Lord of the Rings: Warriors

"Honorable King of Zaltarion, forgive our king for not coming in person. Due to the reckless actions of the Dwarven Dragonhawk Riders, an unprecedented panic has erupted in Loshanier City. The citizens have fled in all directions, seeking refuge. 

Countless people have rushed into the wilderness, and now, less than one-tenth of the population remains within the city. 

Due to our limited military forces, we are unable to dispatch a large number of troops to search for them. 

We can only send our most mobile cavalry to locate the citizens, but given our small number of riders, it is like trying to douse a great fire with a single cup of water…" 

The Aquavia envoy was nearly in tears as he spoke.

"So, you need my cavalry to help you search for your people and escort them back?" Rynar immediately understood his intention. As expected, the Aquavia King had come to borrow cavalry.

"So… what is your response…?" The envoy nervously studied Rynar's face, desperately trying to discern any signs of displeasure.

"Of course, aiding the Aquavia King is our duty as both allies and neighbors. 

How about this—aside from the soldiers Lance has taken and the troops needed for defense, I can spare around 300 fully armed mounted archers (Battanian Archers) for your mission. 

Does this arrangement suit you?" After some deliberation, Rynar decided to commit all his available mobile forces aside from his knights.

Damn that wretched system—it had rewarded Rynar with over 400 warhorses. 

Among the daily login rewards, useless little trinkets often popped up, and the Shire horses were one of them. 

Without a knight training camp, Riverguard couldn't train knights independently, and cavalry remained a luxury for Rynar. 

Given that their role overlapped with that of knights, they weren't very cost-effective. Thus, Rynar could only use these warhorses to equip the skilled Battanian Archers.

"Thank you for your kindness. We will forever remember your benevolence." The envoy bowed so low his forehead nearly touched the ground, his humility extreme.

"No need for excessive courtesy. Just remember to pass my regards to the Aquavia King." Rynar waved dismissively, unconcerned.

"I will arrange for the troops immediately. 

Caslow! Accompany the soldiers on this mission!" Rynar trusted his loyal right-hand man. 

As a Dragon Knight, Caslow possessed unparalleled scouting abilities—after all, what could see farther than dragon eyes?

"Understood, Your Highness." Caslow struck his chest lightly in salute and promptly left.

"Thank you for your kindness! May your noble name be sung across Middle-earth!" the envoy expressed his gratitude fervently.

"Search for human survivors! Stay in squads of five—do not spread out too much! We must avoid being ambushed by Orcs!" Caslow reminded the departing soldiers.

"Understood!" the soldiers responded in unison.

"What a hassle! The Great Forest of Mirkwood is right beside Loshanier City. Most of the residents probably ran into the woods for cover. 

Some of them are likely lost by now!" Reynard, riding beside him, pulled at his reins, his face dark with frustration.

"Only realizing this now? I saw many of them run into the forest back then." Caslow sighed helplessly.

"Maybe we should build a large bridge across this river," Reynard muttered, shifting the topic as he watched soldiers crossing in groups by boat.

"Convenient… for an Orc invasion?" Caslow quipped.

"…" Reynard had no response.

"Alright, I need to take a look from above. Let's hope the Orcs haven't made their way here yet!" Caslow's expression turned serious as he took out his dragon flute and played a tune.

"Roar!" With a long, resonant cry, Kaldo lifted Caslow into the sky.

"Hmph, riding a dragon makes you special?" Reynard scoffed, watching the dust swirl in Caslow's wake.

"Brothers! Regroup! We're heading into Mirkwood!" Caslow commanded as he flew overhead.

Below him, the fully armed Battanian Archers were riding their Shire horses, transformed into mounted archers. 

These warriors, skilled in close combat, were at their best in wooded terrain—no one wanted to get up close and personal with their armor-piercing hammers.

"Dragon gods, I hate this damned forest!" Caslow grumbled. The thick canopy completely blocked his vision, and even the sharp eyes of a dragon couldn't see through such dense foliage to locate those in hiding.

The dragon glided silently through the sky. 

Caslow had even forbidden his dragon from roaring—he knew that the already terrified citizens of Loshanier City would only panic further and flee deeper into the forest if they heard a dragon's cry.

"Damn it! We should've sent Bardel and his cavalry unit for this. I hate dense forests!" Reynard grumbled as he hacked at a branch that had snagged his lance.

Proper knights never ventured into forests willingly—not just because the tangled trees slowed their movement, but also because the obstacles could catch onto their weapons and armor. 

Only knights in their full glory could hope to carve a path through dense woods, and even then, none would choose to fight there.

"Sir, you should put away your lance! It's too long. A sword will suffice here!" A nearby Battanian Archer advised, raising his own mithril dueling sword and steel shield.

"Oh! Thanks for the advice, lad!" Reynard shrugged in frustration. Mirkwood had no proper roads—only narrow hunter or Elven trails, and they were far from ideal for a fully armored Paladin.

Schwing! The sharp blade of Reynard's longsword flashed. Within moments, a dozen thick trees lay fallen around him, showcasing the terrifying strength of a Holy Knight.

"Annoying!" Reynard huffed.

"Captain! There's someone here!" A Battanian Archer called out excitedly upon noticing signs of life in a burrow ahead.

"Doesn't look like an Orc den. The soil is fresh—it must've been dug recently. Let's check it out." The squad leader surveyed the scene and nodded.

Thud! A Battanian Archer, using his steel shield for protection, jumped down into the burrow—only to be met with a heavy club strike. Fortunately, it struck his shield, leaving only a small dent with no real effect.

"I'm human!" the Battanian Archer quickly shouted.

As expected, the people inside froze. The archer took a moment to look around—good heavens! Nearly twenty people had crammed themselves into the tiny burrow. Their terrified faces left the soldier momentarily speechless.

"Come out… the dragons are gone now!" After a long silence, he finally managed to say something before climbing back out.

"You're not Aquavian soldiers…" a young boy said timidly, noticing the superior gear of the system-equipped Battanian Archers.

"We're soldiers of the Zaltarion Kingdom—your allies! We live just across the river. Come visit sometime!" The soldier smiled, patting the boy's head.

"Ladies and gentlemen, can you tell us where the others might be? This forest is dangerous! We need to bring them home as soon as possible!" The squad leader stepped forward.

"I saw a group head that way!" The boy pointed into the distance.

"Good lad!" The captain ruffled his hair in praise.

"Two of you, escort them back! Tell the rear troops to follow our path! We'll leave markers… unless we fall!" The captain commanded.

"Keep searching! Speed up the pace! Maybe after this mission, we can ask the King to promote us to Rangers! Hahaha!" The captain laughed heartily.

"Hahaha!" The soldiers laughed along—after all, they were essentially doing a Ranger's job already.

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