Volume One: The Forest Knight Chapter 39: The Battle to Retake Maple Leaf Manor (V) – Part One

After capturing these men, Berion ordered Iome to report to Viscount Merry, who immediately signed the execution order. The Viscount harbored a deep loathing for those who excelled only in revelry and indulgence but were useless in battle. With the signed order in hand, Berion gathered everyone together. In full view of the camp, he beheaded the seven men on the spot and hung their severed heads on wooden poles within the camp as a warning.

Having just assumed command, Berion executed seven men at once—one of whom had been a knight’s squire. His decisiveness and ruthless methods sent a chill through the other commanding knights and militia officers. Though these men seethed inwardly at Berion’s actions, they now only muttered curses under their breath, not daring to openly question his orders.

Berion had always intended to use severe punishment to intimidate these unruly and arrogant troops before tomorrow’s battle. Having lived two lifetimes, he understood one truth profoundly: one must be prudent when the situation calls for it, but when ruthlessness is required, sentimentality has no place. If you show mercy now, when you fall from favor, these same people will show you none. That’s why Berion dared to execute seven men, including a knight’s squire, all at once. For many, only the sight of fresh blood leaves a lasting impression.

That night, everyone in camp—except Berion and the soldiers from Norland Castle—went to bed uneasy, their minds troubled by anxiety over tomorrow’s battle and fear of their new commander’s bloody methods.

The next day, Berion led his forces to concentrate their strength on a frontal assault against the gates of Maple Leaf Manor. First, he ordered all archers to pin down the Toba pirates manning the walls. Though his archers were not especially accurate, it was enough to keep the skilled pirate bowmen from having time to shoot effectively.

Then, Berion had Iome lead a squad of soldiers carrying large wooden boards draped with wet felt to the manor’s gates. Instead of battering or hacking at the doors, they hung numerous leather bags filled with some unknown liquid on the gate and placed two large barrels, filled with the same liquid, beneath the towers flanking the entrance. With the task complete, Iome and his men quickly withdrew behind their shields.

On the wall, the Toba pirate captain Ham looked at his fellow leader and asked, “Fast, what do you make of this?” Fast, the other pirate captain, pondered for a moment before replying, “Brother Ham, I don’t know what these Brick-dogs are up to, but whatever it is, we should stop it. I’ll take some men to smash these things and see what’s inside.”

“Good. Take a few more shields for safety. These Brick-dogs may be poor shots, but they fire densely,” Ham agreed. Fast grinned and went off with his men.

On Berion’s side, as soon as Iome returned, Berion ordered all archers to ready flaming arrows. Infantrymen brought braziers to the archers, who wrapped oiled cloth beneath their arrowheads. Once lit, the archers drew their bows, and at Berion’s command, launched a volley at the manor gates.

At that moment, Fast and eight pirates had just reached the gates, about to unhook the leather bags. Fast first stepped in a small puddle, then heard the drip of liquid, and suddenly smelled oil. The battle-hardened Fast was struck with dread—what he’d stepped in wasn’t water, but oil. He immediately realized the Brick-men’s plan and shouted, “Run, brothers! The Brick-dogs are going to set the gate on fire!”

But his warning had barely left his lips when a barrage of flaming arrows streaked through the air, striking the gates and the bags. Many hit the oil-filled sacks directly, igniting them in an instant. Flames snaked outward, feeding on the spread oil, consuming more bags and rapidly setting the gates ablaze.

Fast and his men had no time to escape; the fire caught their clothing, and the flames, following the trails of oil, spread from their feet and engulfed them completely. As they beat at the flames in the gateway, a second and third volley of flaming arrows rained down, igniting the remaining bags and the two barrels. The barrels exploded—not with the force of gunpowder, but with a thunderous roar—sending flames shooting skyward, punching through the towers on either side of the gate and setting both the towers and the pirates within alight.

With the explosive burst of the barrels, the entire gatehouse of Maple Leaf Manor was soon engulfed in a roaring inferno. Fast and his men, unable to escape, were transformed into blazing human torches, and with the pirates on the towers and gatehouse, perished in the flames amid agonized screams.

Witnessing the pirates’ grisly fate and the manor’s burning gates, which now swayed on the verge of collapse, the Brick soldiers raised their weapons and roared. They knew that with the gates gone, no matter how fierce the remaining pirates, they would soon be hacked to pieces.

Viscount Merry, his gloom dispelled, gazed at the burning manor and clenched his fist in excitement. He knew that today, Maple Leaf Manor would at last fall into their hands.

The day before, as Berion had searched the supply caravan for absent soldiers, he had discovered two merchant wagons carrying a good deal of oil. Sensing an opportunity, he had bought up all the oil at his own expense, devising the plan to breach the manor gates. The entire purchase had cost only three hundred denars—a sum that would save at least fifty Brick soldiers from the pirates’ arrows and claim the lives of some twenty pirates in return. A bargain beyond compare.

Seeing that the gatehouse would take a while yet to collapse, Berion dispatched three knight’s squires, each with twenty militia, to surround the other sides of the manor, with orders to shoot or capture any escaping pirates—none were to be allowed to flee. Knowing the militia’s limited fighting ability, Berion also sent two trainee knights, each with five heavy infantry, to provide mobile support. He was determined to annihilate this band of Toba pirates who had dared penetrate inland and seize a stronghold.

Amid the crackle of burning timbers, the manor’s gatehouse and both towers collapsed with a crash, taking down part of the wooden walls as well. Now, Maple Leaf Manor was a plump, irresistible prize. The knights in command, barely able to contain their anticipation, knew that once they stormed in and slew the twenty or so pirates left, they could plunder the manor’s riches as they pleased, leaving only enough for Viscount Merry to report as spoils.

Berion cast a cold, inward laugh at these fair-weather warriors. For now, lacking a firm power base, he would not make too many enemies—let them have their fill of looting. With that resolve, Berion drew his sword while astride his steed, spurred his horse to the front, and shouted as he galloped past the ranks, “Brave sons of Brick! For three days we have spilled too much blood before these walls. Today, let us raise our axes and swords, and with the blood of the Toba curs, honor our fallen brothers! Kill! Kill! Kill!”

“Storm the gates!”

“Kill! Kill! Kill!”

“Charge in—slay them all!”

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