Back at the enemy camp, the atmosphere was tense. The vast army, which once marched with confidence, now felt the weight of uncertainty pressing down on them. In the center of the camp, within a large and richly decorated tent, the most prominent leaders of the coalition had gathered to discuss their next move. The tent in the enemy camp was dimly lit, the shadows from the flickering candles casting long, wavering shapes on the canvas walls. The air was thick with tension as the commanders gathered around a large wooden table, a map of the surrounding regions spread out before them.
King Janusz "the Good" of Poland, a man of 71 years, sat at the head of the table. Despite his age, Janusz still commanded great respect. His presence alone was enough to instill a sense of calm and wisdom among the younger leaders. His long, gray beard and weathered face spoke of decades of experience in governance and warfare. Though his body was frail, his mind remained sharp, and his reputation as a just and wise ruler had earned him the loyalty of his people and the admiration of his allies.
Beside him stood Kiev Duke Halftan, a warrior king with a fierce reputation. Halftan's family had come from the cold and unforgiving lands of Scandinavia, and their bloodline carried the traditions of the Viking raiders. Halftan was a man driven by ambition and the lust for conquest. His green eyes glinted with cunning, and his hands itched for the sword. He was a warmonger at heart, always seeking the next battle, the next victory.
King Igor of Galicia-Volhynia, a younger Rus commander, paced restlessly at the far end of the tent. He was driven by a deep desire to reclaim the lands he had lost and to restore his kingdom to its former glory. His ambitions burned bright, and he was willing to take great risks to achieve them. Igor's sharp features and intense gaze betrayed his impatience and determination.
Three man stood in silence, their faces etched with concern as they awaited the report from the fleeing soldier. The soldier, still trembling from his harrowing escape, stepped forward. His face was pale, and his voice wavered as he began to speak. "My lords, I bring grave news. The camp was completely overrun at night. Kara... he spared only one of us to carry this message. After delivering his orders, he had the rest of us executed. Only I was spared to bring this news to you. A stunned silence fell over the tent. The three leaders exchanged glances, the weight of the news settling over them like a dark cloud.
Kara sent me with a message. He told me to tell you... that Uluç's army is coming. He said we'll be hunted down, one by one. That Uluç's wrath will soon descend upon us."
A murmur of shock rippled through the tent. The mention of Uluç—a name that carried the weight of fear and legend—only added to the already growing anxiety.
The soldier hesitated before continuing, his voice growing even shakier. "King Jerolim of Serbia… slain," Janusz said quietly, the weight of the words heavy in the air. "And many of his vassals with him."And there is more the soldier swallowed hard, his eyes darting nervously. "Prince Hesso...I think he was at the camp that night for a feast. We couldn't find his body, my lord. We don't know if he was killed or if he managed to escape. But... there's a chance he was there, among the dead."
The words hung in the air like a death sentence, the implications chilling the blood of everyone in the room. King Janusz's face darkened, and he turned away from the soldier, his mind racing.
Duke Halftan broke the silence, his voice sharp and filled with frustration. "What was Prince Hesso doing in that camp? This wasn't supposed to be his mission. Why was he there?"
King Igor, his expression grim, offered a possible explanation. "Perhaps he was on a secret mission, searching for his son. Jerolim of Serbia might have known something about his whereabouts. They were close. It's possible that Hesso was acting on his own, keeping his movements hidden even from us."
Janusz slammed his fist onto the table, causing the map to tremble. "What a fool! He learnt nothing from his father! But whatever the reason, it's irrelevant now. We can't let this news spread. If word gets out that Prince Hesso might be dead, it will cause panic and chaos within our ranks. We're already facing a determined enemy—this could be the final blow to our morale."
The soldier, sensing the gravity of the situation, quickly added, "My lords, there's something else. We still don't know the full extent of our losses. Many of our soldiers fled into the night. We don't know how many survived, but... it's bad. The enemy was relentless, and they caught us off guard and we were outnumbered."
