Kyren’s blue eyes scowled as he stood atop the hill, surveying the land below. Just a few days after landing in Ardel, he and his army, along with their allies, had marched towards Narthen, the kingdom’s farthest district bordering Barges.
According to the conquest plan laid out by Athillia, the Bargesian armies would take this path to breach through Ardel and begin their invasion. The district was sparsely populated, being close to the northern kingdom, leaving the people exposed to frequent Bargesian raids and threats.
The difference in soil fertility was apparent across the border. While the land of Barges appeared sandy and barren, with dried trees and scattered waste, the Ardel side was lively with grass, plants, autumn-coloured trees, and small animals.
"They should be here any mont," Kyren said as Adam approached.
"Yes. Thankfully, we arrived earlier to secure a good vantage point before they crossed the border. From here, we’ll be able to see them clearly if they descend from the other hilly side," the admiral replied.
Athillia soon joined them, looking anxious.
"Did you notice any movent yet?" she asked.
"Not yet, but our scouts have signalled that they should be crossing the border any mont now," Adam said.
As they took their positions on the higher ground, the soldiers, rcenaries and pirates were arranged in groups, ard and ready for the planned attack.
Kyren raised the spyglass again, scanning the area.
"They’re here!" he exclaid as he spotted a large group of soldiers approaching from the expected path.
Athillia and Adam turned their attention to the sa direction. The group appeared small from their standing points.
"May I take a look?" Athillia requested, holding out her hand for the spyglass. Kyren placed it in her palm, and she brought it to her eyes.
"Oh, my! That’s Lord Sygill, my father’s right-hand warlord!" she exclaid.
"Lord Sygill?" Kyren asked, recognising the na. "Wasn’t that the camp chief’s na that we eliminated on Agathe Island?"
"Yes. He and the Lord Sygill you dealt with are cousins, but not on good terms, as the one you killed had an attitude problem, so he was sent to the island," Athillia explained, handing the spyglass back to Kyren. "But this Lord Sygill is quite formidable. He has led several battles for Barges and raided Ardel’s land several tis. He and Brone Morro are companions."
The grand duke took the spyglass and peered through it again. In his sight, he saw a stout figure leading the group.
"Is he the one in the front on the black horse wearing the white armour?" he asked.
"Yes, that’s him," Athillia confird.
Kyren smirked.
"I fought Brone before. He wasn’t as great as he claid to be. I got his right hand severed before he and the mage fell into the ravine," he remarked. "This friend of his doesn’t intimidate ."
Athillia nodded, acknowledging the story of the grand duke and his knights pursuing the Bargesians that he had shared during their journey to Ardel.
"I’m confident you can defeat him too," she said. "Just in case this information helps, he’s left-handed and likes to aim to the right."
"You seem to know him well," said Adam.
"He’s a sparring buddy to the king, my father. We’ve frequently t in the palace," the Bargesian princess revealed.
"That ans he knows you," said Kyren.
"He does," she replied.
"In that case, stay in the fort and don’t co out," ordered the grand duke.
"What?? Again? Why don’t you want to join? Last ti, you didn’t allow to participate in the first and second negotiations, too!" she complained.
Adam sighed. "Didn’t I tell you it’s for your safety?" he reminded her.
"The admiral is right," said Kyren, bringing a victorious smirk to Adam’s lips while Athillia pouted. "You shouldn’t be seen with us. If Lord Sygill had noticed you, he might have known you had betrayed your father and stolen the whole invasion plan. We can’t let that happen."
"But, I’m used to fighting! I know how to defend myself!" she insisted.
"No, Athillia. We are now battling against your people. I don’t want you to have hesitation in between. There will be gore and massive killing, and it’s not a sight for a princess like you. You are young, and the chaotic, gruelling battlefield will haunt you for life. I don’t want you to experience that. Believe in this," said the grand duke.
Athillia sighed in defeat. "Fine, if that’s what you said," she relented.
