Rise of the Horde

Eris looked at Redore with surprise, but also with a hint of amusement. "My lord, I appreciate your feelings, but you must understand that we are in the midst of a war. We shouldn't let our emotions cloud our judgment or distract us from our mission."

Redore nodded, understanding her point. "I know, and I'm sorry. But I couldn't help myself. You're an incredible woman, Eris. I've never met anyone like you."

Eris smiled at him, her eyes softening. "Thank you, my lord. But we have to focus on the task at hand. There will be time for everything else later."

Redore nodded, feeling a sense of disappointment but also a renewed sense of determination. He knew that Eris was right. They couldn't afford to let their emotions get in the way of their mission. They had to focus on defeating the enemy and securing a lasting peace for their people.

As they rode back to their camp, Redore couldn't help but steal glances at Eris now and then. He knew that he had to keep his feelings in check, but it was easier said than done. The way she moved, the way she fought, the way she smiled—it all made him want her even more.

But he also knew that he couldn't let his desire to get in the way of their mission. They had a war to win, and he couldn't afford to let anything distract him from that.

For the next few days, they travelled around the territory that was under the control of their enemies. Eris' expertise in tracking aided them a lot in locating the enemy patrols in order for them to avoid them.

*****

Two families were eradicated by King Gyassi and the remaining soldiers from the Ereian Royal Army, sparing no one - men, women, the old and the young..

The screams of the innocent echoed through the night as King Gyassi and his army continued their ruthless massacre. The residences of the two troublesome families were now a blood-soaked graveyard, with the bodies of the slain littered all over the place. No one could escape the wrath of the mad king, not even innocent children.

As King Gyasssi rode through the now ruined residence of one of the kingdom's nobles, the smell of death hung heavy in the air. He surveyed the carnage with a sense of satisfaction, knowing that he had successfully eliminated the new rising threat to his reign within the city walls. His soldiers had done well; not a single member of the two families had been left alive.

"That should suffice as a warning to the others," the king snorted. The blazing fire that was consuming the residences of the two families reflected off the gleaming armor of the king and his soldiers. It was a sight to behold, the destruction and chaos that they had wrought upon the innocent. Yet, it was something that Gyassi relished. The power that came with being a ruthless monarch was intoxicating to him.

As they rode out to the streets, a young woman caught the king's eye, one of the servants of the noble that he had just killed. She was huddled in a corner, trembling with fear. Her cries for help went unheard amidst the chaos. Gyassi dismounted his horse and approached her. He towered over her, his imposing presence making her shrink even further.

"Please, spare me," she whimpered, tears streaming down her face.

Gyassi let out a cruel laugh. "Spare you? Why should I? Your master is already waiting for you in the afterlife."

The young woman sobbed as she clutched onto her tattered dress. "Please, I have done nothing wrong," she pleaded.

King Gyassi looked down at her with disdain. "It's not about what you've done, it's about what you represent." He grabbed her by the hair, pulling her up to her feet. "You're nothing more than a lowly servant, just like the rest of them. You're beneath me." 𝙗𝙚𝒅𝒏𝙤𝙫𝙚𝒍.𝒐𝙧𝙜

The woman winced in pain as she tried to pull away from the king's firm grip. "Please..." she murmured weakly, her voice trailing off.

But no matter how much she beg and cried, the king's grip never loosened.

"Off you go now..." Gyassi smiled, then kicked her away. "End her," he commanded to the nearby soldiers.

As the soldiers advanced towards the young woman, King Gyassi mounted his horse once again, his face twisted into a cruel smile. "That's what happens to those who defy me," he shouted to the remaining citizens of the city. "Anyone who tries to challenge my reign will face a similar fate."

The people cowered in fear, not daring to utter a word. They knew that King Gyassi was not to be trifled with, that he was a monarch who would stop at nothing to maintain his hold on the throne. They had seen the atrocities that he had committed, and they knew that they could be next.

As the soldiers carried out their gruesome task, King Gyassi rode away, reveling in the power that he held over his subjects. He knew that he had won this battle, but he also knew that the war was far from over. There were still those who would dare to challenge his rule, and he was ready to crush them with an iron fist.

For King Gyassi, this was just the beginning. He was prepared to do whatever it took to keep his position as the ruler of the land, even if it meant massacring innocent people. His rise to power had been marked by bloodshed and violence, and he was determined to maintain his grip on the kingdom by any means necessary.

As he rode through the city streets, King Gyassi could feel the fear and dread that his presence inspired in the people. He knew that they saw him as a monster, a cruel and heartless tyrant who cared nothing for the lives of his subjects. And he was fine with that. Fear was a powerful tool, and it was one that he was more than willing to use to maintain his position.

But what he was unaware of was that the orcs that Adhalia had allied with were not the usual ones. He had blamed the failure of the duke and his army in dealing with the orcs due to their incompetence. He had no idea that these orcs were something far worse and more dangerous than the orcs that they knew of.

Even the army that he sent towards the lands of Baron Ragab had no idea on what kind of danger they were about to face.