War Declared

Having discovered the whereabouts of the illegitimate daughters of Abbula, Crixus, the man that spotted them went to the village. Immediately, Crixus made his way towards the chieftain’s estate; and when he reached the entrance gate, he was denied entry by the chieftain’s guards. To sum up, the reigning chieftain is allowed to have twenty-four garda’s (guard's). These guards  display the prestige of the position of the chieftain.

The garda’s carry axes with them that display to the masses: the chieftain’s ability to perform punishment, and enforce the sacred laws of the tribe. The chieftain of Nori possesses the power of a king; however, the chieftain’s are put into power via the elders. It is not exactly a hereditary position, but it can be depending on whether the previous chieftain was great. Usually, chieftain's are appointed by the elders (Belomas does this too); or the elders verify the referred successors by the former chieftain.

Anyhow, Crixus continued to demand entry; he claimed, he had important matters to convey to the chieftain. The garda’s did not budge, and they told him: to get lost.  Eventually, Crixus blurted out that the nation was in great danger, and that it was urgent that he discussed these matters with the chieftain. The garda’s did not question his information, and they did not even consider verifying Crixus’s claims.

The garda’s ordered the entrance gate to open. They demanded the nearby guards to escort Crixus, to the chieftain’s chamber. The information that Crixus possesses concerns possible threats to their nation’s security. Crixus was quickly escorted to the chambers, and this sudden commotion caught the attention of the village chieftain, Acco. It was odd behavior, for his garda’s to burst through his door’s; so whatever urgency they had, it must be important.

Eventually, Acco dismissed his guards. He had noticed the face of Crixus amongst them. Whatever brought him here must be important. Crixus proceeded to prostrate himself before the chieftain, and this action of Crixus pleased Acco. A prostration is an act of physical demonstration of great respect, submission, and reverence towards one superior. This was a barbaric practice amongst the Ugric’s. It is not something that was done in any part of Rus, but I became quite familiar with this practice, when I returned back to Uburaria.

Acco was pleased; he ordered Crixus to lift his head, and state what news he brings him. Crixus softened his voice: to further display his submission to his superior. The man began to give his report to the chieftain, stating, he learned of the whereabouts of the illegitimate daughters of Abbula: this pleased Acco greatly. However, Crixus did not stop there. He informed the Chieftain that his hunches were correct: the sisters had acquired an ally, and they are not alone. Acco sighed, but he expected that they would find an ally.

Anyhow, Acco asked: if Crixus was able to figure out who their ally was? Crixus nodded. He informed him: that the sisters had allied themselves with a great power, but not a neighboring tribal power. It appeared that the eldest daughter had an intimate relationship with a man, whom he supposed to be her benefactor. This man was not of tribal origin; quite to the contrary, he was of Belomian descent!

It was this revelation, which brought great anxiety onto Acco. This was the worst possible outcome, but perhaps it cannot be so bad. However, Crixus stated, the chieftain should worry. After all, Crixus spotted them a couple miles away from their borders; it did not seem that the two were meeting casually. From what he could tell, it was like they were taking a midday stroll through the woods.

“What are you getting at?” said Acco.

“Is it not obvious,” Crixus said, “These people have a camp nearby our borders! If I am correct in my assumption of this camp, it could signify one thing…”

“They are planning to wage war,” Acco muttered, “it all makes sense now. The killers of those men were the Belomians, and that occurred a couple months ago. Do you realize what that means? They have been plotting right under our noses!”

“It appears so,” Crixus said, “What shall we do?”

“We are going to war, Crixus,” Acco said, “I will not be the first chieftain of the Nori to lead his people into slavery, and I will not await confirmation of what you said. I will act and chase these supposed vermin out of our territory, and I will eliminate them from the face of this earth! Not one of them shall escape death! They will wish that I granted them slavery!”

With this declaration, it meant that war was on the horizon. The gardas were rounded up, and each was tasked to raise an army. There is a pending danger lurking near their borders, and they will not falter to this. At his disposal, Acco possessed 1,500 cavalry and 18,789 infantry. An army of this magnitude was not ideal against the Belomian's, when considering the numbers of the Younger Illya’s camp, which is less than a thousand altogether (accounting for the infantry and cavalry).

Elsewhere, the envoys of Fedor have arrived at Stalavat. At the entrance, the envoys were greeted by the shield maidens. Each of the envoys were asked: 1). Why they were here? 2). What purpose did they have within their walls? 3). Who did they represent? These questions were briefly answered. The gentlemen informed them that they were sent on behalf of Illya the Elder, and that they represented the village of Belomas.

