The Amber Sword

Once the war is on the agenda, the preparations run forward like a wild horse pulling off a rope. Tony Gehl entered the state of readiness early, the White Lion Infantry began to be fully staffed, and since Metisa returned to the territory, the training of the wind archers has been scheduled.

At the behest of the princess, the lords adjacent to Tonigal have also begun to enlarge their private aristocratic armies, which were mostly hostile to Lord Cold Fir. But ever since Count Denel was turned into the opposite side of the kingdom, there has also been a growing number of inflammatory opponents.

For these people, Brando will not wait, but he will not refuse.

The moon of summer passed, and before the month of the scroll came, there was a flame of fire on the earth. Increasing temperatures burned the leaves, licking the ground in the south day after day.

Vlada and the army of the Southern Legion had finally arrived on schedule, but before the last festival of the summer, Brando had appropriately appeased his own people from a tense sense of agitation. Before the last few weeks, he had Cold Cedar Leader hold the Fire Festival championship competition on schedule.

This match, which corresponds to the winter hunting festival, has a slightly less formal meaning, but has attracted lords and knights of all sizes and sizes nearby due to the open supply of alcohol.

Set outside Cold Cedar Castle, the racetrack has lit up almost the entire territory for days to come.

For some quiet places, however, relative independence remains.

Thin wooden walls separate the hustle and bustle of the ocean from the quiet in the bar, except that the whistles of mercenaries occasionally invade this relatively independent space, with the unique smell of boiled meat and spices in the lobby, a strong sense of home, albeit pungent.

There are several wooden tables with unique names written on maple cards: for example, Brando, Roman, Antitina, etc., which belong to the owner himself or to a close friend. The sign outside the hotel seems brand new, with the pattern of a three-mast sailboat that says' Lord Roman's smuggling anchor ', such a vulgar name is naturally someone's exclusive.

But the layout in the bar was relatively cozy, with Sy sitting at a wooden table in the southwest corner, seeing more people gathering outside - mostly young people from the White Lion Corps, or local residents, farmers - and since the refugees began pouring into Tonigal, the renewed White Lion Corps was far more than 30 to 40 people in the district when Caglis joined. In addition to this, tenant farmers, traders and handicraftsmen have begun to fill the countryside of the Cold Cedar Collar as more settlers are gaining ground in the Territory.

At this moment, championship competitions before the Summer Festival are taking place in the open spaces outside the bar, and now it is the turn of the arrow, there are many beautiful tree elf girls on the field, so the crowd has maintained its unprecedented size.

She turned around and saw a girl in silver coat put a bunch of daisies next to a wooden tray, then closed her hands and prayed silently with her eyes closed. Sy's eyes reflected this image, and she looked at it quietly and asked, "Is she Beth? ”

Freya opened her eyes and revealed a sad look in her brown eyes. She nodded silently: “Beth loves to be lively. Such an arrow game must be her favorite, able to be taller than the legendary tree elf...”

“Please don't be sad, Miss Freya, the living must always go on, and in the past... the veterans have often warned us that death is only a stone tablet without a name, and that the living must continue to tread beyond it carrying more things, so we must be strong.” Sy consoled.

“I'm sorry, I know, but I don't think about the past, especially at this time.” The young girl from Butch Country blinked lightly and she sighed: “Sometimes I really want to go back to that time, let time go again, no war, how good...”

“I understand…" Si replied with some caution.

“Hmm?”

Looking at Freya, Sy thought about it and said, "I've been through a lot of fighting since I was a kid. Almost every battle, almost every time a companion dies, some are new people who don't know each other very long, some are close friends in the morning and evening, and when I was a kid, every time I cried and made a lot of jokes about it. But gradually, he became familiar with life and death. ”

“How...?” Freya looked back at the girl beside her- Shea seemed a little smaller than her, but the experience seemed much more mature.

“I am a mercenary, working hard for money and survival, and people like us, sooner or later, will die in the next battle, as if it were a natural ending for us, and I would never have been dissatisfied.” Sy also seems to recall her past, and she shakes the golden liquid inside with a wooden cup and says quietly: "But because of one accident, Lord Lord will change from me to another, letting me know there is another life. ”

“I… do not know if I should thank Lord Lord, I am more or less able to understand Lord's mind and he wants me to pursue something. … but what else can I do besides fight? ”

“So by comparison, I'd rather be myself than someone else, dead in peace. ”

“I'm sorry.” Freya suddenly said.

