Rise of the Horde

299 Chapter 29For the past few days, the Skallsers and Drakhars were busy with the repair of the town. The smashed gates were cleared off and its replacements were being crafted by the craftsmen of the town as their priority. Khao’khen was stuck at the castle for a prolonged period of time and was a bit confused when they noticed that a portion of the castle’s wealth were missing and they can’t locate among the reports where it is at. It was only when they questioned the servants who remained in the castle that the daughter and lady of the baron escaped the castle earlier on and brought along with them some of the castle’s wealth.

After figuring the current state of their new territory, Khao’khen started training the people that Adhalia managed to recruit among the residents of the territory to join the Drakhars and fight for her house. The poor Ereians had no idea of the suffering that they were going to go through at the hands of Khao’khen but they see it as a good way to earn some money for them and their families since she was allowed to make use of the castle’s treasuries.

Khao’khen had no qualms giving Adhalia free usage of the wealth that they managed to gain possession of since orcs don’t have any use for them. As long as they can maintain their supply of food, armors, weapons and other necessities, Khao’khen would gladly offer up the all the coins of the castle in exchange. And the management of the castle, he left it all for her to handle since he had almost no idea of managing a territory of humans. The vast territory he had to the north followed a simple rule, which was strength before others and since he is considered the strongest among all of them there, his warriors would follow his words.

After two weeks, Baron Husani hastily returned and an army of four thousand soldiers in tow which he quickly offered to the chieftain to make use of. The poor baron successfully returned to his territory without any trouble and he threw a celebratory feast to show gratitude to the Drakhars who accompanied him and ensured of his safety. For the past few days while he was back in his own domain, he began making preparations to welcome the chieftain but he didn’t receive any words from him nor from Adhalia who was swamped with administrative works.

Baron Husani did his best to befriend the Drakhars but his efforts were all for naught as the Drakhars maintained their usual silence despite receiving many gifts from the baron in different forms. Alarmed that his actions might be misinterpreted as trying to bribe the Drakhars, the baron made haste to clear it up to the chieftain who might have already receive reports of what he did and is preparing for his punishment. Due to his fear of Khao’khen’s rage, the baron can’t help himself but overthink of the possibilities of his impending doom less he earns the chieftain’s favor.

Khao’khen observed the army that the baron brought with him and he had his warriors prepared to engage them if what he feared might have happen. On the walls of the town, Khao’khen was observing at the army that was heading their way, “Let’s see what he had decided on…” he turned towards Adhalia who was beside him and was silently gazing at the army led by Baron Husani. The army halted at just outside the walls of the town and judging by their stance, they have no plans to attack then a rider separated from the army and headed towards the town.

Upon closer inspection, Khao’khen saw that the lone rider was Baron Husani who seemed to be exhausted because of the journey. Khao’khen went down to the gateway and there he saw the baron who had dark circles under his eyes, ‘It looks like he didn’t sleep for a few days’ he though as he observed the baron. “Chief, I offer the army outside for you to make use of.” The baron seemed to be pleading for him to accept the army that he brought with him which sent him into confusion. “See! I told you so!” Adhalia chimed in while speaking the tongue of the orcs in order to keep the baron still clueless of what they have spoken about.

Khao’khen gladly accepted the army that the baron offered and allowed them to enter the town. While the army that was brought by the baron was going through the gateway of the town, the chieftain observed them and there was one thing that he noticed about them, they were all dead tired and had dark circles under their eyes, “Don’t tell me he did a forced march.” He mumbled to himself after figuring out the state of the baron and the army that he brought with him.

Since he knew that they were in no condition to be trained for the meantime, Khao’khen ordered the soldiers brought by the baron to take a rest for two days before he would begin their gruesome training. Khao’khen wanted to figure out how did the baron managed to get this army to fully obey his harsh command of forced march despite him not being in possession of sufficient strength to suppress them as he had perceived that most of them were clearly stronger than the baron.

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Little did Khao’khen know that despite his lacking combat prowess Baron Husani was wealthy enough to buy the lives of the soldiers who he brough along. He paid for their lives and the money that he paid them were almost entirely given to the families of the soldiers or whoever they held dearly in their life. The baron might not be gifted with a high charm to convinced people to fight for him nor have the strength to command them due to fear, he made use of what he had which was his abundant wealth.

The four thousand soldiers were but just a portion of the army that he had since he had another five thousand back in his territory who were tasked with the safety of his territory and the mines in his possession. He needed to maintain such a scale of soldiers since he feared that the beastfolks might give them a lot of trouble if he only has few soldiers to defend his lands.