Chapter 234 – The Evenharts Prepare for War
Hugo Riverclimb:
I was in the throne room, updating Margaery on the latest developments. Over the past week, it had become evident that the old faction of nobles was scheming something. Private armies were mobilizing toward Wolves' fortress. As a marquess, Nikolaus Wolves held a prominent position in the nobility, just below the dukes, and his fortress was strategically fortified to withstand a siege.
The armies consisted of common soldiers and mages. Their likely strategy was to assign one mage for every four soldiers, allowing them to disperse their forces while maximizing the mages' impact on the battlefield. War was on the horizon—there was no denying it.
We would march with both trusted assassins and soldiers loyal to our territory. We could try rallying other vassal nobles of the duchy, but this wasn't about politics. We were going there to kill every last one of them.
Nikolaus came from a lineage of noble mages, and his family had accumulated numerous spells over the years—through auctions, learning from other mages, or acquiring forbidden grimoires and scrolls from the underworld. It was almost certain his personal guard included powerful mages.
The situation grew more dire with each new report. Margaery, though maintaining a composed demeanor, understood we couldn't underestimate them. After all, this was a faction of nobles united in purpose.
It remains to be seen if he has capable men who can wield powerful spells. But since he's a marquess, he himself might also be a skilled mage. Just as we've never publicly revealed what we're truly capable of, he might be the same.
Considering our plan further, I decided to entrust leadership of the maids to my wife. As head of the maids and their combat trainer, she knew the best strategies for their deployment. While she handled that front, I would lead the soldiers on the battlefield.
There would be no mercy.
Our strategy revolved around utilizing every ounce of our magical power. This time, we wouldn't hold back. Even Katherine, who had sworn never to take up arms or return to the battlefield, had asked to join the fight.
It was war, and we all knew what was at stake.
It's been over 15 years since she disappeared from the battlefield... I think I'll see those terrifying creatures again. The memory of what she can do with those things doesn't sit well with me...
I glanced down at my belly.
Damn it… I thought I'd gotten over my trauma with plants… and now I'm about to face that again.
"Is everything according to plan?" Margaery's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. We stood before the large strategy table, where a detailed map of Wolves' region and fortress lay spread out, surrounded by notes and diagrams.
Resting atop the table was a familiar chain—the same one the young master had found when he was just five years old.
"You're really bringing that thing?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Of course," she replied without hesitation. "I spent ten years mastering how to fight with it without it getting in my way. If I'm returning to the battlefield as the 'Witch of Torture,' no weapon is more fitting than this."
We turned back to the map, our focus renewed.
"Nikolaus Wolves intends to hold a siege; he's already preparing his defenses. I even heard that a few days ago, he stopped the trade route to his fortress. No one is going in or out," I said, studying the possible attack and defense routes. "He's positioning part of his army outside the fortress to defend it and directly confront our advance."
Margaery scratched her chin, deep in thought. "The internal army will prevent us from getting close to the walls while providing support and replacements for the forces outside. They can easily rotate and maintain resistance."
"Defenders always have the advantage," I added, my eyes fixed on the map. "He'll play on both fronts, defensive and offensive. We'll have to deal with long-range attacks from the Shooter Mages on the walls and the army positioned outside. It's going to be complicated. The Shooter Mages can continuously hurl fireballs and other explosive spells to keep us from advancing on the forces outside the walls."
If we attack from a distance with fire magic, they'll use water mages to defend. It seems we'll have to get close for a direct confrontation while breaching their defenses.
I paused for a moment, contemplating the gravity of the situation. Nikolaus Wolves' fortress was more than a mere military structure; it was a true bastion of war, protected by a massive circular wall. That place wasn't just a military encampment but an entire village dedicated exclusively to soldiers. Unlike our castle and village, where life was diverse and balanced, everything there revolved around preparation and combat readiness. There was no space for civilian life—only soldiers and a few essential workers.
The Wolves' fortress functioned as a pure military garrison, something that made sense given Nikolaus' unique role as a border marquess. He wasn't like other marquesses who helped manage lands and sustain the territory. His sole concern was military defense, which made him more of an armed extension of the kingdom than an administrator. This position granted him not only authority but also significant technological advantages. The kingdom favored him with high-level magical seals and advanced technologies, likely including sophisticated mana barriers that shielded the entire fortress.
"Nikolaus Wolves is prepared to go all the way. He knows that, with or without the kingdom's support, we're determined to kill him. He'll want to settle everything in a decisive battle where whoever remains on the field will claim control of these lands," I said.
Margaery clenched her fists, and the temperature in the room seemed to drop suddenly.
"He dared to harm my children. There's no forgiveness for him. He might think we'll follow standard military strategies, but we're not going there as soldiers. We're going there as assassins!" Margaery said, her voice thick with rage, and I felt the intensity of her fury.