“Hmm?” Cecil beamed.

“I'm sorry, Sy, I never knew your lives. I think I want to go back in time, maybe a little too selfish, and Brando's right, no one can give us the peace and quiet life we want if we don't fight for it ourselves.” Freya replied quietly, "The Eruins are far from being able to be greedy and comfortable. ”

The mercenary girl stared at her.

Some of the things Freya has gradually begun to understand are still foggy in front of her.

At this time, there was another tsunami-like cheer coming out of the house, and the door of the bar slammed open. Roman rushed in with a big basin in his arms and yelled, "Metissa's number one again! We're out of malt wine. You guys need help! ”

“Be careful!” Freya hastily cautioned.

“I know,” and then a scream came in the kitchen: "Ah, my barbecue! ”

Brando shook his head helplessly and walked in from the outside, but he looked in a good mood and looked at Freya and Sy smiling: “Two beautiful ladies, why don't you go out and celebrate? Our little princess won the title of archery number one. ”

The future goddess of martial arts stared at him, “Brando, what are you wearing? ”

“Army uniform. Eruin's cavalry uniform. How's it going, huh?” Brando raised his hand to grip the barbecue, and there were just a few obvious oil stains on the dark blue uniform - at first glance, marks of someone wiping their hands on it.

“You… how can you wipe your hands on a uniform that represents the majesty of the kingdom and is a soldier's greatest honor. Brando, you... you're out of line!” Freya was about to get angry and forgot about the sadness.

“Oh, this... just a quick one.” Brando answered somewhat innocently.

“Smooth, smooth! ”

“Ha, Freya, you're busy, I'll go out and check it out.” Brando looked at the future goddess of martial arts to seize, obviously what the young lady had learned at Wang Li Knight College made her feel a little overprivileged, hurried to beat a haha and prepare to go away.

“You stop, Brando! ”

At this time, who stood still who was stupid, Brando understood this deeply. He was supposed to show Freya and Sy this cavalry uniform, but the purpose of the show was achieved, but the end result had to be a little unexpected.

Good thing this little thing doesn't spoil his good mood at the moment.

The cavalry uniform on his body came from Cold Cedar Collar's own cotton spinning and dyeing workshop, which came almost entirely from Toniguer, except that the cotton was shipped by Ambessel.

It used to be a deserted, barren, barely anything but silver.

The change stemmed from an increase in population, as large numbers of refugees influxed or transported into Toniguer during previous wars, while food reserves from Ambessel rapidly converted the increased population into a workforce that could be used.

Two months ago, under the auspices of Buru, cotton spinning workshops, dye workshops, blacksmiths' workshops, copper shops, clay and ceramics, and even the Bureau of Arms and Armour were established. After nearly six months of careful care, Tonigal is no longer in the remote wilderness, but has gradually begun to produce some of the necessary products on a self-sufficient basis.

First, food and weapons, as well as a small number of luxury commodities.

After the storm season, commercial activity with the North grew more frequent. Sailboats from Grey Wind Harbor and Ambesseur with snow-white sails docked at the newly built deep-water pier in Port Gris, and smell-sensitive businessmen began to discover local potential, with an increasing number of businessmen living in the port on a monthly basis since entering the month of Sohua.

Together, there are a large number of craftsmen. Just a few days ago, Brando also met with a group of dwarf magicians from Montenegro, most of whom were also refugees in the war, who were said to have begun to influence normal business activities in the North and to have had to choose to fight the Lions head-on under the pressure of the Temple.

And this is just the opportunity for the South to grow.

Brando looked at the wagon carrying the cargo through the avenue near Cold Cedar Castle, and the fields on the forest border were no longer deserted, and working farmers could be seen everywhere. A year ago, even six months ago, this was undoubtedly impossible to see in Tonigal.

And all of this, it's just him, all of us, working together.

He raised his head and looked at the rider of the distant tall horse, holding the winner's triangle flag high, bending around the crowd. That silver, lily embroidered flag was flying high in the wind, like this a thousand years ago, and a thousand years later, it was flying over the earth again.

People cheered like landslides.

Brando saw the Fairy Princess raised high by the Fairy Girls, and she looked at the flag from afar, and there seemed to be something shiny in her eyes.

