Chapter 6: Goblin Attack

1107 Words
Time always flies, especially for the servants within Eagle Castle. The assassination attempt from a month ago had long been forgotten in their memories. The explanation given by the steward, Jess, was reasonable enough: the assassin had been dealt with by Lord Kane, and the crisis had been resolved that very night. Although they were amazed by the frequent drills of the soldiers on the training ground, they didn't pay it much mind, assuming it was just one of Lord Kane's new arrangements. On this particular day, the gentle sunlight shone upon the land, inviting one to take a comfortable nap. A figure covered in blood, riding a fast horse, approached the castle. Soon, he was stopped by the guards at the gate. "Halt! Identify yourself," commanded the guards. The cavalryman, arrows still sticking from his body, pulled the reins and stopped at the city gate. "Cavalry, Amel. I have urgent news to report to Lord Kane," he said. Recognizing the urgency and the noble's name, the guard verified his identity and allowed him passage. As he passed through, drawing the attention of many servants, the cavalryman finally met with Kane. He saluted with difficulty and reported, "Lord Kane, our cavalry patrol encountered a goblin attack near the village of Mako." Kane asked in confusion, "Goblins? Tell me what happened." He then noticed the arrows in the cavalryman and quickly ordered his steward, "Jess, fetch Liam." The Liam Kane mentioned was the only physician in the territory and could be considered the Baron's personal doctor. Though not highly skilled, desperate times called for desperate measures. Soon after, Liam and his assistant arrived with a large bag of medical supplies. With Kane's assistance, the injured cavalryman, Amel, was seated in a shaded corner. Despite his severe injuries, Amel continued, "My Lord, at noon today, our cavalry was patrolling the outskirts of the Mako village when suddenly, a group of goblins emerged from the surrounding forest and clashed with our patrol." "They not only outnumbered us but the leading goblin was also a supernatural being. Our team couldn't hold them off, so the captain sent me to report the situation. I fear the rest of the team might..." Hearing about the team's plight, Kane sighed deeply, "Ah... Amel, did you see what weapon the supernatural being used?" "Yes, my lord, it was a wolf-toothed club." Kane nodded, "Very well, I understand the situation now. Rest and recover as soon as you can." "Yes, Lord Kane." After comforting the cavalryman, Kane turned to the physician, Liam, instructing him, "Treat his injuries, and make sure no hidden ailments remain." Liam, who had reluctantly taken on this challenging task, swallowed hard. He had already assessed the cavalryman's injuries, noticing wounds all over his body, with the arrow in his shoulder being the most severe. Without prompt treatment, the man could contract tetanus, a situation that would be beyond their ability to treat. "Yes, my lord, I will do my utmost," Liam assured Kane, then hurriedly moved the injured man indoors with his assistant for treatment. This sudden turn of events left Kane with a headache. The situation in Wrenlay Fort had not been resolved, and now goblins had invaded his territory. More importantly, he had lost a cavalry patrol. Training a cavalryman was no easy task. The costs of the horse and armor alone were substantial, not to mention the time invested. Calculating the losses in his mind, Kane walked into his study. He first instructed his steward, Jess, to summon Catherine and Marcus to the study. Then, he began pondering the situation outside his territory. Ridget Territory, that was the full name of Kane's domain, which included a castle and several villages. According to Kane's knowledge, there shouldn't be any beastmen or even rare supernatural creatures in the vicinity of the Ridget Territory. The sudden appearance of a goblin tribe with a supernatural being was perplexing. Could they have escaped from the Beastman Empire to the south? Knock, knock, knock. The sound of knocking interrupted Kane's thoughts. It seemed that Marcus and Catherine had arrived. At Kane's signal, the two entered the room, bowing respectfully before turning their attention to Kane. During their journey, they had heard about the recent events. "A cavalryman came to report that a group of goblins has invaded our territory," Kane informed them. Excitedly, Catherine asked, "My lord, I heard there's a supernatural being among them?" Kane nodded, "Yes, you've heard correctly. Their leader is a supernatural being. We're unsure of their exact rank, but it shouldn't be higher than High First Tier." Marcus, with his seasoned experience, advised, "My lord, we can't delay. They might target the village of McKo for plunder. We need to act quickly." "Yes, I agree," said Kane, opening a map on his desk. Pointing to the dense forest to the south, he said, "According to the cavalryman, Amel, the goblins clashed with his team here." Marcus examined the terrain and said with a frown, "My lord, the forest in that area is dense. It might not be suitable for immediate combat. We'll need to proceed on foot." "We have no other choice," Kane acknowledged. Turning to Catherine, Kane instructed, "Gather all our scouts from the territory. We need to assess the enemy's numbers and positions." "Yes, my lord." With the plans settled, Kane stood up, "Time is of the essence. Let's move out. Assemble outside the Eagle's Roost Castle." "Yes, Lord Kane." Receiving their orders, the two hurriedly left the study to gather the soldiers. Meanwhile, Kane rushed to the lord's bedroom to don his armor. In no time, there was a flurry of activity throughout the territory. Soldiers, rallied by Catherine, hurried to the assembly point. Columns of cavalry on swift horses traversed the castle grounds, while the castle servants looked on with worried expressions, hoping the operation would proceed smoothly. Soon after, Kane, riding a white steed and clad in meticulously polished armor, arrived outside the castle. He gripped his family's heirloom sword. By this time, the soldiers and cavalry of the territory had assembled. Marcus and Catherine stepped forward from the ranks to stand beside Kane. "Lord Kane, all 24 members of the cavalry unit are present," Marcus reported. "Lord Kane, 42 armed infantry and 3 scouts are also accounted for," added Catherine. Excluding the 6 cavalrymen from the patrol unit who had been injured or killed, along with the guards inside the castle, all the forces of the Ridget Territory had gathered at this location. Kane nodded in acknowledgment and then shouted, "Move out! We will vanquish the goblins and avenge our fallen brothers!" "Yes, sir!"
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