Hannoic War
The Lamb of Iron and Man (Part 24)

"Everyone who stretches his net of spiders to catch something can either bring himself to glory or regret..."

vergil in Aeneid

The Lamb of Iron and Man

Vella stands at the camp, with a bodyguard beside her.

Her old blue dress was fitted with a bear fur robe to warm herself from the cold.

Standing up he was staring ahead, waiting for something…

The sun illuminated his hair and face.

"Daughter, Your Majesty will definitely be back, let's just wait at the camp" said the bodyguard.

"No, I told you 8 times, I waited" Vella said as she looked ahead.

While behind Vella there are soldiers who do their work.

Back away they were carrying water baskets and taking up arms and armours.

*Sitting*Dough*

The sound of horses approaching towards them from afar, with their large voices.

*Sitting*Dough*Drugged*

Thousands of knights rode towards them, their armours filled with dust and blood.

*Sitting*Dough*Drugged*

Vehan and Hasral's flags flew in with the party carrying them.

Seen a man with an armour that had a golden complexion, driving forward with his armour filled with blood and dust.

*Sister.that's sister.*, thought Vella while almost wanting to cry.

In Hasteinn's right hand was a sword filled with blood.

Hasteinn's neck hung on a person's head.

*Tukting!*

Hasteinn then unlocked his helmet after it slammed his helmet.

And showed her pretty clean face.

It was seen that Hasteinn had a fairly exhausted face and his breath was wheezing after the battle.

"Geralda! Geralda! Geralda! A GERALDA!"

Shouted the group of knights of Hasteinn excitedly while raising their blood-filled swords.

"GERALDA WINS! GERALDA WON!"

Said Mr. Handam driving forward, stretching out his hands holding two bloody axes.

"KING GERALDA! KING HASTEINN! KING HASTEINN! KING HASTEINN!"

Shouted the group of Hasteinn excitedly while curling up their horses excitedly.

"KING HASTEINN! KING HASTEINN! GERALDA! GERALDA! GERALDA! VEHAN! VEHAN!"

Hundreds of spirited shouts came out from the excited faces of his knights.

Some opened their helmets while almost all of them took up their respective bloody weapons.

Some raised the Vehan flag.

Hasteinn just smiled.

Then Hasteinn raised his head hanging from the neck of his horse.

The head of a person had a surprised face.

"Khasrow from the Tenell family! Sword General Vespasian!" said Hasteinn with a breath that sounded panting.

"KING HASTEINN! KING HASTEINN! KING HASTEINN! KING HASTEINN!"

The knight spoke more and more vigorously when he saw the head that Hasteinn had lifted.

"KING OF GERALDA! KING GERALDA! VIVA GERALDAAA!!!"

Said Mr. Handam while showing his bloodthirsty face in a loud voice.

"GERALD! GERALDA! A GERALDA!"

Then some of the soldiers took down several hundreds of captives tied up with ropes in front of Vella.

The captives were frightened and their breath was also panting with their dirty armour.

Dozens of swords were directed to keep them from trying to escape.

"This is Geralda gentlemen...Typhoon winds from the land of the Wind have come towards all of you.Tens of thousands of angry Geralda are coming to your homes.." , said Vella with a sharp gaze while smiling himself towards the captives.

Hasteinn just smiled looking at Vella on his horse.

"MASTER PRINCESS VELLA! PRINCESS VELLA! PRINCESS VELLA!"

Hundreds of knights then shouted his name.

It is like the sound of lightning in a storm..

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____-_-_____

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Perrin stood in front of a group of knights and soldiers who lined up neatly.

Standing himself with his complete black armour…

While the part in his left arm is empty.wrapped part of his hand that has been deformed with a black cloth...

His body felt strange.not light as Perrin imagined.like something but he could not describe..

In front of all the Company and Perrin, there were hundreds of logs and dried branches gathered, forming a large box on this beach.

On top of the dried branches lay neatly thousands of corpses.

"They are the saviors and the brave of the various Dalmatians! Come to defeat the Akkadian devil worshipers and the bastard son who claimed to be king!" said one of the priests with a necklace and a circle symbol in his white clothes raising his hands in prayer.

'this is all we can take from the sea, about 1,800 bodies ..While there are 3,000 more that we have not taken' ' Jaruman told Perrin this morning.

Seen hundreds of soldiers behind Perrin silent contemplating their friends who died in the battle.

While some of the soldiers feel bored with this ceremony..

"May they be forgiven their sins beside God and accepted by his side" the pastor said.

"May they be forgiven their sins beside God and accepted by his side" said the soldiers and Perrin in unison.

