The assassin ignored the question and lunged toward Paul. He swung the dagger in his right hand toward Paul, who reacted by taking a step back. Without losing this advantage, the assassin swung the dagger in his left.
This time, instead of retreating, Paul unleashed his battle force. A formless wave slammed the man, launching him into the air. A metallic hand grabbed the assassin’s neck and slammed him so hard that the ground caved in.
Adam let go of the assassin, his eyes cold as ice as he gazed at the still body. That slam had broken the man’s bones, killing him instantly!
“Who was that?” Paul asked.
“An assassin. House William would truly go to any means.” His gruff, deep voice resounded in the tent as soldiers rushed in. They were alerted by the sound of the assassin’s body hitting the ground.
“Inspect the body. Find out whatever you can.” The soldiers obeyed Adam’s orders and left with the assassin’s body while both generals remained in the room.
“We still haven’t gone past those walls, and we have almost recorded a thousand deaths… And Commander Lambert will join the numbers by tomorrow. How are we going to deal with our men’s morale?” Adam squinted at Paul’s question. “They have a wall, they still have numbers, they have siege weapons. All we have, they have.” Adam sat down. “What about them? How many have they lost?” “About five thousand men. It’s a considerable loss, but I’m afraid the death of Lambert will dampen the morale of our men. Then, they will consider the wall, the numbers of our enemies, their weapons, and the status of their lord.”
“The wall of Tiberias will fall. We’re close enough. Once it falls, Tiberias is ours.” Paul could see Adam’s conviction written on his face. The general wanted to take that city by all means, and his conviction could keep the morale of the army alive, but Paul couldn’t guarantee it would not cause more deaths than required.
“How are we going to deal with that knight?” Upon hearing that, Adam’s eyes narrowed greatly.
Meanwhile, inside Tiberias’s great manor, footsteps of soldiers marching within the manor echoed in the ears of some figures inside a massive hall.
Bam! Sofia, Count William’s wife, slammed her palm against the wooden table. “5000 men! In two days we have lost five thousand men, and House Ashbourne has not even lost a thousand!”
The commanders lowered their heads, all except Slade, who comfortably sat on his seat. “We should have attacked with all we had. Where was that old man?” “Senior mage Modret is resting. You of all people should know mages are not supposed to be overactive or risk being corrupted.” Sofia spat. Although this young man was the son of the duke and a valuable knight, she couldn’t tolerate rubbish at this moment.
Her tone was crisp and sharp.
“Mother.” Liya called out softly. Giving her mother a soft reminder of whom she spoke to. Sofia squinted, her gaze softening. “5000 Night Swordsmen infantry will arrive tonight, in a few hours at worst. With them at the forefront of battle tomorrow, House Ashbourne forces will be crushed, and we shall proceed to meet their prideful lord.”
Slade’s eyes flickered. Meeting Asher once again would be a pleasure. Because this time he wouldn’t be talking only; he would make sure Asher was enslaved.
“Of course. Swallowing his territory will bring so much gain. With his men under our flags, House Mormont will surely fall, and we shall become one of the strongest dukedoms in the northern high plains.” Sofia’s ambition was fueled by her husband’s. Their aim to grow to the top and be respected by millions was their sole driving force. Boom!
Tapk! Tapk!
Levi, Count William’s second son, who was as blurry as his elder brother, walked into the hall with his personal bodyguard, a man twice his size!
“We’ve lost 5000, and you still won’t allow me to lead my father’s men?” Sofia scowled. “Who requested your presence? I am the authority when my husband is not around. Get out!”
Levi clenched his fist, his face hardening. “I see. I’ll watch when the wall falls and wastelanders pour into this city, burning it with flames. I heard Lord Asher has a bad past with women… Your beauty won’t save you from his hands as it saved you from my father’s.” Sofia’s eyes flashed.
She merely tapped her foot against the ground, and a formless ripple spread outward. Levi felt stuck by an unseen force, slowly forcing him downwards. ƒrēewebnovel.com
His eyes became bloodshot. His bodyguard took a step forward, placing his hand on Levi’s shoulder. Almost instantly the pressure vanished, allowing him to breathe.
Glancing at his bodyguard and back at Sofia and the others in the council that looked at him expressionlessly, Levi scowled.
A sharp burst of air leaving his lips.
Without a word, he turned and left. His steps echoing until the door is shut.
“Bring out all the trebuchets. Tomorrow, we burn the camp of our enemies.” …
“You’ve been quiet lately.” A voice rang from behind, taking Nero, who gazed at the wall of Tiberias, out of his reverie. The young knight turned.
His eyes paused on the huge man garbed in a black tunic and brown pants. He tied his curly hair behind him, exposing his sharp jawline.
“Uncle.” Nero said. He still wore his armor. “Who assigned you to watch duty?” Alec sat on the log behind Nero, entwining his fingers and looking at the great wall.
The wall that looked like it could never be conquered. Great fires could be seen rising from the top of the wall along with tiny silhouettes.
Hundreds of them.
Nero’s exhale brought him back.
“I’m waiting for the man who put Commander Lambert in that condition.”
“You want to avenge him?” “Yes.” “Such vengeance belongs to the lord. Do you believe he won’t recompense House William for what has happened to Lambert?”
That question made Nero remember Asher in his blood state. The smoldering fury in those cold white eyes was spine chilling. “What do you think he would do when he finds out?”
Nero turned toward Alec.
The grand commander looked into the darkness where Nero’s eyes were supposed to be and opened his mouth.
“I don’t know. Although His Lordship is young, I can’t predict him, but I have faith in what he can do.”