The Forgotten Field Novel - Chapter 226

## THE FORGOTTEN FIELDS (NOVEL) – Chapter 226

It took no more than fifteen days to reach the southern edge of Jotunheim. With the increase in daylight hours, the distance they covered daily grew noticeably.

Varkas guided his horse cautiously along the steep mountain paths, and when he spotted the camp settled among the folds of the valleys, he reined in his steed. At the bottom of a gentle slope, the tall wooden barricades and extensive watchtowers appeared. As soon as he approached, the guards rushed to push aside the wooden obstacles to clear the way.

—Welcome, Your Excellency!

The soldiers lined up next to the checkpoint and raised their spears to the position of attention. Varkas passed by them, thoroughly examining the settlement filled with military tents, and asked:

—Has anything happened during my absence?

—Actually… this… —The soldier hesitated and stammered in his response.

Varkas narrowed his eyes as he handed the reins over to the stable boy.

—Is there a problem?

—A messenger from the Northern Alliance arrived at dawn today —replied a young advisor wearing a robe embroidered with the Shirkhan family crest, instead of the soldier who had frozen in place, and continued—: We have not yet received precise details about the news he brings, but it is clear that something of the utmost gravity has occurred. The emergency meeting that began this morning has still not concluded.

Varkas frowned. If the cornered Heimdall had finally initiated an all-out war, it would have been enough to send the supporting forces from the rear to the front. However, the prolongation of the discussion meant that a problem far more complex than that had arisen.

—It seems I must head to the headquarters immediately. I will leave the return arrangements in your charge.

Varkas left brief instructions for Berov, who had followed him into the camp, and then crossed the settlement, heading straight toward the large tent over which the flags of various families fluttered.

At that exact moment, a sharp cry echoed from inside. He could not distinguish the words due to the surrounding clamor, but it was obvious that a heated discussion was taking place. He suppressed a heavy sigh and stepped inside the tent.

—What is all this commotion about?

—Your Excellency! —Darin rose from his seat upon seeing him, showing relief—. When did you return? I thought you would stay in Kalmore for a couple more weeks…

—I have just returned —Varkas interrupted Darin’s lengthy words and glanced toward the inside of the meeting room.

There sat the representatives of the families, high-ranking knights of the imperial army, and a young man who appeared to be one of the nobles of the Northern Alliance, all seated around a long table. Varkas recognized the young man as one of the sons of the Bleston family, which made him narrow his eyes. Was his name Cedric? He was a young man with a pale face, characteristic of the inhabitants of the North, and dark red eyes, who looked at him with an expression that denoted an attempt to contain an uncontainable rage.

—You have arrived just in time. I wanted to ask the Duke in person what his opinion is regarding this absurd situation.

—Maintain the boundaries of respect! The person you are addressing is the ruler of the East! —shouted a furious voice from a knight of the Eastern cavalry who was sitting on the opposite side.

Varkas made a hand gesture to silence him, and then sat naturally at the head of the table.

—Tell me what has happened, I am listening.

—It is said that His Highness the Crown Prince has unilaterally canceled the engagement —Darin spoke on behalf of Cedric Bleston, who was boiling with rage, and continued in a somber tone—: And right after that, he led the imperial army and ventured into the depths of the Jotunheim mountains.

—The Northern Alliance taking the lead in the operation to crush the rebels was born out of our faith in the possibility of restoring the relationship with the Empire —Cedric Bleston gave no one an opportunity to respond to the shocking news, but rather continued in a biting tone—: But the Empire deceived my family and humiliated it completely. Tell me, Your Excellency, do you think we should submit to the Empire after enduring such an insult?

—Stop unleashing your fury in the wrong place. This situation is the result of an individual act by the Crown Prince, it is not an error of Duke Shirkhan —intervened one of the nobles who had remained seated in silence, with a venerable voice; he was the commander of the forces sent from the South. The man, who intertwined his hands over the table, continued calmly—: What is important now is how to respond.

—The army of the Northern Alliance does not intend to remain at the front —the young northern noble firmly declared—. We will not withdraw the army immediately, but we will not be at the vanguard of eradicating the rebels as we previously promised.

—The Northern Alliance bears the guilt of the previous rebellion against the Empire. Shouldn’t you work hard to quell Heimdall’s movement to atone for that mistake?

—We have already paid the price for that guilt completely in this event —the young man replied, gritting his teeth—. My family has suffered an unerasable dishonor. My sister was left alone at the altar under the gaze of hundreds of nobles in a degrading humiliation, and the Bleston name has become the laughingstock of the entire Empire!

—Enough complaints —Varkas placed his hand on his temple and remarked to the man with a gaze as cold as snow—. This is not a place to lament over your family’s grievances; this is the headquarters of the Imperial Alliance army. If you are not going to speak as benefits the venue, it is better that you remain silent.

The young man’s face flushed in an instant. Varkas rose slowly.

—I understand the situation. We will leave a minimal defense force and mobilize the army immediately toward the approaches of Jotunheim.

—And for what purpose will we mobilize? —spoke a knight who had kept silent; he was the commander of the forces sent from the West—. Do you intend to dissuade the Crown Prince from what he is doing, or do you plan to support him in the attack against Heimdall?

—That will depend on the situation —Varkas replied coldly, and continued—: If I manage to catch up with the Crown Prince before actual combat begins, I intend to pull him by the lapels and stand him before the altar by force.

Despite the audacity of this declaration, no one dared to object. It seemed they had finally realized that his mood was rock bottom; some nobles swallowed hard, their faces tense. Varkas examined their faces and added coldly:

—But if the worst happens, then I will choose between two options.

—What do you mean by choosing between two options…?

—The Crown Prince, or the Empire. I will have to make the decision.

A terrifying silence took over the meeting room after this dangerous declaration. Varkas left the tent, leaving them behind, and then dictated his instructions in a firm voice:

—Prepare to depart immediately! I will not allow a delay of a single instant.

Varkas led the Alliance army and marched directly toward the north. It was assumed that the elite imperial forces under the command of the Crown Prince had already crossed the passes and reached the midpoint of the Jotunheim mountains, right in front of the rebels’ stronghold. To catch up with him, he had to reduce the number of troops to a minimum in order to increase speed. Varkas divided the forces, sending a vanguard division while the main force followed it cautiously and at regular intervals.

After a long march, Varkas spotted an army camping in a wide basin, so he raised his hand to halt the rapidly advancing ranks. He saw the flags of the imperial army fluttering amidst the pale evening twilight.

—It seems we have caught up with them! —exclaimed Edric Robon, who followed him directly, with a radiant voice.

However, Varkas could not share that sentiment. He looked with narrowed eyes and examined the camp that stretched along the mountains. The number of troops had decreased in such a manner that it was clearly noticeable even from a distance.

—It seems that what I feared has happened —Berov let out a slight groan.

Chapter 226

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