Adam smiled, relieved that she had agreed to stay behind.
"She wouldn’t listen if I said that," he joked, making Athillia grunt at him.
Kyren looked at the Bargesian princess.
"I promise to bring you to Cassian. So, heed my advice and secure yourself while I eliminate the enemies. I’ll assign two knights as your escorts."
"Now I feel like a detainee," she sulked.
"Don’t get wrong. You are my informant, a precious figure for my team’s victory. Though you have given us all the plans and information, the knowledge you have within you is important, too, and that cannot be traded with anything else, not even a mountain of gold. That’s why I need you to be safe and sound," Kyren explained, persuading her.
Athillia slightly nodded, agreeing.
"Head back to the barracks. I’ll co and see you afterwards," the grand duke ordered.
The Bargesian princess adhered and retreated.
As the enemies approached, Kyren, who had his n positioned to ’welco’ them, gave a discreet signal. They waited in silence, blending themselves into the surroundings with their camouflage.
As soon as the enemies trespassed the border and walked through the pass within the hills where the Cassians and their allies were, a horn was sounded, indicating the beginning of the ambush.
The Bargesian armies were bewildered as suddenly a loud booming resounded in the air, followed by a fireball flying in the sky, coming towards them.
’Duumm!’
The fired artillery struck precisely onto the wagon carrying the Bargesians’ weapons and supplies. Several more strikes hit them before they could take cover, sending them sprawling to the ground and causing imdiate casualties.
The ground shook, and small stones and sand fell from the cliffs from the impact. Another attack erged, with the sky raining down fire arrows.
"Run! Take cover!" Lord Sygill, who managed to save himself from the initial attack, ordered his n.
They rushed in panic and used whatever they could reach to block the attack from hitting them. However, the rapid, strategised ambush had consud a third of their soldiers in a blink of an eye. Loud shouts and screams were heard as more and more attacks were sent to the unready Bargesians.
As they began to scatter, Kyren ordered his n to descend the hill. It was ti to eliminate their enemies directly.
"Charge!!" he commanded.
The battle to save Ardel had begun.
***
"Have you seen her anywhere?" asked Clara as Ayden returned to her chamber.
This morning, she had awaited Emily, as usual, who would accompany her for breakfast. Her operation wound was no longer bandaged, as the incision site had dried and was closing up.
However, to ensure it didn’t get infected, she was restricted from severe mobility or exposure to harsh conditions, so for her own good, she chose not to attend redith and Alex’s wedding.
Unlike usual, Emily didn’t turn up. It was Ayden who ca to her this morning to greet her. Feeling sothing was amiss, the knightess requested her lover to check on the young woman.
"She’s not in her chamber. I’ve searched everywhere and asked around, but no one seed to notice her after last night’s wedding ceremony," said the assistant healer.
"That’s strange. Didn’t you see her when you returned from the duke’s mansion last night?" she asked.
Ayden shook his head.
"I thought she went back in the carriage with Mrs Foster, but our chief maid, too, ntioned Miss Baker didn’t co back with her. She thought Miss Baker was accompanying Lady Raychard in her carriage since our lady wasn’t well."
"This is strange! Where could she be?" Clara pondered aloud. A thought ran in her, and Noah’s face quickly ca to her mind. "Perhaps she went out with Sir Brooks?"
Before Ayden could respond, a loud rush of footsteps ca to Clara’s chamber. She gripped the side of her wheelchair, seemingly anxious. Her sensitive hearing picked up the noise, and she could sense sothing wasn’t right.
A knock ca to the door, and the Knights of Gerhard entered hastily upon permission.
"What’s the matter, Sir Navin?" asked Ayden to Eric as he saw his serious deanour.
"Is Miss Emily Baker here?" the second-in-command knight asked.
"No. We haven’t seen her either. Ayden has been searching for her this morning, too, but no one has seen her," Clara responded.
