Crushing Duke
The only thing Lorist could do now was scavenge every ounce of strength at his disposal to stand against Duke Lukins's army. The purpose of hiring the four mercenary groups was to conduct ambushes and harassment against the enemy, eliminate their scouts, tie down a portion of their forces, and prevent the enemy from freely deploying their troops to lay siege to the Family's manor and castle.
What worried Lorist most at the moment was the possibility that Duke Lukins's army had already begun its assault on Maple Forest Manor. Although over a company of the Family's soldiers were holding the defense, five or six hundred defenders — more than two hundred of whom were wounded — going up against several thousand enemies, possibly ten times their number or more, was enough to make anyone's heart pound with anxiety. The only consolation for Lorist was that Josk was still at Maple Forest Manor. With a Gold-tier divine archer like him holding the line, the manor could hold out for a while even under attack…
The horizon began to pale with the first light of dawn. Lorist drifted between sleep and wakefulness — he had gone to bed far too late the night before.
"My Lord, Paul Binns has sent men back…" Ovikis's voice came from outside the door. He had been on night watch.
Lorist swung himself out of bed. "Ovikis, have someone bring me a basin of water. I'll wash my face…"
The one who returned with the message was a bodyguard of former bandit origins. He had ridden through the night and was utterly exhausted. "My Lord, Captain Paul Binns asked me to report to you: the enemy didn't move out yesterday and stayed in their camp the whole day. We eliminated a squad of them that had come out to gather firewood — about a dozen or so — and captured a few alive. Those prisoners said they came here with two battalions, over four thousand men in total, led by Gold Knights Chivani and Henneide. They were sent on the Duke's orders to crush the rebellious Norton Family…"
"Did those prisoners say how they entered our Family's territory?" Lorist asked.
The bodyguard nodded. "Lord Josk questioned them. He's with some of our men. Those prisoners said they weren't clear on the specifics — there were guides ahead, and they just followed the main force. They said it was from the seaside, passing through a stretch of white sand beach. Then they went through several caves, the longest of which took a full day to traverse. There was also a very long ropeway. The journey was brutally difficult — it took them nearly four and a half days, and they were completely exhausted. After arriving here and setting up camp, their orders were to rest for two days…"
"Is Sir Josk also with you?"
"Yes, my Lord. When we arrived at Northfield Town, we ran into Lord Josk — he had some men watching the enemy camp — so we joined up with him," the bodyguard replied.
"Very good. Go and get some rest. You did well," Lorist said, patting the bodyguard's shoulder with satisfaction.
Lorist let out a long breath. What he needed most right now was time. He never expected that Lukins the Duke's army would gift him two full days. It was far beyond his expectations — the best possible outcome.
"Ovidis, did you finish selecting personnel for the new company I asked you to form yesterday?" Lorist asked.
Ovidis nodded. "My Lord, it's all set up. Weapons and equipment have all been issued. Yesterday afternoon I had them set up a training ground behind the commercial district. They can begin preliminary coordination drills first thing this morning."
"Good. During their downtime, don't forget to teach them how to awaken their
"Yes, my Lord." Ovidis snapped to attention.
"All right. You were on night duty — it must have been tiring. Go get some rest," Lorist said.
…
After breakfast,
"Jim, this morning I want you to bring the four mercenary companies into the city in batches. After they've received their weapons and equipment, have them camp outside the city walls. I'll be leading them out at first light tomorrow. Understood?"
"Yes, my Lord. I'll see to it right away." Jim took his leave first.
"Sedekamp, I'm putting you in charge of coordinating with the Kenmes Family for everything related to the knight tournament. I'll have Steward Hanske assist you. Are you clear on the points I told you to watch out for?" Lorist asked.
Sedekamp replied, "Don't worry, my Lord. I'll make sure you're satisfied."
"Pat, today I want you to pick one squad from the household guards, then select two squads of family soldiers from the returning company. The requirements are that they must have already awakened their Combat Force, be able to ride, and be able to shoot a bow. All selected soldiers are to be placed under Knight Wassima's command."
"At once, my Lord."
