Cataphracts, surviving in a world full of mods

"Hold him for me, with my child in tow, I can't draw the bow..."

Drawing three arrows from their quiver, the two soldiers wore gleaming silver chainmail and helmets, their only weakness being their exposed faces... The two men stared impatiently and angrily at the burning village, resentful that they hadn't participated in the looting.

Slowly wedging the arrow fletching into the bowstring, holding one arrow between each of the index and middle fingers, and the middle and ring fingers of the left hand, this allows the hunter to fire three arrows in quick succession… The hunter took a deep breath, slowly narrowed his eyes, and then suddenly stood up!

The two soldiers spotted the suddenly appearing figure immediately, but before they could even open their mouths, a sharp arrow pierced one soldier's face, penetrating deep into his eye socket, spraying blood and knocking him to the ground. The other soldier's open mouth hadn't yet produced a sound when another dark shadow pierced his mouth, continuing until it struck the back of his head and hit his helmet before stopping…

The trembling of the bowstring still lingered in the air. The hunter threw the last arrow into the quiver at his waist, then slung the longbow over his back. Without the slightest hesitation, the two of them quickly passed through the village gate and plunged into the forest outside.

Only on the two corpses lying on the ground, the arrows stuck in them looked like saplings, their feathers fluttering slowly in the breeze, as if they were stretching out their branches and leaves.

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The distant, hollow howl of a wild beast came from afar, and by the time it reached her ears, only the last syllable remained, yet it carried a chilling meaning. The woman shrank back in fear, her back hitting the rough wood.

This is her husband's hunting lodge in the forest. Not only is it situated on high ground, so there's no need to worry about rain, but after digging a pit in the ground, placing a beam on top and covering it with grass, it offers excellent concealment. Not only humans, but even most wild animals can't find it. So as long as she doesn't wander off, she's absolutely safe...

She had just given birth yesterday and was still very weak. It was safe to say that countless creatures in the forest could easily prey on her... Although she was not threatened by wild animals for the time being, the fear in her heart was growing more and more terrifying, almost suffocating the woman.

Just as the woman was suffering, the roof of the hunting lodge was suddenly ripped off. Before she could scream, she saw her husband standing there with a longbow on his back, looking at her.

"Honey, I've picked up the doctor, hurry! We need to get out of here..."

Before the woman's smile could even fully form, it turned into utter terror... A sharp arrow suddenly flew from the side, piercing her husband's neck and leaving a bloody arrowhead on the other side...

The hunter's eyes suddenly became dazed and blank. Before he could understand what was happening, he collapsed to the ground. Red, frothy fluid flowed from his mouth, seeping into the roof of the hunting hut and dripping down to the woman's feet...

The woman, her mouth agape but unable to utter a sound, stood frozen in place. In the distance, the sound of horses' hooves began to echo, and the crimson flames illuminated the surrounding bushes. The angry shouts and savage laughter of the soldiers could be heard.

A slender hand reached in from the side, grabbed the woman's collar, and pulled her out. Tarina, her face ashen, glanced at the dead hunter, gritted her teeth, and then, without hesitation, grabbed the woman's hand, clutching the child in her arms, and desperately fled into the depths of the forest…

Only the longbow made of yew wood lay quietly in the blood, keeping company with its master, whose body was beginning to grow cold...

Chapter 27 Night Escape (1)

Can a human outrun a warhorse? This is undoubtedly a pointless question. Warhorses, with their long and agile limbs, can gallop at incredible speeds on the road. Humans, with only two legs, cannot match these incredibly fast creatures. They would be easily caught up by the cavalrymen controlling the warhorses and then killed on the spot by weapons swung down and thrust from behind.

The most devastating casualties in a major battle often come from these fleeing soldiers being pursued by cavalry.

Moreover, the fugitives being hunted are not strong soldiers, but just an ordinary doctor and a woman too weak to run fast after childbirth.

From any perspective, this was a hunt with no suspense whatsoever. The cavalry's nimble warhorses would catch up with these two defenseless women in the blink of an eye... What would happen afterward was too painful to describe.

