Chapter 83: Mammoths
"Mammoths?"
Saelen slapped his forehead. How had he forgotten something as crucial as these prehistoric beasts?
He pictured it instantly—giants riding mammoths, charging across the battlefield and smashing through enemy lines. Against such overwhelming size and momentum, whether light infantry or heavily armored troops, no formation would hold. The sheer difference in scale meant that a short charge alone would be enough to shatter any defense.
And if combined with heavy and light cavalry, coordinating their movements… the destructive power on the battlefield would increase exponentially.
At that moment, Rosso had just finished measuring Chief Mag. The giant impatiently brushed him aside with one massive hand, then pointed at Saelen and began speaking rapidly in the guttural language of the giants, gesturing as he spoke.
Saelen caught only fragments of meaning and turned to Val for help.
"Yes," she translated, brushing back her honey-blonde hair as her braid rested against her chest, her blue eyes flickering with interest. "They are the giants' closest companions. Chief Mag says he brought thirty mammoths with him this time."
"Thirty mammoths?" Saelen's eyes widened. "Where are they? I haven't seen a single one around here."
"Chief Mag says they're being left to roam nearby," Val explained. "Some of his people are watching over them."
"Roaming?"
"Yes. Mammoths are enormous—many times heavier than giants. With bodies that large, each one consumes two to three thousand pounds of food per day. There's no way anyone could afford to feed them directly."
"So most of the time, they forage in the wild."
Val seemed unexpectedly enthusiastic as she explained, while Saelen's expression gradually stiffened.
He quickly did the math in his head.
Three thousand pounds per day… roughly thirteen hundred kilograms.
Thirty mammoths would consume nearly thirty-nine thousand kilograms daily—thirty-nine tons of food.
Saelen shook his head slowly.
Impossible to sustain. Impossible to deploy casually.
Even a medium-scale war could last three to six months. If these mammoths were used in battle—even assuming the conflict ended within a single month—they would still consume hundreds of tons of food.
At the most conservative estimate… seven to eight hundred tons.
Even that estimate was based on short-distance movement. If they marched south for a prolonged campaign, the time—and the food consumption—would increase dramatically. Even if Saelen could afford the cost, the logistical burden alone would be a nightmare.
"So what do these big fellows eat?" Jon asked, stunned by the numbers.
"They're herbivores, of course they eat plants," Ygritte replied smugly. "Grass, shrubs, branches, bark, moss, lichen—whatever they can find."
She shot Jon a look. "Jon Snow, you really don't know anything."
Saelen narrowed his eyes slightly, thinking it through. If mammoths were to be used in war, their marching routes would have to be carefully planned. The path must be rich in forests and vegetation, allowing them to feed as they moved. Only then could the burden on logistics be minimized.
Free-range grazing seemed to be the most practical solution—bring them along during campaigns, let them forage when idle, and deploy them only when battle began.
Of course, that came with its own risks. While feeding, the mammoths could be vulnerable to ambush. That couldn't be completely avoided—only mitigated by deploying scouts and maintaining vigilance.
Still, Saelen's eyes lit up. Mobilizing hundreds of mammoths might be unrealistic, but deploying twenty or thirty at once was entirely feasible. Creatures of that size, armored and charging into enemy ranks, could shatter formations instantly. Against such force, enemies would have no choice but to retreat behind fortifications.
With that in mind, Saelen ordered Rosso to bring a few apprentices and follow him to where the mammoths were.
They rode out quickly, reaching the location in no time. Chief Mag kept pace on foot, his long strides carrying him just as fast.
Dozens of mammoths were scattered across the wilderness, grazing tirelessly. Large patches of forest and grassland had already been stripped bare—clear evidence of their enormous appetite.
The sight made everyone inhale sharply.
Thankfully, a closer look revealed that the damage wasn't irreversible. The animals hadn't stripped trees completely bare, nor had they gnawed down to the bark. Grass roots remained intact. Given time, the vegetation would recover.
Saelen approached one of the mammoths. Despite its massive size, it was surprisingly docile—merely glancing at him before continuing to feed.
He signaled for the foreman and apprentices to begin measuring it. His intention was to create protective gear for the mammoths' heads, especially against crossbow bolts.
"What are you doing?"
Val's voice cut in, tinged with surprise.
"Mammoths may be gentle, but they're not without temper. Approach carelessly, and if it gets angry, no one here could stop it."
"I plan to equip them with armor," Saelen replied calmly. Of course, he had no intention of sending the apprentices in recklessly—the giants themselves would have to assist.
Val suddenly laughed, her bright smile blooming like a rose under sunlight. Both Saelen and Jon found themselves momentarily stunned.
"Watch closely."
She lifted her bow and shot an arrow at a nearby mammoth. The arrow struck its thick hide with a dull thud—and bounced off.
She fired again, this time at its head. The result was the same. Though it didn't pierce the skin, the impact clearly caused discomfort.
The mammoth raised its head, trumpeting angrily.
Chief Mag immediately stepped forward, calming it. After a moment, the beast shook its head and wandered off to continue grazing.
"See?" Val said, lowering her bow. "Their defenses are already incredibly strong. Armor would only weigh them down and make them clumsy. It's unnecessary."
Saelen, however, remained composed.
"That was reckless," he said evenly. "What if it had charged?"
"Then it would've taught you rude men a lesson," Val shot back.
An awkward silence followed as the men exchanged glances. Saelen quickly changed the subject.
"Historical records mention giant ballistae in the south—capable of piercing a dragon's hide," he said.
"If they can pierce dragons, they can likely pierce mammoths as well. So for safety, some protection is still necessary. It doesn't need to be elaborate—just reinforce the head."
Val frowned slightly. "Dragons? You expect me to believe those exist?"
"They do," Saelen said firmly.
"I've seen them myself."