War is 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). These guards are shown to display the prestige of the position of chieftain.

The garda’s carry axes with them to display to the masses the chieftain’s ability to perform punishment and enforce the sacred codes of their tribe. The chieftain of Nori truly possesses the power of a king; however, the chieftains are put into power by the elders. It is not exactly a hereditary position, but it can depend on whether the previous chieftain was great. Usually, they are appointed by the elders, 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 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 gardas did not question his information, and they did not even consider verifying Crixus’s claims.

The garda’s ordered the entrance gate to open, and they ordered the nearby guards to escort Crixus to the chieftain’s chamber. The information that Crixus brings 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, so whatever urgency they had, it must be important.

Eventually, Acco dismissed his guards when he came across Crixus. 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's superior. This was a barbaric practice amongst the Ugrics. It is not something that was done in any part of Rus, but I became quite familiar with this practice when I returned to Uburaria.

Acco was pleased; he ordered Crixus to lift his head and state what he came up with. 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 were not alone. Acco sighed a bit, but it was 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 them 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, 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 Acco great anxiety. This was the worst possible outcome, but perhaps it could not be so bad. However, Crixus stated, the chieftain should worry. After all, Crixus spotted them a couple of miles away from their borders, and it did not seem that the two were meeting casually. It appeared, as if 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 near 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 of 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, 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 was asked: 1). Why were they here? 2). What purpose did they have within their walls? 3). Who did they represent? 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 there to speak to them; instead, they were sent here to state their village chief’s proposal to the Jarl of Stalavat. Illya may command vast lands, but it is nothing in comparison when compared to the lands and manpower of the Jarl 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 in childbirth. This nephew of Illya has no parents or siblings. Most of them had died before his fifteenth 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 by the Nori. Agnar is not a man of action, instead, he is quite a clever man and an able strategist.

Anyhow, Mirad was granted entry into Stalavat. Of course, he was accompanied by two shieldwomen, who served as his guide throughout the city, and 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? It is simple, they take women refuges. Most of these women 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 women. Over time, the population of males has grown, and these men are allowed to procreate with women, if they receive permission too. However, it is only permitted for them to procreate and be amongst each other, for the first nine mothers.

Afterward, 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 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 wish to mettle in foreign customs. Mirad got a couple of rough looks amongst the women, and some were just fascinated by seeing a man. The shieldmaidens 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 a peaceful haven.

Eventually, they reached the citadel of Stalavat. The shieldmaidens from the gates would put him in the care of the shield maidens guarding the citadel. These new caretakers led him to the chambers of the Jarl of Stalavat, and it was there where the shield maidens used their strength to force Mirad into a forced prostration. Mirad tried to budge, 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 Jarl 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 is simply 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 also have an 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 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 18,000 infantry and 3,000 cavarly. 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 to end 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 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 praesidium rods serve 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 wish 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 Belomians. Notably, the Belomians designed three lines of defenses. Each of these lines of defense contains 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. 

“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 is 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 is 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 is the exception though. He was once 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 is never quite forgotten.”

“You old men and your dreams of immortality! Why wish to be immortalized by 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!” I said.

“It is odd, but it is 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 is happening? An enemy approaching us this late? That’s impossible, Yarik!”

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

“What should we do? Tell me what to do, and I will help!” I said.

“No, kid,” Yarik said, “You need to go and inform the others. From what I see, there are thousands of them coming. We do not stand a chance, and it is best you and the others 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 fate. If the first line of defense is to perish, 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, if 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 will 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 be meaningful, and they will serve a greater purpose. It will be your sacrifice that will be remembered for 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 just defending your comrades, but you are also protecting the future of our great country! The future of your family and country relies 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 fight; 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. All that mattered was to buy time for the others to escape, and to, most importantly, 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 men began to fall. However, Yarik was determined to kill as many as he could. Desperately, he swung his axe around at the swarm of enemies surrounding him. Oftentimes, Yarik injured a great many of his opponents. His great strength and energy 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 this distant figure that began to approach him; it was a faceless being that began reaching out to him.

This frightened Yarik, as his resolve began to grow and all of a sudden his firepower returned. In mere seconds, he broke through from his 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 would be here that the enemy would impale 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 did nothing to stop his resolve! The enemy began to stand back, wondering 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 if 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. Goodluck.’

These were the final moments of the great warrior, Yarik of Belomas. A warrior of great honor and respect, but the barbarians did not see such a thing. They trampled on the man’s corpse, and abused it to their heart’s content. These atrocities were not enough to satisfy them. They did Yarik the dishonor of beheading his corpse, and impaling his head onto a spear. Yarik was not the only one who suffered this cruel fate. Numerous of the Nori did it, so they could parade the heads of their vanquished foes as they marched towards the remaining forces of Belomas within their region.