Book 4: Chapter 4 (4) |
The attack and defense of the fortress of Saint Emmanuel took on a form that no one could have imagined.
For the Lusitanians, it was an unexpected turn of events. A dusty fog lifted from the south of the fortress. Just as the fortress's defenders suspected that the smoke seemed excessive for their companions returning from the hunting grounds, a group of horsemen had swarmed to the fortress. The enemy and their companions were tangled together, and it was impossible to tell whether they were friend or foe.
At this time, if the lord of the fortress, Count Baracacion, was a ruthless man, he would have closed the gates of the fortress to prevent the Parsians from invading even if his comrades outside the fortress were crying out for help. Besides, he had no other way to guard the fortress and follow the order of His Highness King's brother Guiscard. However, Count Baracacion hesitated. Imagining the sight of his companions, locked outside the gate and being chased by the enemy with no way to escape, was unbearable to him. In the short time that Baracacion hesitated, there was no more room for decision.
Daryun, who was standing at the front of the Parsian army, was going to attack, but as soon as he saw that the other side did not close the gates, he immediately changed his judgment. His decisiveness was a strong contrast with Count Baracacion.
"I'm going to attack, Narsus!"
After turning back to say these words, Daryun darted forward in a black shadow. He and the Lusitanian soldiers who were trying to escape into the fortress rushed and pushed each other, cutting down those who tried to block his way. He rushed straight into the fortress.
The walls of the fortress and the watchtowers echoed the sound of fear.
"Shut the gate! Close the gate!"
Count Baracacion gave this order with great difficulty, and just as the soldier who carried out the order was about to swing his axe and cut the rope, an arrow flew from somewhere and pierced his throat, and he fell off the wall without uttering a word. In the dazzling chaos of swords, spears, and angry cries, no one noticed the incident. On the rocky hill towering closest to the fortress wall, the young man who had performed that impressive long-range shot whistled, and an expression of satisfaction surfaced in his blue eyes.
Daryun swung his lance and knocked two Lusitanian horsemen from their saddles. The gates of the fortress, both inside and out, were crowded in a whirlwind of armor, swords and spears, and the gates could no longer be closed.
As Daryun's lance pierced through the body of a Lusitanian rider, the lance’s handle broke from too much force. The broken spear sank into the smoke with the Lusitanian knight.
The lance was lost, and Daryun drew his longsword, which flashed as if it were a hawk that had seen its prey on the ground coming down from high in the sky, cutting the Lusitanian knight's wrist in half.
The Lusitanian soldiers, who supposedly did not know Daryun, wielded their swords indiscriminately, trying to kill this terrible knight in black. However, the result was only to make the storm of blood that Daryun’s longsword had swept up even more miserable.
The Parsians followed behind Daryun, forming a wall of armor to surge forward.
"You Lusitanians have no right to die on this land. The lands of Pars are only for burying Parsians."
It was Zaravant who uttered this bold statement. With a spear in his right hand and a shield in his left, he made his way into the midst of the Lusitanian soldiers. In the battle of Chasum fortress, these young Parsian knights were not able to show their true skills, and now that they finally had another opportunity, they could not help but be energized by it.
No one could say if they understood the words and were enraged by them, but a Lusitanian soldier rushed forward with his spear.
Zaravant picked up his own spear and stabbed at the breastplate of the oncoming Lusitanian knight. The force and speed of the thrust caused the spear to pass through the thick breastplate and straight through the knight's back.
Daryun, who witnessed the sight, shouted.
"Careful, Zaravant!"
Daryun's own spear was stuck in an enemy's body, so he thought Zaravant would be in a dangerous situation if he lost his weapon.
"Thank you for your advice, Lord Daryun."
Zaravant, who answered loudly, saw in the corner of his eye an enemy who jumped from the left at this time, and he suddenly swung his shield with such force that the unfortunate man whose face suffered this heavy blow from the shield flew three gaz (about three meters) away and fell to the ground dead.
The army of Pars kept invading through the gates, and their numbers kept increasing, and they began to set up a battle formation with Daryun at the center.
"O Gods of Pars! Your devotees are about to fight to regain their country. Please give us strength!"
The cavalry of Pars' army roared out.
"All troops break through!"
They burst in together. Placing their spears across their saddles, wielding swords and battle axes in their hands, their horses' hooves pounded on the stone floor. The Lusitanian army roared back to meet them.
Soon, the handles of the spears, swords and battle axes were moistened with blood, as well as their armor and saddles.
The Lusitanian soldiers were no less brave and faithful than the Parsian cavalry. With the name of God on their lips, they fought face to face with the invading enemy.
However, things did not depend on courage and faith alone. The Parsian army was winning the battle and was much more numerous. The Lusitanian army was only about 10,000 strong, while the Parsian army was ten times as many. Although not all the soldiers invaded the fortress to fight, the disparity in numbers still contributed to the victory to a great extent.
The fortress of Saint Emmanuel had now become a place where the Parsians could show their individual bravery. As long as the ideal conditions of battle are established, they can prove that the warriors of Pars are the strongest warriors on the continental highway. What's more, the warriors gathered here were the very best warriors of Pars, and the Lusitanians were cut down like grass.
Although Count Baracacion was a beloved and highly respected man by his men, unfortunately, he was not a famous general on the battlefield. His instructions and orders could not keep up with the progress of the battle, but only caused more confusion.
The Lusitanian soldiers who had strong confidence and were defending the fortress to the death, despite the extremely unfavorable situation, fell one by one under the onslaught of the Parsians.
The battle situation became more and more intense, and the scene was bloody.