Age of Heroes (Age of Heroes Chronicles)

Chapter 106: The war council (1)

1014 AF WHITEMONTH

ARIAL

WAR TENT

"I welcome you, my lord," Lord Summersill said, bowing his head.

"Enough with the pleasantries," Arial responded, clearly aggravated. "We are at war!"

Henry looked miffed but he has many things to care about.

Well, considering Arial age, Lord Summersill has every right, but he is not that stupid to voice his opinion so openly.

"Forgive me, my lord."

"How are the men?" Arial asked.

"Tired, but they will manage, my lord."

"Very well! Tomorrow I will move to North Fort while your army goes to Gorge Pass to help Lord Northcour."

"My lord?" Lord Summersill said, puzzled by this turn of events.

"Didn't you hear me?" Arial shouted back.

"My lord, then who will help you?"

"Look outside," Arial ordered.

Lord Summersill looked outside. His face changed expression when he saw the men milling around. "That is the cavalry," he said.

"Where is the main army?"

"The infantry and archers are making their way here," Arial replied defiantly. "What you see here are mercenaries from Asteros, sellsword from Ariundus, my bannermen, and my cavalry."

Arial smiles and laughed a little. The army he assembles could shake the world. It is not only for the nobles of the Kingdom to see, it is for the whole world to see.

It is a warning and after the war is over and victory is in his hand, it will be a reminder that his kingdom is not some kingdom that could easily be conquered or defeated.

"My God!" Lord Summersill exclaimed.

"For the first time, the land of Alan will see a real war," Arial said pounding the desk.

"I understand, my lord. But, if I may ask, why this many?"

"So Alderam can learn his lesson. It will also be beneficial to the realm as it will serve as a warning to the other lords who might want to rebel after the war has ended. I wish to end this war and extinguish any rebellion that might come from the other noble houses. Total domination"

The lord nodded but inwardly he shuddered.

Such a young man, but such vicious personality.

No wonder, time after time, he managed to defeat his enemies and gained such a fearsome reputation among the lords.

This is Lord Summersill thought when he looks at the young lord.

King Adrian faced a number of challenges to his place on the throne because he was not the natural successor to his father.

Though his father was never a King and so was his ancestor, that is all because Alan, the ancestor of King Adrian and Duke Alderam, did not want to over stage his brother accomplishment.

Levitia is a Knight Prince and King, though it was awarded to Levitia posthumously.

Alan in the memory of his beloved sworn brother, remain a Duke in his first year and even though he rules in the Dukedom like a King yet he never declare it or ask anyone to crown him so.

As the Defender of the Realm from the Dark Lands no one dare invade unless they dare faced the anger of the Church and the sworn brother of Levitia.

But after his death, and years go by, the Dukedom become separate with noble families with marriage ties to the descendant of Alan grew more powerful and given lands.

But Adrian was the first among the descendant of Alan to crown himself King and many it seems have warmed to the idea.

It would create a more centralized government and uniform laws. And many other policies can be implemented to create a strong country

Arial then sighed

this war started because of a matter of inheritance.

The right of the lands of Arouen, which is held by Hadrian, the former Duke only to grant it to his son, his younger son, instead of the accepted laws which is the eldest son inherits all.

And all this, all this battle is to keep Adrian at the throne and keep Alderam away from it. And to further his own plan for repelling the first wave of the invasion from the Dark Lands

He never forgot why he started involving himself in this war of succession.

IT was never about Adrian or Alderam. They are just small events. But it is a small event that he needs to pass first.

His objective and vision always rested on the war between the Dark Lands and the Human Continent. He is of course actively thinking of ways on how to prevent that from happening all together.

But since he did not know the true story of how the war started, he could not really find a way to end it prematurely.

Maybe after he got more clues he would find a way to truly stopped the war.

But for now, he has his own plans to follow.

"My lord, will you rest for a while?" Lord Summersill said, changing the subject.

"Yes. I will rest here while my men finish pitching their tents."

Arial could tell that they have already started pitching their tent as he could hear the men are singing their working song outside

"Is there anything else, my lord?"

"No. And you can move in the morning."

Lord Summersill nodded, perfectly understanding that his army would have to move through Gorge Pass while Arial distracted Alderam's forces in North Fort.

"Thank you, my lord," Lord Summersill said as he excused himself.

Arial got up from his chair and made his way outside. "Ser Kyle!" he yelled.

Kyle quickly made his way to the tent. "Lord Arial, how may I help?" he said, bowing.

Arial looked around and order the messenger to call his war council.

Then he turns back to Kyle

"Get up," Arial said forcefully. "We need to take the lands of the North as fast as we can."

"My lord won't you rest?You should not force yourself."

"I'm not."

"You are tired," Kyle said, examining Arial's baggy eyes and pale complexion. "Look at yourself."

"Maybe I can't sleep because of your constant nagging. You are all constantly nagging meyou, Helia, Lisa, everyone."

"We are all worried," Kyle said in a soft tone.

"There is no need for concern. When you were protecting my parents in Seren, I was already at war. This is normal."

"You mean the war?"

"No, I mean the pressure. The men need their leader to be strong, and in their eyes, I need to appear invincible."

"Share the burden then."

Arial chuckled. "I would have, if I could trust anyone in my court."

"Then how about me?" Kyle asked, stretching his arm to shake Arial's hand.

"You are too nave."

"I am not."

Arial sighed and he at looked at Kyle face as he imparts him the wisdom that he had learned about the noble's politics.

"In the game of politics, they do not use swords and shield, or spears and pike, or a longbow and throwing knife. Their swords are words, their shield are information, their spears and pikes are slanders. That is not your place, nor would it be me that would be responsible sending you to such a world."

Kyle was about to say something when the curtain opened. It was Arial's war council. "My lord," Lord Paris said. "We have brought the map."

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Tomorrow is the last chapter for the months. Hope you all like the story and it is also the begining of the new arc.

Though I dont know if it coudl be considered an arc by itself. Anyway, please liek always leave some coments and vote for the story.

And I have big finger so when I do this afterword segment, I always made a typo