Ichiro did not expect that the entire squad would be routed. Klaus had definitely grown and gained strength, or had he simply not shown his capabilities before?
Well, this did not particularly upset the king. He knew his son's main weakness, which, judging by the denunciations, he had developed even more.
"How far are the rebels?" the king asked his faithful slave-adviser.
"If we stay where we are, they will be here by evening."
"Excellent. Finally, the son decided to see his father."
***
"Why did we stop for a rest in broad daylight?" Egor asked in surprise when Klaus sat down next to a plate of steaming stew.
"If we continue at this pace, we will meet the king by evening. They are standing still. He is waiting for me. What do you think will happen if they attack?"
"I don't know, I don't really understand all this military stuff."
"Their army is rested and full of strength, but our people will be exhausted by the journey. An attack is always problematic for defense, and if the soldiers are also exhausted, then the enterprise is doomed to failure. I'm not sure that everything will work anyway."
'What do you want to do? Augustus said that there would be no reinforcements here."
"I'm not going to meet my father in battle now. Our task will simply be to drive them back. The further they retreat, the more allies will join us. I want to finish everything in the capital, but I'm not sure that will work out."
"It's all so complicated."
"Yes, but I have the advantage. I am his son and I know the trump cards he holds. He has never been interested in my life. He has no weaknesses that I can press on, except for my mother, so I will hit his strong points."
"Your Majesty!" the scout turned to Klaus, dismounting from his soapy horse. "They are here! They did not wait!"
"How much time do we have?"
"I ran as fast as I could, but I do not think I gained more than an hour."
"Gorald! As I thought, he decided to attack at the halt. Are we all ready?"
"Yes. Any other orders?"
"No, we must not show that we know about their attack. Let everyone rest, but be ready. I do not think he will have another squad of battle mages, but there will definitely be strong enemies in his entourage. Follow the plan. Do not go close to the king. Your task is to make it appear that he is the target."
"Got it."
"You said that we are resting so that we can attack with full force."
"And I also said that an attack is always problematic. Do not worry. Everything is under control. Go, be with the food squad. Augustus will hide you as soon as the king makes his move."
Egor left. Klaus says that he will not fight his father now. What if his plan does not work? What should he do? There is absolutely nowhere to hide. The only option is to tell August about his plan. As much as he did not want to admit it, the captain is the only one who can help him. And August is the one who loves Klaus as much and will be able to understand Egor's intentions.
The royal army attacked the rebel camp with the confidence that they would defeat the tired enemy, but a surprise awaited them. The battlefield turned into one solid trap, and as soon as the soldiers stepped into its line, the prince's soldiers appeared as if out of thin air.
They were earth and water mages, hiding behind a concealing artifact. Klaus gathered everyone who was currently available to him. They were not strong mages, but thanks to carefully planned tactics, they managed to bury an entire army underground in a matter of minutes.
Klaus's plan was simple. Surround the supposed battlefield. Mislead the enemy. The soldiers who were sitting by the fires and resting rushed to retreat, thereby luring the enemy into the desired territory.
The royal army did not expect such a trick. The ground became loose, the horses fell one after another, sinking into the soil along with their riders, and then the entire space was covered with ice, freezing everyone.
Yes, there were magicians who melted the ice with fire, but as soon as the enemy was frozen, the rebels rushed to the attack, cutting everyone down like cattle at a slaughterhouse. Gorald dealt with those who managed to escape.
August said that he was a master of air magic, and Klaus saw the big guy in action for the first time. Usually, when a man fought with a sword, he looked powerful and hit like a hammer on an anvil, but by mastering the air, he became fast and even graceful, despite his size.
The prince seemed to be watching a deadly dance, where Gorald practically flew across the battlefield and at every stop he made, splashes of blood from the slain enemy flew off. This picture was both fascinating and frightening. Looking at his confidant, the prince doubted that he would be able to deal with him without putting in maximum effort.
The dust had not yet settled after the rebels' triumphant victory, and the soldiers were already jubilant, but the joy did not last long. Klaus assumed that the king would prepare a second wave, so he tried to minimize the damage to his army with the help of earth and water mages.
