Chapter 170
THE FORGOTTEN FIELDS (NOVEL) – Chapter 170
THE FORGOTTEN FIELDS (NOVEL) Chapter 170
Chapter 170
THE FORGOTTEN FIELDS (NOVEL)
—And what of it?
When he asked in a frigid tone, Garis, who was panting with a flushed face, took a step back with a start.
Varkas looked at him with an expression that denoted annoyance and added cruelly:
—I am fulfilling my duty as a loyal vassal of the Empire. Wherever my heart may be, it is not a matter in which Your Highness should intervene.
His bronzed face, weathered by the sun, tinged a darker shade.
The man staring at him with eyes full of a sense of betrayal said, gritting his teeth:
—You swore to my mother… that you would protect me and Ayla…
—And for that very reason I am here now, am I not? —Varkas interrupted him with a certain annoyance—. Had I not prevented it, the First Princess would now be a hostage of Duke Heimdall. Had I not anticipated the movements of the north and blocked their sources of financing, we would not have been able to isolate the rebels with such ease. And now, I am attempting to end the war quickly to prevent a misfortune from happening to Your Highness, the Crown Prince.
Varkas stopped speaking and scrutinized the face of his cousin, which was red from humiliation.
—What more must I do for Your Highness to be convinced?
—Ha! You speak as if you were grand, but in the end you abandoned Ayla and chose that bastard girl. Even now, you care more about that girl than supporting me! How can I believe in your loyalty…?!
—Your Highness.
Upon hearing the voice that emerged low and deep, Garis, who was raging in fury, fell silent.
Varkas approached the Crown Prince, gripped him by the shoulder with his wide, armored hand, and exerted strong pressure.
—We made a deal, did we not? In the end, Your Highness accepted my marriage.
The veins stood out on the neck and cheeks of the Crown Prince. Varkas pressed harder against the man who was trying to break free from his grip and whispered coldly into his ear:
—Then why do you insist on bringing up the subject over and over again?
In an instant, the Crown Prince’s face turned a pale and bleak color.
It was an expression similar to that of someone who has been bitten on the neck by the hound he raised himself.
Varkas let out a long sigh and relaxed his fingers.
—My words that ending the war now is the most appropriate path for the Empire are born of sincerity. Therefore, I beg you to put aside your emotions and judge the situation coldly.
He gave him a light pat on the shoulder and left the tent, being greeted by the strong smell of earth.
Varkas looked up at the black-tinted sky and walked slowly through the camp beneath the strands of rain that were beginning to gradually subside.
Between the folds of the military tents lined up with regularity, the harsh and arid features of the Cairas Valley began to loom faintly.
After establishing his camp in Beldis, which connects the east with the north, he had moved a part of the elite forces to the northwest in anticipation of coming events.
The new location was a strategic point that allowed for a direct march toward Amasik, the center of Palto, in case of emergency; at the same time, it was a place from which one could reach Dolacan Castle, where the negotiations were likely to be held, in four days. He intended to remain in this camp and advance north toward Amasik, or move to Dolacan Castle depending on the Emperor’s decision.
Fortunately, the negotiations had been approved, so he planned to descend toward the south as soon as dawn broke to witness the signing of the peace treaty.
Although the Emperor would send a delegate and there would be no need for him to stay, he preferred to be close to deal with any unforeseen event.
He shook out his hair, completely soaked by the drizzle, and contemplated the narrow valley where the mist of the rain floated.
If the peace treaty was signed without any setbacks, the Heimdall family would be expelled by those of their own race and the rebellion would be completely suppressed.
And then, he too could return home soon.
‘Though she won’t be happy about that…’
He exhaled a bitter sigh and sat down on a rustic fence, then pulled out the water canteen hanging from his belt and moistened his mouth.
At that moment, a dark silhouette approached in the middle of the rain leading a horse.
Varkas narrowed his eyes as he recognized his face. It was Tyron El Dracan, whom he had stationed at Beldis; he made his way through the camp splashing the mud around him.
