The Death of the Younger Illya

Having believed to finish his massacre of the first line of defense, Acco ordered his army to continue their march towards the enemy. Of all forty-nine men, only one of them was able to survive. His name was Polochko. He had managed to survive, despite being stabbed from behind. While on the ground, he managed to strip an enemy corpse and change his clothing: to resemble a fallen comrade for the enemy.

The enemy did not retrieve their dead, and decided to leave them behind on the notion that they would return for their bodies later. The enemy casualties were the following: 529 cavalry and 2,579 infantry. It was amongst these casualties that Polochko hid himself in. When the close was clear, he crawled out of the pile of corpses. The man was in great agony, and it appeared that his decision to lay amongst those dead men had infected his wound. However, Polochko felt no greater agony compared to seeing the headless corpses of his comrades.

He cried bitterly, and resented the fate of his friends. Amongst the corpses, he was able to find the headless corpse of his younger brother and this brought him great sorrow. The body was castrated, and it was apparent that it had been violated in more ways than can be described. Polochko could not fathom it, but he could not think of what to say to his brother’s wife and child back home.

He felt guilty about his brother’s demise. While he was playing dead, his younger brother was receiving the worst of it from these barbarians. The thought of it infuriated him even more, and his immense guilt led to something unseen; the birth of visual powers in the right and left eye. His mourning was so great that it led to an awakening of his abilities, but it was also his loud cries that caught the attention of someone. To his surprise, it was somebody of tribal stock.

“I have witnessed the atrocities that were done upon your person,” Leuca said, “Perhaps, I may not be able to salvage your losses; but what I am able to do is to give your people an appropriate burial.”

“Y-You,” Polochko cried out, “You people dare to offer your help!”

“Do not misunderstand,” Leuca said, “I did not intervene because I did not think they were capable of such things. If it makes you feel better, I am not from Nori. My tribe is called the Sejuku, and I am Leuca, the Chieftain of the Sejuku. It will be a great honor to help you, but what I want from you is something else…”

“And what could that be?” said Polochko.

“The defeat of the Nori,” Leuca declared, “For a fact, I know that you are not alone. If you allow my tribe to be your ally, then together we can both win this war of yours.”

“This war of mine is exactly mine, so why do you wish to help us? What’s the catch?” said Polochko.

“The Nori are sworn enemies of my tribe,” Leuca admitted, “Whatever purpose you have on their land, it certainly will not be to make peace. I desire to destroy these people, and make their lands mine!”

With this declaration, it has given Belomas an unexpected ally within the western region of Rus. However, Leuca’s motives were not to be trusted. If she wanted to intervene in Acco’s march to the camp, she could have intervened; but she did not. These motives of hers were not to be trusted, but Polochko accepted her word. On that day, a dangerous titan became a part of the western campaign.

Anyhow, Acco’s march towards the camp of Belomas was in full swing. An hour had just passed. Yarik had achieved his goal of buying time, but he did not anticipate that one of his comrades would survive. Acco had set his sights on wiping them out, and if things went well, he would immediately set out against the Belomians by surprise. If Belomas was to fall, he would accomplish greater merits than the previous chieftain. The thoughts of glory were running profusely in his mind. Defending the sovereignty of his nation was no longer his main goal. In fact, his overwhelming victory against Yarik had boosted his ego quite significantly.

The Younger Illya had managed to return safely to the camp, but he did not leave the second and third lines of defense behind. He led them back to the camp, and their appearance was something that surprised the Younger Stanillo. In total, the Younger Illya recovered 101 men (including himself). Abandoning their post was not ideal, but it was better to recall them back to the camp, instead of losing a substantial number of their troops. At that moment, survival was the main priority.

Their arrival in the camp was something that caught the attention of those at camp, while others were awoken by the commotion of the troops returning. This led to the Younger Stanillo emerging from his tent, and he demanded an explanation from the Younger Illya. It was not appropriate for him or the troops to leave their post. They could not afford to take risks, and it was always better to be overcautious.

