City Gate Clash
The following morning, after a day of rest, Friedrich joined Sir Kylan's party, along with ten brave knights who were willing to accompany him.
So the two cavalry units joined forces and quietly left Osric Fort, heading south towards the Royal Capital Plai.
Two days later, the army finally arrived at the outskirts of Prye City.
However, the scene before them surprised both Friedrich and Kellan.
The Prye City was indeed besieged by the Sauron army, with its camps stretching as far as the eye could see and banners fluttering in the wind.
However, upon closer inspection, the besieging force seemed to be smaller than they had anticipated, far from the rumored deployment of Harald's main force. It numbered only about 10,000 men, mainly cavalry, and lacked large siege equipment.
"It seems... Harald's main force has likely bypassed Prye City and ventured deep into the kingdom's wealthy southern hinterland to plunder..." Friedrich analyzed with a grave expression. "Leaving this force behind is merely to monitor and contain the Royal Capital, preventing the garrison from interfering with their plundering operations."
Sir Kylan gritted his teeth and said, "These damned barbarians! But no matter what, let's lift the siege of the Royal Capital first!"
The army concealed itself and rested in a hilly area in the distance, allowing the warhorses to recover their strength, and the soldiers to check their weapons and armor, preparing for battle.
In the afternoon, as the sun began to set slightly in the west, Kellan and Friedrich believed the time was right.
"Soldiers!" Sir Kylan's voice echoed throughout the army as he rode his warhorse, "The Royal Capital, Plai, is just ahead! His Your Majesty awaits us within its walls! The Sauron Barbarians are upon us! Charge with me! Rout them and open the road to the Royal Capital!"
"For the King! For the Broomflower! Charge!" Friedrich raised his sword and roared thunderously!
"Kill!!!"
Three thousand cavalrymen, like a flood bursting its banks, surged out from behind the hills and launched a fierce charge towards the Sauron camp besieging the Prye City!
The sound of horses' hooves was like rolling thunder, shaking the very earth!
Sauron's remaining troops were clearly unprepared for such a large force of Goldfinch Cavalry to attack from behind, and the camp was immediately thrown into turmoil and chaos!
But the Sauron were battle-hardened elites, and their reaction was extremely swift!
The officers shouted orders, and the soldiers quickly mounted their horses, took up their weapons, and fearlessly launched a counter-charge against the charging Goldfinch Cavalry!
In an instant, the two cavalry forces clashed violently on the plains south of Prye City!
In an instant, men and horses were thrown into chaos, and the sounds of clashing swords, neighing horses, roaring soldiers, and screaming soldiers echoed through the sky!
The battle entered its most brutal and intense phase from the very beginning!
With their charging momentum and high morale in rescuing their leader, the Goldfinch Cavalry once shattered the Sauron lines.
However, the Sauron Cavalry were extremely brave and had strong individual combat abilities. Moreover, they had a numerical advantage. They quickly regained their footing and used their skillful mounted archery and squad coordination to engage the Goldfinch Cavalry in fierce combat!
Friedrich and Kellan led the charge, charging left and right through the enemy ranks; wherever their swords flashed, Sauron Cavalry fell from their horses!
But the Sauron resisted fiercely, holding the Goldfinch Cavalry back and preventing them from easily approaching the city gates.
The battle was exceptionally fierce; every step forward came at the cost of bloodshed!
On the Prye City, King Heinrich XI, already alarmed by the earth-shattering sounds of battle below, ascended the south gate tower, surrounded by his guards.
When he saw the Broomflower army that had suddenly appeared and was fighting a bloody battle against Sauron Cavalry that outnumbered them several times over, he was stunned for a moment, and then he was so excited that he trembled all over!
"It's reinforcements! It's our reinforcements! They've come! They've really come!" Heinrich's voice trembled, and he was almost incoherent.
He was almost in despair, but unexpectedly, he saw hope in his desperate situation!
"Quickly! Quickly! All Musketeers and archers, aim at the Sauron Barbarians below the city and give them a good beating! Cover our cavalry!" Heinrich commanded hoarsely.
"His Majesty commands! Fire! Release the arrows!"
Gunfire erupted from the city walls, and arrows rained down!
Although the hit rate was low due to distance and the chaos of battle, the sheer scale of the attack and the occasional stray arrows hitting the enemy ranks still caused considerable disruption and psychological pressure on the Sauron, providing strong support to the Kellan and Friedrich troops who were fighting a hard-fought battle.
However, the fighting strength of the troops left behind by Sauron far exceeded expectations.
Despite their valiant efforts, the cavalry led by Kellan and Friedrich, caught in a pincer attack, suffered rapidly increasing losses.
In just half an hour of fierce fighting, hundreds of brave cavalrymen had fallen in pools of blood.
"We can't keep fighting like this!" Kellan cleaved a Sauron Decurion in two with his sword and shouted to Friedrich, who was standing not far away, "There are too many enemies! We must get into the city as soon as possible!"
Friedrich nodded in agreement, deflected a stray arrow with his sword, and shouted, "Charge towards the city gate!"
Just then, Heinrich, atop the city wall, also saw the predicament of the reinforcements. Extremely anxious, he ignored the advice of his ministers and shouted, "Open the city gates! Open the city gates now! Let our warriors enter the city!"
"Your Majesty! Danger!" the head guard exclaimed.
"We can't worry about that now! Drive!" Heinrich roared.
The heavy Prye City slowly opened a crack amidst the creaking of the winch!
"The city gates are open! Soldiers, charge in!" Upon seeing this, Kellan and Friedrich were greatly encouraged and immediately led their remaining troops in a desperate charge towards the city gates!
The Sauron also noticed the commotion at the city gate and rushed forward frantically to try and seize it! An even more brutal battle ensued near the city gate!
Finally, with the desperate charge of the Goldfinch Cavalry and the full cover of the city's defenders, Kellan and Friedrich led the remaining two thousand-plus cavalrymen into Prye City like a whirlwind!
Behind them, the city gates slammed shut before the Sauron could arrive!
Outside the city, only corpses littered the ground and Sauron Cavalry wandered and roared on their own.