Several months after Urnyras Jael's breakdown in Galdwin, during the siege of Fortosoweth; the Arcane Academy, the runaway La-Ru Pythe Adymund Teleane declared his hereditary reign to restore the rule of Teleane bloodline. N'yaian forces were summoned to Nin Rivien once more, but this time Intelligence Corps and Ranger Division of N'ya were merged by the new King; under the rule of Ranger-Commander Eoria Ilinarth. The name of the new order was the Nightbow, Darcovìl, which was chosen by the Ranger-Commander. The Intelligence - Rangerhood division remained, however, now there was one single leader for both: Eoria. Urnyras Jael was not pleasant about it at all, but she had to accept that it was for the better of the structurized forces of N'ya. Less hierarchy meant faster action.
In any case, she was overwhelmed: the reports from Ow'landen were alerting. Some of them were indicating a remarkable Dytherian presence around Lystendalh and surrounding towns, and eversince the landings to Caliptiche had started, they have never stopped. Every report Urnyras Jael read was just another confirmation that the onthox army was almost infinite.
She was afraid that the real army wasn't even on the Mainland yet; that the former forces they've defeated sooner or later were just small in scale. She knew it. She could feel that something bigger was coming. She couldn't understand how others were so comfortable, uncaring. Reckless.
...
"This just in, Lady Jael," said Fanrach, one of Urnyras Jael's newest (and finest) lieutenants. "The onthox are repelled from Dwese. They are heading south, presumably to Lystendalh. We do not know their next destination yet, but the Lyrant Knighthood are chasing them. His Majesty is leading the forces. Partially, Royal Army and the remnants of Dytherian Garrison are with them."
"Figure where they are going to," she said, tossing away the report papyrus Fanrach just brought her. "And then appear before me. And I want a detailed report about Dwesian casualties."
"Very well," he said, half pissed, half offended. 'Reckless, aggressive bitch', he thought; 'As if I am regrouping those bloody undead by the Gulf!'
...
Only days later they revealed that the onthox army was indeed heading towards Lystendalh only to invade the entire town with the help of locals, who mainly consisted of Solian citizens of Dytherian heritage. The city was under siege by the Solian Armies, and the onthox were merely defending. Both sides were giving dire casualties, yet the onthox did not even attempt to breakout. They, it seemed, were willingly stuck in a small town - as if waiting for something.
The King was furious and somehow confused. What were they doing? Maybe they were just giving up, maybe the victory was near. Maybe these blasphemers were already defeated. It was just one last desperate struggle. Maybe, he thought.
"Send word to the Intelligence Division of Darcovìl," said the King one day. "Summon them here. Ranger Division is to remain in Nin Rivien for further instructions."
...
A week later, Intelligence Division made it to the outskirts of Lystendalh, where the Main Expedition Headquarters for Lyrant Knighthood were established.
"The situation is dire," said Tyranius the Graysteel, rubbing his head. "We have surrounded them, but they are all around Lystendalh - the townsfolk are enemies now, too."
"Since we have surrounded them," said Urnyras Jael, "How dire can the situation be?"
"It is always dire when you do not know the intentions of your enemy, Jael," he said. "That's what we don't know. We have scouts all over Ossax, even down south until Nin-Thu. There is no movement. The front armies that massacred mid-southern cities have been exterminated already, there is no enemy elsewhere. This, hear me, cannot be that easy. There is something wrong about it."
"I don't see why you are so hyperbolic, Tyranius, I apologise," she said. "We got them. We will smash them like insects."
"You do not understand," said Tyranius, this time louder. "If you did, you would not speak that way. We are talking about an army with thirty - fourty thousand light infantry, as well as another ten thousand of elite troops; Dythenesea*, Guardian Assassins* and many, many more. If they somehow unleash, we will be squeezed to death until our liquids come out. The question is why. Why they don't unleash and squash us is the question. One logical answer I can give to that question is, they are presumably after a more fierce victory. If I know one thing about that army is that unless they are mindless -which, I assure you, they are not- they just would not waste an army like that without a fight. That's exactly why we have summoned you here, His Majesty asked for your presence first-hand. You are to figure that out."
"Well," she said, with a weak, sarcastic smile, "If His Majesty asked for it, how can we fylla not obey his wish?"
...
When Urnyras Jael and a selected squad arrived to Lystendalh, they have witnessed the gruesome battle between the onthox and the Royal Army. During their tactical briefing, they were assigned to spot the headquarters, the identities of the commanders and most importantly, their intentions for upcoming days.