"Also, once I take three squads with me, only two squads of household guards and two squads of family soldiers will remain in the castle. All of them will be under your command. As for the new company Ovidis has assembled, don't worry about them — they're not ready for action yet. Let Ovidis train them for a while first. Four squads should be enough to hold
"Rest assured, my Lord. I'll be on my guard." Pat made his promise with utmost sincerity.
Lorist gave him two firm pats on the shoulder. "Good. I'll leave it in your hands."
"Vashimar..."
"I have some orders for you." Vashimar stepped forward.
Lorist turned to him. "I'm sorry, Vashimar, but you've barely arrived and I'm already asking you to march to war..."
Vashimar cut Lorist off. "My Lord, a knight belongs on the battlefield. Marching for the family is a knight's duty and honor. Please give the order."
"Very well. Vashimar, after you and Knight Pat finish selecting the soldiers for the expedition, you'll be in charge of inspecting all the expedition soldiers' equipment and preparations. Household guards: double iron armor, lances, cavalry shields, one quiver of javelins, and they may choose their own short sidearms. Family soldiers: chain mail, lances, round wooden shields, training longbows, one quiver of arrows, and longswords. Everyone will ride double — two horses per person — and carry three days' rations and a blanket. Have everything ready today, and march out with me tomorrow morning."
"Yes, my Lord." Vashimar struck his left breastplate with his fist in a knight's salute.
"That's settled then. Go take care of your duties. Tell the guards at the gate to fetch
"Yes, my Lord."
…
"Locke, you... you're absolutely detestable and shameless..." Miss Trusty's face was flushed red, a mixture of exasperation, annoyance, shame, and anger.
Just now Locks had said he came to bid farewell, but the moment he entered, he grabbed Miss Trusty and gave her a deep French kiss, leaving her gasping for breath and weak all over.
"My dearest Trusty, I am about to go to war. The enemy this time is very powerful, and I truly have no confidence in returning to your side. That is why I have come to say goodbye, hoping your kiss will give me the courage to defeat these vicious enemies. When I return victorious, I will place the most precious spoils of war at your feet..." Locks was reciting with deep emotion.
"Enough, enough, where did you pick up this ridiculous plot from, some knight's tale? I don't know about others, but I'm certain you'll be bouncing back in front of me in no time. All I can do is pray for your enemies—crossing paths with you is misfortune enough for them." Miss Trusty cut off Locks's poetic recitation without a shred of politeness.
"As expected, my dearest Trusty understands me and has such great confidence in me. But this time it really is a bit dangerous. Duke Lukins has sent forces two or three times the strength of our family's armed forces. I have already ordered Pat—if the situation becomes critical, he will notify you to evacuate immediately." Locks said solemnly.
Miss Trusty was silent for a moment, then lifted her head and said, "I believe no one can defeat you. You will return victorious soon. You should go now. We've hugged, kissed, and said our goodbyes. What else do you want?"
Locks smiled. "I was wondering if we could have one more..."
"You..." Miss Trusty, seething, lowered her head as if to find something to throw at Locks...
Locks hastily fled towards the door. As he passed little Winnie, he slipped an imperial gold coin into her hand. "Well done. This is your reward."
Miss Trusty sank weakly into a chair. "That scoundrel..."
Thinking of the long, passionate kiss just moments ago, she felt her cheeks grow hot once more, and her eyes grew unfocused.
"Miss, look, a gold coin Lord Locks gave me!" little Winnie said gleefully.
Looking at little Winnie, Miss Trusty couldn't even bring herself to be angry. "Winnie, you sold out your mistress for a single gold coin?"
"I didn't! Miss, aren't you right here perfectly fine?" Winnie said innocently.
"Then why did you close the door earlier?"
Winnie answered naively, "Lord Locks said he wanted to give you a surprise and didn't want anyone to see. I thought that made perfect sense, so I closed the door. Lord Locks even said I did well and gave me this gold coin. Oh, by the way, Miss, what surprise did Lord Locks just give you? Can you show it to me?"
Miss Trusty covered her face and leaned against the table, her head throbbing. "Nothing..."
"Ah, Miss, you're so stingy..." Winnie said.
…
"My lord, it's time we set off." Vashima came before Lorist and said.
Pat led over a tall Northland steed, and Lorist stepped into the stirrup and mounted.
