At the Tevarin barracks, hundreds of men have arrived with a sergeant leading their column. Their lord, Baron Gregory Bauhnmont never sent a single soldier to join the current war with the Rhodlin Confederacy, yet he still keeps recruiting more men, increasing the size of his standing army.

These men who entered the castle gates were the new recruits for his army. He gave the responsibility of training these newly arrived future soldiers to his trusted military advisor, a knight named Gendry Aerithsmud. Currently, the standing army of the barony is about 3,462 soldiers, which includes the men at arms and recruits in training.

Ser Gendry was on top of the castle gate, overlooking the mass droves of new recruits. Then when he saw that the sergeant have dismounted on the stables, he climbs down to meet him.

The man he is about to greet is his friend and fellow knight, Ferra Blattislau.

“Ser Ferra!” he opened his arms to welcome his friend.

“Oh, Ser Gendry! I didn’t notice you that you were actually here. So… what do you think?” Ferra hugged him back and showed off the marching recruits to the grounds.

“Hehehe, they are passable at best if I consider the current situation of most villages and towns nearby. You are the one who carefully selected and accepted them so I have no worries about the quality of these recruits.”

Ferra actually spent almost four weeks in scouring the countryside for abled men to recruit. Although most of them were not fit when he first met them, he still considers their future potential once they were fed and trained.

“By the way, this may be rude to our lord but do we have funds to continue the recruitment every week?” Ferra asked. Their barony is not as wealthy as the central nobles which bothered him.

“Don’t worry, our lord actually have gained enough financial assistance from the Merchant’s Guild. Letting the treasury become capable enough of handling the increasing upkeep. But I don’t know the details of the deal he struck with the guild.” Gendry replied.

“Hmm… and most of all, with his aggressive stance in recruiting more soldiers… does he intends to join the war soon or in the future?” Ferra actually wondered this many times when he is travelling through the villages with the recruits. Their lord had refused to answer the Call to Arms from the marshal but he still keeps on increasing the number of his standing army.

“I don’t even know about that. I asked the baron himself on where will he aim the swords of his army, but he never answered.”

“Wait… does he intend on…” Ferra tried to guess the intent of the baron but was interrupted by Gendry.

“Our lord will not do such a thing without reason... or insurance.”

“I know, I know. I was merely jesting. Anyway, it is not part of my job to think about such things. Hahaha! So good luck about that my friend.” Ferra already knew that it is not his responsibility to think about these matters as he is not the Military Advisor of the baron. He is only in charge for recruitments and training.

“Speaking of armies, did you receive any information or news from the front while you were travelling?” Gendry asked.

“I thought you are far better informed about that than me.” Ferra was shocked to know that the Military Advisor was asking such question. Gendry should have agents and spies scattered throughout the kingdom and its neighbors to feel the political atmosphere and movements of armies that may affect the safety and security of their barony.

“The scouts and spies I sent didn’t get any significant details on what is happening right now on the frontlines. We are blind as a bat and deaf as a rock right now. Most especially, when the king himself is starting to get suspicious over our lord’s adamant refusals to mobilize of our army. So sending more spies and agents may gather negative misconception or fatal misunderstanding from our beloved… sovereign.”

“Well, you may have to reorganize again your spy network. And instead of training agents, make friends with every merchant you meet. Unlike your agents, skilled traders and merchants have easier access or ability to penetrate border security and patrols, using their own connection or briberies. Old man Vann is just too stubborn to use such cards.” Ferra explained as he mentioned the former spymaster.

“Hmmm …”

“For now, just try creating two information networks if you still have doubts. One for your agents and another with the merchants. You may compare the efficiency and quality of their work as spies later.”

“Thanks, I will try that.”

“And back to the topic about the frontlines, the latest detailed news I got were how the Swazbian main army, led by Duke Cornelius had defeated the Rhodlin forces at River Tyford but...”

“But?”

“But it was not the main army. The forces he repelled were under the command of Earl Chevassar. And it was not even 80,000 strong, but more like 7,000 only” Ferra slowly climb the stairs on the wall to drink the wine he saw earlier as he passed below.

“Hoooeh, they were able to outsmart the duke. So where is the main army of Rhodlin?” Gendry inquired as he climbs also.

