In the south, at the border of Beldro.
Ryan, leading six thousand knights and a total army of fifteen thousand, was ready to march.
The southern region of Brittany had grown prosperous over the years, naturally leading to a significant increase in the number of knights. In fact, many nobles could provide knights; their challenge was affording sufficient equipment for their family members.
Once equipped, many knightly families could instantly field a large number of knights and their retainers. It wasn't that these nobles lacked the people to become knights; they lacked the funds.
The vast camp was filled with knights, all awaiting a reply from Darlheid.
Without Darlheid's permission for military passage, this army could not move north to support Lyonese. Although the troops were ready, they could only wait, while Francois had already led three thousand knights carrying a large supply of provisions toward Kurona.
Looking at the overcast sky, Ryan stood alone on a hill in the camp, gazing into the distance with furrowed brows.
He was dressed in his count's attire, with the Sword of the Avenging Goddess at his waist, about 1.5 meters long. His white and gold cape fluttered in the wind.
"Ryan." Sulia, also fully armed and imposing, approached from behind. They stood together on the hill, not far from the border between Beldro and Mousilon, by the Grismore River.
In truth, Ryan had preferred Sulia to stay home while he ventured out with Veronica and Teresa, who had just returned to the Glamorgan countship.
But Sulia insisted.
Their wedding was approaching, and the lady knight did not wish to stay home waiting for news from Ryan. She wanted to face whatever came, victory or defeat, together with him.
They were engaged.
After some persuasion from Ryan, Sulia's resolve remained firm, and Ryan eventually said with a smile, "Sulia, I've always felt that the greatest respect for the Lady is to let you make your own choices. Do you still insist on joining me in the campaign?"
"I insist."
The count said no more; he went to war with his fiancée.
Ryan turned to find Veronica also there, the Garon witch... or rather, elder, who first respectfully greeted Sulia, then somewhat complainingly said to Ryan, "Dear, why is it that ever since I've been with you, you're always at war? Can't we just settle down and rest for a few years?"
"I wish, but the enemy doesn't give us that chance," Ryan could only offer a wry smile, having faced constant warfare since arriving in Brittany: "Perhaps I'm just fated to be entwined with war."
"Don't speak such ominous words, Ryan." Teresa also appeared, the sorceress feeling a bit guilty since she had not completed the winter homework Morgiana had assigned.
Upon returning, she heard Ryan was marching to war, and Morgiana, busy with Lady of the Lake and Ryan for hours, instructed Ryan to prepare for battle without even asking about Teresa's homework.
Teresa dreaded Morgiana asking about it. The sorceress usually avoided Morgiana, who rarely appeared in public. By the time Ryan completed his preparations and announced the campaign, Teresa had just managed to join them.
Likewise, Teresa respectfully greeted Sulia, making Ryan want to laugh.
Only by truly experiencing this world's harsh medieval social hierarchy could one understand the disparity in status. Now that Ryan had become the chosen champion of the Lady of the Lake and a count, he could not marry a witch as a lady. Neither the Lady of the Lake nor the kingdom's nobility would agree.
This logic, Veronica understood first, and Teresa was forced to understand.
"According to the front lines, the Scarlings tribe has clashed with the Lyonese duchy and Kurona's kingdom forces on the Plains of Nanz. The knightly armies were ultimately defeated, but most knights and their retainers have now retreated to Lyonese Castle to hold it," Teresa brought news, asking Ryan, "What do we do now? The situation is critical. Are we just going to wait here?"
"Without news, we can only wait here," Ryan replied calmly. "We chose to send troops to save Lyonese out of chivalric duty, and we wait here at the border out of respect for the law."
"Out of chivalric duty, we can assemble reinforcements to aid them, but clearly, we cannot break the law to save Darlheid." Ryan turned to explain to Teresa, "Besides triggering a series of diplomatic issues, it would give grounds for accusations. Whether we win or lose, if Darlheid accuses us in the royal court of illegal invasion, we'd have to apologize and compensate for damages afterward."
"In my impression, Brittany's knights rush to support the kingdom at any sign of trouble," Teresa understood Ryan's point, adding with interest,
"Especially the Grail Knights, you're the models of chivalry, living saints."
Her words carried a hint of teasing and sarcasm, which made Sulia somewhat displeased.
"Recklessness isn't one of the eight virtues of knighthood. Besides, we are protectors of order. For example, imagine you're halfway through an experiment in your magic workshop, and someone bursts in claiming they can help. Would you be pleased?" Ryan continued.
"I'd definitely tell him to get out, then depending on the situation, maybe hit him with a fireball spell," Veronica playfully kicked Teresa, signaling her to stop provoking.
The two witches were temporarily on the same side. After some discussion, Veronica and Teresa reached several agreements, deciding to 'share the cake' that was Ryan, preferring familiar company over unknown rivals.
Teresa realized something and shifted her tone, "I didn't mean that. I meant, if no message comes, do we just wait here?"
"We need one of three conditions to act, any one will suffice," Ryan continued looking into the distance, "First, if Darlheid asks for our help, that's the direct method. Then, there's the king's command. If all else fails, a divine oracle from the Lady would also suffice."
The vast camp was bustling with knights and their retainers, while various dukes had sent numerous soldiers. Regarding the peasant infantry regiments... Ryan thought they were useless against the barbarians, except for two longbowmen regiments sent by Duke Bastogne and a team of dwarven riflemen led by Dugan Ironhand, the engineer.
From morning until afternoon, Ryan finally received the sought-after request for help from Duke Darlheid. He ordered the army to march immediately, himself mounting his purebred elven warhorse, Grape, ready to head north to support Lyonese Castle.