Perrin could see a number of women and children looking from afar at this funeral ceremony.

Some of them could be seen crying.

'Hundreds of widows and orphans you made of all this'

The voice grimaced in Perrin's head like a curse he could not escape.

Then came the women priests in clothes full of white.

Seen later they sang in the old Dalmatian language which could sound melodious as well as strange.

Perrin can compare it with a mixture of French and Arabic, but more melodious.

Perrin could hear a number of words that he could understand.

"Aux Talammi's...Rescuers...Ma dejhadaha...Stand them up at the end.."

Just a few words that Perrin could hear from the priestesses of those women.

Then the priestesses stopped singing and retreated away from the ceremony.

"My master it's time" said one of the knights approaching Perrin while whispering.

Perrin simply nodded with his head covered with his monster-shaped black iron helmet.

Perrin then advanced with his black robe stretched sideways in the wind.

Perrin then took the torch that one of his soldiers had given him.

Approaching Perrin a collection of bodies on the wood and the twigs.

Thousands of dead bodies in front of Perrin are pale white and the smell of oil typical of Dalmatia can be smelled in a collection of corpses, to facilitate burning and also prevent maggots and ravens to stop.

The torch in Perrin's hand can feel warm..

"I'm Perrin the Right Hand of Prime Minister Cyrus to give all those who lie here the title of the best and most courageous soldier of Dalmatia" Perrin said as he brought his torch to the body.

*Although perhaps some of them have raped and added widows to the world just as I have*, thought Perrin.

"On behalf of Queen Voa of the House of Gandaria, Lord of the Anglo and Ilarrian peoples, Legitimate heir of Makaria and Queen of Dalmatia" Perrin said.

Then Perrin dropped his torch, and saw the wood and also the branches slowly burning.

The smoke started to soar and the fire started to devour everything.

Stand up Perrin saw all that..

Then he retreated backwards...

"May they be pacified in the end by the Sky God Aurex!" said Perrin, shouting loudly.

"May they be pacified in the end by the Sky God Aurex!" said the priest, the soldier, the priestess, and all who saw her.

*or whatever god they worship.*, think Perrin.

Then Jaruman approached Perrin.

"I made some widows all over Dalmatia, I made orphans, I made these burnt corpses.." Perrin said unknowingly.

"One of the dead was General Bellemum Melara, who attacked bravely along with 20 ships in the formation of enemy ships. He made the master's plan to split 2 enemy troops successfully" Jaruman said in a voice as cold as this morning.

"Hm, you said he was an experienced general but why attack in the midst of the enemy? He sounds half stupid and half brave" Perrin said.

"Bellemum Melara had long sought death, his wife had died of illness a few months before the Traitor Trivistane landed, his son had also died all the time of war with Victa" Jaruman said.

"Hm, and I gave him his wish to die? Fool, if I were him I'd retire enjoying wine and a new woman breaks a fancy palace while letting the War burn outside" ,perrin said he felt like he understood men even though he knew they were women.

What does he know about men? Instantly Perrin felt pretentious and stupid..What does he know about men?...

"You're trying to give me the good side of Jaruman's battle? It's useless, even if there are millions of people like Bellara Melara who want to die, there are still thousands more who don't want to die" ,perrin said as he began to feel the heat of the fire cremating the corpse.

"When they die then they will be sung his courage in song and will be recorded in the history books" Jaruman said.

"Songs never describe the blood, intestines, and horror of what they see and feel" Perrin said, gritting his teeth, "recorded in the history books? They'll just be stacked in hundreds of papers in the corner of a bookcase"

Perrin then turned away from the heat of the cremation fire.

"Mr Perrin" said the pastor with a look that never sleeps.

Perrin looked at him for a long time then just sighed...

"Mister Casca's spy" Perrin said, "what news has our Chief Spy brought?"

"King Hasteinn of Geralda won the battle around the Black River around Legata capturing hundreds of nobles and destroying 30,000 troops of the Ohara Family" the priest said, handing Perrin a letter.

Then Perrin took the paper and read it..

"Hm, he crossed the Black River at night, and had lost more than 120 of his troops due to drowning in the Black River night stream. But managed to reach Ohara's army camp unprepared for battle, and ambushed them, burned their camp, and killed their General Khasrow of the Tenyll Family" ,perrin said as he read to the bottom of the letter.

*This is good or bad news.*, thought Perrin.

"He also sent 11,000 Geralda troops as bait in the morning to make Ohara's troops push back 11,000 troops.Ohara's forces felt they had won big and party, so they are not ready to ambush the 15-year-old King.." ' said Perrin while being able to feel the king of the little boy who planned this spelled by reading this letter..

