Chapter 34: The War Begins
Ambrose's voice was cold and venomous. His every word dripped with the theatrical menace of a storybook villain. The problem was, no one believed him.
Even the paladin seemed taken aback. The lich's tone might be threatening, yet somehow it sounded like he was actually protecting the humans.
One of the other lords standing beside the Porcupine Knight shouted furiously, "Who are you trying to fool? I saw my people plowing fields under your command! Don't think that just because you're a lich, you can steal another lord's peasants!"
Ambrose replied indifferently, "You humans let your sheep graze for themselves, don't you? I'm feeding these captives. If I don't let them farm, am I supposed to hand-feed them instead?"
"Damn undead!" the Porcupine Knight roared, though he had no real argument left.
Was this how it would end? After all the expense of mustering this army, could he not even find an excuse to strike?
They had planned for every possibility… except this one. Their cause for war was crumbling before it even began.
Even so, the Porcupine Knight's main fear wasn't about starting the battle, but rather about finishing the lich off. If they couldn't do so, Ambrose could easily report their unlawful aggression to Alkhemia. Then they would be the ones branded as troublemakers.
Fairness and truth meant little. All Alkhemia needed was an excuse to punish a few overeager border lords, and these men had just offered one on a silver platter.