At least that was the case for these Holsian cavalrymen. What they thought would be a lighthearted and enjoyable pastime turned into a series of casualties. After slaughtering the last roaming chicken in the village, they took all the loot they had plundered and then found the sentry dead at the village entrance and the unfortunate man whose head had been chopped off.

A sense of rage spread through everyone, especially their commander, the young lord of Kas from Roldor. This ambitious young nobleman would not tolerate a bunch of commoners daring to challenge his authority, so he drove his elite cavalry to hunt down the audacious attackers.

The elite scouts quickly noticed the unusual footprints in the jungle, and then the entire cavalry squad quickly gave chase. This minor nobleman, though reckless and cruel, possessed excellent archery skills and shot down one man with a single arrow from afar. Meanwhile, two slender black figures disappeared into the jungle in the night.

The cavalrymen were all laughing heartily; all their anger had turned into extreme excitement, and it seemed that another interesting game awaited them.

Some were betting with each other to see who could capture the escaped commoners first, using their spoils as stakes. Bloodthirsty, excited eyes emanated from their helmets, and sharp spears and long, curved swords thirsted for blood.

With a whoosh, the cavalry scattered and disappeared into the dense forest. For them, this was the time to indulge in revelry... such opportunities were rare indeed.

The looted coins jingled in their saddlebags, weapons stained with the blood of their victims gleamed with an eerie, distorted luster in the moonlight, and silver chainmail was soaked through with blood. The killers moved through the night, searching for their next victim…

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A series of sharp pains were shooting through my chest. My lungs were already overburdened and were desperately trying to report their suffering to my body. But my body was sending me the order to keep working without reservation, completely ignoring the terrible pain. Even though my legs were numb and aching, even though my lungs felt like they were about to explode, I absolutely could not stop, I absolutely dared not stop!

The faint sound of horses' hooves seemed to echo endlessly through the jungle. Faint and indistinct, near and far, yet never truly disappearing. It foreshadowed the ever-present presence of those dreadful hunters, their hounds tearing at their hearts with fear.

Only the young child, the soft and tender child, was still fast asleep, not because he had become so sleepy, but because Tarina had used a little mild herbal medicine that could calm the mind and induce sleep, and she only dared to use a few drops of the juice.

They had no chance of taking any risks. If the child suddenly started crying, all three of them would face the most tragic fate. So, despite the risks, the two of them resolutely used the herbs to put the child into a deeper sleep.

The mother no longer had the strength to hold her child, so the tiny baby was now tied to Tarina's chest with a long cloth. Perhaps her rather large and soft breasts played a role in keeping the child so quiet. Tarina's hand remained firmly in her mother's long, cold hand, transmitting strength to her with her warm palm.

Her only advantage was her familiarity with the forest, where, under her teacher's guidance, she had collected fresh herbs of all kinds, packing the spicy, bitter, and fragrant plants and fungi into her small satchel.

Sometimes, in order to pick a fresh pine needle, she has to climb high cliffs and then use a rope to secure herself to a solid rock.

Her footprints can be found in every corner of this forest. She knows every tree, every stone, every gentle slope and cave. She knows where there are dangerous wild animals, where there are rugged rocks, and where there are cliffs that are absolutely impossible to climb.

All of this helped the two of them evade the terrifying cavalrymen who were almost within reach time and time again, stumbling and staggering towards a safer and more secluded place.

But she knew that this would lead to failure. The cavalry's speed was far beyond what they could match, and moreover, the enemy clearly had excellent trackers who were always able to find their trail intermittently. The terrifying sound of hooves was like the footsteps of death, never completely disappearing.

To shake off these pursuers, more effective decisions must be made... even if those decisions are quite risky.

Talina made up her mind and told the mother her plan. Although the mother was pale, swaying, and almost unable to make a decision, letting her know what she was going to do was crucial for the next move. There could be no hesitation, or the three of them would lose their lives.

She found another tall, dead tree that had fallen, with a completely rotten hollow in the middle. This tree had fallen after being struck by lightning. She still remembered the shock she felt when she witnessed that moment. The fallen tree cleared a space, allowing sunlight to shine in directly. Other plants that were weaker than it were crushed and buried completely under the corpse of the giant tree.