I turned my attention back to the map in front of us.
"I'll follow the plan—yours and my wife's. I'll let you and Martha initiate the first contact with the enemy while I wait with the men."
Margaery nodded, agreeing with the strategy.
"And Katherine, where will she be positioned? Which team?" I asked, curious about her role.
"She'll go alone," Margaery replied firmly.
"Alone? You're really going to let her handle part of the army on her own?"
Margaery drove an ice dagger into a point on the map, her expression resolute. "Like me, she's a mother. They dared to harm our children. She asked to go alone, and I trust her. You've seen her in the past. Do you remember what they called her? 'The Head Cutter.'"
I decided not to argue. Even if I wanted to protect her, I knew she was more likely to protect me if she was determined. Katherine wasn't someone to be underestimated.
"When do we leave?" I asked.
"At dawn," Margaery replied without hesitation.
I agreed.
"It will take us a few days to reach the fortress, but we can take the trails through the forbidden forests to get as close as possible. Only we know these paths and routes. I'll bring a small army of soldiers since we'll have the maids advance first. Normally, against a siege, it would be ideal to have at least five times the number of men as the army inside the walls. However, we'll rely on a strategy of efficiency and quality over quantity. We're not going there as military forces," I said.
Margaery looked at me with unwavering determination, and I continued.
"With the Evenhart Legacy going into battle at full force, they'll learn the true power of an organization of assassins."
Before I could say more, the door suddenly swung open.
"Nate," Margaery said, and I turned to see the young master entering the room.
Nathan Evenhart:
I sighed and opened the door to the throne room.
"Nate," my aunt called as soon as she saw me.
Hugo and she were in a private meeting. There weren't even guards outside—the preparations were well underway. We hadn't mobilized the duchy's army; this was our personal battle. Only our most trusted soldiers and servants, those who had lived in the villages surrounding the castle and served our family for generations, would be joining us. With a small contingent of 500 soldiers and 100 maids, this would be an operation of utmost trust. Naturally, the castle couldn't be left unguarded.
My mother would stay in a secluded area, but she would have people nearby to assist her, including the Legacies. We knew the strongest mages would be within the fortress, and it would be extremely dangerous to allow that internal army to launch ranged attacks without an immediate response.
The soldiers accompanying us were of high rank, but not all were mages. The maids, however, were warriors trained from a young age to be lethal assassins. While they didn't have significant offensive magical power, their skills with spears and other weapons were devastating. I looked at the strategy table, where the battlefield was laid out, and old memories washed over me.
I'd been in meetings like this many times before. I never thought I'd see this again in this life.
"Is something wrong, dear?" my aunt asked.
"I'm joining the first attack," I said firmly.
Hugo glanced at me, then at the strategy table, considering.
"We can't improvise. We need to stick to the plan. They have many soldiers and the advantage of defense," he said, his voice heavy with concern.
Inside me, the fury of an old General stirred. I knew that once I was on the battlefield, facing those who had harmed my family, it would be hard to hold back.
"We're in a tough position. The Shooter Mages on the walls will target us the moment they see us. We won't even reach the army outside if they overwhelm us," I added.
"Your aunt and Martha's plan already accounts for that," Hugo replied.
I looked at the map again. Nikolaus Wolves had barricaded himself in the fortress, with Shooter Mages—likely fire specialists—positioned atop the walls alongside archers. Even with my aunt's strategy, those mages would wreak havoc. To Nikolaus, sacrificing his own allies outside the walls was irrelevant.
"I want to try something called a Trojan Horse," I said.
They stared at me, confused.
"I've explained it to Sifu. I didn't come to ask for permission. I'm going alone," I declared.
My aunt stepped closer, gripping my hand tightly.
"You and Chloe are my treasure. I can't let you go like this. I didn't even want you involved. I can't risk losing anyone else in our family," she said, her voice trembling. "But I understand your military responsibilities. Even so, as your aunt, I'm telling you: you'll stay in the rear until we break the Shooter Mages' defenses."
Her gaze, heavy with worry, bore into me, and I sighed.
"You told me that one day I would take over the military leadership of this duchy. What will my title be when that happens?" I asked.
"General," she answered.
That title, so familiar, resonated deeply within me.
"Very well. I will go as a General."
"No!" she tried to protest, but it was already too late.
ASPECT OF TIME!
The world turned a shade of blue and slowed to a crawl, as if time itself had frozen.
I freed myself from her grip and walked to the strategy table—the only area I hadn't frozen in time. I approached and knocked over all the pieces representing the fortress.
"This is the chaos a true General will bring!" I declared, turning my back and leaving the room, walking alone toward my objective.