3rd Era, 845, 5th of Last Nightingale
Lands of the Sepheran Kingdom
Tundra Island, Caer Nora Castle
Sepheran King Victus was overlooking a map over Tundra Island from the islands Governors castle. Caer Nora Castle.
It had been built in the harbor town along the southern coast hundreds of years ago. It was in perfect condition and had been kept up to date with new defensive measures and ways up build. It was a marvel of engineering.
The room Victus was in was made out of grey stone blocks with a handful of paintings and, a table with maps, a large multi-colored carpet covering the floor. The gorgeous silk proved that it was of elven design. Either made by an elf, bought from the elven kingdom or captured in their latest war generations ago.
Victus was dressed accordingly to his crown. A long red cloak and a red-green-blue colored military jacket. His pants was black and silver and lined with fur to increase his warmth and comfort. Lastly he had his crown on his brown haired head. With silver eyes he looked down at the map as reports was read to him. Around him stood several Lord Commanders, Knight Commanders, a single Legate, a handful of Adjutants and Captains.
The current report he listened to was read by the Adjutant to Lord Commander Alenius Cassius. It was from the Cavalry Regimental commander that had dispatched Scouts to locate rebel positions and strongpoints. And Victus listened carefully to take in the information and increase his likelihood of making a good decision later.
The rank of Lord Commander was the Sepheran equivalent of a General. They led armies and could act like military governors over provinces with unrest. They were recruited from members of Houses with a military career. Three hundred years ago-under House Darbonne-a Lord Commander hadn’t needed military experience.
The Adjutants present served the Lord Commanders. Basically, they were glorified secretaries.
A Knight Commander was a high ranking officer just below Lord Commander. They served as commanders of forts, Regiments and such. Most men with this rank was from noble Houses, if not the absolute majority.
A Legate was an officer working strictly in the field. It was a rank you could only be granted on the battlefield. Anyone could become a Legate and most of them were commoners or from small noble Houses. The highest force they commanded was a Regiment.
Beneath Legate was a Captain, a simple rank of someone who led Company sized units.
“The catapult count is eight, and they appear to have two cannons too,” the Adjutant read from the field report.
Victus frowned.
“How did they get cannons?” He asked.
“The rebels captured ten cannon pieces back when they defeated Governor Vermont’s garrison,” Lord Commander Alenius Cassius explained.
“Right,” Victus remembered.
Cassius was Tundra’s military governor after Count Vermont was brutally defeated by the Northmen rebels. He had lost half the island garrison, 17,000 men in a series of battles that turned into massacres. That had led to Victus anointing a military governor and removing Vermont from his governor’s seat. Then he came here himself to lead the defeat of the rebellion.
“Where are the other cannons?” He asked.
“Stations on the hill dubbed Hill Six, Sire,” Lord Commander Cassius answered. He pointed to a point on the map. “Legate Judo has an encampment there, awaiting orders to assault the Hill. He is outside the range of the cannons for now.”
Victus remembered that. The scouts had found the location four days ago. It was defended by a Regiment of dug in Northmen. Around a thousand men holding onto well-prepared defensive positions. So although Legate Judo outnumbered the rebels with a few hundred men he would take heavy casualties with artillery bombarding him at the same time.
“Speaking about Legate Judo,” a Knight Commander said. “Assuming they are on schedule, he should have a Company of Tundra Island men by now. 150 Northmen loyal to the Kingdom.”
“That is excellent news,” Lord Commander Cassius proclaimed. “An extra Company of soldiers. Northmen nonetheless. Your Excellency, our Cavalry has already cut the supply line to hill Six. These extra manpower should be enough. We should send word to Legate Judo to take the hill and eliminate those cannons. Without that position we can march straight passed them and encircle the town making out the heart of their rebellion.”
Victus thought about it. He didn’t know if it was a good idea. He didn’t have the tactical skill to see if it was or not. He looked at the people around the table.
“What do you think?”
Although he hadn’t stated it, it was expected that he only referred to the Lord Commanders and Knight Commanders.
The three Lord Commanders-including Cassius nodded. A few Knight Commanders didn’t think it was wise but most did. With the majority in agreement with the idea Victus nodded.
“Lord Commander Cassius, send the orders to the Legate and prepare the men to march when the hill is won,” Victus decided.
“Yes, your majesty,” Cassius affirmed.
Victus thought about home for a moment. Elisabeth Cantillon had certainly reached the palace by now and had found him indisposed. He wished he could be there to meet his wife to be. What a great way to start a marriage.
