Chapter 38
Barbarian Quest
Chapter 38 – Wild Horse (2)
Urich sat down and stared at Kilios.
Psssht.
Kilios blew air out of its nose while looking at Urich. Its behavior indicated that it was on alert around the human.
“You really are only docile towards Fahel.”
Urich wasn’t the only one who was unable to ride Kilios. Even the mercenaries that were confident in their horse riding skills were unable to ride it.
“In the end, a wild horse is still a wild horse. But I can’t believe that young master had such a talent.”
The mercenaries who were unable to ride it all said a piece as they walked away.
“Urich, it might be best if you give up as well. It’s not a horse that anyone can ride.”
“Shut it.”
Urich couldn’t let go of his lingering feelings.
‘Damn it. Honestly, it’s really cool.’
It was still clear in his head; Fahel’s figure as he tamed the wild horse in an instant and led it to gallop.
‘I also want to ride a horse.’
He didn’t want to ride a horse that was born and raised in the stables. He wanted to ride a wild horse that was overflowing with vitality.
Badump. Badump.
His heart was pounding. He felt vitality from the horse’s wildness.
“Kilios,” called Urich.
The horse lifted its head, as if it understood its name.
“Horses are smart. They understand everything that we are saying.”
Fahel told him that before.
“Looks like today’s not it either.”
Urich stood up from his spot. He didn’t try to rashly ride Kilios.
‘Kilios is rejecting me.’
The first thing he would have to do was to get closer to it. Urich spent all of his time next to Kilios’ side.
Neigh.
Even though it acted coldly to Urich, its attitude changed the moment it saw Fahel.
“I’ll put horseshoes on you when we arrive in the city.”
Fahel was checking the horse’s status.
‘It’s a young male, big in size, and has healthy hooves. We caught a good horse.’
Fahel was a horse expert. He knew that Kilios was a fine horse. Despite the fact that it was a wild horse that wasn’t selectively bred, it was big and strong. It was to the point that he could be used as a warhorse.
“What do you think about handing over the throne to your uncle and raising horses instead? I think it suits you more,” said Urich.
“Being skilled at handling horses is also one of the virtues of a king.”
“Even though you can’t fight?”
“What can a king do by leading the battle in the forefront and raising a sword? A basic level of swordsmanship is enough. Swordsmanship isn’t one of the virtues of a king.”
“It’s quite funny. You ask others to give their lives while being reluctant to give your own. I don’t understand the people who give up their lives by following those commands either.”
Urich laughed.
“One’s lineage and status as well as their virtuousness being associated with loyalty are things that a barbarian would never understand.”
Fahel was prideful of his royal lineage. He was proud of the fact that he was a direct heir.
“That’s right. I wouldn’t understand it even if I lived an entire lifetime. I wouldn’t understand that strange system.”
Fahel’s eyes turned sharp. They were filled with contempt, rage, and small traces of goodwill as he looked at Urich.
“Sir Phillion likes you. Despite the fact that you were the person who cut his fingers off. At first, I thought something happened to his head.”
“Four of my brothers died from a false request. A few fingers was a cheap price.”
“Sir Phillion said that as well. That it was a cheap price.”
Fahel ground his teeth. Phillion’s life as a knight was finished. It might have been different if it were his left hand, but four fingers on his right hand were now gone. He was also too old to learn how to fight with his left hand.
“So, are you dissatisfied?”
“I have a lot of things I’m dissatisfied about, but I took a vow. When I become king, I will give all of you a generous reward. I won’t take revenge. Not even the slightest bit. I am someone of high status, and my vows are as heavy as my status.”
Fahel climbed on top of Kilios. He continued his words while looking down at Urich.
“Mercenary Leader Urich. Think of what you would like as your reward. You could also just ask for a mountain of treasure to carry home so that you may return home with glory.”
Fahel briskly laughed and kicked Kilios’s side. The stallion smoothly turned its neck and walked.
The mercenary group cleaned up their camp and departed. There were only two days left until they arrived at the border.
“If we just walk today and tomorrow, we’ll escape this kingdom. Shit. Are we finally going to go into a city?”
“Keep dreaming. There are still three days left until we arrive in a city.”
The mercenaries leisurely chatted with each other. They were traveling in the neutral terrain between the borders of the fiefs that people seldom visited.
“I can finally live a little now that I can go on horseback.”
Fahel breathed in the fresh air from on top of his horse. Horse riding was also an activity that required stamina and muscles. However, Fahel was accustomed to it. It was much better than walking while tearing up the bottom of his feet.
Clip, clop.
Fallow land could be seen here and there. Those were lands that were resting.
“Fallow land?”
Urich questioned in the middle of someone’s explanation. He had a lot of interest in farming.
“If we plant the same crops every year, the land loses its strength, and the crops won’t grow properly the next year. So that’s why they either completely let the land rest. Or, if they don’t have enough food, they would plant crops that don’t use a lot of the land’s strength,” said Bakman.
“I see. People farm the land while thinking of something like that? Amazing. Really. Amazing.”
Urich spoke while looking at the fallow land.
“There’s smoke rising from the chimney of a farmhouse over there. I will go buy some bread or grain from them.”
One of the guard knights, Reupin, spoke.
“That’s a good idea, Sir Reupin. Since His Royal Highness must also be tired of these coarse foods. It might be better to cook porridge.”
Sir Phillion nodded.
Reupin came into contact with the farmhouse. He split a 100,000 cil coin in half to pay the farmers 50,000 cil. For the farmers, it was a deal that gave them a lot in profit. Reupin, who finished the transaction, rejoined the mercenary group with a basket filled with bread and grains.