—Your Highness.
The man, who stopped before him, greeted him with a bow.
Varkas examined his appearance, which betrayed that he had come in a great hurry, and frowned:
—What is the matter?
—News arrived from Kalmore. I felt I should communicate it to Your Highness as soon as possible, so I came immediately, but…
The man reached into his chest and stopped speaking while checking the surroundings.
Varkas followed his gaze and saw the Crown Prince’s personal guard stationed outside the camp, so he let out a slight sigh.
—Your Highness only came to complain upon learning that I proposed the peace negotiations to His Majesty. Do not worry and continue with your report.
—Ah, so that is how things ended then —the man said with joy, seeming to also be fed up with the conflicts.
Instead of informing the knight that, even if the treaty were signed, he would have to remain in the border regions for a while to pressure the north, Varkas extended his hand to him.
The man showed a bewildered expression for an instant, but then remembered the purpose of his coming and pulled the letter from his chest.
—Your Highness has been absent from the castle for a long time on this occasion. It seems that several problems have arisen during that period.
Varkas took the bundle of crumpled parchment, rose from his seat, and moved to a nearby tent. The warriors warming themselves around the fire inside rushed to clear space for him.
He sat in front of a table where there were playing cards, dice, and cups, and opened the letter.
Although the ink had run a little due to the moisture of the rain, he had no difficulty reading.
Most of the content of the letter revolved around legal disputes arising in Kalmore and unresolved problems regarding the incursions of the Yain-Gok (the barbarian tribes).
As he scanned those lines with a cold gaze, the features of his eyes tightened as he reached the end of the letter.
The knight, who observed his reaction cautiously, added:
—It seems that a great stir has broken out within the territory due to the monster raised by Her Highness the Duchess. Apparently, they expect Your Highness to return as soon as possible to mediate the matter.
Varkas’s gaze slid to the last line of the report, and then he crumpled the parchment. He felt a sensation similar to a fire igniting from his temple to his eyelid.
He brought his hand to his forehead as if trying to erase that sensation, and at that instant the sound of a horn was heard in the distance.
Varkas turned his head and narrowed his eyes as he saw Garis crossing the camp with furious steps.
The Crown Prince threw him a burning look that suggested his anger had not yet subsided, and approached his personal guard.
Then he leaped onto his golden horse and led the knights marching toward the north.
Since he had received the order to remain in Amasik until the results of the negotiations were known, he was not supposed to cause a situation where he would barge into the negotiation room to ruin everything.
Varkas tapped his fingers on his temple and then stood up immediately.
—Call Berov. We will dismantle the camp right now and move toward the east.
—Right now? —An expression of bewilderment appeared on the knight’s face.
Varkas explained in a calm tone as he headed to his tent:
—The negotiations will take place in the southern region of Palto. There is no need for us to remain in this area.
—Then, what do you plan to do regarding the cavalry division stationed in Beldis?
—I will entrust the command to you and Darin for a while —Varkas replied as he pulled aside the curtain covering the entrance of his tent, having crossed the camp in the blink of an eye.
The face of the knight who followed him darkened immediately. It seemed that he too harbored the hope of returning to Kalmore with him.
Varkas gave an affectionate pat on the shoulder of his subordinate, who was forced to remain far from his home for a long time.
—The civil war will end soon. Endure until then.
—Does Your Highness plan to stay in Kalmore permanently?
Faced with the unexpected question, Varkas frowned.
Certainly, if these negotiations concluded in peace, there would be no reason for him to go out to battle again.
Was the ruler of the East wandering the battlefields for two years not, in itself, something unprecedented?
Furthermore, he could not leave the administration of the territory in the hands of the vassals forever. Although it was a bit early, ending the camp life on this opportunity would not be a bad idea.
The problem lay in how Talia would accept his return.
—I do not know… —Varkas spoke while removing his armor, with his eyes locked in thoughts fixed on the flickering light of the candle—. What I will do in the future… it seems I won’t know until I go there.
Chapter 170
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