Day 16 in Integration

When Sadar pushed Will out of the rhino's way he became the main target of the bandit leader.

As the rhino tried to smash him, Sadar cleverly dodged. Despite being very powerful, the rhino was very clumsy and Sadar used it to the fullest, he was practically dancing around the rhino not giving him a chance to turn his head towards Sadar.

The real danger was coming from the rider of a rhino whose blows were quick and powerful, luckily riding a rhino only interfered with him in this situation because of rhino his angle of attack was limited, it also was looking like he just recently began riding rhino considering how unaccustomed he looked at this.

Don’t want to approach the rider yet, Sadar decided to deprive him out of the mount so even if Sadar would be defeated the bandit leader won’t be able to catch up with Will that easily. But when he hit a rhino with a spear, despite putting all his power into the strike he was met just with pain in his hands as his strike didn't pierce the skin of the rhino.

When because of pain Sadar stopped for a second bandit leader took advantage of this and hit him, fortunately Sadar managed to defend with a spear but the power of the strike hurt his hands even more, so Sadar was forced to just dodge and couldn’t attack.

Suddenly Sadar heard a clatter of hooves and saw as two more bandits in horses came his way.

Even if Sadar’s power and skills were equal or even superior to bandit leaders, he couldn’t win because of inequality in everything else, bandit leader had a powerful mount, much better equipment, and even two subordinates behind him, the only chance of winning was if there would come reinforcement from tribesmen who were dealing with the rest of the bandit army.

Surrounded by the bandit leader and his subordinates Sadar knew that reinforcement won’t come soon enough so preparing to make a final attack and take at least one more person with him, Sadar heard a shout.

-FIRE!!

On the enemy rained down arrows and stones that immediately killed two bandits with their mounts.

When Sadar looked around he saw that Will who ran away by Sadar’s advice, led the retreating archers back to help him.

-CROSSBOWS FIRE!!

Already knowing that arrows and stones can’t hurt the bandit leader and his mount, Will ordered crossbows to fire at him but even their effect was very limited.

Bandit leader swang his weapons at the two bolts that were coming at him and broke them, rhino on the other hand got caught by all three bolts that were fired at him but despite they didn’t bounce off his skin as the arrows and stones did, they didn’t pierce enough deep either.

As the battle progressed Sadar got exhausted because of his constant dance around the enemy and when his movements became slow bandit leader one more time tried to hit him, not having time to dodge Sadar again defended with his spear but because of exhaustion impact made him fall to the ground

SADAR!!

Will screamed with desperation, afraid of losing Sadar.

When the rhino finally turned to Sadar and was going to smash him while he was lying, suddenly one giant in a run hit the rhino with shoulder, the impact was so strong that rhino completely lost direction and continued run in the wrong direction. While the rhino with his rider increased the distance Tonra helped Sadar to get up.

-Why are you here? Did you already defeat all enemies?

-To help. Yes.

-What about the ones that fell from their horses?

-Surrendered.

Knowing that it would be hard to pull out something from Tonra and that they had little time, Sadar decided to leave the questions for later.

-It is good to see you big guy. Let's kill this bastard together!

-Not alone.

-What...

As Sadar was going to ask what Tonra meant, he saw 7 more tribesmen who came to aid, they all were equipped with shields and spears that Will gave them.

-Tonra, would you able to hold the rhino for a couple of seconds?

-Yes.

-Okay then here is the plan....

Sadar barely managed to finish telling plan as a bandit leader with his mount came again, even more furious than before. Considering how the bandit leader without a doubt rushed to the enemy it seemed that he didn't care about the number of enemies and was confident that he can kill them all.

When the rhino was close enough Tonra rushed to him and grabbed by the horns, tribesman followed Tonra to defend from attacks of bandit leader with their shields. And as rhino was hold in place and tribesman distracted bandit leader, knowing that his allies won't hold for long Sadar hastened to do his part, he drew a sword that was tied at his belt, unnoticed sneaked up to rhino and smoothly cut the saddles rope.

-NOW!!

With a Sadar's shout, Tonra let go of the rhino's horns and immediately after, another tribesman hit the butt of the rhino with his spear, of course spear did not pierce the skin but it was enough to piss off the rhino. When the rhino suddenly started running forward like mad bandit leader immediately fell from him.

-GET HIM!!

Sadar's idea was very simple, if they can't pierce the armor of the bandit leader then they have to hold him and remove armor by themselves, so after he fell from the rhino and was lying on the ground it was the best opportunity to grab him. About mount Sadar wasn't very concerned as the rhino didn't look very fond of his rider so without the bandit leader as a rider it was unlikely that the rhino would attack them.

Bandit leader tried to resist and even threw away two tribesmen but when Tonra came the game was over for him. Despite bandit leader certainly was at "G" grade his pure strength couldn't be compared to Tonra's.

-Surrender and you will live.

-Go f*ck yourself!

Understanding that the bandit leader was going to fight until the end and seeing that for exhausted Tonra it wasn't easy to hold him, Sadar ordered to one of the tribesmen to pull out the bandit leader's helmet.

-It is your last chance. Surrender!

-You will regret killing me. My brothers will burn you alive and rape to death all your woman! They will...

Don't wanting to hear any more of this Sadar with swift movement pierced through bandit leader's skull.

Soon Will and the archers walked up to them.

-It was great...

As Will was going to praise Sadar, suddenly he heard screaming.

-OKRA IS GOING TO KILL PRISONERS!

-WHAT!?... EVERYBODY FOLLOW ME!

Will knew that Sadar and tribesmen were very tired after the battle but he didn't have a choice, they might be needed to stop Okra's madness.

-But what about rhino?

Seeing that the rhino was just standing in place and don't do anything, Will answered.

-Let's leave him alone for now, it doesn't look like he wants to harm as.

