Chapter 48:

Rose Harbour has fallen. The simple news has been spread all over the Kingdom of Fortuna and brings fear to the folks as well as high-bones or soldiers. The fallen of the first city in the kingdom is a critical hit on the morale of the Fortunian army.

Winter has come, snows cover roads, houses, trees, and mountains. I'm sitting in my chamber gathering information from what's happening all over my kingdom. My uncle, Lord Alfred Rosewood has been killed by a Lyrion woman named Eunice the Impaler; my cousin, Harry Rosewood has gone mad when he received the news and nearly gather his soldiers to march straight forward to Rose Harbour.

5 samurais were needed to drag him back to his chamber and shut him there. Luckily, his wife, Fiona is quite an intelligent woman, after hearing the situation, she advised him. After 3 days of mourning, he gets out of his room and comes back to work as the Admiral of my fleet.

I want to avenge my uncle's death, too. But marching to Rose Harbour, where the Rangers' reports say there are 260000 Lyrion raiders with my army in the winter will be complete suicide. 10000 recruits I sent to Rose Harbour met Sir George after he fled from the city with only 6000 men. I have ordered them to withdraw to the border between Meath and Oceanhall to build a fortress there. As long as my men are in my territory I can maintain their supplies easily.

Metus Gladius has been taken by the Lyrions, too. However, Kruger and Impetus along with a bishop named Richard have combined their forces and siege the city. Half of the Lyrions surrendered while others either escape or were killed. Mathel Family has run even before the Lyrions reached the city, the owner of Bear Forest and Metus Gladius is still undecided between me and the Church. However, we had reached an agreement that until the war is over, Impetus will hold Metus Gladius, the Church's army will hold Bear Forest while Impetus and house Aetherwolf manage the defense of Summervalley.

I decide to march to Meath with my army while Harry stays in Beta Castle to train the new sailors and get newly built ships into the Royal Fleet's ranks. Currently, 60000 soldiers under my command will be ready to fight the invaders as soon as spring comes. Envoys have been sent to the Heathen Kingdom asking for help. There have been no replies yet, but Christina is in Neverwinter, I believe Khal Kjartan will give me an honorable and reasonable answer soon.

My birthday is near, I have to think of a way to fight with the Lyrions. Even with the Church's support, they outnumber me at least 2 times. What book do I need under this circumstance? A new type of weapon or a new tactic. I can't think of possible ways to deal with 260000 Lyrions right now.

A specific weapon appear inside my head, it is a type of weapon that was invented long before the medieval age but its' usefulness has been proved. As long as I get the book I need on my birthday, the engineers will have to work hard. Before winter finishes, I'm sure I'll have enough forces to fight with the Great Lyrion Army.

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The Hot Mountains

The area where the legend volcanoes which is believed to be the origin of the Grasslanders. Khal Kjartan is leading his vanguard containing 20000 cavalries advance to this land. The armies of the Khals have been pushed by this man to their last stance. The Falcons are flying in the sky searching for any Grasslanders that might try to ambush the Heathens. The number of falcons is only around 300, which demonstrates that many falcons fell.

The land is hot and the Heathen horses show their tiredness while trying to avoid the rough rocks lying all over the places. Although having seen his men and horses being tired, Khal Kjartan doesn't seem to care much, he speaks to himself:

- Only one more battle and I'll be the true ruler of this Grassland. The only and mightiest Great Khal, the man who is destined to conquer the world.

Wearing outfits similar to the rocks, the Grasslanders breath stealthily, waiting for the Heathen army to move further to the Grasslanders' homeland, where they grew up and understand every single stone. Standing on a high mountain, Eukhtuya the Red Flame watches the Heathen army advancing deeper inside the mountains.

After the decisive defeat, Eukhtuya has commanded other has to fake defeat and withdraw further to this region, creating an illusion of a Grasslander army that can't take one single hit from the Heathen army, so that Khal Kjartan will not be cautious and take the bait. The falcons scouting can be easily handled by hiding under trees' shade and not moving.

When the last Heathen rider gets inside the mountainous area, Eukhtuya smiles. He orders:

- Let's begin.

One of his bodyguards gets out of the shade and fire a fire arrow into the air, the arrow hit a bunch of hay and a large fire grows. After just a few seconds, you can hear the war cries of the Grasslanders. A giant rock from the mountain is pushed and block the entrance of the area. Rocks, arrows from everywhere hit the Heathen riders, causing catastrophic damage and destroying the morale of the Heathens. Khal Kjartan orders his falcons to attack the archers firing at his men.

The falcons manage to kill several Grasslanders before they are caught by webs prepared beforehand and killed by swords or spears afterward. Eukhtuya mounts his horse, 500 men mount their horses behind him, the fire is lighted on his sword. The Grasslanders shout:

- RED FLAME! RED FLAME! RED FLAME!

Led by Eukhtuya, the riders charge against the breaking Heathen army. Once again, Eukhtuya finds Khal Kjartan on the battlefield and raises his speed moving toward the Heathen leader. Khal Kjartan raises his spear and engages with the Red Flame. After several clashes, Eukhtuya knocks Khal Kjartan off his horse.

A punch is delivered to Kjartan's stomach, which makes him fall to his knees. He tries to stand back but his opponent gives him no chance, the burning sword pierces Kjartan's chest. Eukhtuya whispers in his ears:

- I swore that I'll return the favor, didn't I?

And darkness capture Khal Kjartan.