“Stanillo,” I muttered, “a tragedy has occurred.”

“A tragedy? You brought a majority of the men back, but I do not see Yarik and your unit amongst them. Where is Yarik? He would not have allowed you to make such a stupid decision,” said Stanillo.

At the mention of Yarik’s name, I could no longer contain my feelings. Alas, I broke my silence: ‘Yarik is likely dead,’ I muttered, ‘He must have died at the hands of the Nori, and I was the only one that escaped that massacre. Not out of my own accord, but I was following the orders of Yarik. He ordered me to flee and inform you of the incoming enemy. A great army is coming our way, and it is likely that they are minutes away from reaching us. Yarik is a powerful man, but he and his troops have no chance against that army.’

These words of mine caused Stanillo’s legs to wobble, but he had to put on a display of courage. For he was the only one capable of leading us out of this mess, and so he spoke the following: ‘Young Illya, do not feel cowardice or shame. Yarik felt the importance of preserving those at camp, and those that were out of the enemy’s range of harm. Let us not waste the sacrifice of Yarik and his men! Prepare yourselves, my comrades, and be ready to do what I am about to say!'

In such desperate circumstances, a vote was put in place to make the Younger Stanillo the Supreme Commander of the forces currently present. The position of Supreme Commander is usually given to the chief of the village, or somebody relatively close to him. However, they had no established leader, and it was crucial to put the power into someone capable, like the Younger Stanillo. Afterward, Stanillo appointed the Younger Illya as his Lieutenant. Furthermore, Illya, as Lieutenant, appointed Malko the Coward as captain of the evacuation unit, and Malko appointed Mirofa of Belomas as his major.

It was decided that the remaining forces would split into groups. The resistance would go off to combat the incoming enemy, and give the evacuation unit the chance to flee towards Belomas. The resistance was composed of 300 warriors, and they were led by the Younger Stanillo and the Younger Illya. The evacuation group was led by Malko and Mirofa.

In a mere twenty minutes, Stanillo miraculously had everybody in their positions. The resistance was to march towards the opponent, and give the evacuation group time to flee. Many of the evacuees were distraught at having to flee, but they knew better than to disobey a supreme commander’s command. 200 warriors and a couple of other non-combatants accompanied the evacuees. The camp was ordered to be burnt down, and to destroy anything that could not be taken by the evacuees.

Younger Stanillo did not want to leave the enemy with anything if they were to be annihilated. Morale was not great, considering that the resistance was marching towards their doom. Many cried as they said their farewells to friends and family who were part of the evacuation group. Others cheerfully boasted and admitted their jealousy of seeing their comrades going to hog all the glory for themselves against the enemy. On the other hand, Coria and Boudiaca were in tears over the dangers that awaited the Younger Illya.

“How is it that you promised to be at my side; yet, you forgo those promises of yours by heading to your death!” said Coria.

“If I could have changed things, I would have wished to die alongside Yarik. Instead, I left him to his doom; instead, I stand here living a life that I should not be living right now,” I said.

“Foolish man, how is it that your kind adores warfare and seeks so-called “glory” that results in your death on foreign lands,” Coria cried out, “Is it not best for you to grow old, and enjoy the novelties of this great world of ours? Tell me, how is it that you possess such courage and lack such capacity for logic!”

“Whatever you may feel,” I said, “I cannot understand. For the world has decided that men and women should not share the same labors. If they wished to share equal responsibility, women would share man’s capability of great strength to stand against injustice and impending danger; while, man would possess the nurturing and procreating abilities of women. However, this is not our reality! Leave me be! Forget me and continue your life; for there are other shoulders that will be willing to comfort you as I did.”

“You ask this of me, but what if the only shoulders that I need are yours? You may be strong, but you have the mental fortitude of a stupid child!” said Coria.

“Maybe I do, maybe I do not,” I muttered, “it does not change the fact, I will likely die on that battlefield.”

“Do not desire a burden that you are not meant to face, my love,” Coria muttered, “For I am with something that you must take responsibility for, but I do not speak of myself.”

