Invan was a significant ancient city in the mountainous region of Hanwi. It was formed long ago along ancient trade routes. For over a millennium, the city welcomed foreigners and kinsmen into its gates. Exotic spices, precious gems, and metals were just some of the commodities that flowed in and out of the city markets for centuries.
Invan is nestled in the Urqu mountains and on the Nader River. Ancient churches still filled their halls with devotees and pilgrims. Malum and his men could still walk city plazas that kings and conquerors had walked eons ago. Famous explorers touched their sandals to the same pavement that Malum touched his boots on now. History came into vivid life as something that happened and wasn't just imagined. Malum could tell the soldiers were just as awestruck.
Stone-carved temples line the streets. Carvings telling the stories of the local mythology are chiseled into the stone. Religious pilgrims wandered, seeking fulfillment despite being so close to the breakout of war.
Malum and his forces were the new residents of the military post that sat at the back of the city. It was built to utilize the natural rock of the mountain peaks hovering over the city. Malum and Atoc took over as the commanding officers, even of the Hanwi forces that were already stationed there.
Malum was gathering all the intel from the previous commanders to decide where to begin patrols. Once Malum felt the soldiers had enough rest and he had a proper grasp on an objective, they'd move out of the city. A week would be enough.
Malum was now a General in the Ningal, a rank he was uncomfortable with because he had limited military experience. He was a war hero who commanded some respect among his soldiers, but the fact that he was still green made him second-guess himself. Malum was still realizing his potential with his connection to the O element, but he could handle himself if challenged.
The soldiers and Malum were rested and adequately supplied to commence patrols. They would traverse meandering mountain trails and march to the western border of the Great Wall. They crossed the Urqu Mountains quickly and into the Nurr Valley basin. The basin was full of short grass and marsh, making it challenging to keep Stully focused on moving and not indulging in the virgin pastures. It would be pretty embarrassing if, as General and leader, he failed to keep his pack donkey obedient.
As they rode into drier plateaus, the snow-capped Urqu's were now on their left. Malum would see herds of rams and mountain sheep stir and run up a slope. Malum's band of soldiers disturbed this pristine land, and he felt like an interloper in this natural world that did not concern itself with war and the problems of men.
Vultures flew high overhead and, on occasion, some hawks or eagles. Musk-ox would raise their heads from grazing to look at them but would just as quickly lose interest. Malum saw a snow leopard sitting on a ledge bathing in the warm sunlight; luckily, it was more interested in a nap.
They finally reached a much greener river valley that would lead them into the city of Rebaz. The ride was more comfortable, as the sun felt warmer as they moved away from the peaks. There was no sign of enemy forces as of yet.
The valley was an array of flowers in bloom and wild horses roaming. Nature had long reclaimed the ruins of abandoned old villages. It felt like they were chasing ghosts, as voices seemed to carry on the wind as they passed by. Some of Malum's men were anxious and unnerved by the voices, but Malum didn't believe in such hokum. He thought they were being silly. It was just the strong winds catching the edge of something.
Further down the valley, they saw giant geoglyphs on the sides of the hillsides. They depicted animals on a vast scale. Rocks were gathered and separated to form the outlines of the shapes. Who or why someone would make these figures was beyond Malum's capacity. He could only marvel at them.
It was a strange new world for Malum. He came from a small mining town and could never imagine exploring and witnessing such glory. Atoc Baal seemed less awe-inspired as he rarely showed any emotion.
Witnessing the desolate landscapes made Malum wonder why people wanted to fight over such things. He knew he was naive to politics and history, but it didn't make sense.
Malum could understand fighting what Kittisek Khan was doing by letting his forces burn and destroy villages. They were raping women and scorching the earth so that it may take years until the land was functional again. Picking on people who already have little in life and making them suffer more was something he could fight against.
As they rode closer to Rebaz, Malum saw the first signs of the devastation. Homes that were burned to the ground, sometimes with charred skeletons still lying in them. Fields that used to have planted crops were black with ash. The people who lived in these villages were dead, captured, or escaped to Rebaz.
