The cavalry was able to take out the infantry of the Insbeck region before they had time to reach the main army. The enemy lost a thousand men during the battle and the rest of the three thousand soldiers dispersed and with the nobles dead also most likely will not reunite with the main royal retinue.

The grey skins and rebels had lost around two hundred men and grey skins most of them being grey skins. As soon as the battle was over the grey skins and rebels retreated north to their main force.

The biggest victory was though was that the humans and grey skins had fought hand in hand what had helped clear frictions among the ranks of the soldiers and warriors. Namri had personally thanked and shown respect to the cavalry commander Erik. This gave way for more humans and grey skins to put away old rivalries and come together against a common enemy.

When they returned the grey skins were all talking about how the extremely glory hunting and egoistical Namri had praised the humans and how the human cavalry had saved the grey skins.

Among the humans spread the valor of which the grey skins fought with and how thankful the leader was after the battle.

Most shocking was that the loud-mouth Namri was following Erik around everywhere. Erik of course didn't understand a word he said, but it did look to both humans and grey skins that the two of them had become good friends.

Slowly the division among the old enemies was being washed away.

"Seems like the battle was successful in many ways," count Hunyadi said.

"The moral is extremely high right now," Rufus said and looked at a group of grey skin warriors trying to converse with some human soldiers.

"Soon the deciding battle will commence," the count said with a low voice.

"Apparently so. We have around a couple of weeks before we most likely have to face the main army according to Doreen."

"How are you feeling. You think you are ready?"

"I remember one person once saying 'We all happened to be in these positions, but it doesn't change the fact that we must act.' Does it ring a bell?" Rufus said and quoted the count himself and smiled.

The count laughed.

"Look at you. The mountain air really has done wonders for you," The count said and laughed.

~ ~

It was the beginning of fall. The war had lasted for around two months now. They decided to leave a small garrison into the Heinfel castle and started to march east trying to bait the royal army to follow them. They needed to tire the enemy force as much as possible first.

The royal army supplied itself from local farms they passed by and had no own supplies or supply line. An army marched with its stomach and Doreen planned to empty it before the deciding battle.

The army was reaching a small village on their route to the east. The cavalry rode ahead of the main army to the village.

"What are we going to do in this village?" Rufus asked.

"The royal army is around a week march behind us. We must get the army tired. According to our scouts, they do not have much supplies left and are going to take what they need from the farm and villages they pass by. We must take all the supplies and food for ourselves or make sure they don't get them at least," Doreen explained.

"Then what of the farmers themselves?"

Doreen was silent.

"Doreen! What of the farmers themselves?" Rufus asked again with a higher voice.

"This is what war is Rufus. This is all new to me also, but we must do this," Doreen yelled back who also wasn't happy about the situation.

Rufus was not happy with the answer. He rode quickly to the village that was ahead of them.

He looked as the soldiers were forcibly taking away all the supplies from the villagers. They emptied all the silos from grain to carriages. He saw soldiers going to the fields with torches to set the fields a blaze that was yet to be harvested.

Doreen quickly rode to catch up to him.

"Rufus, please. Do not make this any harder than it is. This is necessary," Doreen said.

"Aren't we supposed to help these people? This entire war is for them. It was not long ago when we were in their position. Weren't we also supposed not to raid and live off the land to send a message to the people that things would be different later?"

"I know. Things have changed. The enemy has a larger force and we need to use all the tools at our disposal. Even if those tools seem unethical. War always demands the sacrifice of the people. Let us make sure that the sacrifice won't go down in vain with us losing."

Rufus looked at Doreen. Haley also came to Rufus.

"He is right. Remember how the people in the slums used to always steal from others so they could survive. We must ensure our survival for the people. Think of all the people who have died for us," Haley argued.

Rufus struggled with the situation.

"Are you the Rufus we have heard of?" an old feeble old lady asked from Rufus.

Rufus looked confused. Soon the other people's attention was caught by Rufus.

"Is that Rufus? Is Rufus here, where? Rufus!" the villagers started to ask and run towards Rufus.

Rufus was surrounded by the villagers. They all started to beg for him. They clung to him like he was some kind of myth or even a god.

Rufus looked at the villagers. All of them wore tattered clothes with stains all over. The people looked malnourished and you could even see some of the bones of the people. Some of them even didn't have shoes on.

"Please Rufus save us. We have suffered under our lord for many years now. Please save us," the villagers begged from him grabbing onto Rufus's clothes.

"We will do anything," The villager yelled with red eyes.

Rufus stepped out of his steed. He took one soldier's torch and walked into the fields. He then proceeded to start burning the fields.

Slowly the demon called war had started to take its effect on Rufus. Rufus started to close his heart more and more and get used to it.

At first, he got used to killing. Now he was getting used to sacrificing innocents for the greater good.

War doesn't determine anything. It only determines what is left.