“Do not speak in riddles,” I said, “for I have to get going soon, and so do you.”

“If you wish to profess your love to me,” Coria said, “endure this great battle and be the great father that I know you can be.”

“Great father? Are you saying…?” said I.

“I say what I say,” Coria said, “but if you wish to let another tend to what yours, go ahead and insist on dying. Let’s go Boudiaca, for you and I have a long journey to make towards Belomas.”

She left me with a great joy that I still recall, but it would not be a joy that I would get to enjoy. In fact, Coria did not give me the opportunity to feel her warmth once more. Coria and Boudiaca would head with the rest of the evacuation group, and they would be split into further groups; one group was led by Malko, and the other was led by the shield maiden: Mirofa of Belomas. For a moment, I was stuck watching her leave me behind, and she did not bother to look my way. Perhaps I made a great blunder.

Eventually, Stanillo ordered my presence with the others. He intended that I should be in the front lines with him. I did not decline, but I questioned it. It did not seem logical to put both of us in front, but Stanillo disagreed; he rashly said: ‘A young man, LIKE YOU, shall not question the authority of your elder boy! The enemy nearly took you. It is your job as a citizen of Belomas to regain your honor, and I will not allow you to hide behind the skirts of women or those men of great character any longer. How badly have your father, mother, and your former superior (Yarik) educated you! Stand by my side, and do not overstep your bounds, kid. Overstep your bounds, and the name of your father will not save you from punishment!’

With those words, Stanillo made it clear that he did not approve of me. He thought that I had been elevated to great prestige at a young age, and he was right. I had no business in such a campaign, but I was selected to be a part of it. Voron Ironside would have been more suitable than me; however, I cannot say much against Stanillo.

Anyhow, he led the march towards Acco and his great army. I felt nervous, but what was this feeling? I was ready for whatever, but all of a sudden I felt anxious. Anxious to be at her side, and regretting that I said what I said. What if I do not see her again? What if this is the end? What will become of my child?  These were the thoughts that ran through my mind…

Elsewhere, a compromise is being made between Belomas and the Jarl of Stalavat. Mirad tried to plead with the Jarl, and tried to propose new offers to her. He offered more territory than the agreed amount, financial support, or granting her access to the trade routes that would be available if the western campaign was a success. However, she declined these offers and more; Diana insisted that the Elder Illya should marry her. When she was told, the man had a wife; she did not care at all. The woman claimed that she would win him over and that the Elder Illya would eventually divorce his current wife, for her.

At that point, Mirad was through trying to negotiate alternative outcomes. This was a woman that had never been bested by a man, and it definitely would not be to no foreigner. Diana has cultivated a greater empire than the one her predecessors left her. Four generations have enjoyed this great haven, and it will not succumb to patriarchy any longer. The truth is that Diana is a descendant of the former Princess of Rus: Princess Olenica the Magnificent.

Olenica the Magnificent found Stalavat three years after the collapse of the Rusan kingdom. The women found it with a couple of nobles and high-standing figures of that time period. However, she would have the males with great influence executed. She had got a report of a potential usurpation, and it was from that day that she established her matriarchal kingdom. Olenica did not consider herself a queen or princess any longer. She eliminated the title completely. Instead, she adopted the title of Jarl. Successors were to come from her line, and they were only to be females.

Olenica detested the rule of men, and it was her hatred for them that led to great oppression towards the male population. She segregated them from women, and prohibited them from establishing a ruler within their district. Oftentimes, when a notable man was gaining traction, she killed him, and had their names erased from history. In just two generations, the line of Olenica succeeded in establishing their superiority over the men. They lost their wit, and when Olenica had prohibited access to weapons and exempted the men from military service, she successfully crushed their spirit and resolve. Men were to be seen as cattle, and their only purpose was to procreate and do the farm labor. They were not to enjoy the luxuries of society, or to possess their spirit of masculinity.