“They were able to enter Swazbian lands by building pontoon bridges at the River Twins. What I couldn’t fathom is how they were able to build the bridge and finish the crossing in a single night without being detected.” Ferra poured a cup of wine from the pitcher and drank.

“Maybe they got help from one of the nobles or Swazbian lords nearby?” Gendry told Ferra what he had guessed. But it was denied.

“That is what I was thinking also but my guts are telling me it’s not.”

“How many soldiers did this main army had?” Gendry asked.

“According to one of the agents I sent; the numbers of campfires, stoves, and the size of the camp he had seen, I can safely assume that they are at most 60,000 strong. Much larger than the 7,000 soldiers that were defeated at Tyford, of course.”

“So they were able to enter deep into Swazbian lands without any resistance?”

“No, they had one. That is the Vigarya Fortress. If they don’t make any beachhead or forward frontline base after crossing, their supply lines would be endangered and cut off. Unless they are planning to bring their own supplies and make do with what they can plunder and loot from the villages and farms they pass.” Ferra told him the additional information.

“So they took the fortress?”

“Yeah, after a three day siege, they were able to capture the Vigarya Fortress and fortified it as their current base of operation here in Swazbia. Right now, the duke is busy chasing this army. But in order to put pressure on Rhodlin supply lines, the duke had to divide his army into two: one is to harass the outskirts of the Vigarya Fortress and the other is to chase the main Rhodlin army.” Ferra added.

“Who’s in charge of the army that will keep watch on Vigarya?”

“The duke left 37,000 Swazbian soldiers to Count Wittsvein to guard the crossing on River Tyford, well according to my sources most of them were infantry as the duke took the rest of the mounted troops and rushed towards the Vigarya Fortress. And he arrived at the Fortress with no Rhodlin army to meet him. He was already four days late as the Rhodlin’s forces had already left. Those were the only information I got. The rest were merely skeptical reports.”

“Continue.”

“Rhodlin’s main army is marching through the Gentle Road. So anyone can see that they are not planning to have a decisive clash with the Duke’s forces. Their objective seemed to be on the central lands.”

“And… they will have to use one of the passes.”

“Yeah, the Golden Boulders or the Silver Boulders.”

The two were the only southern mountain pass that acts as the entrance towards the central lands. They were named after the old mines that formerly operated to dig out the rich gold and silver ores on these passes respectively.

“It is becoming hectic now eh… by the way who leads the Rhodlin forces?” Gendry asked.

“According to my sources, High King Steffanford is commanding their main army.”

“The lord of Veleusca.” Gendry murmured.

High King Steffanford is the current overlord of the Rhodlin Confederacy. He rules over Veleusca City, an impenetrable fortress-city built during the reign of the Gothicryn Empire and the current capital of the confederacy. It was protected by steep hills and mountains which disabled any siege engines to be deployed. And it is also surrounded with swamps and marshes that disallow any camps to be built or any attempts to assault its high walls. Thus the city never actually suffered any sieges or attack since it was built.

And its current lord is also famous for defeating the 20,000 Pharassid Mamlukes with just 3,000 soldiers at the Battle of Sardinnes when he was still 16 years old. And he is also the first ruler in Vadraldia to ever land a decisive victory against the seemingly invincible 50,000 Khattar mounted troops on the Battle of Tessenched which halted their invasion and became a turning point for the rest of Vadraldia kings to take back what was taken by the nomadic hordes.

“Yeah and by the way, no one knows the real target of the Rhodlin army in the central lands so be extra careful nowadays. The people in this town and its lord must expect party of Rhodlin forces patrolling or scouting the region by now.”

“Mords from the North, Rhodlin from the South, Khattars from the East… and a dumb King at the center, what an awful time to be born and live in this kingdom.” Gendry sighed.

“Well, for me it will be just a matter of time before all of us will become Rhodlin citizens. Our king isn’t even helping. I heard that he barred the entrance to his keep and refuses to give audience to his vassals. I pity his brother Duke Cornelius.” Ferra can only give sympathy towards the duke who is making most of the effort to defend the realm from its invaders.

“Yeah, how about your merchants? Aren’t they afraid of trading in these chaotic lands? I am actually quite surprised that they still kept trading openly to sell their wares.” Gendry asked.

