As the afternoon sun began to set, the scorching wind died down. After lunch, Chinua and Hye stood on the city wall. While some soldiers were being released, the sudden sound of advancing Razaasia forces cut through the air. Magoli and Musian soldiers on the wall looked sharply toward the abandoned camp, only a few hundred yards away.
Chinua and Hye knew the battle were inevitable. Although they had avoided bloodshed that morning, they understood that when the sun rose again tomorrow, the ground before them would be thick with the blood and corpses of soldiers from the three kingdoms.
Hye took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. He looked at Chinua and said, "Today is your first battle as a defender... Your success or failure depends on the outcome of this battle, kid, how do you feel?"
Chinua said, "Just so-so."
Hearing Chinua's answer, Hye turned to look at Chinua. He understood why Chinua had such thoughts. Many years ago, he had similar thoughts, because he had never seen the aftermath of the battlefield, which he called the red zone. The red zone: a place filled with the bodies of friends and strangers; a place stained with the blood of brothers and enemies; the ultimate dump, reeking of rotting flesh and buzzing with flies. Once seen, it was a place you could never unsee.
Hye said, "The consequences of a full-scale combat are not as pretty or heartwarming as our rescue scenes. So, you have to remember that the decisions you make affect not only you, but everyone around you, including your enemies."
"I'll keep that in mind," Chinua said. "Tell me, how long until they decide to attack us?"
Hye said, "If my prediction is correct, they will most likely make their move against the city before dusk. They'll attack us while the sun's still in our eyes because they did not fall into our trap this morning."
Chinua smiled and said, "You finally found your opponent." She sighed heavily. "I think since they didn't fall into your trap this morning, they're going to attack us with everything they have."
Hye turned to look at Chinua and asked, "So, are you worried now?"
"I know the decision I am about to make this afternoon will break the hearts of many parents, but I know it has to be done," Chinua said.
"Do you know the flute melody I played this morning?" Hye asked. He glanced at Chinua before focusing his attention on the abandoned camp again. "It's called the last farewell; a melody typically heard at funerals. It is sung to guide the soul of the deceased home for one final goodbye to their loved ones before their journey into the netherworld."
"I didn't know there was a song like this in Hmagol," said Chinua.
Hye said, "It doesn't exist in Hmagol. This is the song of the Ginmiao people. I believe whoever the strategists on the Razaasia side are familiar with the customs of the Ginmiao people. If they were not familiar, they would have attacked us this morning." He looked down at the city wall. "Anyway, if they want to attack us, it will be harder for them this time because the gate is well fortified." He sighed. "Hopefully the attack won't come until our defenses are complete."
Just as Chinua and Hye continued to talk, the sound of horseshoes on the ground interrupted their conversation. Looking towards the abandoned camp, they saw the Razaasia cavalry was in position and heading towards Hosa City.
Hye sighed and said, "We have run out of time. Hopefully everything we have done to fortify the walls and gates will hold." He turned to the Musian soldiers standing by the drums, his voice ringing out. "Sound the drums."
Grabbing their drumsticks, the Musian soldiers began beating the drums. The sound was the signal: Magoli and Musian soldiers on the city wall snapped to their positions. Reinforcement teams dropped their working tools and hurried up the walls to their posts.
The soldiers under the city wall began to shout.
"Razaasia!"
"Razaasia!"
Chinua's men along with Hippo quickly ascended the stairs, their eyes immediately finding the Razaasia soldiers approaching from behind the abandoned camp.
Hippo waved to the Musian soldiers. "Get in position!" she shouted.
Quickly ascending the city wall stairs, Chinua's eight subordinates reached the top to join Chinua and Hye, where they saw a menacing row of black armors advancing from behind the abandoned camp.
"How many?" Chinua turned to look at Zhi and asked.
"One thousand," Zhi said. "Cavalry. One thousand. One hundred soldiers per row."
"More is yet to come," Jeet said. "Look." He pointed at the infantry slowly approaching behind the cavalry.
"Generally speaking, they take at least three to five thousand soldiers with them to the battlefield," Zhi said.
Drystan said, "We killed at least five thousand soldiers. These people don't care about human life, do they?"
Jeet said, "The most ruthless is the fiercest."
Hye stared at the rows of soldiers for a while, noticing that they were standing in a different formation from the previous battle. "I predict they're going to shoot us first," he said.
