The cavalry

The cavalry trotted along in neat rows of three along the snowbound road. Each horse had a thick patterned quilt extending from its mane to the base of its tail. Hanging down until the knees of the animal, it helped ease the chill of winter. On the saddle, sat a cloaked rider.

The soldier wore thick, leather armor, reinforced with gauntlets, greaves, and a breastplate made of iron. He held an upright wooden lance while a sheathed sword swung from his side. Attached to the saddle dangled a Military crossbow along with a small quiver of bolts.

A pair of narrow, alert eyes scanned the surroundings from a grim face under the horned helmet. The procession contained fighters baptized in battle.

These fifty or so riders belonged to the strongest cavalry in the Empire.

The Military cavalry.

In the fifth row, a flagbearer held aloft the symbol of the cavalry, a crest of a silver threaded horseman skewering a boar with exaggeratedly long tusks. Beside him rode a man, covered in a red cape and wearing a helmet easily spotted with three longer horns.

"Captain, the quartermaster from the supply wagons says we have enough provisions to last three weeks without rationing. What he lacks, however, is a full stock of firewood."

The vice-captain rode up and sandwiched the broad-shouldered man between him and the flagbearer.

"So be it. We will camp tonight when we break clear of the woods. Curse these Bitzers for breaking through during winter. Our cavalry's true power has been cut because of the snow and cold. We can't even cover half the distance that we should make during the day."

"The men have been grumbling at the campfire, Captain."

"As they should. The Military switches its combatants in the north for a reason. How would you feel that instead of winding down and relaxing your tension, you are forced to patrol a desolate road, hunting for Bitzers, no less? Luckily, Commander Fredijack is on rear duty again at Frost City. If a single wolf demon could not escape his grasp, then a pack of Bitzers has no chance."

The red-bearded Captain replied while raising a tough hand to massage his stiff shoulder. He seemed to recall something.

"What about our apprentice companion who has been trailing us?"

"The scout reported that they will break camp later today and meet us as usual in the evening. He has been spending the mornings concocting potions. Last week he generously sent some weak health potions to the quartermaster, which he managed to successfully brew. The cook has since been using them in the broth for the men and horses to ward off the cold."

The Captain nodded approvingly.

"He is far more courageous than he looks. Don't you think this is what we lack in the North Pass? Imagine being on long patrols accompanied by an Apprentice or even an Alchemist. Not only does it boost morale, but you have an immediate supply of various potions and knowledge. How many soldiers of the Military have fallen simply because they received proper treatment too late?"

The vice-captain scoffed while openly twisting his mouth.

"Alchemists are cowards who seek only fame, they busy themselves dabbling and arguing over potions. As for Mages, the Tower would never approve of sending Apprentices into the Pass since they always have a shortage. Besides, you would be quicker to recruit a child than find one of them willing to venture from behind the walls of the forts."

"Still, this journey has opened my mind to thinking it can only serve to increase our chances in a battle against the demon beasts."

The line of horses trotted onwards towards the bridge, followed by six wagons loaded with supplies.

***

The wagons rambled along the single lane, stone bridge, and then tumbled halfway across the open grassland. The road in front disappeared within a grove of trees.

The head of the procession had arrived at the treeline when a hair-raising scream resounded. At the height of the stricken voice, something brutally snuffed it into silence.

At the same time, shadows streaked out from under the trees, retaining their wretched darkness under the sun.

"Defensive formation, ride out to kill!"

The low commanding voice, bellowed the order, causing the head of the procession to fan out. Chu might think it similar to the open jaws of a crocodile, trying to engulf its prey whole.

The Captain reined his horse while scanning the dozen or so Bitzers which appeared from under the trees in the south. Half of the fifty-odd cavalry soldiers formed a line as they urged the horses over the snow.

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"By the North Pass! Captain to the north, the north!"

The intimidating, three-horned helmet swiveled to the north. The sight prompted the rugged body to tremble momentarily.

At the edge of the woods, mounds of snow rose and then exploded to reveal the repulsive figures of the Bitzers.

Three,

Twelve,

Twenty-nine,

The numbers seem endless...

The Captain's mind blanked out on processing the overwhelming numbers. With an animalistic howl, the ambushers split into two while rushing towards the cavalry. The larger party made a beeline towards the wagons while the other remained speeding along the woods.

"Curses! They are trying to cut our retreat over the bridge while blocking us from entering the woods."

The Captain murmured on realizing the straightforward plan of the beasts. With only about a hundred feet of open land between the river and the woods, the cavalry could never muster enough room to pierce through the numbers.

As if to seal his fate, a dozen or so Bitzers exited the woods in the south to join their attacking companions.

The cavalry lacked the room and freedom to mount a charge, the Bitzers pressed their advantage using their burst of speed. On the open ground with the advantage of dodging crossbolts from a distance, the demon beasts quickly gained the advantage.

"Defense formation around the wagons. Defense formation!"