"How much did the 11,000 Geralda soldiers who were beaten by Ohara's troops lose?" asked Jaruman curiously.

"About a small number of my lord.1,000-2,000 troops lost their lives in the battle" said Mr. Casca's spy as he bowed, "the 11,000 troops immediately retreated when the battle lasted for a while, said the spy of Mr. Casca as he bowed down, "the 11,000 troops immediately retreated when the battle lasted for a while, he said Mr. Khasrow led their own pursuit but ended up seriously injured"

Then Mr. Casca's spy stopped bowing then looked back at Perrin.

*Hazardly exposed?* ,thought Perrin.

"General Khasrow was badly wounded with his right hand broken in the battle along with 11,000 troops. So when King Hasteinn attacked and ambushed, Ohara's 30,000 troops had no substitute generals with the dark" the priest said.

"There was also luck contributing to the 15-year-old boy king's victory" Perrin said with a smile.

*But.30,000 troops.and hundreds of nobles.within 15 years of age it's something to be proud of*, thought Perrin.

Perrin began to feel old.although he was only 17 years old, with all the kingdoms in his command, he felt the smartest now...

Although slowly Perrin began to realize that he is not only a talented person in this world.

"Is it true in this letter he said this 15-year-old King himself killed General Khasrow in the midst of battle?" Perrin said.

*Or in the middle of a camp that's burning and chaos*, thought Perrin.

"Yes my lord, that's right, hundreds of claims from the Geraldas that they saw their own King Geralda who took the sword and attacked from the horse General Khasrow who walked out of the Camp when wounded and distracted in gathering the army" said the pastor.

"Hm, on horseback, that doesn't sound fair, but as it is, there is no justice in the battle. But it looks like we have a talented player in this Sword, Blood, and Paper Collapse Game" Perrin said as he rolled the paper.

*He has won 1 battle.but will it make him win his war?* ,thought Perrin.

Perrin then looked up at the sky that was starting to fill with smoke from the flames burning the corpses of his soldiers.

Perrin had already won 1 battle as well with more casualties.but did he win this war?

No, Trivistane and his army are still alive somewhere, Harlaw Port has not been taken back, and not to mention the Dalmatian extended families can still move to Tripristane if there is something.

Conscious perrin…

If this Game of Blood and Paper Sword Crashes is not over..

"My master I have news from a sailor who sailed to the Black Fire Battle that I have not told you, I think this is just a joke but I have confirmed" Jaruman said with a look of disbelief.

"Whatis that? What do you think is a joke?" Perrin said furrowing his brows.

Then Jaruman whispered in his ear to Perrin...

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____-_-____

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"Open the gates to General Vesius of the House of Garius!" said the troops on the walls of Fyrr Castle.

*Tingiarrrrrrrrttttttkkkkk....*

The gate of Fyrr Castle made of wood and iron to support it then slowly opened..

The great gate of Fyrr Castle then opened before Vesius and his entourage.

For a while Vesius saw a teenage woman standing at the gate and smiling cheerfully at him…

'Hi Vesius!'

He could hear her sweet voice ringing in his head..

"Let's go forward" said Vesius again looking at the gate while pulling the strap of his horse.

The sound of horses neighing was heard with Vesius and his entourage advancing into Fyrr Castle.

The sound of a horse stepping as Vesius rode forward also sounded stronger.

The entrance to Fyrr Castle in front of Vesius.

The entrance hall has a width that can be said to be large.

Seen the entrance hall has dozens of window holes above.

With a few archers and soldiers looking at Vesius through the window.

If Vesius and his entourage were enemies who attacked this castle, then the soldier and archer had already shot Vesius with an arrow and thrown stones from the window pit.

Or if there is a Breaking Machine, the soldier will pour oil through the window hole and then throw a torch.

After that the enemy's Engines will burn.

'Bloody Loronv' some of the servants and soldiers of Vesius called him when Vesius was a child.

He said the Aquantanians during the rebellion, had attacked this castle and failed, most of them said to have died in this Entrance.

Then turn Vesius and his entourage because the entrance hall is not designed straight…

Then Vesius he looked back at the teenage woman who smiled at him…

This time he put his hands behind his hips and bowed while laughing cheerfully..

'Ahhahahaha! Go after me Vesius!'

Vesius then looked back at the gate with a cold gaze...

*Tingiarrrrrrrtttttttkkkkkkk..*

The sound of another gate opening...

Vesius then entered with his entourage into this castle.

With hundreds of soldiers and servants bowing in their welcome.