-But...

-FOLLOW ME!

Rey tried to object but Will didn't have time to deal with her.

When Will approached he saw how Okra was preaching holding a spear.

-Brothers and sisters today is a great day! Under my leadership, we bravely crushed the enemy! And now I would kill bandits who dared to harm our great tribe!

-STOP!

As Okra was going to kill one of 10 bandits that surrendered, pised off Will with 39 men behind him, came.

-ARE YOU CRAZY!? THEY ARE SURRENDERED! YOU CAN'T KILL THEM!

-What an outsider like you can understand! It is tribes personal matter you don't have any right to interfere.

Tribesman looked conflicted, they know that doing this was wrong but Okra's speech made them remember the suffering they get from bandits.

Seeing that Okra won't give up that easily Will took a few deep breaths to calm down.

"I have to just destroy him in verbal battle"

-When you asked me to give you food I wasn't an outsider, when you asked me to find a solution for tribes survival I wasn't an outsider, when I made a plan to defeat bandits I wasn't an outsider, when I took equipment from my own man and gave it to the tribe I wasn't an outsider...

-It is not what I mean...

Will didn't give Okra a chance to back down.

-WHEN I LED AND LOOSED MY PEOPLE TO HELP THE TRIBE I WASN'T AN OUTSIDER! Don't tell me that now when the battle ended and you don't need us we became outsiders!

Tribesman remembered that it was Will and his people thanks to whom they won today so most of them immediately begun support Will.

Seeing that he quickly was losing ground, Okra decided to push from another direction.

-If you are not an outsider then it is one more reason why you shouldn't stop me. These bandits not just made us starve, they kidnapped our families and friends! How can you defend them!? They...

Not giving Okra the opportunity to shift the minds of tribesmen again, Will interrupted him.

-EXACTLY! This is the main reason why they should live! Don't you want to see your kidnapped families and friends again? We have to interrogate them and find kidnapped tribesmen!

As from the tribesman came shouts of approval, Okra froze with a stupid expression on his face as if asking himself why he didn't think about it.

Day 17 in Integration

Despite the tribe was very close it was decided to bury the dead and gave everyone time to rest before going back. The outcome of the battle was 5 dead, 4 from Will's squad and 1 from tribesman, it can be called glorious victory considering that they faced 37 better-equipped cavalries but the bitter thing was that apart from one tribesman who was pierced by mounted bandit, all others were killed by bandit leader when retreating, there was killed 2 classless and 2 "Farmers" who had worse physical fitness and lagged behind.

It was a great example of how one stronger and better-equipped bandit leader can do much more harm than 36 mounted normal bandits. Despite the bitterness of battle, the trophies were very good, 36 spears, nets, and sets of iron armor, 18 horses, 30 horse armor, 10 prisoners, and bandit leader's equipment. even rhino who for some reason began to follow Tonra.

Inside of the tribe cheering crowd was waiting for them, Will found this situation very ironic.

"The ones who just recently wanted to kill us, now looking at us like at heroes"

Will suggested to Mushra who waited for them at the gates of the tribe to make a feast for celebrating victory and considering that food was coming from Will, Mushra happily agreed.

At night everybody was having fun, since hundreds of people can't fit in any building at tribe the feast was taking place on the street. Will, Mushra, Sadar, Tonra, Rey, Okra, and some others were sitting on some kind of podium so people can see them, outside of the podium everyone except children whose mothers watched them, danced and drank.

-Lord Kondor would you like to make the first speech?

-I would like to, but to be honest I'm afraid that my speech will kill the whole mood.

-What do you mean?

-To be honest, there is something that I learned from prisoners and wanted to share with everyone, with your permission of course.

Without hesitation Mushra said.

-There are no secrets between tribesmen, please go ahead.

Mushra raised his hands and everyone quickly fell silent. Will with anxiety begun his speech.

-My dear friends, today we gathered here to celebrate our great victory so I didn't want to kill your mood but there some things that I have to share with you. From prisoners that we took, I learned that these bandits are not alone, and there are much more of them!

In the crowd began whisperings.

-But I learned a good thing too, I learned that they keep kidnapped tribesman at their base and now we know where it is.

From the crown came shouts.

-Then let's kill them!

-Yeah, kill them and return our people!

-We defeated them this time, can defeat again!

As the mood was getting more and more belligerent Will spoke again.

-Unfortunately, even if every single of us would attack them we would be defeated. They have much better equipment, training, and fortifications at their side. Even more, I fear that after learning about the death of their man they will come for retaliation and the tribe would be destroyed.

Will didn't lie that there was bandit lier and that they were much stronger, but taking into consideration how careful they behaved until now, it was unlikely that bandits will attack again without being sure about victory, especially now when their numbers were greatly reduced and they lost one of their champions.

-We won't be destroyed that easily! They tried it before but didn't succeed!

Okra objected with an angry face.

-The reason why you weren't destroyed because they wanted to kidnap your people not kill, but this time everything is different, this time they would come for retaliation and kill everyone who will fight back.

As crown began to worry, Will cleared his throat and added.

-But don't worry! I can accept you to my village so you won't be destroyed by bandits!

Okra was the first one to object.

-You just want to enslave us! Don't believe him he...

-OKRA!

Mushra quickly interrupted him.

-Lord Kondor gave us food, equipment and even helped to defeat our enemies, you can't say something like that to him so frivolously.

After slightly bowing head in gratitude to Mushra, Will started the final part of his speech.

-If you would join me I promise to treat you the same as all other people in my submission! Even more, maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but I promise you one day I would attack bandit's liar and get your people back!

When Will finished his speech Mushra immediately got up, came to him and kneeled.

-If you really promise to free our people then our Ra tribe will happily join you.

Said Mushra with an emotional voice.