Chinua pointed to the left and right sides and said, "They are using your tactics to deal with you. Infantries screen their archers on the flanks, with cavalry in the center, followed by their main infantry massed behind."
"This time, they mean to take the city no matter the cost," Naksh said.
Chinua said, "Act according to Hye's original plan to defend. The Musian soldiers are in urgent need of weapons supplies." Turning to the left, she called out, "Captain!"
Hibo turned around and found Chinua standing in the distance, her shouts barely audible amid the rising commotion. She quickly hurried to Chinua.
"The defense is proceeding according to Hye's plan," Chinua said.
Hibo nodded and quickly ran back to the other side of the city wall.
At this time, Mandla and Kianga arrived at the city wall to observe the situation, finding that all the prepared scarecrows had been set up on the city wall.
Kianga said, looking at Mandla, "I don't know what these scarecrows can do for us."
Mandla said, "We are not in a good situation now, so I am willing to try anything that can bring hope and fighting spirit to our soldiers." He raised his right hand, and the drums fell silent. When he saw the rows of Razaasia soldiers, he knew in his heart that this was going to be another long battle for survival. He turned to look at Kianga. "Try not to die." He pulled her closer and pressed a gentle kiss on her forehead.
Smiling at Mandla, Kianga said, "You too, my love."
As the Razaasia army marched towards Hosa City, the sound of horse hooves mingled with their footsteps. When they approached, a thunderous twang of bowstrings echoed in the valley, startling birds from the nearby trees. Above Hosha City, the raspy, drawn-out hiss of vultures added to the ominous sounds.
Chinua faced her subordinates. "Everyone, get in position!"
Chinua's five men quickly rushed down the stairs to their posts, leaving Chinua, Hye, Khunbish, Naksh, and the Magoli female archers on the city wall.
A volley of arrows streaked across the distance, separating the Razaasia soldiers from the Magoli and Musian defenders on the city wall as they continued to strike the wall and the scarecrows.
Standing under the walls of Hosha City, the Magoli soldiers watched in horror as the volley of arrows thudded into the scarecrows, piercing and tearing them apart. They knew then that if they stood in those positions, their own flesh and blood wouldn't stand a chance against such deadly force.
"Hold those arrows!" Chinua shouted. She knew the sun was facing them at the moment and firing arrows into the clearing would not be accurate and would reveal their location.
"Hold the arrows!" Mandla shouted.
Chinua watched as row after row of arrows fell on the city. She knew that the longer they sat and waited, the greater the chance of losing many soldiers.
"We have to do something!" Chinua shouted, her voice strained to be heard over the rain of arrows. "We can't just sit and be a target!"
After the latest round of arrows fell on them, Hye quickly stood up, looking at the advancing Razaasia soldiers. He predicted that their forces were now close to the city wall. He quickly ducked down, looked at Chinua, and nodded.
"Naksh!" shouted Chinua. "Prepare to return arrows!"
Mandla commanded, "Return arrows with the Magoli soldiers!"
Naksh looked at the Magoli archers and shouted, "Two arrows, followed by one!"
On the battlefield, Reza saw arrows raining down on their soldiers approaching Hosha City wall. He turned to Payam and said, "They're shooting back." He chuckled. "We have enough arrows to play with the Magoli. Let's see how long they can hold out."
Payam said, "Young lord, let us remain focused, regardless of the situation, until victory is certain."
"Captain Reza!" A soldier came running towards Reza and Payam. "Report, captain!"
Reza said, "Speak."
"Captain, the arrows returned by Musian and Magoli soldiers are our own." He handed Reza an arrow.
Reza quickly took the arrow from the soldier's hand, and after a quick inspection, he found that the arrow was indeed theirs. "How did they get our arrows?" Reza demanded. "Before I left, I ordered the soldiers to burn down our supply tents."
Payam looked at the arrow in Reza's hand and finally understood: the purpose of so many scarecrows was to fish their arrows. He suddenly broke into laughter.
Reza looked at Payam, a puzzled frown creasing his brow. "What in the abyss is so funny?" he asked.
"I finally understand the reason for the scarecrows," Payam said. He turned to Reza. "Young lord, they are using those scarecrows to catch your arrows for their own benefit."
Smiling triumphantly, Reza said, "So, the reports about their shortage of food and weapons are indeed true." He turned to look at the soldiers. "Just do as Payam says, and if the arrows don't drive them out, let the fire drive them out."