“There are border surveillance guards on this side, so it might be best to detour around them as we planned. There must be a bridge or two that the farmers use.”
The mercenaries ate lunch before continuing their march. The Forlcana Kingdom was bordered by canyons and rivers. If they wanted to cross the border, they would have to do so on a bridge.
The mercenaries walked for another half-day and camped out again.
“Hahaha, you dolt!”
“Damn it!”
Urich fell off while trying to climb on Kilios’s back. The mercenaries would bet on whether he would be able to ride Kilios today or not.
“I can’t believe it’s bread porridge. What perfect timing. My jaws were hurting.”
Fahel spoke as he sat down in front of the pot. His meal was porridge made with torn pieces of bread. For him, who had grown up eating royal cuisine, the mercenaries’ foods were too tough and hard.
The mercenaries were eating their meal and talking to each other when they noticed a flickering torch in the distance.
“Who are you guys?!”
Someone with a loud voice was shouting at them not too far from the camp.
“We’re a mercenary group!” responded one of the mercenaries.
They did not approach each other.
“We are the border surveillance guards! We would like to know the reason that you are all camping here. The gate to leave the border isn’t around here,” shouted one of the guards. A few of the mercenaries cursed.
“They’re riding horses.”
“Why are the border surveillance guards patrolling this far?”
“So damn unlucky.”
There were five guards, and all of them were on horseback.
“It would be best to answer us right away. Unless you want to be treated like bandits.”
The longer they dragged it out, the more strange the guards would find them.
“Fahel’s a prince. Wouldn’t they get on their knees if we reveal his identity?”
“Or they would try to catch him.”
While the mercenaries were talking, two of the border surveillance guards left for their camp.
“They’re going to bring the gate defense guards,” said Phillion.
“How many people are there in the gate defense guards?” asked Urich.
Phillion thought for a moment before answering.
“If it’s the Orkel Gate defense guards, which are the closest to here, they have around two hundred soldiers just in their garrison. They should also have around fifty horses.”
“That’s manageable. It means that, if we run away, there would only be about fifty people chasing us, right?” laughed Urich. He already smelled blood.
“Warhorses have good endurance. They should be able to chase us while carrying two people on horseback. So we would be fighting a hundred men.”
The mercenaries murmured. It was impossible to run away from horses on open land. A collision between the two was inevitable.
The mercenaries’ morale dropped. There was no sense of loyalty amongst them. Their only objective was to stay alive and receive money. They would never participate in losing battles.
“Urich, the mercenaries are hesitating. If we fight, there will definitely be people who will desert in the middle of battle,” hinted Bakman.
He always quickly read the mood of the mercenaries and gave proposals to their leader.
“Could I offer a scheme? There might be a way to avoid a fight,” said Phillion. Urich and the mercenaries looked at him.
“A way to not fight?”
“The reason that the border surveillance guards are on edge is because there is a high possibility that news about the missing prince has spread. It could also be false information about him getting kidnapped. Regardless, it has been enough time for Duke Harmati’s document to have spread here and there. Something about searching for a young man with blue eyes.”
“So you’re saying your young master is to blame, right?”
“It would be impossible to escape them on foot, but we can escape from them on horseback. That is if the prince departs right now. We could cross over the border and rendezvous at a city called Balgma. Even if they inspect the mercenary group, there would be no man here that has blue eyes like His Royal Highness. We wouldn’t have to uselessly start a conflict with fifty warriors.”
“It is a fine proposition. But who would go with the young master? And Phillion, it can’t be you. Because you have a history of something like his.”
“Of course. You should take care of His Royal Highness, Mercenary Leader Urich.”
Phillion calmly spoke. Urich’s eyes grew wide.
“What? I’m the mercenary leader! Does it make sense for me to be running away?”
“Sven could just pretend to be the leader. In fact, his imposing appearance makes him look more like the leader than you.”
Phillion gestured towards Sven, who chuckled after hearing that.
“What a great idea. I agree.”
After the Northerner spoke, the majority of the mercenaries also nodded. This was much better than a hopeless fight.
“I don’t want to. It’s like I’m running away! I’d rather fi—”
Urich closed his mouth after reading the mercenaries’ responses. He felt their cold gazes.
If all of the mercenaries were like Urich and Sven, they might have chosen to fight. Because Urich and Sven were warriors who were able to resolutely face death. However, the main objective of the mercenaries was to survive and make money.
“Urich.”
Sven, after saying their leader’s name, shook his head. There were a lot of meanings behind that single utterance.
Urich kicked the ground and scowled.
“Damn it. Fahel! Can I ride Kilios?”
“I will teach you from this point on how to really ride a horse. If you ride behind me, it wouldn’t even be a problem right now.”
It looked like Fahel was also considerably taken aback. He looked at Phillion with anxious eyes.
“Urich is someone you can trust, Your Royal Highness. He might be a barbarian, but he is a believer in Sol and knows the honor of a vow,” said the knight.
Fahel bit his lips and nodded.
“I pray that Ru’s light guides you, Sir Phillion.”
Fahel and Urich secretly led Kilios and escaped the camp. Because it was in the middle of the night, Kilios—a black horse—was even more hidden from the naked eye.
“We will accept your inspection!” shouted Sven.
The border surveillance guards nodded and slowly approached the camp. After a certain point, they stopped walking towards them.
“Soon, our main forces will arrive. If there isn’t anything suspicious, we will let all of you go freely.”
The mercenary group silently waited for the gate defense guards.
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