The trip to Lawnberg was quick, as a rider was sent before his arrival. The men have already said their goodbyes to their families. Their children's cries and their wife's reluctant look...
'Father, how do you deal when you part your men from their families?' Holding the silver ring, Prewell began to think of the past. When Arguile Ih Leviathan still lives, when he sat in a corner of the study as he watched his father rule.
His taciturn face and calculating gaze contradicts his old face when he placed his rough hand a top his head. His smile as he ruffled his hair...
He is a good lord. He is. The people never go hungry, and they never fear the creatures of the forest. Zalsac may have been undeveloped under his rule, but he did his best with what he knew. Unlike me... I studied a lot in my previous life, yet I did not use it to benefit this land any sooner...
Sigh...
'Goblins... once this threat is dealt with...' A glint appeared in Prewell's eyes as he played with the silver ring.
'Lucius and his men should have been out of the forest by this time. I hope that they'll be able to assist Lancel in holding Hatr's defense. Just wait... in a few more days... all the problems in Zalsac will soon be resolved.'
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A few kilometers away from Hatr
"Sir Lucius, Captain, Hatr is surrounded by a goblin army numbering at least 5,000." Istav, a member of Lucius and Barov group, reported.
Their journey has been an arduous one. Despite their status as 'knight squire' some of their members still received injuries of various degree as they fought off the goblins chasing them. Now their journey is nearly at its end. Hatr is insight, but as the goblins siege the settlement, they would rather not alert them of their presence.
"Give me 3 hours, by then I'll be able to use the sinking spell. Soon enough, we will be able to tunnel our way to Hatr. For now, lie low. I sense a strong life force, among the goblins. I fear a shaman or a goblin chief is leading the goblin horde." While having his thumb and index finger pressed against his chin, Lucius told his solution to their current dilemma and cautioned the men about his findings.
Barov nodded as he acknowledged Lucius words. "Indeed, I also sense something around the goblin camp. In the meantime we all stick together, no fires and no loud noises."
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Besieged Settlement of Hatr
"Cough... cough... I overestimated myself." A pale knight sat on the ground as he covered his bleeding side.
"Ser Lancel, don't move, let us help you mend your wounds." A kind elder woman accompanied by others looked after the injured Lancel.
On the second day since Lancel arrived in Hatr, the goblin chief surprised him and the others as he rushed to the frontline with his ginormous mount.
Lancel and the goblin chief fought at the top of the wall, despite his small advantage over the goblin chief, Lancel found himself at a disadvantage the moment the giant wolf joined the goblin chief in its attack.
Parrying the goblin chief's sickle and dodging the wolf's bite and claw strike, drained a lot of Lancel's energy every time the duo launched their attack on him. The instant that he let his guard down, the goblin chief performed a quick strike to his side.
His steel armor was unable to block the sickle, but fortunately, he was able to react quickly and kick the goblin chief away.
Luckily for Lancel while he and the duo fought, the men of Hatr were able to push the goblin horde back. As the goblins fled, the goblin chief soon realized the situation. Facing the imminent risk of being overrun by the human defenders, it fled a top it mounts.
With that, the Hatr stood for another day, but with the casualties now mounting and goblin corpses outside the wall forming a small hill. They now have easier access a top the wooden walls, if not for the undying fighting spirit of the men to protect their home and family. Hatr would have fallen long ago.
'My Lord, Hatr is unable to hold anymore... Lucius my old friend, I wonder where you are...' Closing his eyes as the women in the village helped him mend his wound, Lancel thought of his Lord and friend Lucius.
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Saint Gerald Castle
Prewell's Study
"Lady Madeline, this is the list of materials that Sir Ecish requested, while this is the list of supplies and provisions that Ser Wiegraf have sent along with the Volunteers' and garrison of Waldr." Tom, Ecish's right-hand man, now temporary took over his position.
Handing letters and parchments to Madeline. As she sat at Prewell's chair, handling the matter regarding the goblin incursion, as the lord of the castle is away.
Holding the documents given to her by Tom, Madeline made a copy of the content of the document and signed her name in the copy that she made. The original copy will be preserved for Prewell to review.
"Tom, please mobilize the men to take out the supplies that Ser Ecish requires. Please ask them to make haste, a moment of delay here may cause unforeseen consequences in the frontline." Madeline soft voice echoed in the room as she told Tom of her request.
"I shall relay your wish to the men, Lady Madeline." Bowing to Madeline as he spoke, Tom then hurried and brought the signed documents to the treasure room.
Watching his back as he left, Madeline couldn't help but shake her head. Though she and Prewell had some intimacy, without a proper talk, such action will cause the people of the castle to misunderstand.
But...
'Lady Madeline... hmmm' thinking of the that broad back, Madeline couldn't help but think of the warmth her hand felt before that day.
A small smile blossomed on her face as she touched a silver ring hanging by a red rope tied to her neck, identical to the one that she gave Prewell before. The only difference is the etched logo onto the ring.
A winged snake etched onto this ring, the sigil of house Ih Leviathan. A creature which Prewell has always been curious about.
Playing with the ring as she thinks of the one who owned an almost identical ring, she asked the figure in her mind. 'Do you like it?'
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Outside the sieged settlement of Hatr
Lucius opened his eyes, as he felt his mana is full once more. Explaining things to the men around him with clarity, unlike when he first began leading the men.
"It's time... I will cast the spell. By then the ground will tremble and will more than likely attract our enemy outside Hatr. If we wait any further, we cannot guarantee whether Hatr can hold it any longer.
Waiting for the goblin's to begin their siege, then attacking them in from the rear is not viable. We will be overrun before we reach the settlement. So... hold on... do not let them get close to me... also you guys... do not die. Please..."
Barov along with the men, bowed to Lucius as they respected this Earth Mage's care for them.
The start was a little rough with Lucius socially awkward personality, but as the time went on, and they stuck to one another through thick and thin. They were able to gain the trust of Lucius, and were able to communicate with him normally.
"Go to your positions, Sir Lucius, you can begin." Unsheathing his axe, Barov led the men to surround Lucius. Protecting him in the middle as they form a circular formation around him.
Taking a deep breath, Lucius, placed the end of his staff to the ground as he began to chant.
Whispers of magic echoed as the men tightened their hold on their weapons.
*Crack* *Shhhhh* *Crack*
The ground trembled as the rocks and dirt gradually parted. A small hole began to appear as Lucius continued his chant.
Just as this was going on, roaring and screaming can be heard from the distance.
"Men! Hold!" Holding his axe with two hands, Barov ordered the men. "We survive as long we hold them long enough for Sir Lucius to finish his spell."
The small band of warriors began raising their weapons, as across the field, on the horizon they can see hundred of goblins heading their way.
*Crack* *Crack*
As the cracking of the ground grew stronger. The goblins have reached their position.
Raising his one-handed axe and slamming it down, Istav yelled. "FOR ZALSAC!"
His axe landed on the goblins head, as he raised the axe once more and slashed it horizontally at a goblin to his left.
His yell, like a small ember causing a wider fire in the field. Caused the men to follow his example.
As a warrior stab his spear onto a goblin, he pulled his spear and threw at another goblin he took out his sheathed sword. Raising it to his head as yelled. "FOR ZALSAC!"
Similarly, a man wielding a morning star yelled, while he swung his weapon at the charging goblins. "FOR ZALSAC!"
A wail of terror and cries of pain now echoed from the goblins.
As for the men, their momentum, and morale is at its peak. As thin transparent film once again began to envelop the men. The 'seeds' which Prewell had discovered before presently are starting to germinate.