Chapter 203
Varkas ordered the knights to reform their ranks before mounting his horse once more.
After advancing some distance along the gently sloping ridge, they drew close enough to distinguish the faces of the approaching riders.
His gaze settled on the knight leading the formation.
Though the man wore a helmet, Varkas recognized him immediately.
Kailias.
One of the top ten knights of the Roem Knights.
A man with whom he had clashed several times in the past.
Over the last two years, Kailias had earned enough military merit to rise into the upper ranks. He approached with unmistakable confidence and offered a greeting.
“It has been a long time, Your Grace.”
“...What are you doing here?”
“It seems the news hasn't reached you yet.”
The knight spoke with arrogant composure.
“The lords of the northeastern territories have allied themselves with the remnants of the North. Upon receiving this report, His Majesty immediately ordered us to reinforce the East and suppress the rebels.”
A crease formed between Varkas's brows.
As though taking pleasure in his displeasure, Kailias curled his lips into a mocking smile.
“Why that expression? Surely you're not unhappy to receive reinforcements personally sent by His Majesty?”
“...What exactly do you mean by saying the northeastern lords have joined forces with the northern remnants?”
“I imagine a man like you hardly needs the explanation.”
His tone carried deliberate implication.
Unable to tolerate his insolent attitude any longer, Beirof and the eastern knights stepped forward with grim expressions.
Only then did Kailias click his tongue before continuing.
“Half a month ago, His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince captured Blodar Keep. Thanks to that victory, we obtained complete information regarding every faction involved in the rebellion.”
For the first time, surprise flickered across Varkas's face.
“Wasn't there an imperial order to maintain the siege until the peace treaty had been concluded?”
“With the rebels right in front of us, we couldn't stand around forever doing nothing. His Majesty himself acknowledged His Imperial Highness's achievement.”
Having spoken almost defensively on the Crown Prince's behalf, Kailias let out a quiet sigh and turned his horse.
“For now, we should get moving. I'll brief you on the situation as we ride.”
Varkas silently studied him for a moment before signaling the waiting knights to advance.
Shortly afterward, the eastern force reformed its ranks and resumed marching, maintaining a measured distance behind the Roem Knights.
Kailias guided his horse alongside Varkas and continued in a businesslike tone.
“Half a month ago, His Imperial Highness secretly infiltrated agents into the fortress before launching a concentrated assault. The operation succeeded, and by dawn the keep had fallen. His Imperial Highness immediately displayed Duke Heimdal's severed head above the gates so the entire Empire could witness the price of treason.”
“What became of Bjorn Blodar Heimdal?”
Varkas had listened in silence until then.
The triumphant look on Kailias's face faltered ever so slightly.
“He wasn't inside the fortress. We still don't know when or how he escaped... but [N O V E L I G H T] it appears Bjorn and most of the rebel leadership fled shortly after the siege began. The entire siege was nothing more than a delaying tactic to buy them time to organize operations elsewhere.”
Varkas let out a hollow laugh.
“So he sacrificed both his own father and the North's greatest city?”
“He was the man who started this absurd war. Expecting him to act rationally was the mistake.”
The knight released a weary sigh before continuing.
“In any case, we began tracking Bjorn's movements the moment the fortress fell. As soon as we confirmed that he had fled east with his followers, we reported everything to His Majesty. His Majesty immediately ordered the army waiting along the northern-eastern border to begin its attack while instructing us to provide additional reinforcements.”
The reins tightened in Varkas's hand until the veins on the back of it stood out.
It seemed Daren's dispatch had been sent immediately after the imperial decree was issued.
...The time for quietly resolving this has already passed.
If he attempted to pardon the conspirators now, he himself would be branded a traitor.
Once the Emperor had publicly dispatched reinforcements, armed conflict had become unavoidable.
“By now, fighting has most likely already begun along the border. We need to hurry.”
Having finished his report, Kailias spurred his horse ahead.
Without a word, Varkas urged his own mount after him.
They rode without pause.
By the time the horizon had begun to glow with the colors of sunset, a magnificent city enclosed by towering sand-colored walls appeared in the distance.
Smoke already rose from the battlements.
Thousands of soldiers surrounded the city.
Taking in the sight, Varkas ordered the knights behind him to prepare for battle.
Moments later, horns thundered across the plain.
Drawing their swords, the knights charged toward the battlefield.
Rather than rushing in immediately, Varkas remained some distance away, carefully studying the battlefield.
Spearmen bearing the Grand Ducal banner had surrounded the city from the north and east.
Infantry beneath the Imperial banner were driving a battering ram against the main gate.
The battle had escalated far faster than he had anticipated.
His brows knit briefly.
Then he spotted Daren in a command camp established near the outskirts, issuing orders to the soldiers.
He immediately turned his horse in that direction.
“Your Grace!”
Daren's face lit up the moment he recognized him.
Skipping even the customary greetings, Varkas spoke at once.
“I've already received the full report from the Imperial reinforcements. What's the current situation?”
“As you can see, the assault on the city is proceeding smoothly. However...”
The man's face looked noticeably more worn than before, as though the past days had taken a heavy toll on him.
His voice sank.
“The number of people implicated in the rebellion is far greater than we expected. If we're to restore order, a large-scale purge will be unavoidable.”
Varkas stared grimly at the sections of the city walls scarred by battle.
Not long after becoming Grand Duke, he had personally visited this magnificent city while inspecting his territories.
Now it was drowning in screams and flames.
He watched the scene with bitter eyes.
Then he drew his sword.
Without another word, he spurred his horse toward the front lines.
Beyond the shattered gates, soldiers were flooding into the city like a tidal wave.
The clash of polearms echoed endlessly through streets reduced to chaos by the bombardment.
Charging straight into the melee, Varkas cut down every enemy who blocked his path with a single stroke, opening a route for the cavalry following behind him.
Moments later, heavily armored warhorses thundered into the streets in tight formation.
The defenders desperately tried to halt their advance.
Instead, they were smashed aside beneath the sheer mass of the charging mounts.
Those who fell were mercilessly trampled beneath iron-shod hooves.
Watching the massacre with an unreadable expression, Varkas led the cavalry through the central square toward the fortress towering over the heart of the city.
The civilians had apparently evacuated into the inner castle beforehand.
The city itself was almost deserted.
After briefly surveying the eerily silent buildings and deserted square, his gaze shifted beyond the moat toward the tightly sealed fortress gates and its formidable walls.
Archers stood atop the battlements with arrows already nocked, waiting for the attackers to approach.
Varkas raised a hand, stopping the soldiers preparing to charge.
“Do not approach carelessly. We've already taken the city. Controlling the fortress is only a matter of time.”
After carefully judging the range from which the enemy could strike, he turned his horse and issued his orders.
“Surround the fortress completely. Don't let so much as a rat escape. At most, they'll raise the white flag within a month.”
* * *
Tarlin surrendered in less than three weeks.
The inner garrison revolted, beheaded the castellan who had led the rebellion, and displayed his head upon the walls.
Thanks to that, the city was taken without further bloodshed.
“The new lord had only taken office a few years ago. None of us imagined he would betray both Your Grace and His Majesty by selling military supplies to the North.”
The captain of the city guard who had led the uprising pleaded desperately for mercy.
Leading his knights into the castle courtyard, Varkas answered in an indifferent tone.
“If your statement proves truthful, I'll petition His Majesty to show leniency. But if even a single word is false, you too will receive the punishment prescribed by law.”
The man lowered his head with a dark expression.
Varkas ordered the soldiers waiting behind him to arrest everyone involved before striding across the courtyard without another glance.