Castro is a fortress at the border between the kingdom of avalon and the kingdom of bisvirb.
Its undermaned but the border is filled with trees and mountain, filling it with many natural fortification made the fortress a very strategic position.
That's why the duke's army need to take that fortress from the enemy's hand.
The commander there is unexperienced since the old commander just retired from the position there. Still, its gonna be a hard battle.
After marching for 1 day, they finally reach the fortress, they get ready for the siege and set up camp since it will be a long time before they take the fortress.
Ady and arden stored the horse at the designed place and get ready to sleep because they have been walking a long way to the location.
At the morning, they got called to the duke tents and help the duke wear his armor, today they are going to charge the fortress.
The terrains are bad, this is the reason why there aren't any siege equipment. With ladders at hand, the soldiers bravely charge the fortress but didn't make any progress.
The enemy used hot oil to pour when the soldier are climbing the ladder. Once someone made it to the top, the got slaughtered by many warriors from the enemy.
Its 24th of march and the year is 547, it has been three month since the siege begun and still no amazing progress so far, one night.
Ady, arden, the army's commander, and the duke did a meeting at the duke's tent. It's decided one of the squire will sneak into the castle and open the gate, since it's will be no use to try and climb the wall anymore.
Ady back out and let arden do it. So, with the cover of the nights and most of the guard tired and starving to death because of the siege, arden did it and entered the fortress from the back door.
Moving cover to cover and slowly getting to the gatehouse as fast as possible.
Suddenly, a guards came out from the corner, before the can do anything. Arden already knocked him out.
That is a whole new experience for arden and he almost panicked, but regain his focus and continue his way to the gate house.
He managed to reach the gatehouse and opened the gate, halfway opening the gate fully, someone shout and ringed the alarm.
In the matter of second multiple people formed a shieldwall at the gates and a couple of people rush to the gatehouse to close the gate as fast as possible and get rid of the intruder.
Arden have 2 options, first to run and abandoning his comrade or hold his ground and eliminate the enemy.
Arden choose the second option and hold his ground at the gatehouse, getting hit multiple of times, luckily there is armor covering him and his shield.
While the enemy are unarmored because of this sudden attack. It's exhausting to kill the people, covered in wounds and bruises but still managed to do it.
In the blink of eye, the soldiers outside came rushing inside and killed all the enemy except the commander for ransom.
After 4 month long siege, they finally took the fortress. Arden is promised a quarter of the ransom money and the duke is very thankful for what arden already done.
The king is a wise person, but not the bravest, he didn't lead his army on the campaign which is not a problem.
He ordered 3 duke and other lords that wanted to join to do the campaign, the first is the knight arden currently serve, sir aswick of aswen.
The second is sir valencio of asholia and the third is sir rakam of northim. There is many duke in a province, but only the most qualified person will be chosen to govern a province.
Such as these three people, these people is one of the more powerful powerful being in the kingdom. They will arrive at the fortress at some point, until then the army will hold the fortress.
After half a month holding the fortress, arden got his ransom money and both of the duke reached the fortress.
At night there is much laughter and feast everywhere, the army did this to boost morale when the surprise attack happened.
Many people aren't using armor, many soldiers died. But at last, the attacker got killed, a quarter of the army are gone, the morale is very low.
But the dukes know what to do, an attack that can raise morale, the army begun marching to the castle of belran which belong to a local lord.
After a long month of siege and bombardment, the soldiers in the castle can't take it anymore, so they gave the white flag to the dukes army.
The morale got boosted and they continued taking enemy territory one by one.
Each time the army succeeded taking a territory, more and more people joined to rebel against their king.
The kingdom of bisvirb gathered all of the lord they have and joined force, making an army that is as big as the army of the kingdom of avalon.
At the pass of vir, where both of the army hold their ground. The avalon's army are at a disadvantage right now, so they sent a messenger to king astria.
The king ordered to make peace with the kingdom of bisvirb, because the war already cost so much.
So, one day the representative from both army gathered for meeting. They come to an agreement.
25% of the territory captured will be given back to the kingdom of bisvirb and the rest are at the kingdom of Avalon's hands.
Both armies is dismissed and the duke's army returned to the fortress of Castro. Time flew so fast when the war happened.
Arden is already 18 and eligible to be knighted, one day the messenger told Arden to go to the keep, there is the three duke, other lords that joined the campaign.
When arden are told to kneel at a soft pillow and the ceremony began, "will you be a loyal servant under your liege?" said sir aswick.
Arden replied with "yes, I will". "will you be a humble man that care about your people?", arden replied with "yes I will" again.
"will you be a man that uphold justice and law above all things?", "yes, I will" arden replied. The three of them pointed their sword and said "then, I will knight you as sir arden".
Many people gave applause and congrats arden. Arden is filled with happiness right now and stayed at the fortress when the king called him to capital city.