By the time they reached Rebaz, anger and contempt had spread in the soldiers at what they had seen. Malum had to admit he was also moved by what he witnessed. It wouldn't take much to get these men to fight with conviction.
They were greeted with cheers and joy as they rode into Rebaz. The people of Rebaz looked like they were on the verge of death, but they were hanging on to hope.
Malum found his way to the city leaders.
"Greetings, I am Emre, and I think I can speak for all of us when I say we are grateful to see you."
"Have the Nanook forces attacked Rebaz?" Malum inquired.
"No. As you must have seen, they've been burning everything else. All the nearby villagers have been forced to come here, and we are running low on supplies. All of our crops and resources are gone. We won't have any harvest this season as they've made this a desert." Emre explained.
"Yes, I understand," Malum said, thinking about what to say. He wasn't a politician, and he still hadn't planned his first move. "We're here to help." It was all he could muster for now, but it satisfied the locals.
Does he send the people of Rebaz with supplies and let them travel to Invan, where they will be safer? Or does he abandon this territory and let Nanook claim it for now? Do they take the fight to the enemy? Even in victory, it won't supply these people with food. He didn't bring enough for an extended stay or this many mouths. He should have considered this before leaving Invan—a first lesson in leadership.
"Can you tell me more about the raids?" Malum asked.
"They come from behind the Great Wall of Nanook to raid and pillage, then after they've done their damage, go back behind the walls," Emre explained.
"Atoc, tell the men to help get these people some food and supplies. We stay here for the night. Tomorrow, we ride to war."
Malum decided that it was best to take the fight to the enemy while the men were motivated. He'd deal with the rest after.
———
By midmorning the next day, Malum and his company had reached some hills just out of range of the Wall. Atoc led a small band to the Great Wall of Nanook and its gate for reconnaissance. An outpost guarding the gate consisted of four towers.
Atoc signaled that they were ready for part two of their mission. They were to draw out the soldiers. Malum and the rest lay in hiding, ready to ambush whoever followed.
They didn't know how many soldiers the enemy had. Capturing the soldiers was the objective, as opposed to killing them all. Malum needed to learn as much as possible. He wasn't going to risk his soldiers' lives on assumptions.
Atoc Baal and his small band arrived at the gate, but a mighty river kept them from getting close to the walls. They'd be in range of the archers and would quickly be forced to retreat under heavy fire.
Atoc revealed himself to the tower guards, and archers were quickly summoned to force Atoc back. Atoc and his men had to keep going back and make themselves a nuisance. They were the bait, but the fish wouldn't bite on the hook. They couldn't entice them to lower the drawbridge and chase.
Malum and the others watched from their hidden positions but couldn't expose themselves to help, or their slight advantage would be gone.
Atoc tried long into the day but wasn't having success. The gate commanders were not so easily fooled or lured.
Atoc Baal returned to Malum's position for new orders as night approached.
"We're going to have to do this the old-fashioned way. We'll have to take the outpost."
"What of the River?" Atoc asked as quietly as he could, but hiding his booming voice was difficult.
"I will go and lower the drawbridge. Once I do, you will lead the forces in. Have them ready to go by the first light. I will try to find a way under the cover of darkness."
"Shouldn't I be the one to go?"
"Atoc, this is the only way I know. I have to do it; I can't watch."
"I've never known another leader to do this."
"Do you disapprove?"
"No. I admire it. But what if you get killed in the attempt?"
"There's nothing lost there. You'll have to take over. You seem better suited for leadership than me anyway."
"Is this what it takes to be a part of Flaero's new elite unit, the Ningal?"
"I honestly don't know. This is my first mission." Malum admitted.
"Could be your last."
"I didn't know you had a sense of humor."
"Who said I was joking."
"Those were the words of encouragement I was looking for. Wish me luck."
Malum left his soldier's camp in the dark and went to find a place of solitude to meditate. He needed a place away from the men to sink into his connection to the O element, find his answers, and make a plan. He was still trying to figure out how to get over the walls. He was learning to trust what his instincts would reveal.
