"The plan is to attack one of the smaller enemy tribes, we heard that they have gained much more resources from hunting, hunting in our territory, thus we will take what they sowed from us." The leader placed his finger on one encircled spot in particular. "Heris Tribe" Was written down under the circle.
"Were preparing our units for the battle, using the reserves we had. If we win this, not only will we let you join us as a member, but we'll let you join our soldiers in fighting. Perhaps with more of these victories you can get higher." Cadin became more interested in the plan after the leader, seeing his desire to get higher in rank unfurled in front of him.
"Very well, when shall we begin?" He replied quickly, surprising the leader.
"Seems you are truly eager to join us," He cleared his throat, "The reserve army will march down south from where we are to the tribe. It's expected that we arrive before the sun reaches the top of the sky. The plan involves you assaulting the area by yourself," Cadin looked at the leader in confusion.
"On my own?"
"Yes, but we will await your success or failure in the mission, our soldiers will surround the entire camp, hiding in bushes or behind trees. Your task now is to attack the camp head on and kill as many as possible. We shall begin moving in a few minutes once the reserves have been formed." The leader explained, closing the map after he finished.
"Rest for now, this is your chance to join us." He left Cadin standing around, still guarded by two soldiers as the leader went to join with the people eating their food on the tables.
He stood by as soldiers donning leather armor and short swords slowly emerged from different areas of the camp, all prepared to fight. An hour soon passed, the square was now ready for battle. The leader headed back to Cadin, signaling him to follow. The two walked to the front of the formed up unit, carrying small round shields with a short sword paired alongside it.
"Men, we shall march for the Heris tribe down south. Thus, we will begin our march and arrive before the sun reaches the middle of the sky. We must make haste while we still have time, begin the march!" With a single order, the soldiers started marching out the gate, Cadin and the leader walking in front of them.
Outside, the light revealed more of the forest, birds flew high in the sky above, the ground turned warm from the heat of the sun as they marched on it.
The trip was silent and uneventful, without a single word spoken between anyone. The soldier's faces were of determination and slight hints of fear. Cadin continued thinking of what can come from the mission's success.
The march lasted for another hour, nonstop movement caused exhaustion amongst the ranks, but the march brought them to their destination, a pillar of smoke rose above the tree line signaling where the camp resided.
"Cadin, prepare." The leader whispered into his ear. The entire unit began walking through dense trees and bushes, moving slower than earlier as they crept up on the camp. Cadin stayed at the very front, ready for the order to attack.
Once the camp was in their sights through a clearing, soldiers started moving around the camp, surrounding it, moving as quietly as possible once they're in position.
The number of soldiers in the camp reached to nearly a hundred or even two hundred, all working around the camp with a wall of stacked stone and shorter wooden walls protecting them; a tall tower oversaw the area, but none were standing on top of it. Camps of differing sizes were built inside the walled camp, campfires with pots hanging above them stood around different parts of it.
The leader pat Cadin on the back, "Take out as much as possible." After staring at the camp for a few seconds, seeing the defenses and soldiers walking around, Cadin jumped out of the bushes. He ran towards the camp, quickly getting noticed by the soldiers inside, shouts erupted with fighters trying to find their weapons, running around every direction to prepare to fight.
Their armor was similar to the leader's own, but they looked newer and far less worn, their swords sharing the same quality.
He continued running, climbing above the walls as more flocked to prepare for a defense.
Past both lines of defense, he charged head on into the group of soldiers, he began swinging his sword violently towards the soldiers. The line of shields and swords soon began parting, Cadin began trying to take out individual soldiers, killing them in just one to two hits, the sword broke through their shields and through their armor, leaving deep gashes as they fell.
Quickly, the soldiers began overwhelming Cadin, they stabbed him from all directions, forcing him to slow down with each stab into his body, the leather armor managed to block a few strikes, the rest broke through, he could still feel the pain, but the feeling of drifting off into slumber was gone.
Through the pain, Cadin violently swung around his sword, quickening his attacks, striking at more soldiers, trying to force them back as much as possible. He continued killing more soldiers all around him, taking in more wounds just to heal from them in seconds.
Their numbers dwindled, Cadin kept his composure while pushing through the pain of each strike, taking out soldiers one by one rapidly.
His energy only grew as he continued, killing more and more on his own with each strike hitting his body quickly healing after. The soldiers began moving away from him, a pile of corpses lay inside the camp, dead from deep slash wounds while holding onto their shattered shields. The sword's blade dripped with blood, nearly coated in the scarlet liquid.