Chapter 18: A threat from the south
February 14. 1258
Today, the Rhodoks lost Uxkhal to the Sarranids. The Sarranids are savage warriors from the deepest desert in the south, they loot everything the Rhodoks have... It started when the Rhodoks wanted to take Jamiche castle back, which they lost in a war a long time ago. However, they failed, and the Sarranids ravaged everything they had, and are still at war with the Rhodoks. I feel that I must help the Rhodoks. After all, they are more civilized than the Sarranids.
February 17. 1258
King Yaroglek thinks of the Sarranids as a major threat to the Vaegir Kingdom, and goes to war with them. Someone has to stop them before they take all of Calradia! The warzone will be in the heartland of the Swadian Kingdom, between Uxkhal and Dhirim, which we and the Sarranids now have claimed.
I travel to Rivacheg to get an update from boyar Meriga on where our marshal is. A few hours before I arrive there, I see a caravan! Well, I will let it be in peace, I am no caravan raider. However, this is a Sarranid caravan. Now I feel that it is my duty to take it down. I ride to the caravan master to ask him what they are doing in our kingdom. He becomes very angry when I ask him, and he threatens me to get out of their way or they will kill us all. Bah, that's no threat to us, we have 80 top trained Vaegir soldiers and they have about 30 mercenaries, who have done nothing but eating and sleeping the last months.
The fight is ridiculously easy. No man survives from our attack. Our heavy cavalry plows through them with ease, and sends them all to a better place. After all, they were honest traders. I am a bit anxious about the war. The climates will be very different if we decide to attack them, or they decide to attack us. They will have to go in the freezing winter, or we will have to go into the scorching desert. Neither their or our troops are trained for the different climates. I think it would be the smartest if we wait until they attack us, or that we bring the war to Dhirim and Uxkhal.
February 22. 1258
I approach boyar Doru's army. They have just raided Tahlberl. I join his army to help him against the Sarranids. They are going to raid more villages, to weaken the morale of the Sarranid Sultanate, and to weaken their trade possibilities. We raid Ibiran, then we raid Nomar and Saren. I feel sorry for the farmers in the villages, but this is war, and war is cruel.
February 24. 1258
The Khergits have declared war on the Sarranids. The Swadians also feel that they can gain back lost territory, so they are also tempted to declare war, but they are very divided and weak for now, so I don't think they will do it. However, with the help of the Khergits, we might manage to press the Sarranids back to the desert where they belong. We might even push them so hard that the Rhodoks also might play a deciding role in the war. Who knows.
I am resting with my troops in Dhirim. For some of the newest recruits, it was hard to see the villages burn, and they became very silent, some became depressed. They know that some of them are going to die, and they have to kill people some time if they want to be soldiers. They want to go home to their villages, but I encourage them with good food and the best beds in the tavern.
Spring is already coming in southern Swadia, but it is still winter a bit further north. I am looking forward to the warmth of the summer, and I think my men are too. Many nights we have slept in freezing camps out in the taiga, and it was not a good experience.
The Sarranids have taken a lot from the Rhodoks, and are in an ideal position to attack the Vaegirs.
The caravan master thinks that he stands a chance against a professional army.
Well...
He doesn't.
The Vaegirs are looting Ibiran...
... Nomar...
... And Saren, before returning home.
Firentis has gotten some new armor, and has become a lot more skillful.
Deshavi is becoming a great archer.
Jeremus' surgeon skills are rumored over all of Calradia.
Warriv is mastering his weapon abilities.
Warriv's army is perhaps the most trained army in Calradia.
Warriv is a honorable man, and some people appreciate that a lot.