"Raulin, left flank, evade the onthox watchtower there," she said, with their secretive body communication language. It was nighttime, so they had the advantage of a natural camouflage.
"Fanrach, right flank, I have seen a narrow pathway down to a bigger alley there, could be good for investigation," she said, using the same body language.
"Roger, but what should we do, if we engage the enemy?" Fanrach asked.
"If outnumbered, flee; if not, kill immediately yet silently," she ordered.
"Understood," said both lieutenants, nodding. Shortly after, they left for the town center. Each group consisted of six agents, and remained another three; with Jael.
"We will assemble here and monitor the battleground," she said. "That's very interesting, though; normally Solian soldiers do not battle during night."
"I assume," one of the assassins said, "It's not the Solian Army wishing to fight beneath the dark sky; but the onthox, my Lady."
...
"This is indeed very annoying," she said, just before the dawn. "The battle never stopped, and the onthox are obviously able to smash the Royal Army. And where in Lake Hente these idiots are? It's almost sunrise!"
They waited for another hour or two, before Fanrach and his squad arrived in exhaustion.
"My Lady," said Fanrach, standing straight despite his all tiredom.
"Speak up, what did you learn?" Urnyras Jael said.
"Onthox will unleash, my Lady," he gasped. "They are waiting for the desertmen. That might be a cipher. They continuously referred to whoever they are as desertmen. But what we know is, at least, they are waiting for another group."
"Desertm- What the hell are you talking about?" she kicked on of the small stones on the ground. "Damn it! You've been inside that god-forsaken town and all you tell me is that they are waiting for a bunch of desertmen? What does that even mean?"
"Let us wait for Raulin, my Lady," said one of the nearby assassins. "Maybe he'll bring the information that might complete what Fanrach have brought us."
"Very well," she said, exhaling. "Let me know when he arrives. In any case we are leaving before afternoon."
...
"What's that noise?" Fanrach asked.
"I have no idea. It feels like the city is awakening. Where the hell is that Raulin? It's been hours!"
It was slightly afternoon, and none from Raulin's squad returned. Urnyras Jael was sitting on a rock, tapping her chin and thinking, while her focus is set somewhere in the sky. She was aware of the noises heard from Lystendalh as well.
Then the noises increased, up to that point when it started to shake the ground; first, irregularly, then it slowly turned into a regular march of an enormous army.
Here it was. The city was unleashing.
Urnyras Jael immediately moved to the outpost that the Intelligence Division established the night before to observe the movement. It was expected. As the onthox left the city towards south, the Royal Army gathered up to follow them. This process took hours, and the onthox simply ruined the city on their way out.
"Raulin is not back yet," she said. "And where are they going? I assume these 'desertmen' arrived? Then, where are they?"
"I have no idea, but this is one of the bigge- no, the biggest army I've ever seen in my life," said one of the assassins, apparently he was impressed.
"Go back to the Headquarters, inform Quarlyn. Tell him that the front base is mobilizing to chase the onthox," Unyras Jael said. "Tell him that the onthox is marching southeast, presumably towards Ghaow."
"That is right, my Lady," Raulin appeared behind a rock, severely injured, trying to catch his breath. He was alone, too.
"Raulin!" said Urnyras Jael, ran towards him to help him. "Aurach, help him! Hurry!"
"The onthox," Raulin said, "Going towards Ghaow... the desertmen... Umbrys*... made a pact, my Lady, with these wretches against... the Empire," he frowned in pain, as Aurach, the medic of the squad, treated him.
"Umbrys attacked... Akaramedia, slain everyone," he said. "Everyone. We have been betrayed... They are marching north... They are..." he gasped.
"Raulin!" Urnyras Jael somehow made a growling sound. "No!"
"They'll stomp us, my Lady," Raulin could say. "We're lost. There is no hope."
He gave his last breath, right after praying in fyllian in mumbles.
*: Dythenesea: An elite and rare special force established shortly before the War of the Lament, Brell-Kyrosvenna. These forces are also presumed to be responsible for the death of the former King, Xemopathia Teleane.
*: Guardian Assassins: Guardians of the Chaotia Temple and The Temple of the Rain; in Chaotia region and Waesandra, Dytherian Capital.
*: Umbrys: A sultanate situated in the Southern Echiott, the Mainland.
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