"Death to the Demon beasts!"

The Captain bellowed while urging his horse into a gallop. Gripping a lance from a guard on the supply wagon without slowing a beat, he clashed with the remaining cavalry as the Bitzers isolated the bridge.

***

Lucy rode her horse on the grassland, keeping sight of the trampled snow left by the cavalry on the nearby road. Strands of her long blond hair lifted in the chilly, occasional breeze. Unlike the others, the cold offered little discomfort. In fact, the chilling wind over the grassland felt like a summer breeze.

She continued to cloak and wrap a scarf over her face whenever she mingled in a crowd. Out in the open grasslands, away from strangers, she experienced freedom.

Only when they joined the guard camp in the evenings did she return to her former habit.

Chu mentioned that she, most of all, didn't need to hide or fear any terrifying advances many girls may encounter. Lucy smiled at recollecting the conversation.

Why should anyone besides he and her family glimpse her smile?

A faint howl interrupted her thoughts. The scent of blood greeted her nose with the yells and clashes of battle invading the sharp ears. Her smile vanished while her eyes narrowed.

Something had happened to the cavalry over the knoll...

"You're improving quite well. You've actually managed to concoct a batch of weak health potions without failing. We'll catch up with the cavalry soon after midday."

"Yes, but why did you bring those ingredients to have me make health potions? I'm supposed to be out scouting."

"Don't complain. Didn't Grandmaster Bing say the more you practice the better your spiritual power control will increase? Why waste the chest of herbs and the recipe he gifted us. If he discovered your vacation included traveling on this road, he might cough up blood."

Chu said to dissolve her complaints. The redhead pouted, wanting to add to her grievances when Chu heard a whistle from outside the wagon.

The wheels had not ground to a stop when both he and Dyna jumped out fully armed and ready. Miki burrowed out from under a bundle of fur at the top of the wagon while holding a readied crossbow.

"Chu, over the hill, the cavalry is under a Bitzer attack. I scouted the area after hearing the sounds of battle. It's bad, they are fighting scores of beasts."

"Dyna, call the wolves. Lucy, show me. The safest place for us would be among the cavalry, if a horde tracks us in the open we are screwed."

Chu commanded. At the very least, he should have a look at the enemy. In under a couple of minutes, he crawled to the top of the small hill overlooking the river.

The gentle slope led past the untouched grasslands, along the trodden road to the narrow bridge. On the opposite side of this tranquil setting, he witnessed hell.

Primitive warfare relied on numbers to overwhelm the opponents. The divisions operated based on types, such as infantry, cavalry, and archers. In the skirmish along the banks of the river, a Captain battled alongside fifty cavalry riders and some guards while issuing instructions to the entire group as a whole.

It appeared similar to a gathering of children being attacked by three different groups. Only for the leader of the gathering to yell attack or defend. A single voice shouting orders, among neighing horses, baying beasts, and shouting men.

Attack which group?

Defend what wagon?

The battle rapidly descended into chaos before his eyes...

Riders galloped around the open grasslands chasing or being chased by Bitzers. A soldier charged and skewered a Bitzer with a wooden lance through the neck, only for an adversary to jump and claw him from the horse.

While falling, two more Bitzers darted in to join in tearing him apart. His body probably remained in paralysis until he died.

The skirmish reminded Chu of how successful pack predators hunted a large herd. They wove and gashed around while naturally tearing apart the formation.

The isolated prey realized too late that their predicament before being overwhelmed. With the aid of a paralysis ability, the outcome only led to certain death.

The cavalry charged and retreated while using the supply wagons as their focal point, but for every retreat, the Bitzers secured a kill. The trampled earth bore blood and limbs from man and beast, as the taps of blood opened.

Stained swords, lances, and armor clanged after being kicked by hooves and clawed feet.

A horseman found himself isolated in the south being chased by three Bitzers. With his options bleak, he rode his horse into the freezing river as it waded to safety.

The Bitzers howled in denial before switching to the closest target. Another man lost his horse when a Bitzer paralyzed the mount before tearing out its throat. He jumped into the river to escape the deadly jaws.

Again, the demon beast howled in denial on the bank, as it sought out new prey.

"This... a battle of attrition is a nice word for a massacre of both sides."

'A dogfight...'

Chu muttered. This differed from the time he slaughtered the goblins during the farm raid. Before his eyes, traveling companions from the last few weeks fought. He witnessed men he conversed with, being dragged down and butchered.

The Riders around the wagons thinned slowly while the snow beneath them melted. Warm, flowing blood churned the icy mixture into slush. Chu learned then and there, why he could never become a General.

"Quick Lucy, we have to block the bridge with our wagon while the Bitzers try to wipe out the cavalry."

"Do you plan on blocking the bridge so we can escape on the horses? Won't the Bitzers chase us after swimming across?"

Lucy replied while returning to the tethered horse to wait for him.

"Not exactly. I am aiming to kill all of them."