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The orcs were long gone. The Prontera forces did not understand the aim behind their retreat, since the odds were against the defenders. Some ruled out the possibility that this was done to decrease their numbers so as to facilitate the next assault. Unfortunately for the hosts, they suffered heavy casualties that included damaged gates and walls, a huge loss of men and severely injured militia.
There was much to be done this night. The injured had to be tended to in the church, and they had to recover as quickly as possible to meet the next onslaught by the unforgiving orcs. Even inexperienced acolytes had to contribute to the healing process, for the priests were shorthanded.
The deceased were removed from the battlegrounds and buried hastily in the plot of land behind the church. Prayers were chanted to bless the souls of those who had so readily sacrificed their lives for the sake of the city. King Tristan the Third had ordered a disbanding of every guild in this city, and the members were to join their respective departments depending on the job they undertook.
Almost everybody, including the civilians who had evacuated, passed a slow and restless night. They were deprived of proper rest to butter up whatever defences they could offer as of this moment. Even swordsmen were employed to serve the meagre numbers of foot soldiers who had fallen by a great number. A handful of knights were also assigned to the foot soldiers force, for there was a heavy shortage of Pecopeco.
The constructors were instructed by the supervisors to abandon the minor works, and repair the west gates as soon as possible. They were glad that at least they did not have to re-construct the south gate that was attacked, all thanks to the Fiendbanes and the group of men led by the Avenger knight leader, Cerberus. Perhaps the only knight who was not wounded too heavily, Cerberus received compliments from the two warlords, and some looked up to him for motivation. Larzen had asked him to join the Prontera military, but he just said he would fight alongside, and that would not be of any necessasity.
Defenders of Prontera were fully caught by surprise for they did not expect the orcs to make use of catapults and large boulders to barrel them to their deaths. This upset the hunters in Prontera when several boulders crashed into the walls, sending most of them falling to their deaths. Only a few number of hunters remained, those sent to defend the south gates were totally wiped out by similar means.
The two warlords, knowing full well that Payon could hardly spare any of their hunters due to their own struggle against Moonlight Flower and her legion of cave demons, sent messengers to request nonetheless. They knew they were being selfish, but they were driven to their wits end. An add-on to their army was much needed, unless they wanted to be overrun by the green-skinned beasts. Rumours had been circulating in the barracks that the orcs could be under a new superior, for the Orc Lord had not been too hostile all these years.
Meetings after meetings were held in the political chamber of the castle, the king having exhausted himself since the battle. Strategists, advisors and other ministers discussed heatedly about the upcoming showdown, and methods to defeat the four. However, the latter proved to be a tough nut to crack, for they could come up with no well-founded means to do so.
The meetings stopped only now, allowing ample time for the king to rest, even though he was unable to rest well this night. The advisors had gathered that the earliest wave of attack that may come again would be within the next night. Yet, no thorough preparations were complete. The men expected early response for their request for reinforcements, but there was no sanguinity in it. It was likely that the other cities were keeping their own forces back for upcoming threats. Every warrior convalescing in the barracks or in the churches passed the night with grim anticipation for the blare of horns.
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"You, come! A couple more mugs!" Piffy shouted among the din.
"Aye, right away!"
The barkeep quickly filled two mugs to the brim with Prontera's own brew, and waded over to the alchemist's table.
"Only the two of you?"
"Yes," Cerberus said, knowing that the barkeep was curious as to where were the other five. "Just the two of us this night."
Piffy sniffed the mug and licked the foam at the top. Hardly resisting himself, he took two large gulps that drained half the mug. The other customers recognized Cerberus, and started hailing him the hero responsible for driving off the orcs from the south gates. The knight merely dismissed their praises, and pushed the credit to the two warlords' Fiendbane Enforcers. However, they continued recognizing him as the main hero.
"You've become popular overnight, lad," Piffy said with a wink.
"They don't seem the least worried," came the knight's reply.
Whistling a tune, Piffy stared out of the window as he sipped at his almost empty mug. Cerberus set down his mug of ale, sighing away as he brooded over the future of Prontera, and how in the abyss were they going to cancel the four's existence once and for all.
"I fear very much for us all. We will give it all we have now. I myself doubt if we're seeing the rest anytime soon, or maybe never."
"You're the source of motivation for us, lad. Set an example," Piffy reminded the knight.
"I can't bring myself to it. You've just witnessed it; the orcs alone already caused such devastation, let alone the four combined. Its too much for us to take it."
"If we're so doomed we'll drink till we drop dead!" Piffy said, raising his second mug. "While we have the chance."
Cerberus emptied his mug of ale, then closed his eyes to think back of the good times he had with his guild. He was starting to miss them, and he was longing to see them for the last time before his and Prontera's demise.
"What are the rest doing, I wonder?"
"The king's vile, I tell ya," Piffy spoke. "Skull and co were now hailed at the St Caprina heroes, I heard. Apparently the orcs too invaded the monk home. Yet, the king's still hunting him down."
"A wanted man remains a wanted man, no matter how much you try to redempt yourself after the escape," the knight remarked.
"I tell ya that lad has wits larger than a dragon!"
"And that brings him nowhere but a dragon's mouth."
Piffy laughed heartily and downed half of the second mug.
"You, come! A couple more!"
The barkeep, who was trying to settle a brawl between a drunken rogue and a bard, gave him a thumbs up and hurried to the counter. Moments later two mugs were plopped onto the table. Piffy handed him some coins, and the barkeep returned to the unsettled brawl, which was intensifying. The bard had smashed his guitar through the rogue's head, knocking him out instantly.
"Ten points!" Piffy cheered at the impact of the dramatic blow.
"Pretty good axe you've found yourself. You definitely sliced some orc meat hard," Cerberus said with a grin, trying to forget about the tension.
"Yeah! Of course! Smith loaned me that; that lad's got a larger collection of axes than I thought!"
Cerberus stifled his laugh. He knew the alchemist was a frugal person. But when it comes to good beer, he would be more than willing to part with his coins. Standing up, he drank the warming ale in his mug.
"Don't get a hangover, friend. We've got business tomorrow morning."
"Where you headed? Stay a while longer!"
"Nah, I've got business at the barracks," Cerberus explained as he left the rowdy inn, and into the cool, yet dismal night.