to the squad leader from CD. and said in a worried tone of voice.
"If we recruit more people, how can we determine their quality? Every member of the commando has endured 4-6 months of hellish training before they could be one of the called commandos. Dropping the quality and increasing the quantity will surely make our entire force step aside. "
Then one squad leader replied with a calm tone of voice.
"That will not happen, sir. Because not only are they determined to develop new skills and learn, they are the ones we need to train. From there, they can adapt to many situations because we train them through missions."
"You can say it like that, but what if the mission fails? What do you think will happen if it fails because one of them does not understand how to fire a rifle or how to slash a sword?"
"Sir, if you are thinking it like that, then we are going to lose more numbers than before."
The last reply of the squad leader who was leaning on his table, crossing his arms and waiting for the last order of their commando captain. While he looks at the ceiling of his tent and thinks,
"What is the best option for the entire division?"