But it could be seen that there was a bow as well, but not the servants or warriors of this Castle.

And their numbers are about thousands…

In front of Vesius, thousands of peasants and commoners were dragged into the castle.

Then locked in a circle of fences...

With dozens of soldiers watching the farmers.

Seen near the fence that captivates the farmer there is a furnace...

A kind of warrior who prepared a heated iron knife in a furnace..

"My lord" said one of the soldiers helping Vesius down.

*Tuk*Tuk*Tuk*

Vesius then went down with a wooden ladder made by his soldiers, down directly quite difficult for Vesius because of his fat body.

Vesius then saw one of the men he knew among these soldiers.

"Boggar, why are the farmers, the workers, and the servants who can help us make the siege, locked in the fence like a sheep like this" Vesius said with a cold look.

"We want to interrogate one by one my master, news about Geralda spies everywhere can not be allowed my master" said Boggar.

*Interrogation with torture you mean.*, thought Vesius while looking at the soldier holding an iron knife that looked red hot at the end.

" 'Spying' ", Vesius said with a sharp 'Eye', "heh, when a fool is not good at keeping secrets about his plans, he blames a traitor in his own company"

Vesius then looked at Boggar who had a thin mustache and a fairly muscular posture.

*Boggar.young young man who was brutal and cruel, but that did not make him a good commander.*, thought Vesius.

"This is important my lord, 30,000 Ohara's troops have been destroyed in the hands of the Rebel King of Geralda around the Black River my lord, 'Battle of the Penetrating Wind' people call him" Boggar said.

"What?" said Vesius.

*what? Ohara Family's army destroyed?* ,thought Vesius.

"Did you say?" said Vesius, puzzled.

"Master hasn't heard it?" said one of the soldiers.

*Ohara's army was destroyed? Vespasian's Right Hand Khasrow could not have been so foolish as to be defeated with 30,000 troops by his side*, thought Vesius.

"Ohara's forces were ambushed by the Rebel Forces, while the Rebels used black magic to make Khasrow seriously injured so he could not fight and the Rebels killed him" said one of the soldiers.

"The stupid basis of black magic is just a rumor, the Rebel King himself killed him by attacking him while riding a horse while Khasrow had no horse and was walking. Oh yes, Khasrow was seriously injured because of the fight before the Battle of the Wind" said one of the soldiers who then gulped down a bag of wine skins.

*That's in a way, Khasrow is wounded, and his replacement must be inexperienced for being ambushed when he had 30,000 men. But still 30,000 troops.that's a lot of losses.* Vesius thought.

"Rebel King? Isn't he only 15? He's just a boy" said one of the knights of Vesius still on horseback.

"The boy who has an army, has a horse, has a sword in his hand and has a body that is fine" said one of the soldiers, "while Khasrow was badly wounded, walking, walking, got a sword but it's still sheathed and doesn't have time to open the sword from its sheath"

"I heard that the rebels partied savagely after winning the battle, they played with the heads of their enemies" said one of the soldiers.

"That's Geralda culture, the time of their battle duel with their enemy, after which claim their head to prove that they won the duel and killed their enemy" said one of the soldiers.

*Tyronians also have such a culture, but sometimes, sometimes they carry hands, nose, skin, even sometimes genitals to be preserved" ,batin Vesius while taking a glass of wine brought on a tray by the servant.

"Oi am the father there" said Vesius calling an ordinary man who was held captive in the circle of the fence.

"My gentlemen" said the father, bowing.

"You were brought here before, what job did you do?" said Vesius, who then drank a glass of wine.

"My master's blacksmith" said the father.

Vesius then looked at all the soldiers with a sharp gaze...

All the soldiers could only fall silent and some swallowed his saliva..

Then Vesius turned back to Boggar.

"Have them work" said Vesius, "to tell the Farmer to dig a moat around the castle, it can make it difficult for enemy troops to get close to the wall. Tell the Iron Man to make weapons for us, I think we have some mined iron ore still working and a rusty sword that can still be remade"

Some of the soldiers immediately understood and nodded.

Slowly the soldier immediately moved to release the captive farmer.

Some directly accompanied them to work, while the knights of Vesius were waiting for their master.

Vesius then again saw the teenage woman waving above the tower…

'Vesius! You're great!'

"Boggar, take me to the ailing Commander Jarnan. I want to ask why Jaran chose you as a substitute, seeing you only makes me natural to see the state of the castle and Fyrr Castle" Vesius said as he walked through Boggar with his 19 knights.

The sound of the ringing of his knightly iron armour could be heard as he walked after Vesius.

While Boggar only fell silent and followed Vesius.