Chapter 349: The War of Nobles (1) The Suspicions
The clamor of war preparations filled the air. Soldiers in gleaming armor adjusted their shields and tightened their sword belts, while mercenaries checked their arrows and tested their blades. Lucan stood at the edge of the camp, watching as his father’s forces prepared for the coming siege on Grafen. His heart was heavy with doubt, and though his face betrayed none of it, he felt an unease settling deep inside him.
The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows over the camp. The banners of House Ravalos fluttered in the evening breeze, the deep crimson fabric rippling against the sky. The scent of freshly oiled armor and horse sweat mingled with the crispness of the coming night. But as the soldiers moved with purpose, as if on the brink of victory, Lucan could only think of Clarisse and their child back home. The image of her face—her soft smile, her violet eyes—was like a distant beacon in his mind.
The rhythmic thud of approaching footsteps pulled him from his thoughts. His father, Lord Hektor, approached, his armor gleaming in the fading sunlight. His expression was cold, determined, a mask of confidence that had long since become his most recognizable feature. Beside him were Lord Verlan, thickset and full of bluster, and Lady Astoria, her green eyes sharp and calculating as ever.
"Lucan," Hektor said, his voice steady. "It’s time. The final briefing."
Lucan nodded, suppressing the heaviness in his chest, and followed them to the command tent.
Inside, the atmosphere was tense but focused. A large map of Grafen and its surrounding areas was spread across the table, littered with markers representing the various forces in play. Hektor gestured to the southern gate, where Verlan’s mercenaries would lead the charge.
"We strike at dawn," Hektor said, his voice calm but filled with authority. "Verlan, your men will breach the southern gate. They’re stationed and ready?"
Verlan, leaning over the table, gave a short nod. "They’ve been harassing the trade routes for weeks. The people inside are starving. By now, Lyan’s forces will be stretched thin trying to keep order. My men are positioned to take advantage of that chaos."
Hektor turned to Lady Astoria. "And your forces?"
Astoria tapped her finger against the map, indicating the western side of the city. "My men are already inside, working from the shadows. The secret passages are still accessible, and when the time comes, we’ll infiltrate and take control of the key defenses. By the time Lyan realizes what’s happening, his entire army will be surrounded."
Lucan watched as the plan unfolded before him. It was a solid strategy—Verlan’s brute force, Astoria’s cunning, and Hektor’s leadership. But something nagged at the back of his mind. He had heard stories of Lyan Arkanium Evocatore, of the man who had risen from obscurity to rule Grafen, a man who commanded not only an army but strange and terrible creatures. A man who had fought for his power, who had been underestimated time and time again, only to emerge stronger.