“Well, I am using my connection to move my eyes between the armies of both sides. For these merchants, the current chaos in this country is a profitable venture. Thus I was able to bait these merchants by persuading them that they can move with the armies without worrying of being attacked by bandits. This way they will get the protection they needed as they travel and also the chance to sell their products on each army and most of all…”

“Information right? Are you sure they wouldn’t get caught?” Gendry asked again as he was actually curious on how do these merchants gets away in getting information from their respective armies without expecting any danger of being caught as a spy.

“Just like what they do to me, sell information.” Ferra answered.

“So all of them were actually playing as a double agent huh.”

Gendry remembered the phrase, “Knowledge is power.”

“Anyway, I will have to go back and change my armor. I am getting sweaty under these.” Ferra showed his wet armpits as a proof.

“Of course, see you at the grounds.”

Ferra went down after another drink. He went straight to the Barracks. This was actually Gendry’s first attempt to manage a spy network as a Military Advisor. And he has no experience or cunning wits to know how to run it. Previously this job was given to the Spymaster. But the former spymaster had resigned and retired with no capable successor. As such he had to take the reins of the spy network built by the spymaster, temporarily until they found a replacement.

“Ser Gendry! A platoon will be going to the town to replace its sentries! Do you have additional orders for them?” a soldier called him below.

“Send 40 more men with them. I have received information that there is a possibility where several Rhodlin scouts or patrols may visit us in this region.” He must now take measures against any possible attacks to the town and the castle.

“Yes ser!”

“And tell them to stay vigilant. One of these days, Rhodlin forces will enter the Central Lands.” He added.

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It was already afternoon after lunch when they finally sold out their baskets. Nessi was already preparing to close their stall when the surrounding soldiers have lined up out in the open and marched towards the gate.

“Is it time for that already?” she asked. After living in this town for years, she already knew the ways and schedules of every people that lived her, including the soldiers. Thus she also knew on what time the patrols and soldiers usually swap with their replacement. But currently, she felt it was strange as it was too early for them yet to be replaced.

Although their stall was far from the gate, she can still see what goes inside as the marketplace is actually overlooking the gate entrance. Then Nessi noticed that a large group of soldiers had entered the gates. Unlike the previous ones, this group seemed to be larger in number than the previous groups.

‘Maybe the lord decided to strengthen the defense of this town. Well, this is actually welcomed as there is now more soldiers that guards the town.’ She thought.

But she can only wish that they were enough to defend their lands against any assaults once again.

“Nessi! You can now get back home. I will just visit the Herbs store to buy some spices.” Her mother yelled from the distance.

“Y-yes mother!”

“I almost forgot, can you please gather some fratberries outside? We need those for our dinner later.” Her mother added.

She already finished closing the stall, so she grabbed her personal basket and went towards the gate of the town.

It took her almost half an hour to finally exit the walls as a lot of people were trying to enter the gate that it became crowded and slowed her down.

“On which part of the woods did those fratberries grew? I think I forgot their place of growth.” she tries to remember the locations of the fratberries scattered around near the town.

Then she suddenly heard someone calling her behind.

“Hey! Pssst! Nessi! Over here.”

When she turned, she noticed someone hiding behind the bushes. It was a voice from someone she knew.

“Master Pierre? What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be on your riding lessons today?”

It was one of the sons of their lord. Then she realized that there is also something bigger hiding in the other bushes.

“Yeah, I already finished that one much earlier. I actually brought Willheim with me. Didn’t’ you told me that you wanted to ride a horse?”

“Y-yeah… wait? Is that Willheim?”

“Yeah, hehe. I actually learned how to make him crouch. Come with me, let’s ride him together. Do you still have errands?”

“Yes, I actually have to gather some fratberries so–”

“Then come, we can find better and tasty ones on the far end of the river.” He interrupted.

“But won’t the guards scold us if we don’t enter the walls in time later? Not to mention, my mother may get worried if we stay too long outside.”

“Don’t’ worry, we still have time to play. We can just ride Willheim back into town later. They wouldn’t dare scold you if I am with you.” he tried to persuade her.

“Okay.”

She then grabbed the hand that was offered by Pierre and along with the horse he brought, they vanished into the thick bushes.