Chapter 183. Gifting a Horse
Eli brought Buck with him and went forward to meet the cavalry force galloping toward them.
The black banner of the Claire Family snapped loudly in the wind. At the front was none other than Marquess Frey Claire, dressed in his black cloak and radiating heroic vigor.
Marquess Claire tightened the reins, and his magnificent white warhorse reared up, letting out a clear, ringing neigh.
His sharp gaze swiftly swept across the battlefield, which was in utter disarray.
He saw the large number of prisoners kneeling not far away, the wounded Western Frontier soldiers being carried off, and the Western Frontier soldiers clearing the battlefield.
An uncontrollable look of shock appeared on his face, and his gaze finally fixed on Eli, who was walking closer.
“Viscount Eli...
“The enemies here... have already been driven back?”
Eli placed his right hand over his chest and gave a concise military salute.
“Yes, Marquess Claire. Our army routed the invading enemy. According to preliminary counts, we slew more than one thousand and captured over five hundred.
“The enemy commander led roughly one thousand men in retreat. The exact number of enemies killed and our own casualties are still being counted.
“The total number of enemy troops who attacked this time was no fewer than three thousand.”
Marquess Claire listened seriously. Every number deepened the shock in his heart.
Eli had fought with fewer men against more, not only holding the position, but also achieving such brilliant results.
He could not help looking deeply at Eli. This young man’s ability, as well as the combat strength of the army under his command, had once again far exceeded his expectations.
“Good... Very good!” Marquess Claire nodded heavily, his tone filled with undisguised admiration.
Among the cavalry force behind him, a wave of irrepressible whispers also rose.
Clearly, this rapidly concluded blocking battle and its astonishing results had made even these proud Claire cavalrymen feel sincere admiration.
Marquess Claire swiftly dismounted and personally led his much-admired beloved horse, Windchaser, striding over to Eli.
He stretched out his gloved hand and clapped Eli hard on the shoulder.
“Eli Pendragon, I remember you once said that the fine horses of our Claire Family were the mounts you dreamed of.”
As he spoke, he shoved the reins of that magnificent white horse into Eli’s hands without allowing any refusal.
“Of all the horses here, only my Windchaser can barely match your merit today! From now on, he is yours!”
Holding those smooth yet tough reins, Eli could not help freezing for a moment. Then he hurriedly waved his hand.
“No, Marquess Claire, this is far too precious! This is your beloved mount. How could I possibly...”
“Take him!” Marquess Claire cut off his refusal, his tone allowing no argument.
“There will always be more fine horses! Besides, I am happy today! Hahahaha!”
He let out a burst of hearty laughter, and the sound echoed across the empty plain, dispersing much of the murderous air left behind after the battle.
After saying this, he did not give Eli another chance to refuse. He turned directly and gave orders to the cavalry officers behind him.
“Take over the battlefield cleanup at once! Rescue our wounded, count the spoils, and deal with the enemy corpses!”
Then he looked back at Eli. “Eli, you and your soldiers have already done more than enough.
“Now take your warriors back and rest properly. Leave the rest to us.”
Feeling Marquess Claire’s sincerity and appreciation, Eli no longer refused. He solemnly struck his right fist against his chest.
“Thank you for your generosity and consideration, Marquess Claire!”
Afterward, Eli and Buck began gathering the allied troops who had endured the hard battle.
Although the soldiers were exhausted, and many of them were wounded, their clothes and armor stained with blood, their eyes were filled with the excitement and pride of victory.
Eli’s gaze swept over those faces, some young and some weathered, and he spoke in a clear voice.
“Brothers! We have bravely fulfilled our duty!
“With fewer men, we defeated a greater enemy and routed those arrogant foes! Every one of you has done well!
“I, Eli Pendragon, will remember your merits! I will personally request rewards for all of you from Sir Lucius!”
His voice entered every soldier’s ears.
After a brief silence, the crowd erupted in fervent cheers.
“Long live the lord!”
“Pendragon!”
Their voices merged together, expressing their support for their lord and their joy at victory.
Eli raised a hand and pressed down the cheers, then continued, “Now, I order everyone to return to camp and rest!
“I will immediately arrange men to prepare hot food and clean drinking water for all of you!”
Amid the soldiers’ even more enthusiastic response, the force began moving in good order. Escorting the dispirited prisoners, they headed toward the temporary camp they had established earlier.
Eli rode the snow-white Windchaser at the very front of the column.
His short white hair and the white steed complemented each other, and beneath the afterglow of the setting sun, his eyes seemed to have gained a golden hue symbolizing glory.
........
Eli gently stroked the soft, smooth mane along Windchaser’s neck, feeling the horse’s steady, powerful steps and its obedient cooperation.
He had originally worried that such a famous horse would have a fierce temperament and be difficult to control. He had not expected it to be so intelligent and understanding.
A relaxed smile appeared on Eli’s face. The heavy pressure brought by days of battle seemed to ease somewhat because of this unexpected gift.