———-
Malum was south of the gate, looking for a tree of the right height. This far down the wall wasn't regularly patrolled. It was still very dark, and thick brush and forest surrounded him.
There was just enough moonlight to make out the silhouettes of treetops. He finally located a tree that he thought would be the right length. Malum thought to himself, if you build thousands of miles of walls along your border, at least have the common sense to cut down large trees that grow near it regularly.
Malum removed his sword and connected it with the element to channel wind. The wind he created would snap the big tree so it would fall and land on the wall. The tree landed with a hard thud as the base dug into the river's bank. Three-quarters up, the tree rested on the top of the wall. Malum gathered rocks to wedge at its base.
It was a massive tree, and he hoped the noise of such a tree crashing wouldn't wake the whole world. There was nothing to keep it from rolling or sliding off the wall, so Malum would have to chance that it would stay long enough for him to scamper across.
Malum counted to three and climbed through mud and branches to get to the top of the trunk. It took a few steps to get a feel for the balance of running on a fallen tree. Then he quickly jumped off into the walkway and was on top of the Wall.
Malum was in between towers, and no one was in sight. He jogged his way back to the gate until he could see a soldier walking his way on patrol.
To Malum's right were the river and forest, and to his left were plains leading into the Hushim Mountains in the distance. He knew it would be over if the soldier saw the tree lying on the wall. It was still dark, and the soldier's small torch gave his position away. So Malum found a spot to hang off the wall and wait for the soldier to pass.
It seemed like Malum hung there forever, and his arms were getting tired. He would be very vulnerable if the soldier spotted him; he hoped the soldier was weary and not paying close attention.
He could hear the soldier's footsteps getting close and saw the torch's light above him. The torch paused for a second, and Malum thought he was caught, but it was only a moment, and the soldier moved on.
Malum pulled himself up as silently as he could. Snuck up behind the soldier, and just as the soldier turned to face him, Malum's sword had stabbed him. Malum had his right hand on his sword, and his left hand cupped the soldier's mouth to muffle any noise. He waited until the soldier slumped to the ground and pulled his sword from the man's torso.
Malum knew the sun would be up soon, and he had to move. His men would be waiting. He picked up the pace of his jog as best he could, as it would be challenging to keep the element of surprise once there was light.
Malum saw the garrison at the gate and knew he'd have to go for it. Malum wouldn't think about his powers or restrict himself, as he knew his men were counting on him. He wasn't going to fail them. Flaero told him to use anything to win so that Malum wouldn't restrict his powers. He wanted to see what he was capable of.
Malum announced himself with an energy blast to the nearest tower. Stone and debris flew through the air, and the outpost became alive with activity as the soldiers were startled into action.
Nanook soldiers came rushing down the walkway to Malum. He had his sword at the ready. Malum steadied himself like a man waiting to hold his breath before a wave washed over him.
With quick flashes of his sword, Malum had felled three soldiers. Malum moved with a precision that he had never achieved before. Even in their hundreds, the soldiers were no match for him today. Malum didn't waste a single movement. The Nanook soldiers were piling up as a trail of blood and bodies was behind Malum.
Malum reached the gatehouse to the drawbridge. Malum found the means to lower the drawbridge; the sound of metal moving like lightning echoed in the tower. The sun was already peaking through.
The drawbridge was lowered, and Atoc Baal and the other forces emerged behind trees in the forest. War cries rang out, and his men soon joined Malum in the fight.
Malum observed Atoc Baal display his expert swordsmanship and was impressed by what he saw. Atoc moved with an athletic prowess and grace. Atoc could take on multiple foes with ease and never received a scratch. Malum wouldn't be outdone.
Deep down, Malum knew that the men he was killing were just doing their duty like his men. He didn't want to admit that he enjoyed what he was doing. He justified it by saying they'd kill him if he didn't fight, but he knew there was more to it. Realizing his full abilities was a pleasure. He was a natural soldier, and this both pleased and disturbed him.
