Same night, under the same sky, inside the same Fort Tarahud yet miles away from each other. The Khatardak side faced greater casualties than that of 255th Tarazmy even though having greater numbers.
The barracks were filled with Khatardak soldiers, many injured but not most. Bandages were used to stop their bleeding and it did well. But due to not expecting for this much injured soldiers, some clothes were used.
The used clothes were kinda dirty, so infections were expected among them. Yet even if they were infected, their fighting spirits won't be let down easily. Even though they just did retreated earlier.
A dwarf suddenly entered one of the barracks. He's well equipped with heavy armours, an iron battle hammer and an iron helmet. The soldiers immediately looked at with respect, as if he's their superior, which he is.
The dwarf coughed and cleared his throat before preparing to talk to them.
"Good night, soldiers. I am the Third General Iunda, the leader of Fort Tarahud. As you guys well know, we've been attacked by our enemies. I can clearly see the results of the battle earlier, by just looking at you guys".
The soldiers seemed ashamed for losing a small battle. But some were enraged to Iunda for not aiding them while defending earlier.
"Just so you guys know, I'm neither mad nor ashamed of you guys. I'm ashamed of myself for not arriving earlier.. I'm sorry, soldiers... But tomorrow! We will defend our line together! As we are divided by races, but united as Khatardak!", Iunda shouted to his men, trying to regain their morales.
But, even though his speech sounds shit as heck, the soldiers got the message clearly. Even tired, bloodied and injured, they still raises their arms to the sky, and shouted," For Khatardak!". The barracks were sure loud as heck that night.
The next morning, Iunda ordered his men to dig messy and uneven trenches with different width and depth on the front. The trench will force the horse to get into it and force the cavalliers to be stuck there.
Behind the trenches, he asked all his soldiers who have shields to form a straight, firm wall of shields. This is to give the archers behind the shields wall maximum protection.
"Alright, men. If you understand, now move it move it! We don't have all the time in the world!" Iunda shouted as he ordered his men to dig trenches and all. Even being a commander to them, he also partake in the process of digging the trenches.
Far from there, on top of a hill, Cayden was laying down, covered with bushes, scouting the opposing side with his binocular. He understood what they were doing, even by first glance.
"Those trenches, must mean something for my cavaliers.... I understand.. We had no choice but to push forward... Their defences are great just by looking at it. Their commander must be a smart guy.", he praised Iunda's strategy.
"But I guess they never seen armoured warfare. So I'll just use that against them", he said.
Cayden then slowly retreat back to his men, just behind him and down the hill. He looked back at his men. He looked at the motivated soldiers and the cavaliers preparing to sacrifice their lives for better purpose.
"Alright men, here's a new plan. Foot soldiers, you'll be riding with cavalier. One each horse. I bet the horses can't carry much of our weight. So I guess this is okay. But soldiers, remember, you must out your shield up front to cover give protection to the cavalier. They needed protection the most", he ordered his men. Explaining the detail one by one.
His men nodded understandingly, but someone asked, "What about the other foot soldiers? Will they be pushing by foot".
Cayden smirked, and replied, "Nice thinking. Exactly... Oh I forgot to say.. Foot soldiers, once you arrive there.. Push the shield walls as hard you can. Your main job is to be the main force. The cavalier will push and try to flank then from sides. That way, their archers will be distracted to fight on three sides, and if possible, on all sides. And when the time comes, archers, I need you to suppress arrow volleys to them. This will surely make them demoralised".
Nearly an hour passed, the trenches were nearly done, like 85% done. The Khatardakian soldiers were for sure exhausted and tired after digging. The sun shined upon their skins, sweats glistening and their bodies were for sure increased.
But what they didn't expect was that the 255th Tarazmy had already arrived to the hill. And now, the cavaliers carrying foot soldiers were sent straight to them. They noticed the assault, and quickly scrambled to their defensive position, but with the exhaustion, they were for sure aren't weren't mentally prepared for this.
As planned, the foot soldiers dropped off and immediately lined up against the shield walls. Some of the tired soldiers were not fast enough to retreat, and they got killed. And lucky for the 255th Tarazmy, the Khatardakians couldn't hold their shield walls long, barely 20 minutes.
And by 20 minutes, the cavaliers had already flank them from right and left sides. The archers withing the shield walls were confused and immediately had to focus their fires on 180 degrees.
To make shit's shitter, the archers from the opposing side had already arrived from the hills, they immediately pulled and stretched their bow and released volleys of arrows to the defensive position.
Countless men shouted in pain. Some didn't have time to shout as they die right away. Unfortunately for them, the shield walls had already slowly but surely got penetrate by the mad toot soldiers. Later, the foot soldiers managed to breach and immediately killed any opposing soldiers they see.
But of course, the archers within also didn't forget to retaliate. They also released their arrows on the incoming foes, quickly killing the soldiers who breached their shield walls.
The archers on the hill seeing this, slowly marched forward and lined up their arrows before shooting again, this time, their arrows were more accurate than before. Khatardakiam archers were for sure dead some of them, but they also got pushed from their sides by the cavaliers. 3 against 1 I could say.
Third General Iunda, who was watching this whole scene from the other hill, watched in terror as he saw his 3000 men quickly defeated by the overwhelming numbers of 255th Tarazmy. To add on, he had never seen such fast and efficient tactics.
He had no choice but to learn his mistake and retreat for now. He knew this retreat is shameless, but had he not retreat, the Fort Tarahud would be in shambles without any proper leadership.
"I'm sorry my soldiers. But I had no choice", he said with his tone full of sad and sorrow. He then rode his horse and retreated with 3 more orc soldiers.
The battle there lasted about 2 hours. Khatardak yet again lost all 3000 men just like that. Loyal soldiers who not even one of them dared to surrender. And the 255th Tarazmy lost 500 men. The stark contrast of both side casualties really is great.
"It seems we have gained the upper hand yet again", Cayden said while walking through the small base of which the 3000 opposing soldiers died defending for. The wooden barracks, with the dead injured soldiers inside. He felt pity, but he understood, this is war after all. One slight chance he give and he will lost the whole momentum.