Chapter 32 Nomads

It was another hunting expedition. Maik was interned deep in the forest. This mission had taken longer than expected. A sudden blizzard delayed the hunting and preys like boars and deer had moved deeper in the woods, to hide in the caves. Maik and the rest of the hunters camped more to the south in the proximities of the mountains where the animals hid during the cold winter... and this winter was going to be really cold.

The men were chasing a pair of deer near a creek by the slope of the mountains. The men surrounded the animals observing them at strategic points behind trees and bushes. They moved enclosing the perimeter slowly, being carefully as they approached. The group walked slowly and noiselessly. One of the deer lifted his head and moved one ear in an obvious signal of noticing the imminent danger.

Maik raised his left hand making a signal that he was going to shoot. He swiftly aimed, locked and released... It was a certain shot. The arrow crossed the deer's neck making it fall down in a second. A second after, a second arrow was discharged impeding the other deer to flee. The animal's body fell next to the first one. Both animals were killed in an instant and laid on the grass next to the creek. The hunters celebrated. After four days in the woods they made a profit. The men claimed their hunting trophies... Now it was time to go back home.

The men were singing and making jokes on their way home. The sky was turning gray and the breeze was starting to blow hard. Another blizzard was about to fall on them if they do not find a shelter. There were some caves by the end of the mountain chain. That was the perfect place to refuge till the blizzard ended. It was still a day ahead and the deer meat would preserve at this temperature if they stay another day. The men decided it was better to camp now and they headed to the caves. Once in the cave, they lit fire and changed their wet clothes. It was going to be a cold and stormy night so they drank some mead and get ready to sleep. Early in the morning the next day, they would be at home again.

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It was a bright and sunny morning. Nobody would imagine the weather was so harsh the day before. The hunters were ready to leave. Maik was outside the cave, when he heard approaching horses' hooves breaking dry branches as they moved forward. Suddenly there were men voices... This was not sounding good. Maik immediately turned to face the rest of the group and looked at them with a severe expression. He gestured to remain silence and to go back to the cave.

As they hid on the floor of the cave, they observed the cavalry crossing in front of them. Those men were not locals. Their clothes, boots and appearance were characteristic of the nomad tribes from the southern boundaries of the kingdom. The horse saddles and their weapons horse confirmed their suspicions... What where they doing in this part of the woods? They were no hunters, or soldiers, but they carried weapons. These nomads were mercenaries!... but, where were they going to attack... or who?... The only village near these woods was... their village!

The men needed to do something! Now! As the cavalcade moved away they planned to attack from the back. There were five men riding horses. They were five hunters. It was an even match. All of them carried enough arrows to attack at least twenty men each. Also they had daggers and knifes they utilized in their hunting. They were sure they would be able to kill these assassins before they could raid their village or any other place in their kingdom.

The hunters moved slowly following silently the riders. They decided they would ambush the enemy. And so they will. Maik ran forward. He moved quickly but silently. Maik hid behind a rock to wait for the nomads to approach. The rest of the hunters moved to different points around the enemy without letting them notice, for they proceeded in silence. Maik shot and made the first rider fall on the ground with a loud noise. Both horse and rider fell. The enemy cavalcade halted. The nomads screamed in foreign tongues. The horses reacted afraid neighing and kicking. The enemy was confused. They saw no one out there. But before they could even react, the hunter in the rear aimed and released a mortal arrow. The rider in the back fell with an arrow traversed his throat.

A rain of arrows fell over the rest of the enemy. The other three riders plummeted one by one. There were five death bodies on the floor. The hunters looked down to the corpses. All happened so fast. They went on a hunting mission... and they ended assassinating a group of five mercenaries that were heading somewhere to raid and kill... Now Naik and the rest of the hunters needed to hurry home. They needed to give the alert of the danger that might come from the woods. They needed to move fast for they didn't know where these guys were heading to. If these mercenaries had a specific target, it was something they didn't know. But they needed to move fast. They didn't know if there were more of these men out in the woods waiting to strike, but they needed to alert their people. There were nomads in the woods!

On his way home Maik only thought of what would happen if those mercenaries reached the village. If it occurred when he was deep in the woods... Who was going to defend their families? And Am? Who will save her? The finest archers in the village were now in the woods. If something ever happened to his Am, he would die of endless sadness. Maik needed to be in the village as soon as possible. He must be there for Am. Nobody would hurt her anymore. He would take care of her...

Finally after a few hours of walking, they reached the village. Maik and his friends told everyone what had happened in the woods. How they ambushed the enemy and killed them. Everyone was amazed with the story. But the villagers were worried as well. Now they must be aware and vigilant at any hour... times of raids and darkness are to befall? Those savages with weapons were a bad sign and they all must be prepared...