Chapter 203
CHAPTER 203
Varkas ordered the knights to reorganize their ranks and then mounted his horse once again.
After advancing a short distance along the peaceful hillside, the gap narrowed to a point where the faces of the riders could be distinguished.
He meticulously observed the knight leading the vanguard.
Although he wore a helmet upon his head, it was not difficult to recognize his identity.
Caileas; one of the high knights ranked among the top ten of the knights of Roim.
Furthermore, he was the man with whom he had clashed on repeated occasions in the past. During the last two years, this knight had ascended to a high position thanks to his achievements, and now he approached with a manner brimming with arrogance to present his greeting:
“It has been a long time, Lord Grand Duke.”
“…… What is someone of your kind doing here?”
“It seems the news has not yet reached your ears,” the man spoke arrogantly and continued, “The lords of the northeastern regions have allied themselves with the remnants of the Northern forces. As soon as this fact was reported to His Majesty the Emperor, he ordered immediate support to the East and the suppression of the rebels.”
Varkas frowned.
The man let out a sarcastic laugh as if enjoying his annoyance, and said in a mocking tone:
“What is that expression for? Do not tell me you are displeased with the support forces sent by His Majesty.”
“…… What exactly do you mean by the lords of the northeast allying with the remnants of the North?”
“You must have an idea of the matter without the need for me to explain it to you,” the man said in a suggestive tone.
It appeared that Perov and the knights of the East were no longer able to tolerate his insolence, so they stepped forward with enraged faces.
At that moment, the man mocked and clicked his tongue before adding:
“Half a month ago, the fortress of ‘Blodar Keep’ fell into the hands of His Highness the Crown Prince. Thanks to that, we managed to obtain all the information regarding the forces involved in the rebellion.”
Varkas’s eyebrows twitched upon hearing this unexpected news.
“Were there not strict orders to besiege the fortress and wait until the signing of the peace treaty?”
“We cannot sit idly by before bandits forever, can we? His Majesty also recognized the achievement of His Highness the Crown Prince,” the man spoke as if defending the heir, then pulled the reins of his horse with a slight sigh. “Let us get moving first. I will inform you about the details of the war situation along the way.”
Varkas continued to observe the man in silence while holding the reins, and then gave the signal to depart to his waiting knights.
Shortly after, the knights began their march after having reorganized their ranks, maintaining a subtle distance from the knights of Roim.
Caileas brought his horse close to Varkas’s, who was leading the vanguard, and continued his explanation in a formal tone:
“Half a month ago, His Highness the Crown Prince infiltrated spies into the fortress in advance, and then launched successive attacks. That plan was successful, and we managed to bring down the fortress at dawn. His Highness immediately ordered the head of Duke ‘Heimdal’ to be hung on the fortress gate to declare to the world the price of rebellion.”
“What happened to Bjorn Blodar Heimdal?” Varkas posed this question, having listened in silence. At that instant, the boastful knight’s face tensed subtly.
“That man was not inside the fortress. There is no way of knowing when or how he slipped away escaping… but it is said that most of the main leaders, including Bjorn, had already abandoned the fortress as soon as it was besieged. It seems the battle of the fortress was nothing more than a means to buy time until they could plan external operations.”
Varkas let out a dry laugh.
“Do you mean he handed over his father and the largest city in the North as an offering?”
“Is he not the person who led this reckless war? The mistake lay in expecting him to have sanity in the first place,” the man sighed deeply and continued his explanation in a calm tone. “In any case, we tracked Bjorn’s path meticulously since the fall of the fortress. As soon as we obtained information indicating that he had taken refuge in the East with his followers, we presented the report to His Majesty the Emperor. Therefore, His Majesty issued his attack orders to the troops stationed on the northern and eastern borders, and ordered us to provide them with additional support.”
Varkas clenched his fist over the reins to such an extent that the veins on the back of his hand stood out. Everything indicated that Darin’s message had been sent immediately after the imperial order was issued.
“The matter has surpassed the stage of a peaceful agreement.”
