Standing at the Amberfall Harbor, Prince Marlow was surrounded by his most trusted n.
They all stared at the mist slowly dissipating in the distant waters, and over two hundred ships rapidly approaching the harbor. It wouldn't be long before they arrived. All preparations had been completed, and now all that was left was to fight.
Marlow inhaled deeply, trying to do his best to calm his wildly beating heart. The upcoming battle was going to decide the fate of his family and of his kingdom.
He was chosen as the commander of Amberfall's army, and he was going to do whatever it took to protect what was his. He was greatly nervous. So much rested on his shoulders, after all.
He scanned the port and the anchored ships that almost reached sixty. Then he glanced at the soldiers who had lined the port, weapons in hand. At last, he turned and looked at the battlents, which had similarly been occupied by Magi ready for war.
"Kasper," he called out softly.
"Yes, your highness?" The elderly man stood beside him, a heavy expression on his face.
A few Magi nearby also turned to the prince, nervously waiting for his
instructions. However, Marlow didn't speak aloud. Instead, he weaved a simple hand seal and cast Mind Whisper.
'We will send every one of our ships to et the enemy fleet in deep waters, he said in a dignified voice, his tone leaving no room for argunt.
Kasper was stunned. He ntally transmitted, 'All of them?"
'Yes.' Prince Marlow nodded, his ruby eyes flashing with a cold, calculated light.
'We must give the impression of going all out. Once the enemy overcos our first wave of attack, they will grow complacent. They will then enter through the mouth of the harbor. And that's when the real battle will begin!
Kasper nodded with a grim look on his face. This had always been part of the plan. But it was what Marlow conveyed next that unsettled him.
'What is the minimum number of people required to man these ships?"
Kasper thought for a mont, then truthfully answered, 'Forty for a ship that big. No, fifty. We need at least fifty per ship!'
Command, navigation and helm, weapons crew, defense, and support for a single warship required at least fifty n. Only a handful of them had to be Magi, and the rest could be mortals.
This number was nowhere near optimal, but Prince Marlow didn't have many soldiers at his disposal. Besides, with just these three thousand soldiers, he was planning to take down twenty thousand enemies. Or at least, most of them anyway.
Bold, yes. Arrogant, yes. Ambitious, also yes. But foolish? No, not quite. Marlow's words echoed inside Kasper's mind, causing the latter to stiffen. 'Send in the slaves and the sellswords, he said.
'And send the Magi of every noble house and rchant guild that has grown too influential and powerful in the city. Make sure that, by the end of it, only those truly loyal to House Fireborn remain. Understood?"
'But, my prince, this is a suicidal charge!' Kasper's eyes widened, and he clenched his fists. "These n are not stupid. So of them might see through your plan. No, most will! If they are unwilling to go, what then?"
Marlow calmly replied, 'Desertion will be punishable by death. Disobedience will be punishable by death. We are at war, Kasper
Before Kasper could say another word, Marlow pushed a small item into his hands. It was a bracelet with a red crystal. The crystal was carved with a spell model from the School of Enchantnt. This was a Grade 4 Artifact!
'Go ahead, he said. 'This will give them courage. And they'll gladly board the ships and fight to the death for their King and crown. Do it, Kasper, we don't have much ti.
Kasper York glanced at the bracelet in his hand. He then shifted his gaze to Marlow. The prince appeared calm, almost indifferent. It didn't even look like he was sending three thousand of his people to their deaths.
The old man inhaled deeply and then nodded. 'Your wish is my command, your highness.
He then covertly wore the bracelet and imbued mana into it. He winced when he realized just how greedily the artifact was devouring his mana.
As expected of a Grade 4 Artifact, he thought with lingering fear.
But he only needed to utilize a bit of his mana for what he was about to do next.
Kasper faced the crowd, his voice passionate and steady as it carried across the docks. Behind him, the ships waited. And in front of him stood slaves,
sellswords, and the Magi of Amberfall.
He spoke of the great kingdom first, of the people behind its walls, of the hos that would fall if the fleet was not stopped. Then he spoke of duty. Of nas and legacy and the weight of this mont in ti.
To the slaves, he offered freedom and a place in the city. To the others, he promised reward, recognition, and power after the war.
He made it sound very simple. Strike the enemy at sea, buy ti, and turn the tide before it reached Amberfall. He never once called it a sacrifice.
One by one, these people stepped forward and boarded the ships. They were hesitant at first, then they couldn't help but feel their resolve grow. Slowly, but fiercely. They felt courageous and hot-blooded, ready to prove themselves. Marlow watched in silence as each of the ships was filled by the bare minimum number of people required to man them. He turned and took a step forward as the ships prepared to set sail.
His lips parted, and his words echoed in the ears of all those left behind.
"n of Amberfall, the enemy cos at us with numbers. I say, let them! We have sothing they do not. Sothing worth defending. Behind us are our hos, our families, and everything we have built. If we stand, they stand. If we fall..."
He let his words hang in the air. And then, he raised his sword to the heavens and scread at the top of his lungs.
"So we do not fall! Hold the line, no matter what. Trust the one beside you. Make every step the enemy takes cost them. Today, we do not fight for glory.
We fight so that tomorrow still belongs to us!"
The brave soldiers standing on the harbor cheered in unison.
And as for the n who had boarded the ships, they were setting out on a journey from which they would never return...
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