The Bard of Hogwarts

Chapter 250 Scorching Flames, Grinding Bones to Ashes

On the vast Lohan Grassland.

Five hundred fully armed cavalrymen galloped past, each carrying not only a spear but also a flail and bow.

Especially the bow and arrow, which fully utilized the mobility of the cavalry.

Horse hooves trampled, dust flew everywhere.

After galloping for about half an hour, the cavalrymen scattered. The five hundred cavalrymen, obeying orders without hesitation, suddenly split into five hundred-man squads and began to explore the surrounding area.

As commander, Theojed was well aware of the dangers of splitting his forces, because the greatest power of cavalry lies in their charge when they are gathered in large numbers.

The already limited cavalry force, once dispersed, could be defeated one by one.

But he had no choice, or could explain why he knew the danger but had to do it; their responsibility was to pave the way for the tens of thousands of Rohan people behind them and clear the obstacles along the way.

The once glorious Rohan and prosperous Edoras can now only muster a cavalry force of five hundred men.

……

The scout squad of cavalry led by Theojed spent half a day peacefully exploring the grassland.

Then a short, sharp bugle call suddenly sounded.

"Prepare for battle!"

At a single, clear command, the hundred-plus soldiers, without any delay, spurred their horses into a charging formation.

However, with a few mournful cries from wild beasts, the newly formed formation became chaotic.

"They're wolf riders! Everyone, switch to bows and arrows!"

Theojed decisively issued the order; he had seen this type of orc soldier before on the Aisin River.

Giant wolves are naturally superior to horses. In small-scale skirmishes, if a cavalry charge is launched, even if a victory is achieved by chance, the wolves will inevitably suffer heavy casualties.

Just as everyone switched to archers, countless dark figures appeared in their line of sight.

The orcs with contorted faces and the enormous dire wolves, each over two meters long, charged toward the Rohan cavalry.

From a distance, these dire wolves seemed no different from ordinary wolves, but as they drew closer, a hint of panic flashed in the eyes of many Rohan soldiers.

The dire wolf's scarlet, bloodthirsty eyes, massive size, and thick fur not only exuded an overwhelming sense of oppression but also aroused suspicion among the Rohan soldiers.

For the first time, they questioned their weapons, unsure whether their bows and arrows could even pierce the hides of these beasts, especially since the enemy numbered at least two or three hundred.

"No need to panic! Aim for the giant wolf's eyes, fire two volleys, and then retreat quickly. Try to outlast them; wolves can't outrun warhorses on long distances."

Theojad boosted the morale of the soldiers.

The information he shared was the experience gained by the Rohan people at the cost of their lives in the Battle of Aisin.

……

With their strong limbs, the dire wolves ran at full speed, quickly bringing them into the range of arrows.

"Boom!"

Before the arrows could be launched, a wall of blazing fire suddenly rose up.

As if it were sentient, the flames began to spread rapidly, and within a few breaths, they had surrounded the two hundred-plus wolf riders.

Various agonizing screams echoed amidst the flames.

In the sky, Ino slowly lowered the magic wand in her hand.

Perhaps against other enemies, even dark wizards, fire wouldn't be necessary.

But for these orcs, both the Divine Strike and the Death Curse were a blessing. His six-month journey had shown him far too many scenes that resembled purgatory.

Burning these bedbugs alive to ashes would probably be the best reward for them. After all, a painless death would be too good for them.

As the wailing from the flames subsided, Ino dispelled the magic, nodded to Theojad from afar in the air, and then urged her broom to fly off in the other direction.

This group of dire wolf riders was not the first; he had already wiped out three waves before them, and they were not the last either.

As a unit mass-produced by Saluman, this consumable can be produced in great quantities given enough time.

With that thought in mind, he didn't delay any longer, and his flying broom swept across the sky like a sharp arrow.

The Rohan soldiers on the ground were stunned for a moment when they saw the charred bones scattered all over the ground.

"Your Highness, are you just going to cross the grasslands like this?" The young soldier looked curiously at his commander.

"It wasn't like that at first..." Theojad sighed with regret.

"He always said he was a painter and a bard, but I think he was the hero of Rohan."

When the topic turned to heroes, Theo Jed's expression suddenly changed, shifting from a sigh of sadness to heartfelt respect.

"A true legendary hero! He dispelled the darkness with fire, dispelling the darkness that shrouded Rohan."

……

Helm's Deep, the last stronghold of Rohan.

A valley located north of the White Mountains and south of West Volta.

The entrance is narrow at the front and wide at the back, with cliffs on both sides and a vast and deep crystal cave behind it.

It has a nice name, but it is just a huge natural cave that can not only house Rohan's non-combat personnel, but also store a large amount of supplies.

On the fourth day after leaving Edoras, everyone successfully reached the fortress.

It's worth mentioning that from the second day onwards, no more harassing orcs were seen along the way. Saluman probably sensed something was wrong and stopped making unnecessary sacrifices.

But whether the other party noticed or not, Ino didn't care at all; he was just a dying man. Even if Saruman was a Maiar, it wouldn't matter. A Maiar without a powerful backer wasn't much higher in status than a Balrog.

Standing on the granite-built city wall, he felt at that moment that Middle-earth was truly a world where background and connections mattered.

Smaug died and that was it; the Balrog died just as swiftly and cleanly. But for Gandalf… for others, death was death; for him, it was an ascension ritual.

As Ino stood on the city wall, lost in thought, a familiar voice came from behind her.

"What are you thinking about?" Theoton was on his routine patrol of the city defenses when he spotted his old friend from afar.

Hearing the voice of an old friend, Ino slowly turned around.

"I was thinking that once this battle is over, you should probably pay me back."

Even the Rohan king, who had weathered countless storms, was amused by this answer and burst out laughing.

"That's for sure! And I'll also ask you to paint for Theo Jed, but he'll have to pay for it himself."

"Theojad?" Upon hearing this name, Ino subconsciously shook her head. "He doesn't seem very smart! He's even more reckless than you."

Ino couldn't help but recall the Battle of the Isin River, the scene of his first encounter with Theojed.

To cover the soldiers' escape, the young prince bravely led dozens of knights and charged through a thousand-strong orc formation.

As a soldier, he was undoubtedly brave; as a commander, he was probably competent as well.

However, as Rohan's sole heir, Theojed was perhaps a bit too reckless.

(End of this chapter)