After returning to camp, Eli immediately fulfilled his promise. He arranged for the logistics personnel to light fires, cook meals, and prepare food.
He also ensured that there was enough clean drinking water for the exhausted soldiers.
As for the prisoners, they were gathered and escorted to a marked-off area at the edge of the camp, where a squad of soldiers still in relatively good condition kept strict watch over them.
Just as Eli was inspecting the arrangements for the prisoners, Priest John once again struggled to stand among the captives and shouted loudly in Eli’s direction.
“My lord! Lord Eli! I have even more important words to say! Please give me one more chance!”
Hearing this, Eli merely glanced calmly in his direction and gave no response.
He turned around and continued handling the matters at hand, as though he had not heard at all.
Priest John looked at Eli’s departing back, anxiety and disappointment appearing on his face. In the end, he powerlessly sank to his knees.
Several young Wanliu men beside him hurried forward to support him and comforted him in low voices.
“Priest, you do not need to do this...”
“That is right, Priest. This was our own choice. It has nothing to do with you.”
The officer guarding them, a captain named Vance, saw the commotion among the prisoners and immediately stepped forward with his hand on his sword, shouting sternly.
“All of you, shut up! Stay quiet! Anyone who dares make noise again will regret it!”
Under the intimidation of the soldiers’ gleaming weapons, the prisoners gradually quieted down.
After a while, several Western Frontier soldiers pushed two large wooden barrels near the prisoner area.
“Captain Vance,” the leading soldier reported to the guard officer, “the lord ordered us to bring these prisoners some water.”
Vance stepped forward and peered into the wooden barrels, which were filled with clear drinking water. After confirming that nothing was wrong, he nodded, and a trace of emotion appeared on his face.
“The lord is truly... merciful. Go on. Distribute it to them.”
“Yes!”
The soldiers pushed the water barrels before the prisoners.
When the clear water appeared before their eyes, many of the prisoners, especially the Wanliu men, could not help sobbing quietly. Some even burst into tears.
To the Wanliu men, whose faith was closely tied to water, water was an incomparably sacred and precious gift.
Especially now that they had become prisoners, with life and death in another’s hands.
For the other side to still be willing to give them clean drinking water seemed to them almost like miraculous mercy.
“Thank you... Thank you, merciful lord...” Broken words of gratitude rose from among the prisoners.
Captain Vance maintained order loudly, while also announcing with some pride,
“Do not make a mess! Line up properly! One at a time!
“If you want to thank someone, thank our lord—Viscount Eli Pendragon! This was his order!”
At that moment, Priest John also struggled to stand. He helped calm his excited compatriots and had them line up properly.
Then he walked up to Captain Vance, placed his right hand over his chest, saluted, and spoke sincerely.
“Honored warrior, might I... do this on your behalf and distribute this sacred drinking water to my compatriots? I guarantee there will be no suspicious movement.”
Captain Vance looked him up and down, recognizing him as the old priest who had previously spoken alone with the lord.
He hesitated for a moment, then looked at that aged and stooped body. In the end, he nodded and warned him,
“Fine. But behave yourself. Do not try anything.”
“Thank you for your trust.” Priest John bowed again.
Afterward, Vance and the nearby soldiers watched with some interest as Priest John performed one ritual after another filled with exotic character.
John dipped a clean finger into the clear water inside the wooden barrel.
Then he solemnly touched it to the lips of each Wanliu prisoner who came forward to drink, while quietly chanting an obscure and ancient prayer.
Only after this simple ritual was complete would the prisoner respectfully accept the wooden ladle handed over by the soldier and devoutly drink the clear water inside.
This solemn and peculiar scene formed a sharp contrast with the murderous military camp around them.
......
At the same time, on the battlefield where fighting had just ended, Viscount Armand had also hurried over with the soldiers under his command.
After finishing the follow-up matters concerning the Federation remnants, they had immediately rushed over without stopping to support Eli.
Seeing Marquess Claire directing cavalry and infantry to clear the battlefield, Viscount Armand hurriedly rode forward.
“Lord Frey! The battle is already over? It is thanks to you! Viscount Eli did not suffer any mishap, did he?”
Marquess Claire turned his head. He spread his hands and said with a bitter smile,
“Thanks to me? No, Armand. I think I came too late. By the time I arrived, the battle here was already over.”
Viscount Armand froze, unable to react for a moment.
“Hm? You mean... Eli and his men... defeated an enemy force far larger than theirs on their own?”
Marquess Claire nodded heavily. His gaze swept over the enemy corpses that had not yet been fully cleared and the large number of abandoned weapons on the battlefield, then he said with certainty,
“Yes. If my eyes are still healthy... then yes. He did it. Hahahaha!”
As he spoke, he could not help laughing again.
Viscount Armand drew in a sharp breath and looked toward the direction of Eli’s camp, his eyes filled with disbelief and deep emotion.
With half the enemy’s strength, not only had Eli withstood the pressure, he had even won such an important victory while outnumbered...
This Viscount Pendragon had once again refreshed the upper limit of Armand’s understanding of the phrase “young and promising.”
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