If he attempted to cover up the crimes recklessly now, he would find himself condemned for treason as well. Since the Emperor had sent support troops publicly, the military clash had become an inevitable step.
“It is likely that the fighting has already begun in the border regions, we must hurry,” the knight concluded his report and spurred his horse, advancing to the front. Varkas also followed him in silence while increasing his speed.
They continued riding without stopping, until there began to loom beyond the horizon, tinged by the color of the sunset, a city surrounded by imposing walls the color of sand.
Columns of smoke rose from the walls as if the assault had already begun. Varkas examined the thousands of soldiers deployed around him and then ordered his knights to prepare for the attack.
And immediately after the loud sound of the horn broke out, the knights drew their swords and rushed toward the battlefield on the plains.
To understand the situation accurately, Varkas closely observed the military camp from a nearby position.
The lancemen bearing the banners of the ducal family besieged the city from the northern and eastern flanks, while the infantry of the Imperial Army pressed with battering rams to tear down the city gate.
He frowned for a moment due to the speed of events, and then spotted Darin imparting instructions to the soldiers in a camp set up on the fringes, so he headed over there.
“Sir!” Darin exclaimed loudly upon seeing him.
Varkas omitted the formal greeting formulas and posed his question regarding the state of the war:
“I have heard the details from the imperial support forces. How are things progressing?”
“As you can see, the assault on the city is progressing without a hitch. However…” the man rubbed his face, which looked extremely fatigued, and continued in a heavy tone, “The number of those involved in the rebellion is not low. It seems a large-scale purification operation has become inevitable to put an end to this chaos.”
Varkas looked with an imperturbable face at the city walls, damaged in various places.
This enormous city, which he had visited to inspect the lands immediately after assuming the office of Duke, was now sinking amidst flames and clamor.
He observed that scene with a bitter gaze, then drew his sword and launched himself toward the battle line.
He saw the soldiers enter like a torrent through the smashed city gate.
The echo of clashing weapons resonated loudly inside the city, turned into chaos due to the catapults.
Varkas entered that fierce combat and struck down the enemies obstructing his path with decisive blows, clearing the way for the cavalry knights backing him.
Immediately, the warhorses provided with heavy armor burst through the city streets in orderly rows. The soldiers who attempted to prevent their entry fell beneath the hooves of the enormous mounts, while the knights crushed the enemies without mercy.
Varkas contemplated this scene of destruction with a dry face, and then led the knights across the esplanade toward the imposing citadel in the center of the city.
The city appeared practically deserted, as if the citizens had taken refuge inside the fort in advance.
He examined the silent buildings and the central plaza, set apart from the din of battle, and then turned his gaze toward the gate of the fort, tightly closed behind the water moat and the fortified walls.
He saw the archers upon the towers of the fort aiming their arrows, waiting for the enemies to approach. At that moment, he stopped the soldiers who were preparing to rush toward the gate:
“Do not approach recklessly. Since we have brought down the city, control over the fort is only a matter of time.”
Varkas carefully calculated the distance at which the enemy’s attacks could not reach, then pulled the reins of his horse and dictated his instructions to the soldiers:
“Besiege the fort closely so that not a single mouse escapes from it. In a month at most, they will raise the white flags.”
‘Tarlen’ declared its surrender in less than three weeks.
The guard of the inner fort mutinied and hung the head of the city governor, the main instigator, upon the walls.
Thanks to that, they managed to enter the fort without bloodshed.
“The new governor was barely a beginner who had been in office for only a few years since his appointment. No one expected him to betray Your Lordship and His Majesty the Emperor to sell the military provisions to the North,” said the commander of the guard who had led the mutiny, while pleading for clemency.
Varkas, who had entered the courtyard of the fort with his knights, looked at the man with dry eyes and replied, saying:
“If your words are sincere, I will request indulgence for you before His Majesty the Emperor. But if your speech is mixed with a single lie, you too will receive the deserved punishment.”
The man bowed his head with a somber face.
Varkas ordered the soldiers waiting behind him to escort the prisoners, and then crossed the courtyard with long strides.
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