Multiple auras of orange light were seen in front of them, a larger camp stood in front of them, one with many sections to it all illuminated by torches and fireplaces. Small wooden huts coupled with rows of tents stood inside with groups of civilians and soldiers alike outside, warming up with the fire or eating their nightly supper.
Surrounding the camp were stakes and short wooden walls made of chopped logs, sturdy enough to hold off any soldiers outside nearly double the height of a man, difficult for a horse to jump above it with small gaps in the walls for spears to pierce any attacker outside. In front though, lit up by a few torches was a large entrance. Stakes lined the sides pointing left and right with defenders standing in the middle with spears at the ready.
'Odd, they have many stakes as well. But this time more numerous. So these people have witnessed cavalry before then.' Cadin thought, analyzing their defenses and forming up a plan.
Joken trotted near Cadin, seeing the camp as well, shocked by its size.
"Quite a large camp my lord. If we manage it take this, then this could be a secondary foothold of our territory." He remarked, slightly joyful in his tone.
"It may be, but the size of it will make a frontal attack difficult. Nevertheless, we must sweep the entire camp and kill any armed soldiers inside. Only then can we hold the camp."
"Very well my lord." Joken returned to the soldiers, relaying the plan and order.
'Well defended, just have to break through the entrance like normal.' Cadin prepared his sword for combat, checking the bow on his back to see if it was still strapped onto him.
'We need more fletchers. If there are here then i should take them.'
"My lord, we are ready to strike." Joken notified.
Cadin took out his sword, resting it on his right side.
"Brothers, if we take this camp, we shall be halfway done and our home's reach shall expand farther, outside that forest. Onwards!" A single strong tug and the horse sped off towards the entrance, the cavalrymen following behind.
SIlent, they continued charging faster and faster, readying their spears to pierce into the enemy in front of them.
As they approached closer, the soldiers noticed the torches held by the men rushing in the distance. In haste they started moving back to the gate, raising their spears forward as two soldiers started trying to close the gate.
"Do not let them shut the gate!" Cadin tugged on the lead more, making his horse move faster as his cape violently fluttered in the wind, his sword ready to strike. The soldiers behind him were in tight formation with their spears held close to their horses, aimed forward towards the enemy.
Cadin's horse slammed into the spears, at full force it broke through the gate crashing into the ground from the wound of a broken off spear tip. Behind him, the rest followed, slamming through the last soldiers or impaling them with their own spears.
Cadin was thrown to the ground beside his horse while the rest continued with their orders, running around the two and continuing their assault on the curved path towards the next section of this camp.
Cadin hoisted himself up slowly, grabbing his sword next to him.
He stood in the middle of an open path with homes standing on both sides. The horse was still alive, but injured from the spear stuck into it's heart.
Joken stopped his horse next to Cadin, dismounting it to check on his leader. His unit disappeared as they rode on to the curved road towards the next section.
"Are you alright my lord?" Joken helped him up, deeply concerned.
"Yes, though the horse was injured."
Screams erupted throughout the camp as the civilians were awakened to the assaulting horsemen, killing soldiers around them as the rest tried to run. The horse rested on the ground, still injured with a piece of the spear still stuck into it.
All the sudden, fighters from tents and wooden homes ran out, running towards the two as they scrambled to prepare to fight.
Cadin slashed his sword at the incoming fighters, nearly twenty came out to face him donning studded leather armor with strips of metal on different sections, their faces were covered with a leather mask and iron helmet, only their eyes were visible.
He continued slashing around, parrying those that got close causing sparks to fly in the air as more bodies fell and blood spilled.
"Joken, I can hold them off. Join the cavalry and keep leading them!" Cadin yelled, continuing to cut down soldiers in front of him.
"Are you sure my lord?"
"Just go!" Without questioning further, Joken pushed the fighters in front of him, quickly mounting his horse and heading down the path in haste.
Surrounded by soldiers on all sides, armed and looking at him with hatred, Cadin started fighting.
The soldiers got closer while continuously slashing and stabbing into him but to no avail, Cadin took down more and more as the ground piled with bodies and blood.
A minute passed, Cadin drove his longsword through the last fighter's armor, kicking him to the ground while pulling his sword out.
With nobody left Cadin marched forward, checking on his wounded horse before moving onward.
'I need to bring it back to those trainers after this, or order someone to send them here.'
On the path, a noise caught Cadin's attention, the sound of horses neighing. Looking to his right, a large hut of wood housed horses, all behind a tall fence and gate. They were similar in size to the ones Cadin used with.
Suddenly his eyes widened, surprised at the sight in front of him. About fifteen or even twenty rested inside, their fur was either a single color to two, black, white, light brown, and even gray.
'So even they know about horses, they even look well kept and maintained. So it isn't only those back at the forest that know of them.'
An idea came up in his mind. Opening the gate he mounted a gray furred horse, with a lead already on, Cadin moved out, closing the gate behind him as he raced to meet his men.
Crowds of civilians stayed inside in fear, hiding inside their tents and wooden homes while the leader of the cavalry headed down the path.