Eventually, Mirad submitted to the whims of the Jarl. Diana was delighted, and she ordered that Mirad should be escorted back to his envoy. In addition to this, Diana ordered that Mirad should be well-fed and washed before he met with his group. Mirad tried to decline this offer, but Diana once more intimidated him into accepting his gifts. Not by brute force this time; instead, she displayed her killer intent: to him.

At this point, Mirad did not know if he would get to return home. This woman was chaotic, just as Fedor had claimed. It made sense why he was against allying with this crazy dictator. As long as this woman remained in power, it would be difficult to do anything in the western region without her retaliating…

Anyhow, Mirad received the Jarl’s “kind” gestures and made his way back to the envoy. It was late at night, but Mirad could not stand the idea of asking the Jarl for a stay. The experience at Stalavat was not great, and it was best to travel back to Belomas: to deliver the news to Fedor and the Elder Illya. While the others refused to make the journey, others did think it was better for them to make the journey at night. There was going to be danger, but it was important for them to get this news to the chief.

When it concerns matters of the state, it is one's obligation to do these with great care and delicacy. The state is a parent to its inhabitants, and its inhabitants are the state's children. Every child owes obedience to their parents, and this determines whether one’s relationship is particularly good with one’s parents. Using such arguments with his comrades, Mirad was able to persuade them to make the journey back to Belomas at night.

On the way back, Mirad found the fog to be a nuisance. It made it difficult to navigate, but luckily for them, they had a capable person named: Vivka. Originally, her occupation was that of a merchant; however, the fourth village chief of Belomas outlawed commerce between Belomas and other powers eastwards. At that time, there was conflict amongst those eastwards due to territorial disputes and trade wars. However, Belomas was allowed to trade with Stalavat and their other neighbor: Rostov. The village of Belomas, the city of Stalavat, and the town of Rostov are the only three acknowledged settlements in the western region of Rus.

The rest of the Western region is the territory of the Ugric people. These three areas were shortly established when the kingdom of Rus collapsed. Many individuals set their sites in the North, South, and East; but nobody dared to establish themselves in the West. The West was considered inhabitable, and it was best to surrender that part to those barbarians, instead of wasting further resources and men. If the founders of those three settlements had not settled there, there is no doubt that the Ugrics would have expanded past those barriers. Those settlements in the west have prevented a further influx of these people. However, it has been a tremendous burden to defend against them without the support of allies.

This neglect led Belomas to become isolated, and it has also prevented them from establishing themselves as a powerhouse in the West. Anyhow, it has led to the reduction of possible trade with others. This weakened the village significantly, but luckily Vivka was accustomed to traveling back and forth from Stalavat. In a couple of hours, they made it back to Belomas. The sun was just about to rise, but the gates were not opened yet. On arrival, Mirad had called out to the guards, hoping to find somebody there. The gates would open, and the two that opened them were none other than: Fedor and the Elder Illya. This stunned the envoy, as they never thought that the two most influential men of the village would be awaiting them!

“So, you have returned,” Fedor said, “what news do you bring me? Has the Jarl accepted to accompany us?”

Stepping up to address the situation, Mirad said, “The Jarl has agreed, but she also made her demands…”

“Her demands? Did you not tell her how this campaign could be of benefit to her?” said Fedor.

“I did,” Mirad replied, “but she wanted another thing.”

“Another thing?” said Fedor.

“Well, if it was just one additional request,” Illya said, “why did you not say yes?”

“Because that one additional request,” Mirad said, “is something that concerns you, and it is not something that I should say ‘yes’ to.”

“How bad can it be? Tell me, Mirad!” said Illya.

“I tried to convince her not to go through with this,” Mirad claimed, “but she did not admit defeat. The additional request of this Jarl is that she wants your hand in marriage, Illya!”

“She wants WHAT!?” said Fedor.

“Yes, I know,” Mirad blushed, “It’s utterly absurd! Now that I have got that out of the way. Fedor, I should kill you myself, for not telling me the type of lunatic that I was going to deal with!”

“Mirad,” Fedor said, “I knew she was a lunatic. If you have any complaints, then complain to your uncle. I warned him, but he decided to ask this woman for help.”

