Four hours of walk to the south of fort, a bit far from the river. When portion of Kilja men are hunting fox to make pelts and sell the leftovers in the spring. They encounter a large numbers of furious mobs. The Koryaks chase the mounted archers fiercely. The Kyrgyz in their eyes are sullying the mother nature.
This skirmish happened three days after Kilja's separated from the main militia. So many of the enemies died. The number of Koryaks fallen is tallied 200 more while Kiljas only suffer 12 casualties. Mostly by tumbling from their horses and suffer from frostbite when they retrieve their arrows back.
"Man it's early autumn but so cold. My older brother died and those men barely have any loot," said one of Kilja's man.
"That's right you can see snow everywhere. Still we shall feast to honor the fallen! Bards sing the song," Tatabi encourage his man. He also order his wives to enjoy the moment with him.
A courier send by Iltas enter the camp. He interupt when Tatabi is playfully banter with one of his wife.
"Not here Husband," said the wife.
"Ohoho a little bit ...," Tatabi is half-drunk.
"I apologize but come to bear words from Great Chieftain," the courier speak.
"Since when did he bear that title? Also do you have manner. Do you have wife yet," Tatabi ask.
"Once again i apologize my lord but the message must be informed quickly. The Buqa Clan are preparing for peace talk with the enemy. He demand you to join him," the courier explain.
"Don't be preposterous will you. We hold huge advantage over them. Also the Koryaks use yak probably as heavy cavalry," Tatabi inform his man finding to the courier.
The courier himself look confused. In their society despite it's great power, yak is no different from horned cattle that in southern warmer region. Used to harvest it's milk to be made as dairy necessities or for the meat.
"Did we not going to dislodge Iltas from his position Chief," one of his man speak.
"One more word and i cut your tongue. He is just misguided from Tangri way. Not our sworn enemy. Once we storm Samarkand together and took it from Sassanid Empire." Tatabi rise his leather cup.
"As the chief said previously. To battle at dawn!" others speak.
Tatabi already planning to launch his surprise raid. The scouts spot hundreds of Koryak yurts. Confident that the place is their main village. All the men in Kilja's camp vigorously follow him into the bigger battle that will ensue.
"Haha it's even easier, remember our law on warfare. Loot it clean first. Before burning," Tatabi dismount from his steed.
"Chieftain, we apologize ...," his man approach.
"Why?" Tatabi ask. Actually he suspicious that things going to smoothly.
"Every yurt is empty. No women, livestocks or even book. Nothing what should we do," his man is confused.
Tatabi quickly grab his horse. He said to his men, "don't waste the fats," as he gallop as fast as possible to his camp.
—
Thick smoke from afar can be seen by Iltas. He still guard the fort bastion. He order one of his man to grab his weapon and steed. Iltas is going to reinforce Tatabi camp with 600 mounted lancers. Whether he likes it or not.
Iltas realized that the enemy number are several times larger than theirs. This is the decisive moment for them to thin down the enemy line. Peace talk will be going smoother after.
"Let me lead this assault. You should rest, what if we lost you?" said Jelek.
"No uncle you lead the fort defence. We all going to die one day," Iltas remind.
As the front and rear gates were opened, the militia were showered by arrow from enemy atlatl. Iltas and Adam, leave from the point of two gates. They quickly reinforce to become one singgle big unit. Together with around 600 light cavalry riders, both of them manage to break off the ambush by fighting fearlessly.
"Excellent martial skills father!" Tughluq loose his grip on the bow string. Hitting one enemy skirmisher hiding in large rock.
There are barely any tree in the area. As far as eyes can see it's lowland plains area. Everything can be seen from the top of bastion. Enemy are preparing to place their siege ladders on all wooden wall side.
"Let me fight, look at their brave women," Nana point out to one of the skirmisher.
"So? They are not us and we are not them. Our customs is different. Why don't you go back and evacuate with other girls to the center!" Tughluq shout. He start to get angry.
Nana does not care anymore. There is no point in arguing with her older brother. He will always dismiss her idea to fight because she is a woman. Nana don't actually want to become fully warrior but she want to help the fighting from the fort.
The bastion guard is pressed hard by the enemy arrow and small javelin. One enemy attack pierce the neck of guard's near Nana position. Without regard to her safety, she grab his bow. Returning the attack to her enemy.
"You mad!?" Tughluq plunge his frustration into the climbing enemy.
"We are descendant of Tomyris," Nana embolden her resolve.
"Then so what," Tughluq ask in indifference. She already shot one of the enemy.
"I'm simply going to help," Nana reply.
Tughluq ignore Nana that crouch in the bastion. The girl is too determined to fight. On the other hand, situation on the fort looks grim. The Koryaks attacker probably have the upperhand right now. They managed to place their ladders in the west section of the wall.
"Men to me!" Tughluq order soldier his age to follow.
"Where?" Arpad ask. He still ready the bow's string.
"Frontal attack," Tughluq does not explain further. He expect his man to understand his intention.
"Hey wait why don't we attack from ...," Arpad become silenced looking at the son of chieftain action.
Thwack!
Tughluq already descend using his axe's. Leading 100-man with him. Landing on the fort blind spot. Darkness in the night make them even harder to be seen by the enemy. Koryaks attacker did not realize that their troops in west wall is being cut down.
"Here we are, i'm not descendants of cowards!" Tughluq shout. Valiantly jump into the enemy ranks.
"You kill my father, remember my name. I'm Arpad, Son of Kure!" Arpad turn his anger into strength. Plunging himself into the enemy.
Realizing that the son of their leader is fighting on the frontline, Jelek order more militia on the three wall to reinforce the west. This make Koryaks exploit their weakness on the north part.
"Change to rocks if your quivers run out of arrows!" Udmurt shout.
"Now fina--," said the enemy with language that no one in fort understand.
Stab!
"I won't let you!" Nana loose her arrow.
First wave of Koryaks attack ended with so many casualties on their side. This does not deter them to start the second wave. Assault begin with the arrows showered on Tughluq position. They fought as light infantry unit. Lightly armored and very nimble moving on the night.
"Enough moving now we endure. Shield wall!" Tughluq drill his unit. Remembering what he taught by the instructor in Gokturk Central Army.
More arrows rain down to Tughluq position. Some of his men were fallen due to arrow that slips from their shield gap. Arpad is wounded by two Arrow hitting his left arm. He can no longer wield shield as effectively.
"Tughluq they were too numerous. We must fall back!" Arpad shot. Another arrow hit his left shoulder.
"Don't fret like a woman!" Tughluq reassure.
The enemy skirmish finally stop, they start their direct assault. Jelek scream for them to back inside the fort but Tughluq refuse. Remembering Layla's smile once more, the young man charge at the enemy waves by himself. Inspiring his men to do the obvious.
"Wood is scarce here. Please endure it son," Jelek murmured. The old man focus his old eyes to help Tughluq as much as he could.
The face on their enemies this time look younger. There are more young girls in their ranks.