Only what he saw was different from his expectations. The king himself stepped forward, surrounded by his personal guard. Through the dust, Klaus did not immediately notice what exactly they were carrying in front of them.
- Clear away the dust - the prince ordered and the air mages cleared the area around, opening a view of the enemy army.
- How long have you been away from home - the father's voice was heard. - I had to come personally and punish the disobedient son.
Klaus was silent. His gaze was riveted on the man. The man was covered in blood. Only strong ropes with which he was tied to a wooden structure resembling a doorway kept him in an equal position.
Gorald cast an anxious glance at the pale prince. He did not know who this man was, but judging by his reaction, Klaus was familiar with him. The big man sensed something was wrong.
"Captain, hurry back to the front lines. Things are getting hot," he spoke into the communication stone, and then turned his attention back to the prince. "Klaus," there was no answer.
"What does this all mean?" the former heir spoke up, gathering the last of his composure.
"Oh, you mean him?" Ichiro waved his hand casually towards the captive. "Do you know why I destroy the entire family of someone I don't like? Because weeds need to be pulled out by the roots. This weed spoiled my fruit, doesn't it deserve to be punished for that?"
"He has nothing to do with it. Let him go."
"He has nothing to do with it, you say? But wasn't this the man who raised you? Wasn't he the one who brought back the spoiled goods? He was your teacher and what do we see now? The student decided to challenge the king. Went against his own family. Against his own blood."
"He has nothing to do with it," the prince repeated in a breaking voice.
August, hearing his brother's broken voice, went cold all over. What had the king done to make the prince lose his composure? If he didn't fix the situation right away, things could take a really bad turn.
When the captain stood to the right of Klaus, he understood. All was lost. Klaus was pale, his eyes were bloodshot, and his hands were gripping the reins so tightly that they were shaking from the strain.
Baisal Fazli stood before the king's procession, tied up and beaten. August recognized him at once, despite his appearance. This was Klaus's teacher, the only person the prince listened to. The man his brother considered his half-father.
"Let him go. I am responsible for my own actions. Do you want to punish me? Then come forward and fight me!"
- It's not time for that yet. Before I kill you, I'll pull out all the weeds that these crazy ideas have planted in your head. Hello, nephew, - Ichiro addressed August. - For a dead man, you look good. At least better than your little brother did when his brains were dirtying my office.
August ground his teeth. He hated Abel, but he never wanted him to die like that. He always thought that he would be the one to chop off his brother's head if he remained an uncontrollable idiot.
"Look, son, what awaits those who are on your side," the king made a sign with his hand and a soldier with a huge axe stepped forward.
It all happened too quickly. Klaus spurred his horse and took off, directing a bolt of lightning at the executioner. The man raised the axe over the bowed head of the teacher, but did not have time to lower it.
The dead executioner was replaced by blades of wind flying at the prisoner, which Klaus managed to block, but missed a blow from a water arrow that pierced his palm. Screams were heard from behind. August tried to catch up with his maddened brother, but he was hindered.
The battle began, but Klaus was not interested in it. He threw back those who hindered him on the way to his goal. He was already close. He saw how Fazli's head rose with great effort. They met each other's gaze for a moment, and the teacher smiled through the pain, and then the structure that held him on his feet cracked.
The beaten body fell to the ground. Klaus did not have time to do anything. The head of the man who taught him everything split. He was so close that bloody shreds fell on his face.
August heard his brother's heart-rending scream. He couldn't get any closer. He couldn't see what was happening in that place because of the battle that was raging. And then lightning lit up the sky. Panic. Friends, foes, these deadly electric arrows had no specific target.
The prince seemed to have gone mad. He couldn't contain his power and if he wasn't stopped, he would simply spend every drop. Klaus looked for him, but the king turned back at the very moment when the teacher's head flew apart.
Ichiro had done his job. There was nothing more for him to do here. If Klaus killed him and his soldiers at the same time, it would be even better. He would lose trust. He would lose his followers, and after that, he would lose everyone dear to him. A king shouldn't have a heart, but Klaus has one, and always has, no matter how carefully he hid it. This heart will destroy him. Will make him suffer and die in agony.