Age of Heroes (Age of Heroes Chronicles)

Chapter 68: The battle rages on (1)

1014 AF Seedmonth

Day 74

Adrian shifted uncomfortably in his chair. It still feels uncomfortable for him. He sighed internally.

He could not help but sigh in helplessness. Even now, he still this seat is too stuffy for him. He fiddles around the handle trying to familiarize himself with his new seat.

It was carved beautifully from wood by some talented artisan.

House Vermont wealth truly is...even their chair is this luxurious.

A luxurious throne, they had called it. To Adrian it was just a wooden chair. He may have looked the part, but he didn't feel much like a king.

After the coronation he had received a letter from Alderam, declaring war. It hadn't come as a surprise, after all Alderam had drawn the first blood.

But it still made Adrian understand the reality he is at.

Brothers killing brothers. This is the only way for this war to end. Either, he kills Alderam or Alderam kill him.

Alan Shadowstrider, their great ancestor would have rolled in their grave if he could them now

Everybody had already begun to prepare for the war even before the news came.

After the feast he had returned to Roaring Dragon castle, while his attendants prepared for his arrival at Rockstill, the castle that had previously belonged to Arwin Rodan.

Unfortunate Arwin had perished at the funeral feast, and the castle had been unoccupied ever since.

Leaving no heir to the noble line, his territory came into chaos.

Arial quickly absorb the territory and all the people there including the knights, the attendants and the minor lords all swear their fealty to the Vermont readily.

Arial send a report to him that if he did not take Rodan territory he fears that Alderam forces would take it and would halted the expedition that he had planned

Well, when you ride to Rockstill with one thousand strong force, knights lead by Ser Masser one of the most well know knight in the employ of the Vermont's, Adrian doubt that the people of Rodan territory had a choice.

Kneel or die, that is the implication. Unspoken but it's there. The young lord is truly like dragons of old.

Arial Vermont is strong and bold in his action

Adrian had no doubt that he wouldn't have accomplished anything without the help of Arial. He wouldn't have even made it out of the massacre at the feast, for one

Now the heir of Roaring Dragon, eldest son of Aries Vermont is only fourteen of age yet he has already proven himself to the people of the Kingdom he is a force to be reckoned with.

It wasn't uncommon for a young lord to rule his house, but it was rare for one to rule so well.

The few examples of young enlightened ruler are Emperor George the Wise.

He takes the throne of the Vern Empire when he was only ten years of age yet he shows great aptitude for ruling, so wise in fact that even during his reign people called him the Wise.

He rules for one hundred years, and in his one hundred years reign he ended slavery, making economic reforms, social reforms, built great monument that to this day still stand in the Human Continent, pacify the regions of the Empire, making deals with the mountain tribe and so many things that help stabilize the Empire at a time where chaos and war reign, a problem left by his ancestor and grandfather and father.

At his deathbed when the common folk and the nobles heard that he died, they cry and cry while the mourning lasted almost a year.

Usually the mourning of an Emperor is forty days but for him, the people keep mourning him, month and month until his son, William the First rose to the throne, and stop the masses from mourning.

Then there is also Levitia.

Levitia had been an accomplished warrior at the age of thirteen. At the age of thirteen, he showed great prowess in battle and understanding everything about war

He battles many great heroes and villains of his time at that age.

Creating martial art technique, unrivalled in battle, undefeated and all-conquering. Pity that such great hero could not understand people better which led to his death.

But such heroes were hard to find.

But Arial is also another young talented person.

The common folk are also fond of their young lord, and from what Adrian had heard from the other people, that even when he was a child, he was bright and smart, strong and brave.

He is loved by the common folk because during his training at the Academy of Knight he solves many quest and killed many criminals that had terrorize their land and save many common people, some who rose to great positions in the Kingdom.

He is noble and brave. Dignified and calm. The perfect Lord.

Adrian sighed as he remembered where Arial is right now.

Arial had ventured south to attain the loyalty of the southern nobles.

It should be an easy task; most of the south was pacified by the Vermont family's wealth and overwhelming force.

But not all, thought Adrian.

Not all.

The West and North are still not pacified and rife with battles and skirmishes. There are some lords that claim themselves as Duke or Count.

Under Arial's advice he had created the Office of the Protectorate, with Lord Henry Summersill as the Protector of the West, Lord Arial as the Protector of the South and East, and Lord Aldrey Woodrath as Protector of the North.

Woodrath was a talented knight whom Adrian had recently made a lord, after he had convinced Adrian that he was determined and capable enough to win battles for him.

Also, Adrian desperately needed people strong enough to send into battle.

Most of his supporters had died at the feast, so he didn't have any choice but to promote many of his knights to the title of lord.

In exchange Adrian got their fealty and their skill in battle, and the troops they have.

The Vermont controlled both of the East and the South office because they have the biggest influence there with all of the lords in the East has already swear their fealty to Lord Arial and his family while he also convinced many of the Southron lords to swear fealty to Adrian.

It is only appropriate that their family hold both offices. Well with their influence Adrian could hardly object.

The previous day, after weeks of threats, battle had finally broken out.

Adrian had received the report from Lord Lorraine.

Hadraul Vorwound, heir to Vorwound Hall, had offered to join the troops; his father had been slaughtered and he was hungry for revenge.

Heir to Vorwound Hall, Hadraul Vorwound came back with a force of one thousand man to rid out of Alderam forces.

Hadraul Vorwound did come to his coronation, a young man twenty and two, hazel eyes and handsome appearance, yet his face was full with grief and shock, he came with his knights and loyal vassal and wanting to avenge his father death.

So when Adrian had asked if any of the lords who follow him to his interim court in the Roaring Dragon whether any of them would try to intercept Alderam Alan march to Abret, Hadraul offer himself.

A young man of twenty-two, with soft hazel eyes and a mind swimming with shock and grief, he hadn't been prepared to fight.

Initial report indicate that Alderam only brought about one thousand five hundred troops, troops that Hadraul is confident he can route long enough before reinforcement from Tearlay could come, another House that swear fealty towards the Vorwound family.

But when he arrives near Penrose, he could see it was four thousand troops, ready to fight and full of bloodlust

The Duke of Arouen has already set up some defensive barricade his man is strong and energetic.

Anyone that sees it knows it is a lost cause yet he perseveres. The young man is stubborn. Stubborn and angry.

It was a lost cause, but the young man was angry and reckless. Hadraul had attacked Alderam's troops. Vengeance drove him, and vengeance killed him.

Adrian couldn't help feeling responsible for his death. The boy had still been grieving for his father, and Adrian should have known better.

Adrian had to hear the report presented to him in full detail, with vivid imagery.

It is said when Alderam meet the young boy in battle he uses his big hammer and with one strike the young boy head was smashed, nothing left but a smashed face, full with blood while his soldiers slaughter the other one thousand men, leaving none of his retinue and his people alive.

Bodies strewn about the hills, like a rotten fruit borne by strange magic, the soil was damp with blood, the horse feet were stain with brain matter.

The Vorwound were in full retreat back to Tearlay, while other Northern family that believes in Adrian cause started to delay Alderam march.

Overall casualties on their side are only a little.

The lineage of Vorwound ended that day, with all of their family who kept captive in the House Vorwound were executed by Alderam when he set foot in their Halls

Children, widows, woman and child were put to the sword, their blood in his brother hand.

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Part two in a few minutes