In addition to this, the gentleman explained that this is a matter of politics. However, they were not here to speak for their leader; instead, they were sent here to state their village chief’s proposal to the Earl of Stalavat. Illya may command vast lands, but it is nothing in comparison when compared to the lands and manpower of the Earl of Stalavat. Stalavat is the central power in the western region of Rus; meanwhile, Belomas is a mere settlement that has little influence or control within its region.

The shieldmaidens did acknowledge the village of Belomas, but they did not feel comfortable letting so many foreigners within the walls. Logically, they selected one of the eight men that were a part of the envoy, to grant entry within their gates. The lucky man was a man, named Mirad; a man of great prestige and bravery. He is a second-cousin to Stanillo the Younger, and a first-cousin to the children of the Elder Illya. Mirad is twenty-seven years old, and he has fought in many battles.

In fact, he was the mentor of the Younger Illya. Mirad is one of the two existing relatives of the Elder Illya, and they try to maintain a good relationship with each other. Mirad is the son of the Elder Illya’s sister, who passed away at childbirth. This nephew of Illya has no parents or siblings. They died before his 15th birthday.

The other relative of Illya is a much younger man. His name is Agnar, and he is a prolific warrior and businessman. Like his fellow relatives, he also has no siblings or parents. This is particularly due to the abduction of his pregnant mother by the Nori, and the death of  his father against the Nori. Agnar is not a man of action; instead, he is quite the clever man and able strategist.

Anyhow, Mirad was granted entry into Stalavat. Of course, he was accompanied by two shieldmaidens; which served as his guide throughout the city and as his personal bodyguards. The women of Stalavat are not kind to men. Stalavat is a haven for women, and only women are allowed to reside within. How do they have such a great population? Simple, they take women refuges. Most of these womens are fleeing from bad conditions, or escaping an oppressive marriage.

If these women are with children, they are still granted entry. Sometimes these children are girls, and they are welcomed with open arms. However, if it is a boy; they are segregated and thrown into a district. These males are not shunned, but they are not welcomed to live amongst the women. Overtime, the population of males has grown and these men are allowed to procreate with the women; if they received permission too. However, it is only permitted for them to procreate and be amongst each other for the first nine months (to ensure a successful conception). 

Afterwards, the men return to the district and they do not get to see the child; unless, they are born a male. Automatically, the father takes charge of his son. If it is female, it is the mother’s responsibility to raise her daughter. The duties of the men and women are the same. Each shares military duties equally, but they do not mix within the armies of the women. Having entered the city, Mirad was amazed at how things functioned here.

He did not like the separation between the two genders, but he did not want to mettle in foreign customs. Mirad got a couple of rough looks amongst the women, and some were just fascinated to see a man. The shield maidens reminded him: to keep his eyes on the ground, and not make contact with the women. They did not want to attract attention, or welcome foreign ideas into their peaceful haven.

Eventually, they reached the citadel of Stalavat. The shield maidens from the gates put him in the care of the shield maidens guarding the citadel. These new caretakers would lead him to the chambers of the Earl of Stalavat, and it was there where the shieldmaidens used their strength, to force Mirad into a forced prostration. Mirad tried to resist, but he would be met with a blow to his forehead.

He gritted his teeth, and Mirad yelled, “Is this how you treat your guest? You barbaric scum!”

“Do not be offended,” Diana said, “There is no man that enters my citadel that does not submit, to me. This is not your nation, if I may remind you. Greetings, I am Diana the Earl of Stalavat; and what do I owe the pleasure?”

“I am Mirad, and I am under the orders of Illya Muromets,” said Mirad.

“Illya Muromets? And why could he not come here himself?” said Diana.

“He has business abroad, but this business is something that can greatly benefit you too,” Mirad said, “Illya has sent me to invite you to campaign with him against the tribes that inhabit the west!”

“Invite me? Surely, he must be joking? I do not take invites from those beneath my elegance, and he is nobody to hold authority over me! I should have your pitiful village destroyed for such insolence!”

“Trust me, Illya does not mean to offend you,” Mirad pleaded, “he simply is petitioning for your support, and Illya plans on conquering the entire western front of Rus. Illya of Belomas is seeking to rebuild the former kingdom of Rus, and it is in your nation’s interest to join him! Think of the territory, think of the riches, and think of the future!”

“Restoring the former kingdom? What a naive fool! However, I am quite intrigued. Subjecting those pests does interest me, but I have also interest in the acquisition of territory and resources,” said Diana.

“Does that mean you will join us?” said Mirad.

