363 – EP.13 Campfire at the Campsite
***
In the center of that place filled with darkness, a bonfire was emitting its presence.
Lighting a bonfire from the perspective of the pursued was nothing more than a desperate attempt to woo their pursuers, but they had no other choice.
By setting up a night watch around the area and keeping a close watch on the surroundings, I was able to calm the anxiety that had formed in a corner of my heart.
The season had now entered early autumn. The sleepless heat of summer had disappeared without a trace, and so the forest at night was cold.
Purrurung, the horses tied to the trees snorted and waggled their tails, chasing away bugs that clung to their rumps.
The crackling sound of branches snapping in the flames echoed through the forest.
A few of the men sat around the campfire, warming their hands. Some wanted to roast some beef jerky, but they weren’t so ignorant of the situation that they would do something so crazy that it would smell.
Silence fell over the campsite set up in the middle of the forest. Stiff faces turned toward one tent.
Members warming their hands by the campfire, members standing guard around the campsite, members preparing their weapons…
Their gaze turned towards the tent.
The uncomfortable stares and silence continued until a woman emerged from the tent.
The woman with the most weary face had short blond hair.
She slowly sat down in front of the campfire, her fatigue seeping out of her with every step. The members sitting at the campfire moved their buttocks to make room.
“Anna, where’s the captain?”
As soon as the woman with the golden hair sat down, the woman sitting on her right asked. She had long brown hair and an equally tired look on her face.
“Please rest assured.”
A woman named Anna sighed, letting out her fatigue and tension.
As soon as she finished speaking, the camp members also breathed a sigh of relief.
“Phew… That’s a relief. Actually, the injury was serious… I…”
Agnes, the brown-haired woman, swallowed her words for fear of being criticized.
But the afternoon battle was still vivid in her eyes. The clash of weapons, the sound of horseshoes, the roar, and the figure of the captain.
The general had his neck pierced by an arrow, and two arrows were also embedded in his chest.
The hardened cavalrymen were convinced when they saw their captain. He was dead.
However, the deputy commander thought differently.
The captain, Anna Irwena, led the cavalry with her captain on his horse amid the chaos.
The cavalry fled after Anna, and after shaking off the pursuers here and there, they arrived at this forest.
“They said it wouldn’t have been strange if Judas had died instantly.”
Anna said in a hoarse voice, throwing the rolling branches into the bonfire.
‘I guess things have calmed down a bit.’
Agnes recalled the previous situation.
[Come on! Heal! Judas! Judas! Where are you, you little shit!]
Anna screamed, holding onto the captain’s pale body.
Judah rushed over to her with healing supplies in his hand, seeing her chilling presence.
[Save the captain! Quickly!]
[Vice-captain. The captain is already….]
Judas’ face, which had turned blue, resembled that of the captain.
[Shut up, the captain is still alive. So hurry up! Do everything you can. You haven’t forgotten what your position is in this cavalry, have you?]
[Oh, I got it. I got it.]
Agnes felt sorry for Judah, who was going to treat her with a determined face.
“Apologize to Judas later.”
She spoke softly to Anna.
“…….”
Anna lowered her head as she belatedly remembered how she had treated her colleague.
“Yeah, it’s embarrassing, isn’t it?”
“Be quiet.”
Anna threw another poor stick into the fire.
Crackle, crackle, the bonfire is burning.
The warm air spread around, and only then could the agents sitting around them truly feel the warmth.
The captain was alive. It was reassuring news.
“Can you move right away, Captain? I can’t stay here for long.”
Agnes said, staring blankly at the blazing flames.
“…That’s right. Actually, I plan on moving as soon as the sun rises. I’ll have to put the captain in front of me.”
Anna spoke her mind.
“You can’t ride a horse for long with an unhealthy body.”
“I know, but there’s no way. I can’t stay here any longer.”
When Agnes confronted Anna with the reality, she bristled.
“How about leaving tomorrow morning, even if it’s a little late? It can’t be helped if the captain wants to recover even a little.”
“Should I do that?”
Worries about the colon, pressure to move.
Anna had to face reality.
“Anna!”
Before they could decide what to do tomorrow, Judah, who was in the tent, called the captain of the detachment.
Anna jumped up at the sound of Judah’s voice, and tension rose again in the camp.
“What’s going on? What happened to the captain?”
Judas smiled awkwardly as nervous gazes poured in.
“The captain is okay. He opened his eyes now.”
“really?”
“Uh. I think it would be better if you explained the situation.”
“thank you.”
As soon as Judah finished speaking, Anna quickly walked towards the tent.
“It’s fast….”
Judah sat down in front of the campfire, watching Anna’s back as she quickly walked away.
“Judas, how are you, Captain?”
Agnes would not leave Judas alone like that.
“It’s a miracle that you’re still alive, but I didn’t know you’d come to your senses. The captain must really be blessed by God.”
Judah let out a hollow laugh.
“If I had God’s protection, this would never have happened in the first place.”
Agnes muttered, her eyes fixed on the campfire.
***
“The sun of Rosen, and the rightful ruler of the empire…”
“I don’t mind that kind of greeting, so tell me.”
As the cold voice fell, the prone commander’s back flinched.
“I’m sorry to inform you, but there was a battle with the 4th Cavalry Corps.”
“Didn’t you say you were going to pressure the cavalry and lead them in? But battle?”
“The cavalry broke through, targeting the weak points of the camp.”
“So, you’re saying you missed the cavalry?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“I’m disappointed. I’m sure you know why I left the palace and am here.”
“…I have no words to express my deepest regret to Your Majesty for my shortcomings.”
“Yeah, if you said you had something to say, I would’ve cut off your head.”
“…….”
“So… that’s it? You missed the cavalry?”
“That’s…”
“Jim hates long talks, Commander.”
The commander shut his eyes tightly.
The incident had already happened, and there was no way to hide it. He opened his mouth, hoping for the Emperor’s mercy.
“The unexpected clash left the soldiers disoriented, and some of the out-of-control soldiers fired at the fleeing cavalry.”
“…so?”
The air grew heavier. The commander continued speaking, his teeth clenching together with difficulty.
“It is said that several of those arrows… struck the enemy cavalry captain.”
“…The cavalry captain was injured? To that extent?”
“I’m not sure, but judging from the fact that the enemy’s commander ran away carrying his captain, he seems to be seriously injured…”
The commander couldn’t finish his speech.
Degururur-
The commander’s severed head rolled on the floor. The blood flowing from the severed head polluted the emperor’s residence.
“How dare you-“
The Emperor’s voice was filled with anger as he drew his sword.
“Who dares to hurt him? He is mine. He is the man who will be my subject and my secretary. I also cherish him, so how, how, how can you hurt his body….”
“Is there anyone outside!!”
At the Emperor’s shout, the Knight Commander who had been waiting outside came in.
“Have you called, Your Majesty?”
“Get this garbage out of my place immediately, let’s break through the defenses, and execute all those who fired arrows.”
“I will do as you command.”
The taciturn commander bowed and disappeared.
The Emperor’s residence after the Knight Commander departed.
The emperor sat on his chair, stamping his feet and biting his fingernails.
“Ahhh- I hope he’s okay… I hope he’s okay… Ahhh- My cavalry captain….”
Empty eyes turn to the light.
“You must be safe. No, you must be safe. You are mine, so even if you get hurt, you must have my permission.”
“Keep in mind, Kang In-ho…”
The emperor’s eyes flashed in the reflection of the blade.