Chapter I - Otremer - II/06

II/06

After three days Nomak and Korak's forces gathered up and left the city of Said to Alaid. During the three days Nomak made a good friendship with one of his sergeant. His name was Anis. He was one of the new recrutes of the Guild in the Otremer.

- Nomak please tell me about you and Urak coming to the Otremer. I know you lived here before but I also know thath the Guild wasn't present here.

- The Guild's roots grown here. But it wasn't above the ground. Urak and me, we have our reasons why we come to the Otremer and the Guild itself have it's reasons why we begin in an active appearing in this region recently. You are new in our ranks don't you?

- Yes liege! That's why I asked about "our history".

- It's a long story to tell and we have a war to fight now. If we stay alive at the end of this gathering storm I'll tell you "our story".

- Yes liege, and thank you.

The king's forces were marching in coulums on the road to Alaid. The half desert landscape made it monoton and boring. The sun heated the whole area. It was hot like hell itself. Nomak made Anis his deputy while Urak was away. They stood on a small hill next to the road watching the marching army. They had around 500 spearman. A hundred archers followed them and the remaining assassins after them. The lost numbers were not high but the rates were. The field assassins lost only about 20 men. Still this army was way too small to wage war with. Nomak's only hope was that king Korak's realm army will be much greater in at last numbers.

The travelling was quiet and calm. Nothing really happened like there were no storm clouds above the kingdom. On the third day at late night the small force arrived to Alaid. A small merchant city between Said and Akbar in the middle of the half desert. Alaid had the only water source on the way from Akbar to Said. The city itself was very important strategically by the way it was only defended by wooden stockade and some wooden towers. Nomak knew that if the nords are already preparing or even they are on their way and the king does not hurry enough even the Duke could take Alaid easily.

Nomak was right. The Duke of Said were sending letters to north right after the king's army lifted the siege. Furthermore he sent massangers to the east to hire Mamal mercenaries. The Mamals are half nomedic people in great numbers. They live east of the Seven cities in the great steppes. They are not tipical mercenaries. They live in peace if they are not bothered. However land and gold always came in handy and the Duke is willing to give them prosperous lands on the south of his new kingdom...