Chapter 202

But the girl didn't have to climb over the corpses of the fallen enemies. A couple of hundred of the rat-like creatures swiftly overcame the obstacle and attacked the vampires. The new leader was not going to start his reign with a defeat. The small and fast creatures were the most dangerous opponents, and under the vaults of a small cave, this attack had every chance of success. "Air Wall," "Air Fist," and "Stream of Flames." The front line of fighters didn't even try to use weapons; it was all about magic. To finish off all the enemies, they had to break formation and advance, but the goblins didn't support their pets' enthusiasm, and the oversized rats were easily finished off.

— "This is Sparta!!!" — shouted a satisfied Eugene as he returned to his place.

Leonid merely shot him a disapproving look but said nothing, only ensuring that the man took his place to his left. After another five minutes of waiting, the next wave of attackers crashed against the vampires.

The widowed duchess and the baron Savoyardi's stepson were strolling through the garden.

— I understand what you're telling me, my dear. I understand why Captain Vilor will be grateful to me. But will Knight Blood be grateful to me if he becomes a baron? — the woman looked at her companion with feigned severity.

The man only pretended to expect this question. He enjoyed such games and felt completely at ease, even though the topics being discussed were incredibly important for his future.

— No one can say that the person we know as Alex Blood is ungrateful. He had opportunities to prove his loyalty. And the idea I mentioned entirely belongs to him.

— But you came to me, not him.

— Which also says a lot, your grace.

— To me, it only says that he managed to convince you and your brother.

They walked in silence for a while until a gazebo appeared a little off their route. The duchess made an inviting gesture, and soon the pair comfortably settled on cushions under the roof.

— From my side, — the duchess resumed the conversation, — it would be the height of ingratitude not to heed your words. After all, your brother was the first to support me after my husband's death.

— With all due respect, but according to my information, the first to support me were the representatives of the Church of Light.

The woman nodded respectfully.

— I'm impressed by your knowledge, my dear. But let me ask you again. What personal benefit do I get from the new baron?

— A powerful mage and warrior with his own squad, stronger than your son's retinue, owing his position to you. No one in the duchy would dare to oppose you openly. Isn't that enough?

The duchess was silent for a moment, then signaled to the servants standing a few dozen meters away and ordered them to bring cookies and a beverage. Once her order was carried out, she changed the subject of the conversation.

— Is this knight really a master from Valeria?

— He never said so, but who else could these people be if not a magical order from there? They say there was recently a commotion among the mages.

The woman laughed openly.

— Commotion… ha-ha-ha, — the lady finally stopped laughing, — you've amused me, my dear. There has been a full-scale civil war there for three years. The mages handle their disputes extremely cautiously, and the true nature of what's happening is sometimes hidden even from the Valerians themselves.

— So, they are indeed fugitives…

— I didn't say that. But there are many mage fugitives from Valeria right now. Rumor has it that the whole war with Orod was a consequence of events in the mage country. Somehow, Heinrich used the situation there and convinced his archmages to openly support him during the battles. And you, my dear, know how mages dislike risking their lives and participating in battles.

The man merely nodded. With this information, many things became much clearer. Although it had nothing to do with their current conversation, he needed to press the interlocutor to make the right decision. The title of count might not be received by his brother, but a neighboring baron who owed his title to him was just as good. No worse at all.

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