Just as the army exited the camp, a small group of knights approached from the opposite side of the field. These knights were few, but their appearance made the entire army halt.
Their attire was very special.
All were armed with broadswords, riding warhorses, wearing somewhat outdated tunics and armor, with each horse carrying a chest on its back. Regardless of the chests' wear and age, the holy images of the Lady of the Lake on them remained pristine.
They were the esteemed Crusading Knights, who had endured countless hardships in pursuit of the Holy Grail. Now, with the kingdom in distress, they chose to help the kingdom overcome this challenge.
The path of the Grail never meant that fighting evil was unrelated to them, for they had embarked on this path precisely to eliminate evil and protect the lands of the Goddess.
The leading Crusading Knight removed his helmet, revealing a lean and stern face. His expression was serious, his long broadsword aflame with red fire, his eyes filled with fury and indifference.
Ryan's knight, Hex, tried to initiate a conversation: "May I ask who you are?"
"Get Ryan to talk! What are you?" the Crusading Knight coldly spoke, causing Hex's face to redden with embarrassment.
Ryan frowned, wondering who this person was to command such presence.
However, his banner knight, Grail Knight Armand, spoke first, stepping forward excitedly, extending a hand in greeting: "Long time no see! My friend, how are you?"
The Crusading Knight was surprised to see Armand, shaking his hand, his words as hard as stone: "It's Armand. So you now serve Count Ryan? Makes sense, he's the one who killed the Red Duke."
Ryan realized this was no simple matter, riding forward: "Hello, I am Ryan Mercado."
"The chosen champion of the Lady, who went from a Nord peasant to a count in less than ten years... Hmm... your aura is unstable, signs of an impending breakthrough into the sacred domain." The Crusading Knight assessed him before extending a hand: "Hello, I'm Hubert."
Hubert?! This man was Hubert?
Ryan's mind was a stormy sea, but his face remained impassive as he shook hands with Hubert, offering a knightly gesture.
Hubert, the Duke of Cacason, ruler of the Duchy of Cacason!
Ryan and Hubert had never met because when Ryan arrived in Brittany, Duke Hubert had just embarked on the Grail Quest. After several years, no further news came, and the governance of his lands was managed by the Sisterhood of the Holy Maidens, led by Morgiana, and the headquarters of the Grail Knights at the Cathedral of the Lady of the Lake in Cacason. With Morgiana wounded, Cacason Duchy had actually fallen under the control of the Grail Knights and several Prophets of the Lake, maintaining a stable, peaceful political situation during this period.
Officially, Hubert had renounced his ducal title, but Ryan knew this was merely symbolic. For Grail
Knights, if they were ordinary kingdom knights (holding a village or fixed income), they would relinquish their earthly duties after completing the Grail trial to focus on guarding the sacred lands of the Lady of the Lake. However, if such a knight already held a hereditary title, they would return to their estates to fulfill their duties as lords after the trial.
According to the teachings of the Lady of the Lake, defending one's own territory was the best way to protect the Goddess's land.
"I know your strength and how favored you are by the Lady, so I and these Crusading Knights will follow your command," Hubert spoke calmly. "We will fight side by side on the battlefield. I will use my sword and the Lady's fury to drive away those disgusting followers of chaos."
"Welcome." Ryan could tell Hubert did not wish to talk much, so he decided to speak less and act more.
With a team of Crusading Knights joining, the army continued its march.
"My lord, with such a powerful army, the northern barbarians should be no problem," a knight said to Ryan.
"The barbarians are formidable; they defeated the knightly armies of the Lyonese duchy and Kurona. We must not underestimate them; they are warriors favored by the evil gods," Ryan did not shy away from his past: "When I was a kingdom knight in Nord, we would battle the barbarians every few years."
"After this battle, I will return to my land to..." Ryan was about to say more.
Sulia immediately placed her hand over his mouth, both shy and annoyed: "Ryan!"
The surrounding knights all laughed heartily, causing a roar of laughter. The engagement between Count Ryan and Marchioness Sulia was well known, considered a perfect match. Everyone offered their blessings, and from the lady knight's happy expression, she was clearly satisfied with the engagement, though too shy to let Ryan continue.
...
In Scarlings, the king, relying on his robust constitution and powerful blessings from the God of Carnage, had managed to survive until his foster son Chakoy administered an antidote. Egil struggled back from the brink of death.
Upon awakening, one piece of bad news followed another. The chaos hellcannons were destroyed, and a large amount of provisions and equipment had been burned. How would the barbarian army now take the sturdy Lyonese Castle?
And worse news followed; his son had been taken by the Britons! According to many barbarian warriors who saw it with their own eyes, the woman carrying his son, Hangest, was taken away by that Grail Knight Commander!
Endless rage flooded Egil's chest, and the king of Scarlings vowed to reclaim his son from the Britons, no matter the cost.
Now, his immediate challenge was how to take Lyonese Castle.
So, on the first day, Egil personally led a charge against Lyonese Castle, a probing attack. As expected, facing the desperate resistance of a large group of knights and the strong city defenses, the barbarians lost over five hundred warriors, while Brittany also lost several knights and three hundred peasant soldiers.
Every male over fifteen in the castle was forcibly conscripted to defend the walls. Egil knew he couldn't take the city this time and ordered a retreat.
However, this probing attack was not without gain. During the fierce assault on the city walls, chaos sorcerer Chakoy and his trusted chaos champion Kovindoff took the opportunity to survey the waters near Lyonese Castle.
They discovered the waters near the castle were shallow, with the shallowest areas being only five to six meters deep.
Hearing his subordinates' reports, Egil's face showed a bloodthirsty grin.
He had a strategy to breach the castle.
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