“Well, uncle, how will you respond to this request,” Mirad asked. “Whatever your reply will be, I will not be the one to tell that lunatic of a woman! I refuse to step inside that city again and be humiliated!”

“Tell her, I said,” Illya muttered, “Yes.”

“Are you serious? You are willing to destroy your marriage, for the sake of this campaign, my friend?” said Fedor.

“Uncle,” Mirad exclaimed, “You cannot do this to your children, especially your wife! This woman will not be satisfied!”

“Have you two forgotten something? At Belomas, there are two Illyas. All you have to tell her is that “Illya” said yes,” Illya chuckled, “She should not make such proposals without being specific. My son is about that age.”

“Uncle,” Mirad gulped, “are you going to do this to your own son? This woman is not somebody he should marry!”

“Actually,” Fedor interjected, “that is the best way to handle this issue. She cannot complain either; the boy is young, and he will be the first in line to succeed his father. This prevents possible threats to possible children that she could produce. Succession would not be as ugly.”

“I was not thinking that far, Fedor,” Illya laughed, “However, thank you for making me look so clever! The truth is that I love my wife, but my son is about that age to marry. He is young, but he is the better choice to marry that woman. He’s younger, but also his ties to her can serve us well. We have to weaken her position in this region, for us to establish ourselves as the powerhouses of the western region.”

With those thoughts in mind, my father threw away all chances of my happiness away for power. Mirad was sent back to give Diana an answer, but it was a deceitful answer to her proposal. Unknowingly, my father was unaware that a woman was currently holding my child. She was moments away from arriving, but by the time she arrived, Mirad and the others had already left. When the gates were about to be shut, a group was noticed in the distance.

“Huh,” Fedor said, “did they forget something?”

“Who did?” said Illya.

“Mirad,” said Fedor.

“Fedor, I do not think that's them,” Illya said, “That's a big group! Wait, is that a woman from Nori? Wait, I recognize some of the others. Those are the people from the camp!”

“You are right!” said Fedor.

“They look so distraught,” Illya said, “Did something happen? I do not see my son or those two.”

  On arrival at the gates, the one that was leading the group was none other than Coria and Mirofa. The Elder Illya was surprised to see his people amongst the women of Nori, but the truth was revealed about this matter. Mirofa informed him about the situation, and that it was likely that the others had perished against the Nori. It was sunrise, and they had not heard of them. Screams were heard from afar, as they traveled back to the village, Mirofa shamelessly admitted.

“If you wish to kill me,” Mirofa cried, “I understand, sir! We should not have left the others behind, but we also could not disobey orders from Stanillo!”

“You did well,” Illya muttered, “I should not have given my son such a responsibility. His death is on my plate, but tell me what’s become of Yarik. Did he also die?”

“Yes,” Mirofa cried, “he also died!”

“I see,” Illya muttered, “Fedor, prepare the horses. Do not tell her about it yet. I will reclaim the corpse of my son, and restore his honor…”

“Do not be rash,” Fedor interjected, “we should not retaliate so soon.”

“If you do not do what I say,” Illya exclaimed, “I will do this on my own!”

It was at that moment that Coria burst into tears. This caught the Elder Illya by surprise! A woman of Nori crying for his son? This began to infuriate him, until Coria muttered; ‘Please do, I lament the situation. But I just cannot help it. I must tell you the truth! Within myself, I carry the child of your son!”

“You carry the child of my son?” said Illya.

“I do,” said Coria.

“This woman was fairly acquainted with your son,” Mirofa interjected, “The other is her sister. I can assure you, that this woman does not lie! She may be of Nori, but you must give her the due respect of a woman who has become widowed!”

Illya had no words, as he began to stumble around receiving such news. His son and friends are dead, but a woman named Coria carries his grandchild? For the first time, Illya was left immobile with such news. Gathering himself, Illya declared, “I will not believe the death of my son till I have his body. As for you women, I will not accept you; but I will not refuse you either. Fedor, prepare the men and everything else. We will not await the mercenaries.”