The two carefully crawled into the branches of the giant tree. The tree trunk was surrounded by dense vegetation and was inconspicuous in the shadows of the jungle, but it was enough to provide them with temporary cover.

Still panting, Tarina suddenly touched the hard hilt of the knife at her waist. It was an exquisite and expensive short knife. In the city, this gorgeous weapon could fetch an astonishingly high price, at least more than she earned as a doctor in a year.

Looking at the dagger, Tarina couldn't help but think of that powerful imperial general, his hawk-like, sharp eyes, his resolute, hard-edged lips, and the advice he gave her before he left...

Then, Tarina couldn't help but think of that powerful cavalry... If that cavalry were still in the village, would they not have suffered such a tragic fate today? ... The girl already had the answer in her heart, and gently bit her lip.

Chapter 28 Night Escape (2)

He brandished his curved sword listlessly, the still blood-stained blade gleaming coldly. The blood of the victims had long since dried, leaving no moist liquid to replenish it.

Just like its owner, it slumped listlessly and dejectedly in front of the saddle. They had come looking for some fun, but for some reason, the two women had managed to escape so quickly...

It was as if they had suddenly burrowed into the ground. Although they could always find the footprints and follow them, they could never see them. Such a pursuit with no results was very easy to lose interest.

The cavalrymen, who had been so enthusiastic just moments before, driven by a strong bloodlust, had now become bored and their search was no longer so thorough.

The warhorses snorted boredly, slowly trampling over the scattered weeds in the jungle. These warhorses, fed with grain, had long since looked down on such weeds; only lush pastures could arouse their interest. This kind of forest was not a place they liked.

The Holstein cavalryman looked impatient; he was already reluctant to go any further. After all, the sky was already beginning to lighten, and it was almost dawn, yet he had still gained nothing.

Forget about having some fun; instead, I was exhausted after a whole night. I had already found a pretty village girl and was ready to enjoy myself, but because of the emergency assembly order, I had to waste my time and have to cut her up...

But thinking of the huge sum of money wagered on those energetic cavalrymen, he licked his lips and gripped his curved sword tightly again.

He enjoyed this interesting activity, especially since it could make money. Even if the chances were slim, if he managed to catch those two women first, he could make a large sum of money, enough for him to squander for six months.

He urged his languid warhorse on again, sending it traversing possible routes and through the woods. His sharp eyes scanned the surroundings, noting the unusually broken branches, the tangled grass, and the unevenly distributed fallen leaves on the ground.

He moved swiftly through the woods, the sound of his warhorse's hooves becoming much softer on the thick layer of fallen leaves. His long, narrow, and ruthless eyes watched every blade of grass around him. If his prey could not withstand the fear and made the slightest sound, it would be unable to escape the warhorse's pursuit.

Unfortunately, nothing was found.

Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly noticed a huge shadow out of the corner of his eye. The shadow was quite continuous, looking like a large object illuminated by the moonlight, and it seemed perfect for hiding...

A cold smile appeared on his lips. In order not to alert the other party with the sound of the warhorse and chainmail, he even took off his chainmail and dismounted. He walked over with only a curved sword in his hand... After all, they were just two village women. He slowly parted the grass with the sharp blade.

The massive tree trunk before him had long been hollowed out by borers, revealing a wide cavity. There couldn't be a better place to hide... He was almost certain of his opinion. His excitement grew, and his heart began to pound. He marveled at his good fortune.

A sinister smile crept across his face. He suddenly stepped forward and rushed into the tree hole. With only one entrance, his opponent had no way to escape, and he could enjoy the spoils at will.

………………

There was a white headscarf on the ground, which looked like something women in those villages would often wear, but there was nothing else besides that...

Before he could react, a powerful impact slammed into his back, slamming him to the ground. A soft body, warm and inviting, emanated a scent that seeped through his clothes—but this wasn't tender intimacy; it was the venom of a deadly fang…

The sharp dagger tore through the clothes without any resistance, pierced the back where there was no chainmail, and even went all the way through the chest and into the inside of the tree trunk.