"My lord, you're going like this?" Vashima stared in surprise at the vest-like chain mail Lorist was wearing.
"Well, Vashima, the thing is, although I am a knight, the martial techniques I cultivate are different from yours. Wearing overly heavy armor would actually hinder my performance," Lorist explained.
Vashima nodded in understanding and mounted his horse, riding alongside behind Lorist.
A squad of personal guards and two squads of family soldiers had already formed up and were waiting. Over three hundred and sixty men clad in iron armor, fully armed, stood in three ranks. Beside them was a riderless horse with an empty saddle. Though it was only a small force, it gave off an impression of strength and readiness — a stark contrast to the disorganized mercenaries gathered on the other side.
"Have the scouts been sent out?" Lorist asked.
"They were sent out this morning. Thirty-odd men in total, three per group — three groups ahead, two on each flank," Vashima replied.
"Good. Then let's set out. You'll lead the column."
"Yes, my lord."
"Jim, come here," Lorist called.
"Set out now. Go tell the leaders of those four mercenary companies to follow behind our family soldiers. Arrange the order of march. Once they've fallen in, bring the four company captains to me. I want to meet them," Lorist instructed.
"I'll go notify them right away."
Of the four hired mercenary companies, the Night Bat Mercenary Company was the largest in number. They were also the last to sign a contract with Jim, and the reason was that they believed a company of their size shouldn't receive the same one hundred gold fose as the other three companies, demanding their fee be raised to two hundred or one hundred and fifty gold fose. In the end, Jim mocked them: in terms of numbers you're the largest, but in terms of strength you rank third among the four companies — what right do you have to demand a raise? Sign or don't sign; with or without you makes no difference. In the end, the Night Bat Mercenary Company still signed the employment contract.
The two-hundred-and-sixty-odd mercenaries of the Night Bat company marching together truly had no discipline whatsoever — some bunched up, some straggled, dragging along haphazardly. When Jim introduced the Night Bat company's leader to Lorist, Lorist bluntly ordered him to immediately straighten out their marching formation. "Looking like this, you still have the nerve to pass yourselves off as guards of the Norton Family? One glance and anyone can tell you're just a ragtag mob."
The leader of the Night Bat Mercenary Company was a slick old mercenary named Ulma Promashin, a two-star Silver ranked fighter. After receiving a tongue-lashing from Lorist, he looked at his company's marching formation, then at the formations of the other three companies, his face flushing red. He returned to his company's ranks and shouted and cursed until the mercenaries finally began to march in something resembling order.
The Cromwell Mercenary Company was the strongest in terms of combat power, because its leader, Cromwell Richard, was a one-star Gold ranked swordsman. It was said that his grandfather had originally been a knight who, after angering a lord, was stripped of his knightly title and expelled from his family, becoming a destitute mercenary. During his mercenary career he stumbled upon extraordinary good fortune, acquired a large sum of wealth, and organized a mercenary company. His greatest passion was exploration and searching for ancient ruins. His grandfather later left behind a family decree requiring his descendants to inherit the mercenary company and never take government office — as long as one was strong enough, even as a commoner, a mercenary could still live freely and at ease.
Ranked second in strength was the Sharp Spear Mercenary Company, with a force of over one hundred and seventy. This was the company Lorist paid the most attention to, because it was composed entirely of retired civilian officers and soldiers who maintained the best military discipline and order while marching. Its leader was named Sandro, a three-star Silver ranked fighter. He had originally been the garrison commander of a town. During the Imperial civil war, his city was destroyed. In order for his family and the families of his fallen comrades to survive, he organized this mercenary company — both to earn money to support everyone and to band together to avoid the oppression of the nobles.
Last was the Five Swords Mercenary Company. As the name suggested, this was a mercenary team led by five Silver ranked swordsmen. They were the smallest in number, with only one hundred and thirty-two men, but they appeared more united and cohesive than the Night Bat Mercenary Company.
Lorist trailed behind his family soldiers, chatting and laughing with the leaders of the four mercenary companies. He had worked as a mercenary in
Just as the conversation was at its most animated, a rider came galloping up from ahead. "My lord, Lord Vashingma asks that you come to the front. Captain Paul Bins has returned."
…