Three Must Decide.

Part 13. In to Vasted.

Chapter note. the first 3 chapters have introduced you to the Three. Each faction is controlled, to a degree, by a real life person so decisions have to be made.

Terrill, had to decide if he would defend his home lands in Drathan now that he was at war with his King and Crown Prince.

Ehmet, had to decide if he would march on Terrills army or the City of Greenvale.

The Grand Duchess had to decide what they wanted for peace with Ehmet. Ehemt needed to decide what he would agree, if anything.

Perhaps there will be hidden consequences.

Read on to see what they have decided.

Ehmet had returned to Bronze Gate, the king would have to remain there and it would have been that last chance for many months for them to talk together. Their thoughts had not altered, the King had paused when he finally heard the news that clearly pained him but he soon gathered himself. The old defences were being renewed the city was ready and as they rode through the streets there was no sign of trouble, it was busy, alive and prosperous.

That evening there was time for Ehmet to be with his wife Katerina, a women who held his heart in her hands, along with their young daughter who played care free as they watched her. Later they eat with the king and Katerinas father and brother who had come to serve as her protectors during these times of war. Those few short days, of meetings and battle plans, for good or ill, were non the less relaxed and when they eat together, they were times of casual friendship, conversation and laughter. They were precious moments and as Ehmet took a ship north he felt the pain of being torn away from them.

He went north by ship along the great river that brought so much wealth to Bronze Gate, a river that was also the western most boarder of Terrills family estate in Drathen. There he joined the soldiers of his Bronze Shields that had been sent to watch and wait, along with a large contingent of Awoken Sun Kights.

They had waited undiscovered a little way outside of Terrills lands, a time of boredom and tedious simple daily tasks of little more merit than just passing the time. Then the rider had come and with the order from their Crown Prince they had moved with speed aiming straight for the ancestral home of Marquess Terrill.

Terrils family had been a part of the lower levels of Drathens court for generations there estate was beautiful but modest, no keeps and castles but the large manor house was surrounded by a shallow moat, the lower windows narrow, its wall stout and doors solid, but it was not a fortress. Preparations had been made but it soon became clear that the small number of the families' guards would not be supported by Terrills Mounted Soldiers.

Nun the less the small guard had decided to make a stand. They were shattered by the mounted armoured horror that bore down on them in the form of the Awoken Sun. The knights did not hesitate, not a step was lost, the action so complete that not a knight was lost and the guard instantly seeing the futility of their action the moment the knights smashed in to them, had Broken and run. A number of the guards had reached the manor. The Bronze Sheilds then took the lead from the Awoken Sun, in what would have been close quarters fighting in confined spaces, no place for a heavy armour knight. Terrills guard showed their worth then proved they were not worthless. They held the Bronze shields for long enough to create a pause. They could not last long but equally the commander of the Bronze Shields had no desire to waist lives. The commander ordered bows to be strung, making a show of it, fire arrows to be made and then in clear view of those in the Manor house set fire to the barn opposite them. The message was clear and soon Terrills now old mother opened the door and her guard laid down their weapons.

Soon after Ehmet joined them there, commanded that the guards be taken away, and gave the lands to a family chosen by the king. Terrills mother would be accompanied to Bronze Gate were she would be treated with respect and made comfortable but in much smaller residence than she was accustomed to.