The Hols man, whose heart had been pierced, stopped moving completely after a few struggles, leaving only the ornate hilt of the knife embedded in his back. A large amount of blood slowly seeped out from his clothes, soon forming a pool of blood beneath him.

A pale-faced Tarina plopped down on the side, her fingers stained with fresh, warm heart blood that emitted waves of steaming aroma. But the smell made her feel nauseous; it seemed more foul and repulsive than anything else, arousing her physical disgust.

A strong sense of panic and fear caused Tarina's hands to tremble. She was usually an excellent doctor, her fingers always so steady, but now they were shaking like a stroke victim.

The new mother, carrying her baby, walked in from outside with a look of fear on her face. The two of them had been lying in ambush in the bushes nearby, just trying to avoid being searched. But she didn't expect the doctor to be so brave, launching a surprise attack while the enemy was searching and killing the soldier.

The peasant woman had slaughtered the game that her husband had captured alive before, but the dead man in front of her was unlike any other animal carcass. Just looking at this pile of dead flesh made her feel stiff all over, as if every part of her body was out of her control, and she could only stand there in a daze.

Talina took two more breaths and then calmed down.

The girl reached out and grasped the dagger on the corpse, slowly pulling the sharp blade from the flesh and bone surrounding it. Sticky blood gushed out continuously, even splashing onto her cloth skirt.

The girl stood up and ran outside. A moment later, hearing the warhorse's anxious neighing, she pulled on the reins and dragged the soldier's horse back. The finely crafted chainmail and other weapons were hanging on the saddle. Looking at the exquisite chainmail, Talina felt even more fortunate…

If the other party hadn't been so arrogant, searching for them while wearing this chainmail, they would probably already be a corpse.

The girl wasn't a real soldier, after all; she couldn't calmly stab the unprotected part of the opponent with a dagger under such tense circumstances.

"Great! With this horse, we can reach the city in two days..."

An expression of excitement appeared on the mother's face. Horses were much faster than they were, especially since they were two Holstein women who were not known for their physical strength.

"No! We can't ride this horse..."

Under the mother's astonished gaze, Tarina's face held a resolute expression:

"The horses are too loud; they'll attract everyone around. Besides, neither of us can ride a horse, so there's no way we can escape from them..."

"What should we do then!..."

The mother's face had turned to despair, but Talina stood up and patted the horse's neck:

"Use what I just told you, use it to lure those people over..."

Chapter 29 Night Escape (3)

The Holstein cavalry were groaning and complaining as the sky began to lighten and the surrounding scenery became clearer, but they still hadn't found anything...

Just hours before, the cavalrymen had been cheering loudly for their commander's orders, but now they were resentful of the young nobleman who was leading them. These greedy soldiers had not only failed to get what they wanted, but had also wasted an entire night.

A cavalry unit of 300 men spent an entire night searching in the woods surrounding the village for such a ridiculous reason… Keep in mind that the truly important figure in the rear guard is known for his ruthless methods; if he knew his vanguard was wasting so much time…

Everyone looked at the young nobleman, who was still searching resentfully. He seemed to think his dignity had been insulted and insisted on continuing the search regardless of the consequences. He made a big fuss over two insignificant peasant women, which made everyone think he was ridiculous.

A group of veterans began whispering among themselves, determined not to continue following this fool's orders. The others also looked at their unexpected leader with disdain.

Their original commander was inexplicably replaced by this useless man who knew nothing but money and glory. Because of this, in order to quickly gain control of the soldiers, the newly arrived commander issued an order for them to plunder at will...

This is a common practice among commanders: letting soldiers plunder freely can effectively boost their morale and is also the simplest way to build their identification with the commander.

If this method goes smoothly, there will naturally be no problem, and the soldiers will look at him with more respect because of the money they have stolen. But if something goes wrong, the commander who cannot control the troops will become the target of everyone's criticism.

At least in the soldiers' eyes now, that minor nobleman is a complete waste and an idiot, and because of his ridiculous obsession, he is about to drag everyone down with him.

Just as the atmosphere was becoming increasingly tense, a monotonous sound of hooves suddenly reached everyone's ears. They involuntarily focused their attention in that direction, and a warhorse without a rider was slowly walking towards the herd with light steps.