Nightfall.
Tapk! Tapk! Tapk! Tapk!
Two men, Baron Rutherford and Baron Scarlet, walked ahead of two custodian knights, whose bulging muscles would forever be a terror to the miners.
They were so big that sometimes the miners argued about how much they ate and weighed. Some even said they couldn’t get a woman.
Anyways, both Barons had heard all of these, but their expressions remained normal. They just entered the gates of the prison and were handed over to the custodian knights.
At this point, both Barons knew that they were not the only ones caged within the confines of this prison hold; the custodian knights were also prisoners.
Never had they seen any custodian knight outside the prison walls, and it has been months since they came here!
“You two are doing good.” One of the Custodian knights said. Baron Scarlet and Baron Rutherford had the best attitude and were always humble enough to do what they were asked, so not then the custodian knights suspected them.
“Well, the count promised us a good job and freedom under his county. I don’t see how that’s a bad idea.”
Scarlet said softly.
“Indeed. Though he’s young, he’s a smart one. Staying under his rule might not be that bad.” Rutherford revealed a little smile showing about two or three teeth.
One custodian knight chuckled. “It’s good you see what you can gain from submitting to His Lordship. Fighting against him is simply worsening your fate.”
“I learned that in a day inside that cell.” Baron Scarlet laughed softly.
“But isn’t your food ration small?” Baron Rutherford popped up a question from his past observation.
“Tsk! We tried to send a letter to His Lordship, but the Town Head is adamant that we have enough.” One custodian shrugged.
“That’s… bad.”
………
After Baron Rutherford and Baron Scarlet entered their cells and were locked in, Scarlet waited until he couldn’t hear the footsteps of the custodian knights anymore before approaching the steel bars of his cell.
“Why did you speak about their food in such a manner? What are you up to?”
Rutherford chuckled. He looked at his left and at his right before lifting up his head and bursting into laughter.
“My father once told me what his father told him…”
He brought down his head and looked straight into Baron Scarlet’s eyes.
“Words, though slow to effect, are more poisonous than any poison. Why? Because it can poison the heart, mind, and spirit. With words, even those that trust that young bastard will slowly drift away from him.”
“I see.”
Baron Scarlet turned back, grabbed the steel bars above his head, and began to lift his body while grunting softly.
“We better prepare before then.” He grinned.
After a fight that resulted in one death, the custodian knights found it fit for those in equal power to stay together, which was why both barons found themselves in opposite cells.
Buba was in a lower-ranked cell.
The one-eyed man sat on the ground looking at the small window that allowed him to see the glory of the two moons.
In melancholy, he gazed at the moons, his expression hard to read.
As he remembered his past deeds, his past glory, and his current position, he ground his teeth and closed his eye tightly.
After a while, Buba puffed out, slowly opening his one eye.
“I’ll wait.”
The moment those words left his lips, he went straight to his wooden bed and laid down.
While plans, some known and some unknown, were being made, the commanders of the northern wastelands were gathered in a hall in Nineveh.
This was a war council.
Clad in a white tunic, black pants, and a black jacket, Asher sat at the head seat of the round table, which was in his sacred hall.
This table wasn’t always here. It was reserved for special gatherings.
Asher entwined his fingers and gazed at all of them, his commanders, generals, and counselors.
Seated at his right was his regent, Kelvin. He looked more like the lord of the gathering while Asher looked like his youngest son.
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Ahem!
“The trebuchets will be in the stronghold by noon tomorrow, meaning the plans for battle have officially begun.”
Regent Kelvin said softly.
“How many trebuchets are we expecting? According to my spies, that wall was built in order to make sure no northern wastelands lord would breach it. Count William has been prepared decades before now.”
Commander Eritrea said solemnly.
“20 trebuchets.”
Asher said.
Everyone’s eyes widened. 20 trebuchets surpassed their expectations. There was no doubt Nineveh would be in crisis if 20 trebuchets were brought up against it.
However, no one knew Asher was planning to upgrade these trebuchets.
“If we march 8,000 Desolate Wolves against Greenrock Castle, I have no doubt it will fall in seven days.”
Alec calmly said.
“What if they also have war machines?” Lambert countered him.
“We destroy their war machines with ours.” Alec replied in the same calm tone.
“According to the reports, they don’t have war machines, and they don’t know if or when we will attack.” Kelvin said with a raised voice to make sure everyone turned back to him.
“Now, we could follow the main route, but that would alert them of your arrival. So the plan is to march through the wasteland horror forest and emerge at Greenrock’s south gate.”
“The horror forest is not a man’s land.” Aquila took some strands of her hair behind her ear as she spoke.
“It’s not, but I don’t believe anything can harm 3000 elite Desolate Wolves, 5000 Desolate Wolves, 1000 Goshen Longbow Archers, and his Lordship’s personal troop.”
Kelvin retorted, looking at the ice mage.
“You should go with Uriah. With him there, nothing should take the troops by surprise.” Katarina suggested.
“That’s true.” Alex said.
“The apothecaries will produce thousands of potions, the tailors are already repairing and building more tents and sleeping materials, and the blacksmiths will be done fixing every damaged armor by the week’s end. We have two weeks to prepare.”
Kelvin said, and the commanders nodded.
“Scouts have also discovered some movements from the Jackal clan but not toward Ashkelon. However, we have to be careful. Eritrea, you will send 200 Stormbringers to Ashkelon.”
“Yes, my lord.” Eritrea stood up and bowed.
Asher nodded.
……
Some hours after the meeting was over, Asher walked into his garden and sat on a bench, watching the two moons. The cool, refreshing breeze caressed him with wondrous gentleness.
All of a sudden, he heard the grass being crushed. It was the sound of someone’s foot tapping the carpet grass.
The moment he perceived her enchanting scent, his eyes widened.
‘It’s her!’