“Is there anything else?” Victus asked tiredly, trying to hide it.
“That was the last report your majesty,” Cassius said.
When everyone had filed out of the room Victus sighed and put his face in his hands. He was so far out of his depth. His tactical understanding was low and he barely knew what he was doing. The most any victory would accomplish was giving him military recognition he didn’t deserve, taking it from his Lord Commanders. Great men like Cassius.
3rd Era, 845, 5th of Last Nightingale
Sepheran Kingdom
Skyhail Province, Sepheran Imperial Capital of Sephera, Royal Palace
Elisabeth wandered the large beautiful garden by her lonesome. Her father was off on a meeting with some important people. That was the only things he had done since they arrived. Meeting with people to gain political influence, favors and information and such.
Well, technically she wasn’t alone. A pair of Royal Guardsmen walked half a dozen meters behind her.
Since she got to the palace half a dozen nobles had exchanged pleasantries with her. Her father had warned her that a lot of people of semi-importance would want to be her friend to gain her and the King’s ear to further their own goals.
“Ah, Lady Elisabeth.”
She stopped when she heard a soothing, friendly male voice from her left. She looked to see the attractive Duke Tiberius Darbonne.
He was dressed in a red military jacket with white pants lined with fur. It was needed with the layer of snow covering the ground. Personally Elisabeth wore a wolf skin cloak over her blue and white dress. She had it wrapped around her small body.
“M-my lord,” she curtsied.
He bowed and when she extended her hand he gently kissed it.
“Forgive me if I scared you,” he apologized. His fair lips moving behind his lovely blonde beard.
She swallowed hard. Stay calm. “You didn’t.” She couldn’t stop herself from blushing, no matter how much she tried.
“I am Tiberius of House Darbonne. Duke and governor of the Province of Heartfall,” he introduced himself graciously.
“May I join you? I hate to see you alone.”
“S-sure,” she said, trying on a casual shrug.
They slowly started walking and Tiberius was walking on her left side. He either didn’t notice her blush, or was kind enough to pretend that he didn’t.
“So, Lady Elisabeth, can I ask about your marriage?” Tiberius inquired politely.
Elisabeth nodded.
“Okay. I supposed.”
“You have never met Victus, have you?”
She shook her head.
“Not yet. B-but I can’t wait though!” She didn’t want it to sound like the marriage was an uncertainty. That might become a political point Victus’s enemies would try to go for. It ended up almost like a squeal.
But Tiberius ignored her embarrassing squeal out of either kindness or playing to become a close friend of hers in the future.
“I’m more than happy give tell you about him. A none-propaganda version.”
She smiled slightly.
“I’d love that.”
With a smile he cleared his throat.
“Our Great King for the last three years is, when I met him a year ago, had a good sense of justice, I’d call him a man of the people, like his father he leads the army himself-which is why he isn’t here off course-this is actually his first campaign. But you probably know how it is, an King in need of recognition.”
“Right,” she supposed. She didn’t really know much about that, but it sounded brave to lead the army in person. She kept in mind that Tiberius’s opinion was probably bias to some extent. But he sounded like he was a good King in her inexperienced opinion.
“He’s not very experienced yet, but he’ll probably get there. “He paused. “How are you settling in my lady?” Tiberius changed subject.
“I’m…eh, it’s okay. A lot to get used to and it’s always so much to think of.”
“Definitely, there’s so much backroom politics and secrets going around. No,” he chuckled. “I always love when I get return to govern Heartfall. Everything is so calm and peaceful. Taking out my soldiers to hunt down bandits. It’s nothing compared to palace politics.”
Elisabeth snickered. Apart from the bandit thing, she agreed. Everything she had been told by her father spoke about how dangerous and tough it was.
She had always imagined that she would marry a Duke of a great House. That was her father’s plan for her future. Somehow important enough to take care of her and as the wife of a Duke or even a Lord Commander, she wouldn’t need to bother with politics, but as Queen everything was thrown in her face. She blushed when she thought about that House Darbonne had been her father’s choice to marry into. As the governor of Heartfall it would most likely have been him.
She subtly looked away from Tiberius.
“I have experience with politics, so if you ever need help or a wall to bounce ideas off of, I’m happy to help,” he offered, either not noticing her blush or ignoring it to-again-avoid embarrassing her.
“Thank you. That’s very kind.”
He smiled charmingly.
“I’m just trying to be helpful in your transition to sit on the throne beside Victus.”763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF97lSFTKh7