“I will consider, IF your leader is willing to fulfill my accommodations,” said Diana.

“And what would those accommodations be?” said Mirad.

“I want equal command over the forces. I want equal shares of the territory. I want equal shares of riches. Most importantly, I demand your leader’s hand in marriage.”

“His hand in marriage? But…he’s a married man!” said Mirad.

Such were the conditions of Diana. However, Mirad did not get the women to put this idea aside. Instead, she insisted that they unite in the literal sense! As problematic as this was, it was nothing compared to what was about to happen. A greater problem awaited the Younger Illya.

In just five hours, Acco was able to raise a great army. The sun had gone down, but this did not deter Acco; instead, he insisted that it was the perfect opportunity to attack the enemy. This would be his first campaign as chieftain, and he did not want to seem inadequate for his position. In total, Acco was able to raise 1,500 cavalry and 18,789 infantry. It was a great number of people, and this was greater than the army of the Younger Illya by a tenth fold!

As it stood, Acco was aiming at ending this in a singular battle. In his defense, he had the element of surprise and the numbers in his favor. This led him to march towards the suspected camp, and it was here; where the sensory unit began to feel the energy signature of the enemy camp. They were approximately 15 miles away from the village, and it was no surprise they were able to evade detection.

Intentionally, the Younger Illya ordered the creation of praesidium rods. These praesidum rods served as a means to essentially rid the energy signature of those, who reside within the radius. These rods were planted five miles off the borders of the village, and it was done so they would not be noticed. Numerous of them were found, and this just angered Acco further. How could they have evaded them for so long? All this time they had enemies awaiting to do them harm! If they wished to act cowardly, they will be dealt with the same hand!

In less than forty-five minutes, Acco and his forces were closing in on the first line of defense of the Belomian’s. Notably, the Belomians designed three lines of defenses. Each of these lines of defenses contain approximately fifty men. These fifty men are considered the best of their warriors, but there are two groups of men for this defense. In total, there are three hundred men that are responsible for defending the camp throughout the day and night. The first line of defense consisted of notable figures: Yarik and the Younger Illya.

The men of the first line were enjoying themselves. Some were horsing around with each other. Others were conversing. Meanwhile, the Younger Illya and Yarik were enjoying supper. It was nothing too great.

“Your woman sure loves to send you meals,” Yarik said, “I wonder, if this relationship of yours will last when your father hears word of it.”

“And why would he care? I mean, he should welcome it,” I said, “She’s a good person, and I love her.”

“People do not marry out of love, kid,” Yarik said, “Marriage is all politics! The earlier you understand that, the easier it will be for you to navigate through life.”

“Is that why you are lonely? Maybe you should try to live outside tradition,” I said, “At the very least, you will have someone who loves you. You are getting a bit too old to be picky, my friend.”

“And you are getting ahead of yourself, kid,” Yarik said, “One woman at his side, and the kid thinks he's the wise one!”

“Do not take it that way,” I said, “I mean, you do not need the connections or riches. You earned yourself a great reputation, and it is that reputation that has brought you to enjoy the luxuries of life.”

“You do not understand,” Yarik said, “Reputation does not create prestige. Your father’s the exception though. He was an average man, but his rise to chiefdom has established him amongst the finest families of Belomas. Your family will forever have prestige, especially if this campaign turns out to be a success. On the other hand, my descendants will only be distinguishable due to my past merits and contributions. Those merits and contributions will be forgotten in the next three generations, but a distinguished family never quite is forgotten.”

“You old men and your dreams of immortality! Why wish to be immortalized through your family? What guarantees you they will be better than you?” said I.

“I cannot answer,” Yarik said, “It just feels instinctive to do.”

“Instinctive? What an odd thing!” said I.

“It is odd, but it’s something that drove my father and my father’s father,” Yarik said, “No matter the time, or place.  We men do not change!”

As the two had this lovely conversation, the ground began to tremble and this could signify one thing: a great army is on the horizon. Immediately, Yarik ordered the men to take their position and to draw their weapons. The Younger Illya could not fathom what was going on, and so he asked: ‘What’s happening? An enemy approaching us this late? That’s impossible, Yarik!'

“Impossible? No,” Yarik said, “We have been found out! “

“What should we do? I will help you and defend!” said I.

“No, kid,” Yarik said, “You need to go and inform the others. From what I am sensing, there are thousands of them coming. We do not stand a chance, and it is best you flee back to Belomas.”

“I cannot,” Illya said, “I will not abandon you guys! You are asking me to let you die, and I will not leave you to such a cruel fate. If the first line of defense is to parish, then so shall I!”