“Metissa! ”

“Metissa! ”

The inhabitants shouted and raised their glasses high in their hands. Grass houses of the Groudin era are no longer visible on either side of the street, and with the assistance of the Red Copper Dragon Mercenary Corps and the workers of Odom, flat streets have been built along Cold Cedar Castle, with tidy wooden houses on both sides, standing on the side of the house by hosts and children, each with a satisfying smile on his face.

He passed through the streets and was recognized, and a large section of the colony bowed to him sincerely. Brando was also free to give back, and to be honest, he had grown accustomed to such a life and was no longer anxious to be treated with courtesy.

Those from modern perceptions seem to be fading. But in the depths of his soul, the pride of advanced civilization still sustains his words and deeds, at least he will never consider this reverence and pride innate.

He placed a copper coin in the hands of a little girl who had come from Lord's blessings before the summer. The little girl was so excited that she ran to a woman with a copper coin in her hands. Perhaps it was her mother, the woman who ended up holding the money in the hands of the little girl, even paying tribute to him.

“My lord! ”

“My lord! ”

The cry quickly changed to another voice, and the inhabitants of Cold Cedar Lord paid their heartfelt tribute to the new Lord who brought them all this.

Brando squinted his eyes, and he understood that such satisfaction was illusory, temporary for all, and even earlier, people were anxiously asking about the coming war.

In these turbulent times, everyone is trying to keep their side temporarily secure.

There was nothing wrong with that, except that Eruin was far from stable. Some people are bound to bleed and even pay their lives to guard others, but at least he wants to guard such an Eluin.

He crossed the crowd and walked to Her Royal Highness. Griffin watched all this silently, and the knight stood beside her with one hand pressed against the sword. But Brando felt that he was looking at himself without a trace, and in fact Nimaisie felt far less tight than every nerve on his body when he was in Ambethel.

In this atmosphere, how can people get nervous?

“They like you very much, Mr. Brando. If anyone else in Eruin can be described as an example of an ancient nobility, then you will certainly find this quality in you.” Princess Griffin's eyes sparkled with a touch of touch.

“This is the ideal of Her Highness the Princess. Throughout Eruin, everyone can stop being trapped by poverty, war, disaster. The tragedy of Butch will not be repeated.” Brando replied.

Princess Griffin winked. “Mr. Brando, I understand that there are too many ideals, but at least I would like to change the kingdom from the current situation. … In the north, even in Jeannel, Vieiro and many other places, the scourge of war and the nobility itself persists, while the descendants of the first Jun Acre have done nothing. ”

“Yes, so Tonigal won't settle down for long. Everyone must strive and sacrifice for their future. ”

“Is Mr. Brando ready? ”

“Just convince Grand Duke Vieiro. ”

……

Metissa was tortured by the passionate elf girls for a while before putting it down. Silver elf princess has not experienced this kind of scene in her life or in her previous life. She has been clothed badly and a little face is almost as red as a drop of blood.

As soon as she landed, about afraid of revenge, the Tree Elves whistled and blew away, and the winner of our archery competition almost fell on her ass. Fortunately, Antina hurried to hold her, “Those dead girls.” The maid shook her head and handed Metissa's silver bow up.

“Thank you, Sister Antina.” Metissa's heart palpitated.

However, she looked up at the flag belonging to the Silver Elf royal family flying high and high in the distance, revealing a satisfying glow in her eyes. I don't know how many years this flag hasn't been so brilliant in people's eyes.

The moment she held the bow, her body and mind were like back in the days, on the wilderness, the silver horse was running, the horn was ringing for a long time, as if it resonated with the vast earth.

Antitina looked at the little princess of the Silver Elf a little faint, about guessed what she thought, sighed, and gently covered her with a cloak. Though it was a big summer, it was just as easy to fall ill after a cold, sweaty breeze, and she was used to doing these details for Brando, forgetting for a moment that Metisa was just a spirit.

Metisa glanced slightly, some moved, at Antitina: "Thank you very much, Sister Antitina. ”

“This is the second time.” Antina shook her head, not to her heart.

“No, because I think of my sister, my lord.” Metisa replied earnestly.

“Really? ”

“Well, maybe a little softer. Like my imaginary sister, um, that's it...” The little Silver Elf princess smiles sweetly.

Antittina took a closer look at her, and she heard some stories about Metisa, knowing that her relationship with her sister might not be so harmonious. She reached out and looked at the hair in front of the girl's forehead. "Around the royal family, that's it...”

