Down corpse filled paths already raided by the cavalry with running civilians everywhere seeking shelter, Cadin met with his group, running around the last section of the camp. Shouting in victory with bodies of armored soldiers laying on the ground stained with blood.
"My lord, we have taken out the last soldiers in the camp." Joken proudly said to Cadin, trotting towards him.
"Excellent, we must return to the entrance and prevent anyone from escaping."
The unit ran back to the entrance, seeing the wounded horse still resting on the ground.
The two though stopped in front of the stables.
"Is that where you got the horse my lord?" Joken asked, seemingly having seen it ffor the first time.
"Yes, it seems they also have knowledge on these steeds. We are ordered to send half of the prisoners to the allied camps to aid in reconstruction. Though i do wish to get the ones that handle these steeds."
"As for now, Cadin looked to Joken at his side. "I will speak with the soldiers to leave any horse handlers to us, they may take the rest though. That and we need this horse to be treated." The two looked behind them to the wounded horse, breathing heavily with blood staining fur below the wound.
The cavalrymen started dismounting their horses, positioning them in front of the open gate, preventing anyone from coming out. The camp was silent after the attack, everyone tried to hide inside their homes away from danger. Cadin and Joken stayed in place, talking over the wounded horse.
While they spoke, the army arrived, waiting to enter as the cavalrymen moved their horses, allowing entry. The army group's leader stood in front, a battle advisor, distinguished by plated metal armor compared to the studded leather soldiers behind him.
"We shall take it from here."
"Very well, though i do ask a request from you."
"A request?" The leader looked confused.
"Indeed, the deal states that you may keep half of the camp's population and all their resources. Though i would like a compromise." Cadin looked at the stables. "I wish to keep those horses, and any horse handlers found inside this camp, the rest are left for you to take."
The leader thought for a second.
"You need to speak to the camp leaders for that proposition, though i shall find any horse handler inside this camp and avoid the horses until a decision has been met."
"Joken, return to the camp with a pair of escorts and get a handler to treat this one. I don't trust the ones here, especially after we just took their camp." Cadin took out his map, after skimming through it for a few seconds, he gave it to Joken. "Use this, I will start leading the unit towards the two final camps."
Joken called on two of the soldiers, together they left the camp, speeding off into the night with the light of their torches become fainter and fainter as they rushed through the night.
"I will return to this camp. The handlers and horses better still be present." Cadin placed his hand on the wounded horse's snout.
After silently holding the horse, Cadin stood back up and hopped onto his new horse. Sheathing his sword he called out to his men, "Men we shall attack the next camps. Once all of this is over, we may have a safe road to the outside of the forest and a larger reach of our camp. Let us move." The soldiers got up on their horses, heeding the orders as the advisor's soldiers began checking inside the homes and going deeper inside the place.
With the camp taken over, Cadin moved out with his unit, towards another camp to take out.
Within a few minutes, they arrived close to the new camp. It was walled off but small with watchtowers standing on the sides of a sturdy wooden gate was their only way inside. Closed shut. Guards on the towers oversaw the area, carrying bows in their hands and a small table with arrows next to them for extra ammunition.
'Interesting, we cannot break through it. And it does not seem like they intend to open it for anything. The watchtowers will surely spot my men. I need this camp whole, and I need it taken quickly.' While thinking, Cadin remembered the bow on his back. He took out the bow and arrow, resting it on his lap. 'The attack must be sudden and rapid.
"Men, we are close enough to the enemy camp. Though with the situation at hand, a charge will lead to our assured demise. I shall head there on foot and in the shadows, keep your eyes on the gate. If it opens, you must begin rushing in. Be quick and rapid in your attack men."
With all said, Cadin jumped off his horse. "And bring my horse with you when the attack commences."
Cadin started moving towards the camp, the soldiers behind him waited in silence. Facing the wooden gate.
He marched forward with a lower profile, crouching lower once he got close enough. He readied the arrow on the bow, trying to get close enough to the towers.
'Need to take the guards down quick.' Cadin pulled back the arrow, aiming it at the guard on the right tower, holding in his breath.
After a few seconds, Cadin released his arrow. It flew into the air with a whistling noise. In seconds, it struck it's target. Buried into the neck, the man grasped the arrow as blood gushed out fast. He fell to the ground with a loud thump.
Cadin readied another arrow, now aiming towards the next man, now looking at the source of the noise.
Before he could react, the arrow struck his head, taking him out without a sound.
'Hopefully nobody inside the camp saw that.' With both guards dead. Cadin approached the tower's scaffolding and began climbing up to the top.
He hoisted himself up on the tower, standing next to the man he just killed and a table holding a small pile of arrows. A torch lit up the tower's interior for anyone to see, causing Cadin to lay lower.
'Now for that gate.'