King Janusz closed his eyes for a moment, gathering his thoughts. When he spoke again, his voice was cold and decisive. "No one is to speak of this. Prince Hesso's fate remains a mystery, and that's how it will stay until we know more. We cannot afford to have our men falter now. They must believe that victory is still within our grasp."
King Igor nodded in agreement. "We need to focus on the task at hand. We cannot allow this setback to derail our plans. We will regroup, assess our strength, and prepare for what's to come."
Duke Halftan, ever the pragmatist, spoke up. "And we must find out what happened to Prince Hesso. If he's alive, we need to know where he is and what his intentions are. If he's dead... we need to keep that information contained. We cannot let this weaken us."
The three leaders exchanged determined looks. Despite the grim news, they knew that they had no choice but to press on. The enemy was cunning and ruthless, but they would not be intimidated. They had come too far to turn back now. As the soldier was dismissed, the tent remained filled with a heavy silence. The commanders knew that the days ahead would be filled with uncertainty and danger. But they also knew that they had to remain strong, for the sake of their armies and their kingdoms.
They were deep in discussion, their voices low and filled with tension. They had been confident when they set out, bolstered by the support of the Kaiser and the promise of reinforcements from the Crusader army. But now, the news they had received had shaken them to the core.
Halftan frowned, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "This is no small setback. Jerolim was a strong ally, and his forces were supposed to support our flank. With him gone, we're exposed."
King Igor stopped pacing and faced the others. "And now we hear that Uluç has healed and is commanding his armies once more. This was not part of the plan. We were told he was gravely wounded, out of the fight."
Janusz nodded slowly, his eyes narrowing in thought. "It seems we underestimated him. The news of Uluç's return will embolden his forces, while we are left to deal with the unexpected."
The room fell silent as the leaders contemplated their next move. They had marched into these lands with the belief that their victory was assured, but now doubt had crept into their ranks.
"Our intelligence suggested that Türk-il's eastern borders are under attack," Halftan said, breaking the silence. "The Kaiser himself informed us of this before we began our march. If they are fighting on two fronts, we should still have the advantage."
Igor nodded, though his expression remained tense. "But if Uluç is back, commanding his armies with renewed vigor, we may not have as much time as we thought. The question is, do we press on, or do we wait for the Crusader army to reinforce us?"
Janusz, the eldest and wisest among them, leaned back in his chair, his mind racing through the possibilities. "Waiting for the Crusaders could buy us time and strengthen our numbers, but it also gives Uluç more time to regroup and fortify his positions. If we delay too long, we may find ourselves facing an even stronger resistance."
Halftan's eyes flashed with frustration. "But if we strike now, while they're still reeling from the loss of their eastern forces, we might break through before they can mount a full defense. It's a gamble, but one that could pay off."
King Igor's voice was steady as he spoke, his resolve clear. "I say we prepare to advance, but we keep our scouts active and our forces ready to adapt. If the Crusaders arrive in time, we'll use them to bolster our attack. If not, we push forward with what we have and trust in our strength we cannot allow fear to spread. We shall face Uluç, and their forces with all the strength we have. And if Prince Hesso is alive, we shall find him."
Janusz considered their words carefully, his mind weighing the risks and rewards. Finally, he nodded. "Very well. We prepare to move, but we do so with caution. The element of surprise may no longer be on our side, but we still have the advantage in numbers. Let us use it wisely."
With the decision made, the leaders dispersed to ready their men. The tension in the camp was palpable, but the resolve of the commanders was clear. They would press on, determined to claim victory despite the growing uncertainty. The shadow of Uluç loomed large, but they would not be deterred. The battle ahead would be fierce, but the stakes were too high to turn back now.
As the camp stirred with activity, the leaders prepared for the next phase of their campaign, their minds focused on the challenges that lay ahead. The fate of the land would be decided in the coming days, and each of them knew that there was no room for error.