Ch#226
226
It took less than fifteen days to reach the southern edge of Yotengar. Thanks to the lengthening days, the distance they could cover in a single day had increased significantly.
Varkas, who had been cautiously guiding his horse along the steep mountain path, spotted a military camp nestled between the mountain valleys and pulled back on the reins.
At the end of a gentle downward slope, he saw a long stretch of high wooden fences and watchtowers. As he approached, the guards hurriedly pushed the wooden gates aside to clear a path.
“You have arrived, Your Excellency!”
The soldiers lined up next to the checkpoint simultaneously straightened their spears and snapped to attention. Passing between them, Varkas took a slow look around the campsite, which was densely packed with military tents, and asked, “Has anything occurred during my absence?”
“That is…”
The soldier hesitated, unable to answer readily. Varkas’s eyes narrowed as he handed his reins to a stable hand.
“Was there a problem?”
“A messenger from the Northern Union arrived at dawn today.”
A young staff officer, dressed in a surcoat embroidered with the crest of the Shekan family, spoke up in place of the frozen soldier.
“We haven’t received the exact details of the news yet, but it’s clear that something serious has happened. The emergency meeting that began this morning has not ended yet.”
Lines formed on Varkas’s brow.
If a cornered Heimdal had finally initiated a full-scale war, it would simply be a matter of deploying the rear support units to the front lines. The fact that the discussion was dragging on meant that a far more complex issue had arisen.
“I suppose I should head straight to the command center. I’ll leave the return procedures to you.”
Leaving a brief instruction for Beirop, who had entered the camp behind him, Varkas headed straight across the campsite toward the large tent where the flags of various families were planted.
At that moment, a sharp shout rang out. He couldn’t make out the exact words due to the surrounding commotion, but it was clear that a heated debate was underway.
He swallowed a heavy sigh and strode into the tent.
“What is the meaning of all this noise?”
“Your Excellency!”
Daren stood up abruptly upon seeing him, his face brightening with relief.
“When did you return? I thought you would stay in Kalmor for a few more weeks…”
“I have just returned.”
Varkas cut off Daren’s rambling words and glanced around the meeting room.
Representatives of the great houses, high-ranking knights of the Imperial Army, and a young man who appeared to be a noble from the Northern Union were seated around a long table.
Recognizing the man as a scion of the Bluestone family, Varkas narrowed his eyes.
Was his name Sedric? The young man, who had the pale complexion characteristic of Northerners and dark crimson eyes, looked up at him with an expression that seemed to be suppressing fury.
“You’ve come at just the right time. I wanted to ask what Your Excellency thinks about this absurd situation.”
“Mind your manners! The person you are addressing is the ruler of the East!”
An Eastern mounted warrior seated opposite him shouted in an agitated voice.
Varkas restrained him with a lift of his hand and naturally took his seat at the head of the table.
“Tell me what happened.”
“I am told that His Highness the Crown Prince has unilaterally called off the engagement,” Daren spoke instead of the fuming Sedric Bluestone.
The man continued in a grim tone.
“And then, he immediately led the Imperial Army into the Yotengar mountain range.”
“The Northern Union agreed to lead the charge in wiping out the rebels because we believed we could restore our relationship with the Imperial Family.”
Before Varkas could even react to the shocking news, Sedric Bluestone pressed him in a sharp voice.
“But the Imperial Family has thoroughly deceived and insulted our house. Tell me, Your Excellency. Do you truly believe we should remain submissive to the Imperial Family even after enduring such an insult?”
“Stop venting your frustrations on the wrong person. This situation is solely the result of His Highness the Crown Prince’s independent actions; it is not a failure of the Grand Duke of Shekan.”
A noble who had been sitting quietly interrupted in a solemn voice. He was the commander of the army dispatched from the South.
The man, who sat with his hands clasped on the table, continued calmly.
“What is important now is our plan for future response.”
“The Northern Union forces have no intention of taking the lead,” the young Northern noble stated firmly.
“We will not withdraw our troops immediately, but we will never stand at the vanguard of the rebel suppression as originally promised.”
“The Northern Union bears the original sin of having rebelled against the Imperial Family. Shouldn’t you be active in suppressing Heimdal if only to wash away that wrong?”
“Those debts have been paid in full with this incident,” the young man retorted, gritting his teeth.
“Our family has suffered an indelible disgrace. My sister suffered the humiliation of being left alone before the altar while hundreds of nobles watched, and the name Bluestone has been reduced to a laughingstock for the entire Empire!”
“That’s enough complaining.”
Varkas, resting a hand against his temple, glared at the man with cold eyes.
“This is not a place to plead your family’s grievances. This is the command center of the Imperial Union Army. If you have nothing to say that befits your position, you would do well to keep your mouth shut.”
The young man’s face flushed instantly.
Varkas slowly rose from his seat.
“I understand the situation. We will move the army to the Yotengar entrance immediately, leaving only a minimal defensive force behind.”
“For what purpose are we moving?”
A middle-aged knight who had remained silent until now spoke up. He was the commander of the army dispatched from the West.
“Do you intend to dissuade His Highness the Crown Prince, or do you intend to support him and attack Heimdal?”
“That will depend on the situation,” Varkas replied dryly.
“If we succeed in catching up to His Highness before a full-scale battle breaks out, I intend to drag him by the scruff of his neck and stand him before the altar.”
Despite the blasphemous remark, no one raised an objection. Realizing only then that his mood had hit rock bottom, several nobles swallowed hard.
Looking around at their stiff faces, Varkas added chillingly, “But if the worst should happen… then I will have no choice but to choose between the two.”
“By choosing between the two, you mean…”
“The Crown Prince, or the Empire. I intend to make a decision.”
At the dangerous statement, a stunned silence fell over the meeting room. Varkas left the tent, leaving them behind. He then issued instructions in a determined voice.
“Prepare for departure immediately! I will not tolerate a moment’s delay.”
Varkas led the Union Army and marched straight north.
The Imperial elite force led by the Crown Prince would have already broken through the canyon and reached the middle of the Yotengar mountain range, right in front of the rebels’ stronghold.
To catch up with him, they had no choice but to prune the troops to a minimum and increase their speed.
Varkas split his forces, sending an advance guard ahead while having the main body follow cautiously at regular intervals.
How long had they been moving like that? When Varkas discovered an army positioned in an open basin, he raised his hand to halt the surging ranks.
In the dim twilight, he could see the flags of the Imperial Army fluttering.
“It looks like we’ve caught up!”
Edric Luvon, who had been following right behind, let out an exclamation of relief. However, Varkas could not readily agree with him. The scale of the Imperial elite force had diminished to a point that was clearly noticeable even from a significant distance.
“It seems the thing we feared has happened.”
Beirop let out a low groan.