“The royal family?” Metisa thought about it and looked at Antitina: "By the way, Sister Antitina, Lord, haven't you found a reason yet? ”

“Mmm.” The lady thought of it, shaking her head: "Miss Aroz checked it for me, but I'm not from any Golden Nation, that time, it was probably Lord Martha's blessing. ”

“Master Martha's blessing? ”

Metissa looked at Antina and suddenly asked, "Sister Antina, where's your necklace? ”

“Necklace…” Antina pressed her chest subconsciously, “the necklace? ”

“Yeah, that necklace I've been wearing. Didn't you always carry it with you before you went to Ambethel? I remember seeing it once in the sparkling sea.” Metisa whispered.

“Well... I lost it before, why? ”

“Nothing.” The Silver Fairy Princess smiled. “I didn't expect the careful Sister Antitina to lose something. Tell Lord, he must not believe it. ”

“No need," Antitina replied hastily, "Lord Lord is busy preparing for the war with Count Denel, these little things, leave him alone. ”

“Really? ”

The lady nodded slightly.

Metissa thought about it and seemed to want to say something else. But it was at this time that a noise suddenly broke through the corner of the field. The crowd over there seemed disturbed, and the attention of both was drawn to the past for a while.

But when compared to Metisa, Antitina is just an ordinary person after all. The Fairy Princess quickly distinguished what was happening over there.

“Eh,” she said softly.

“What's the matter?” Antitina looked in that direction in vain and turned back and asked.

“There are some strange guys out there. ”

Metissa muttered.

……

For the Tosancado Forest, the long rainy weather seems to start visiting Magitan and surrounding areas again after a brief sunshine.

For the inhabitants of the Misty Forest, it seems that few good days have passed since the visit of the Grand Duke of Anrek. The gloomy sky, which brings shady rain, always hovers over your head, although April and May begin to be the rainy season in the Tosancad region.

But since this year, it has been a little too strange.

Wooden fence doors creaked and squeaked in the rain, and a pair of dark eyes in the rain screen silently watched the rain slide down the fence door like broken columns fell from the tip and then mixed into the mud.

The two servants held a cloak high to allow Count Denel to cover the rain, and the privileged count of the kingdom silently looked at the carriage on the suspension bridge and drove out of the city under the guidance of the guards, then turned around and quickly disappeared over the city.

Grand Duke Anrek lifted the curtain of the window with one hand and retracted his gaze from that direction, smiling softly. The carriage is back in the dark: “This old fox is so careless and greedy, so soft and stubborn that he is his greatest weakness. ”

“I'm afraid this is also the typical weakness of the nobles, Lord Duke.” A woman's voice replied, "But finally convinced this guy, it wasn't all for nothing. ”

“Sometimes he regrets it.” The dull voice made a cold smile.

“He just doesn't have a choice, but he doesn't necessarily get on our boat in good faith. In other words, how can a busy aristocrat like this understand more profound reason?” Grand Duke Anrek shook his head.

“But, Duke Cohen, this guy is not trustworthy, and you better make a plan.” He made another reminder.

“Always ready.” The cloudy voice replied, “He's just a dead lamb. ”

Alec nodded and finally glanced in that direction with an indescribable eye - Maggie Tan's towering walls had long left only a faint shadow in the rain screen. Then he dropped the curtain and returned to darkness in the compartment.

And in an unseen direction, he allowed Count Denel to walk down the castle's spiral ladder, accompanied by a knight, and the dim light in the corridor reflected his bright and dark face, which seemed to be filled with cold doubts in every wrinkle of the former powerful count of the kingdom.

“Father, you're really going to be allied with those things.” A figure has been waiting for a long time, and the noble youth raise their heads and some cannot wait to ask: "If we agree, we will have no way back. ”

Let Denel take a look at his second son: “Do we have a way out now? It seems you haven't figured out your situation yet. ”

“No, I mean...”

“Enough.” Let Denel interrupt him a little impatiently: “I know what you're trying to say, of course I'll be ready. Madara... at least Madara's side..."

He sighed: "Forget it. Go and contact the Cruz. ”

“Cruz? ”

“There's always something they need to know. ”

The Count replied in silence for a moment.

……

(PS: Day three! I went out to do something today, I'm so late! WOOOOOOOOOOO, that's it ~) (to be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote on recommendations, monthly tickets (qidian.com), and your support is my biggest motivation.)