The infantry of the Yuza army surged ahead, using orcs as their spearhead. With their morale already low, they had to press into the assault and deliver the first strike.
The Khanadi army had no reason to rush into battle against the orcs. Their infantry formed a shield wall with spears across the line, a tight and sturdy formation. Commander Akbar was well aware that the orcs were a newly arrived race in the realm, renowned for their immense physical strength - one orc being equal to two or three men's power.
The Khanadi archers sent forth a torrent of arrows, their dark flight blotting out the sky. A few orcs were taken down, but the arrows were not enough to significantly reduce their numbers due to the thick armor that protected them. Nevertheless, they still did some damage and held off some of the orc charges.
Engaging the orcs without weapons was a foolish choice and the last thing the Khanadi army wanted was to be breached and overrun by them if they couldn't maintain their shield wall formation. It would be a disaster, so they had to make sure it was as strong as possible.
sound of impact reverberated to the rear where Aden was in the cavalry formation as the orcs soldiers of yellow banner infantry clashed against the infantry spear and shield wall of the Khanadi army.
if they were humans they would give a small dent, but orcs with bulky strong builds— mostly taller than a man and weighing about two sacks of grains— charging against human infantry shield wall is another story.
orcs wore minimum armor only to cover their vital organs but their armor was surely thick, no normal spear could penetrate them.
the orcs were crashing deep into half of the infantry formation, crushing the spear and shield wall like a flash flood, trampling and shoving them under their feet. Sounds of crushed metals, broken spears, and soldier screams filled the dry air.
"phew, thank God we are in the cavalry," Nasser commented.
Aden was also grateful that he was with the cavalry and not with the infantry units.
The dispatcher raised a flag for the archer units. Their captain shouted.
The archer unit stopped their volley when all of the Red Banner orc soldiers mixed up with the friendly infantry unit.
the Khanadi infantry units managed to stop the orcs before they were able to breach the rear flank. They broke their formation and started engaging the orcs in skirmishes.
Battlecry, dust rising, metal clanking, scream, shout, warcry was heard from where Aden sat on the back of his light cavalry steed with his spear ready at hand pointing toward the scorching sky.
The orcs are formidable enemies but the battle began to sway in Khanadi's favor once more. Commander Akbar saw the opportunity. The main army was left with fewer than a thousand of their infantry consisting of human infantry and some archers.
"Cavalry ready." Commander Akbar gave the order. The dispatchers raise the flag signaling for cavalry attack to all the captains in the cavalry units.
each standard-bearer in the cavalry division confirmed—they were ready for their order.
The cavalry unit was divided into five squadrons, each squadron consisted of twenty cavalrymen. Aden was in the third cavalry division.
They are about to charge. Aden—along with other cavalrymen— raised his spear. Ready to join the battle.
"By the God who owns my life and all life in this realm, I live and die by this spear, bless this fight and all the fight before and after." Aden recited his prayer. touched his spear to his front helmet. Ready to ride into the storm of violence in front of him.
"Third cavalry ready! Pincer charge!" Captain Akim shouted Aden's cue. Each of the squad captains relayed the commander's order to each of their cavalry ranks. They were about to launch a pincer charge toward the enemy's infantry—the main army of the Red Banner.
All eyes were on Commander Akbar—waiting for him to give the order. Commander Akbar pointed his shamshir towards the enemy army.
"Cavalry advance!" all of the captain cavalry executed the commander's order.
"Charge!!" all the cavalry captains broke the battle formation and led the way.
The light cavalry received their orders, they broke formation with practiced precision, peeling off towards the western flank in a series of fluid maneuvers. Their horses, well-trained and responsive, moved as extensions of their riders' bodies, executing intricate patterns with a grace that belied the ferocity of their purpose.
Aden guided his steed with an effortless command that spoke volumes of the importance placed on this skill within Median military culture. For the Jinn fraternity, to which he belonged, horsemanship was not merely a tool of warfare but an art form, a seamless melding of rider and mount that elevated combat to a dance of lethal precision.
As the cavalry broke away, Aden's mount responded to his every cue, its muscles rippling beneath its sleek coat as they carved a path toward the enemy's western flank. Their objective was clear: to encircle the central engagement and strike at the heart of the opposing infantry forces, delivering a decisive blow that could turn the tide of battle.
Aden's jousting skills, honed through years of rigorous training and real-world experience, would prove invaluable in the coming clash. His lance, an extension of his arm, would become a blur of motion, striking with surgical precision and overwhelming force, shattering the ranks of the enemy foot soldiers.
Yet, even amid this impending maelstrom of steel and fury, Aden remained acutely aware of the traditions and codes that bound the Jinn fraternity. As a member of this esteemed order, he was forbidden from flying his own banner when fighting under the command of another army – a policy that ensured their loyalty remained unquestioned and their actions untainted by personal ambition.
Instead, Aden's allegiance was symbolized by the colors he bore, the sigils and emblems of the Khanadi forces he had sworn to serve. His prowess on the battlefield would be a testament to the honor and skill of the Jinn, their legacy etched into the annals of history through deeds rather than empty boasts.
His light cavalry squad surged forward, plowing through the infantry lines, striking with precision, and causing chaos among Emir Yuza's ranks.
The cavalry routed Emir Yuza's main army. The infantry soldiers were scattered to all four winds. running with their tails between their legs. Their archers were nowhere to be seen. Even their commander was nowhere to be seen.
"Like blowing a sand." Nasser raised his spear and toasted with Aden's spear as they rode side by side. It was an easy cavalry charge. Aden and Nasser carried on to run over the remnant of the Red Banner soldiers.
Victory was close at hand, all that remained to do was to scour the battlefield of any remaining red banner soldiers— those still wanting to fight were quickly dispatched.
But the tides of war are ever-shifting, and the unexpected can shatter even the most promising of victories. The turning point came abruptly, as Emir Yuza's forces unveiled a shocking surprise.
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