Chapter 356: The Start of The Siege
The march toward Hektor’s stronghold was filled with a heavy, quiet intensity. Every step felt like a drumbeat of war, each soldier’s footfall echoing in the stillness of the night. Lyan led the way, his black cloak billowing in the wind, the weight of the coming battle resting heavily on his shoulders but not slowing his stride. Behind him, the Valkyries and his army followed in formation, their movements synchronized, their faces hardened with the knowledge of what was to come.
The stronghold loomed larger as they drew closer, its stone walls casting long, dark shadows over the land. Torches flickered along the battlements, and the faint silhouette of soldiers could be seen manning the walls. But there was no confidence in their movements, no air of defiance. They were merely bodies stationed there out of duty, a final, desperate attempt to protect what was already lost.
Lyan’s sharp eyes scanned the stronghold, his mind already working through the steps needed to breach its defenses. Hektor had retreated there with what little remained of his forces, but it wouldn’t be enough to hold back Lyan’s army. The outcome was inevitable. The only question was how long Hektor could delay his fate.
Beside him, Wilhelmina walked with a quiet grace, her staff resting lightly against her shoulder. Her expression was thoughtful, her sharp mind calculating the strategic advantage they held. "It won’t take much to bring those walls down," she said, her voice low but confident. "We can surround the stronghold and attack from multiple angles. Hektor’s men won’t know where to focus their defenses."
Lyan nodded, his gaze never leaving the looming fortress. "We’ll keep them distracted at the front gates while the Valkyries and I take the side entrances. There are weaknesses in the architecture that we can exploit."
Alice, who had been walking on the other side of Lyan, grinned at the thought of another battle. Her sword rested casually at her side, though her fingers drummed lightly on the hilt in anticipation. "You lead, we follow," she said with a smirk. "I’m just eager to see that coward Hektor pay for abandoning his son."
Emilia, her greatsword strapped across her back, rolled her shoulders as if preparing for the inevitable clash. "He’ll regret every decision he made leading up to this."
Raine and Ravia, the sisters who had fought with Lyan through countless skirmishes, moved with their usual lightness, their sharp eyes already searching for potential targets among the guards patrolling the walls. They exchanged a look, wordlessly communicating their readiness for the fight ahead.
Josephine, who had been unusually quiet since Lucan’s death, broke her silence as they neared the stronghold. "Do you think he’ll try to surrender?" she asked, her voice laced with disgust at the mere thought.
Lyan shook his head. "Hektor is too proud for that. Even now, after abandoning his son and running from the battlefield, he’ll believe he can somehow survive this. He’ll try to bargain, maybe even beg for mercy. But surrender? No. He’ll never admit defeat until he’s on his knees, with no other choice."
"And we won’t give him that choice," Wilhelmina added, her voice cold. "He doesn’t deserve it."