The knights changed glances, their expressions coloured with worry.
"Why, has sothing happened?" the knightess asked, concerned.
"We thought she was here with you and ca here to ask her about Sir Brooks’ whereabouts. He has been missing since last night," Luka stated.
"Missing? I thought Emily was with him," said Clara.
"Sir Brooks left early last night before the event finished. We thought he went to enjoy himself alone, having a drink or two elsewhere. He was supposed to be on duty today, pairing with . But he wasn’t there when I went to his chamber," said Garin.
"Could it be that he’s sowhere, getting a hold of himself after the hangover?" asked Ayden.
"No," Luke shook his head, dismissing the notion. "He might be a drunkard and stubborn sotis but is steadfast in his duties, especially when Lady Raychard is involved. His loyalty to her is widely known as he holds her in high regard."
"Sir Navin was prepared to reprimand him for his absence, but we felt sothing amiss when we noticed he was gone. That’s why we ca here to seek Miss Baker for an answer since she’s quite close to him," Eli added.
Eric’s steely gaze fixed on Clara. Suddenly, Drystan and Sylvia arrived at the door.
"Well, well, it appears everyone is gathered here!" Drystan said. Mr. Foster said sothing was going on, but he hesitated to share the details and directed us here. Has sothing occurred?"
"Sir Brooks went missing, Sir Mills," Damon reported.
"Missing? He didn’t co back after last night?" asked the knight, surprised.
"No, and apparently, Miss Baker is also missing, too," stated Eric.
"Oh, my!" Sylvia gasped. "Why so suddenly? She seed fine when we spoke last night, aside from appearing sowhat pensive when I ntioned my upcoming wedding."
"She was sad about it? But why?" asked Ayden, clueless.
A hushed silence filled the chamber montarily as they contemplated the possible cause.
"Could it be..." Clara trailed off. Her heart feared the worst, and she couldn’t finish her sentences.
Eric, now comprehending the situation, erupted, "Damn it! They must have fled because I rejected their marriage proposal!"
"Good Lord! Sir Brooks has run away with Miss Baker!" Ayden, who had also managed to piece up the puzzle, exclaid, then covered his mouth with his hand in surprise.
"We must trace them imdiately!" Eric shouted.
Just as he moved to act, Garin placed a firm hand on the second-in-command knight’s shoulder.
"Sir Navin, obviously, they fled last night. By now, it would be impossible to trace him. You know well Sir Brooks’s expertise in stealth and covering his tracks," the knight reminded him.
"I don’t care! Expert or not, Miss Baker is under my responsibility, and I will not allow any harm to befall her," Eric asserted.
The knights regarded the second-in-command knight’s statent with solemnity. Although they recognised Noah’s fault, witnessing his change of attitude since Anna’s arrival slowly transford their perception of him and evoked empathy in them.
"Sir Navin, perhaps you should consider Sir Brooks’s request. From what I observed, he didn’t seem like playing around with Miss Baker. He cares about her deeply," Garin suggested.
"I feel the sa way. He confided in his feelings about Emily. I believe he has no ill intentions towards her," Clara added.
"Enough! He has violated the knight’s code of conduct by absconding from the mansion and his duty! Furthermore, he has shown disrespect towards through his actions and defied the directive of His Highness, the Grand Duke! He is fully aware of the repercussions of his disobedience, yet he dares to test my patience! I will not let him off lightly for this!" Eric declared.
A solemn silence shrouded them as the second-in-command knight delivered his reprimand.
"Sir Henderson and Sir McQuinn!" Eric’s voice cut through the stillness.
"Yes, Sir Navin!" the two responded in unison.
"You both will remain at the mansion to guard Lady Raychard! The rest of you, follow . We will scour every corner and crevice to locate those two!" Eric commanded.
"Yes, Sir Navin!" echoed the response of the remaining knights, demonstrating their unwavering obedience.
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