“You fool! Get your horse, and go back to the others! Forty-nine dead is better than losing the entire camp itself! Do not be selfish, and get the hell out!”

“But,” I said, “You stand no chance…”

“It’s fine,” Yarik smiled, “Go get your father, and avenge us. Make some love to your wife, drink some wine, and if down the line you remember me; grant me the honor of giving my name to your firstborn son.”

Those were the last words of Yarik, and I have not forgotten them. I grabbed my sword, and began to mount my horse. As the trembling grew, so did my worries for Yarik. I did not want to run away, but I understood that this was the only solution. Forgive me, Yarik, I was not ready to protect you…

The enemy was minutes from making its way towards Yarik and his company. Yarik did not display any fear; instead, he ordered his men to prepare for battle. Their commander’s courage was enough to make the men forget their impending doom. Pounding upon his chest, Yarik eagerly awaited his fate; but it would not be without giving a wondrous speech.

‘Prepare yourselves. Do not be discouraged! Perhaps, we may become the vanquished in this battle; or perhaps, we become the victors of this battle. We will not know this, until the fight ends. Fortune has chosen you people to put your backs on the line for your country, and Fortune has provided you with each other to combat against these barbarians. Protect one another, and die for one another.’

‘Fight to the very end! Your deaths will not be meaningless, and they will serve for a greater purpose. It will be your sacrifice that will be remembered for the generations to come. People of all ages will speak of this great battle, and people of all races will wish to have such courage, like yourselves!’

‘You are not defending just your comrades, but you are also protecting the future of our great country! The future of your family and country rely on your courage now! This is no longer about glory! Abandon your moral bodies and desires brothers! Our comrades await in the upper realm, and what better thing than to make them envious of your renown after death!’

These great words of Yarik served as further encouragement, and it led to every soldier charging up their aura; which surprised the incoming enemy. They did not expect these men to have the courage to fight, but it seems that they underestimated the courage of Belomas. The forty-nine Belomians did not let their enemy commence the fighting; instead, they would be the first ones to attack!

Yarik did not order his men to fight in groups. He thought, it was best to let the men fight to their taste. It did not matter. They just had to buy time for the others to escape, and most importantly to save the Younger Illya and the Younger Stanillo. Those two would be crucial for the advancement of the village.

Yarik acknowledged his journey was coming to an end. The future was on the horizon, and Fortune had decided that he had no purpose any longer. Years of battle had made his skin tough, but it could not prepare him, for the brutal fate that he was destined to face. At first, the men of the first-line did well; they managed to overwhelm the enemy's cavalry and slaughtered a great number of the horses and men. Their swift feet were unrivaled, but this led to Acco ordering the cavalry unit to withdraw. Instead, he ordered the infantry to overwhelm them from all directions and to use their small numbers against them.

Soon enough, a great number of the men began to fall. However, Yarik was determined to kill as many as he could. Desperately, he swung his axes around at the swarm of the enemies surrounding him. Oftentimes, Yarik injured a great many of his opponents. His great strength and aura amplified the fatality of his attacks. In a mere minute, Yarik succeeded in killing seventy men at once.

Even with all this success, his comrades continued to fall and his opponents numbers never seemed to end. It was a pitiful scene, where a man was fighting the inevitable reality. Swing after swing, Yarik began to grow tired. It felt as if his youth was escaping him, and there was nothing that he could do. As he grew weak, he began to see a distant figure that began to approach him; it was a faceless being that began reaching out to him.

This frightened Yarik, but it fueled his resolve! All of sudden his firepower returned. In mere seconds, he broke through the swarm of enemies and ran towards others. He butchered whoever stood in his path, and it was at this moment that Yarik felt eternal.

He had no rival. Indulging in his abilities, it was at that moment, this warrior was hit from behind. Falling from grace, Yarik hit the ground and it was at this moment, that the swarm enemies impaled him from behind. Twenty men had impaled him, and even this did not keep him down.

He grumbled, as he attempted to stand once more. From the sidelines, Acco watched in amazement as one soldier had the willpower of an entire army. This led to another group, and another group of men rushing to impale him once more. This also did nothing to stop his resolve! The enemy began to stand back; they wondered, if this man was really human…

However, Yarik eventually lost his grip and faltered to the ground. Still breathing, he wondered, if anybody was still fighting and whether the Younger Illya had escaped. Life was escaping him, but he no longer felt the need to fight it. In his final moments, he mumbled: ‘It looks like, I will be going first, friends...'