The Third Prince Of Darkness

A week later -

Although it had been a week since I sent Richard a letter, I still hadn't received any response. Perhaps something had happened to the messenger pigeon I had sent, so I sent another letter with the same content, but once again, no reply came. Unfortunately, with each passing day, my belief that Richard would change something was fading.

Recently, Althea had been visiting me frequently, updating me on the latest developments. Maybe because of the boredom I had been feeling due to the recent events, she continued to visit me every day, even though she didn't have any major new information to share. According to the latest reports I received, Alpshar still hadn't emerged from his hiding place, and the main coalition army was continuing to march south.

Honestly, although I couldn't fully predict Alpshar's next move, it seemed clear that he was planning to trap or deceive the main coalition army. This was why I had decided to move my army. The direction was towards the most important city in the South empire. According to my plan, I would attack an important southern city, and Alpshar would finally emerge from his hiding place to respond.

At first, the idea of attacking the Blue Forest crossed my mind briefly, but that would definitely be more of a suicidal attempt than anything else. If Alpshar had dared to bring an entire army there, he likely knew that forest better than anyone else.

Meanwhile, I hadn't been idle during this past week. With the money I earned from my companies, I placed an order for enough high-quality swords, shields, bows, armour, and other necessary weapons to equip my entire army, along with horses. Since there were very few warhorses left on the entire continent, most horses were simply strong pack animals. Still, this move would double the speed of my army. After arming my ten thousand soldiers with the new weapons, I assigned a horse to each of them. To the many soldiers who already very well knew how to ride, I gave the limited number of warhorses I had. I also announced that the weapons and horses I gave them would belong to them after the war, which greatly boosted the morale of the army.

In addition, I sent messages to many lords in the south, or rather, to former clan leaders and their sons, trying to encourage them to rebel. These efforts bore fruit, and I received a few positive responses. Especially the sons of the lords that Alpshar killed gave me a favourable answer. I also promised these southern lords that I would grant them their territories, and if we won the war, I would have to deal with this matter afterward.

Finally, after completing my preparations, the time had come to move my army. The target city in the south had been chosen for its strategic location and importance along trade routes. Capturing it would not only provoke Alpshar but also create panic within the enemy ranks. Before setting out, I spoke with Althea once again and gave her the last instructions. She was busy expanding the intelligence network in the south, and the information she provided could prove invaluable in the future.

When the time to depart came, the sun was just rising over the horizon. My army, disciplined and well-prepared, was waiting for my command to march. The ten thousand soldiers were filled with determination and excitement. I could tell from the expressions on their faces that everyone knew how important winning this war was for their lives and futures. The horses neighed powerfully, adding strength to the units moving in military formation. With the newly acquired weapons and equipment, the army created a truly magnificent sight.

After several days of exhausting marches, we reached the borders of the Avarya Kingdom. Avarya was an important part of the coalition forces, and its kingdom, due to its strategic position, was a key point in the southern defense of the coalition. The Royal City of Vardenholm was both a trade center and a powerful defensive stronghold. The city rose majestically behind its walls; its tall towers and thick stone walls were built to withstand any kind of assault. Capturing the city would create a serious breach in the coalition. However, it wouldn't be an easy task for nobady

As we approached the city, I recalled the information I had about the Avarya Kingdom. It was a fact that Velamir, King of Avarya, had agreed to join the coalition forces against Alpshar's armies, but this alliance was limited until the security in the south was secured. In other words, Velamir was being cautious while fighting against Alpshar, avoiding taking direct risks.

Additionally, Avarya had the fewest soldiers in the coalition army. However, I already had plans to use this kingdom later to my advantage, and the fact that they weren't fully supporting the coalition forces was beneficial for me in many ways. After all, the princess of Avarya was in my hands, and I wouldn't hesitate to use this leverage in the future. But for now, as I marched further north with my army, I ignored the watching eyes around me.

As we advanced towards Vardenholm, I continuously reviewed my preparations and strategies in my mind. It was crucial for me to maintain the morale of my army and to march forward with determined steps towards our goal. With each step, I collected more information about the enemy, kept the intelligence up to date, and gave a task to the servant guild to ensure full control of the battlefield. However, there was still no sign of any developments regarding Alpshar.

Alpshar's continued absence was like a shadow of uncertainty hanging over me and my army. Although my plans are to provoke Alpshar by attacking his cities, his continued hiding complicated all of these calculations. Every passing day, I battled with uncertainty, constantly reminding myself that patience was key.

After I had secured supplies for my army from Vardenholm, the capital of the kingdom of Avarya, we finally entered the official borders of the Southern Empire after days of travel. We were now officially occupiers. I decided to pass through several border villages..

The atmosphere in the area was tense and uncertain. Everyone was wondering where the enemy was and when they would strike. As my army advanced towards south, I tried to gather information from the villages and towns along the way. The people were quite uneasy because of the ongoing conflicts between Alpshar and the coalition forces. At times, they held their breath, and other times, they watched my army with fearful eyes. For me, this could be both a threat and an opportunity in the future.

With every step, I felt as if an eye was watching us. Alpshar's spies or local forces scouts must have been eager to report our presence to Alpshar, but that was exactly what I wanted.

After some time, we passed the first large town on the border. The town seemed as if it hadn't seen the face of trade or prosperity in years; the people were destitute and impoverished. We paused here to gather basic supplies for my army. I made sure not to ask too much from the local population. To ease their discomfort, I ordered my soldiers to pay for the supplies, of course, using my own funds. It might have been a minor detail, but it could create a positive perception of my army among the locals. People who had previously experienced the oppression of the Alpshar forces seemed quite surprised by such a gesture.

After replenishing our supplies, we set out towards Alartut City, our first target in the south. Alartut was known as a strategic fortress-city. The city was the center of food production in the region, with vast fields and fertile lands. It also formed a crucial junction along trade routes. Capturing this city would not only deal a blow to Alpshar but also make it easier for me to secure long-term supplies for my army.

As we approached Alartut City, I began to carefully examine the surrounding terrain. Wide rivers and dense forests, which served as natural defenses, surrounded the city. This suggested that an assault would be quite challenging. Still, I was formulating plans to turn this advantage into my favor.

I intended to provoke Alpshar by capturing a strategic point in the south and then advancing towards the heart of the south. So this city seemed like a good choice for a start.

Upon reaching Alartut, I noticed the first barricades at the city's entrance. The walls were high and well-built, but the city did not seem fully prepared. I knew there was a garrison from the Southern Empire stationed here, but this garrison was not large enough to fend off a bigger threat. Realizing that Alpshar hadn't sent a large force to defend Alartut strengthened my plans further. After this city, my next target would be one of the largest cities in the Southern Empire, and if Alpshar didn't show up by then, I would capture all the major cities leading to the capital.

The apparent weaknesses in Alartut's defense provided a perfect opportunity for an attack. However, to avoid rushing, I decided to prepare a detailed plan for capturing the city. My first goal was to make the enemy underestimate the strength of my army. I immediately split my army into two groups. The first group would camp in the open field outside the city walls, making it appear as though we were laying siege to the city. The second group, accompanied by a small reconnaissance unit, would secretly advance through the forest to identify the city's weak points.

Now everything was ready. The war was about to begin in earnest.