As the fighting continued, Malum saw four figures emerge dressed similarly to Elisapaie and Gaia. He assumed that these must be Ijani Knights like them. Atoc was looking at them, too. The Ijani Knights easily cut through some of Malum's men. Malum immediately signaled Atoc to join him in challenging these new threats.
The four Ijani Knights carried talwars or curved swords. Malum learned from Elisapie that the Ijani all had the power to connect to the O element. The Ijani wore green surcoats and cloaks over their chainmail. They didn't seem fazed by battle.
"Atoc, you get two, and I get two," Malum said, trying to get a reaction from the Hanwi warrior. Atoc didn't let his guard down and ignored the comic sentiment.
Malum dove and rolled past the first two and was left with male and female Knights. They stood on either side of him on the walkway. Malum had to quickly move his sword from left to right and back and forth to block the sword strikes from his opponents.
The Ijani Knights were skilled; he could tell they were well-trained from the start. Malum would have to be smart in his movements. Malum jumped to his left and stood atop the wall above the walkway to narrow the attack area.
Malum countered some attempts by the Knight closest to him and then leaped behind them to land on the walkway. He was genuinely sinking deep in his connection. Malum surprised one of the knights he had jumped behind and managed to land his sword in the man's torso. He then finished the knight off by beheading him.
The female Knight took exception to her comrade's death. Malum remembered that he needed to capture someone for intel and that he shouldn't kill his other foe. His decision had nothing to do with the fact that she was attractive.
Malum waited and managed to lure her into a move he could use against her. He parried her blade and used the flat side of the sword to disarm her by hitting her hard on the hand. He then used his sword to knock her unconscious. Malum's movements had happened in a flash.
Malum then helped Atoc Baal defeat the last Ijani Knight, as he had already killed one. He instructed Baal to stand guard of the female Ijani Knight as he would help with the remaining soldiers.
With Malum at the height of his powers, it didn't take long for him to help slaughter the remaining forces. Using energy blasts and superior skill, he was too much for their foe.
After their victory, Malum instructed the soldiers to loot as many supplies as possible before returning to Rebaz.
Their female prisoner was fully conscious again and wasn't difficult to get talking; in fact, Malum couldn't get her to shut up as they traveled back to Rebaz.
"You're making a mistake by taking on the might of Nanook. You may have defeated us today, but the Great Khan will send reinforcements to crush you and your band of fools and swine." The female Knight yelled at them.
"Hopefully, they will do better," Malum said. "What's your name? I am Malum; I come from Ishvara."
"The land of bastards and pig fuckers." She spat at him.
"What a lovely vocabulary you have." Malum teased.
She then rattled off on a tangent in Nanookese that Malum didn't understand but was pretty sure of the meaning.
"I can assure you I mean you no harm. We only seek to end the raids plaguing the borderlands." Malum said calmly.
"Tell your leaders to stop interfering in our affairs and spreading revolution. Your leaders want to take over our lands; we will never allow it," she accused.
"I don't know what is in the minds of our leaders, but I see no reason why we can't speak honestly with each other even when our leaders will not. Perhaps that's what is truly needed: a peace conference to reconcile all the misunderstandings." Malum tried to reason.
"There are no misunderstandings. You just murdered my friends and will murder me as soon as you get the information you want."
Clearly, he couldn't use reasonable methods to get her to talk. He didn't want to resort to violent methods to extract things from her. He knew if he was squeamish, others were not. Atoc Baal had suggested he was more than comfortable to use alternative methods on her.
Malum worried that they started this conflict with the justification to defend themselves against aggressors and that they would soon be doing the things they were accusing their enemies of.
It wasn't a long trip back to Rebaz, but with the female prisoners constant threats and talking, Malum wondered if he wasn't the one being tortured.
After his first battle and victory, Malum quickly earned the respect of his men. Even Atoc Baal seemed to have warmed to him more. Malum wasn't sure how to handle that.
Malum had done his part; he hoped the conflict was going as smoothly for the others. One thing was certain: he didn't like how his new female prisoner kept staring at him.