Chapter 225: Chapter 22

Khao’khen was quick to wake up after hearing the many footsteps that were coming nearer and nearer to where he was at. His nerves were always on the alert ever since he arrived in Azgalor and even during times that he should be resting, his mind can’t stop being always vigilant. He grabbed his weapons which always remained by his side and headed towards the entrance of his tent.

“Apologies from disturbing your rest, chieftain but we have something urgent to report!” someone called out to him.

Khao’khen took a glance at the riders who seemed to be excited about something which puzzled him. Their breaths were ragged and sweat dripped down the sides of their faces but they were still smiling.

“Chief, we discovered a small army of humans that took camp just half an hour of march from our encampment. They might be scouts sent ahead of the main army.” The leader of the squad of riders reported.

Scratching his non-existent beard, Khao’khen wanted to figure out what their enemies are up to. He knew that they have hammered them quite a lot already and he didn’t know if the enemy commander has something wrong with his head or they are up to something big if they have sent out scouts again even after all the failures that they have experienced.

“What is your estimate of their numbers? Somewhere in the hundreds?” Khao’khen asked.

“Ugh!” the leader of the riders awkwardly scratched the back of his head before replying. “They seem to in the thousands chief but they are quiet in a mess as they don’t seem to have brought camping equipment with them as they were always in the open while were observing them and they don’t seem to have plans to erect a camp.

…..

“Hmm… thousands?” he muttered as he started tapping his right foot against the ground while thinking. ‘If the enemy commander sent them out as scouts, over a thousand men is an overkill and if they are the vanguard or just bait then the main army shouldn’t be far off.

Khao’khen turned his head towards the riders, “Did you discover the presence of another army in the vicinity, where they are at? Or did you find something odd about them?” he questioned.

“We did chief, we searched the surroundings as we also first thought that the enemies might just be baiting us to attack before ambushing us but we didn’t manage to discover anything from the surroundings. But there was something odd about their banners, armors and weapons chief.” The squad leader reported with hesitation as he didn’t know if he should be reporting about what he personally thought that was out of place.

“I don’t know if I should be reporting this chief but I did find something that was strange about them which was that they seemed to be an army of white.” He continued.

“An army of white? What do you mean?” Khao’khen got curious about the term army of white by the rider.

“Ugh… How should I say this…? They have white bands all over the place like their armors, arms, and weapons and even their banner is full white in color with nothing on it.” The rider reported with caution.

“White band?” Khao’khen muttered in question to himself. White banner would symbolize surrender or peace he thought. “What are they up to?” he murmured to himself as he can’t figure out what his enemies are up to. After a few moments of trying to figure things out, Khao’khen gave out a heavy sigh.

“Lead the way… I want to personally see them.”

A sentry that accompanied the riders upon entering the camp was quick to go and fetch the steed of the chieftain. After a few moments the sentry came back with the chieftain’s Rhakaddon. Khao’khen mounted his steed with one good leap after grabbing the reins from the sentry.

The wargs were quick to turn around and started to head towards where the gate was at and Khao’khen atop his steed and followed after them. After hours of uneventful travel, Khao’khen finally arrived at the spot where the other riders were at as they observed the enemy army that was down below. Only the relentless howling of the wind along with the grains of sand that fly off everywhere accompanied them.

Dismounting from his steed, Khao’khen headed for the vantage point where he could see the enemy down below better. As reported, the enemy army carried banners that was completely white or if those small sheets of cloth could be considered as banners. “If only Trot’thar was here…” he muttered under his breath. He shook his head after realizing that he didn’t have the same vision capability as Trot’thar who could see further away than others with his gift.

“I need four of you to accompany me to get closer and have a better look at them.” And right away riders were quick to volunteer themselves. Slowly creeping towards the enemy camp while blanketed by darkness, Khao’khen and those who volunteered were finally only a few meters away from their enemies. He was in a dilemma at first because more than a dozen volunteered to accompany him but he managed to cut down their numbers even though he was accompanied by more than what he wanted.

The very lax security of the enemy camp really puzzled Khao’khen. They can’t even find a single sentry around the camp. Their enemies are carefreely slumbering out in the open without any defenses in place. Going around the enemy camp, Khao’khen and the volunteer riders headed towards the center of the camp in hopes that they could spot someone who looks like the enemy commander and perhaps interrogate him. Considering how ill-equipped the enemies are, they could easily make their way out even if they get surrounded and the other riders with their wargs are on standby and prepared to come to their aid if they shall ever need it.

Snores were sounding all around the place but the noise seemed to be no problem to the slumbering humans. The snores come and go like some kind of melody.

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