Veil of Destiny

Chapter 12 Conflict and escape

The Otherworld.

The forest remained as silent as ever. The sky, still gray and oppressive. A towering skeleton wandered aimlessly. Undead beings were rare in this forest; in a whole day of roaming, it encountered only two of its kind. Skeletons did not communicate; they simply passed each other by, uncertain when they might meet again.

Footsteps echoed from behind, prompting the tall skeleton to turn its head blankly. Another of its kind approached. It turned back and continued its path. Suddenly, the world inverted—the forest now appearing above. Its limited intellect offered no answers, nor did it have time to ponder. A longsword shattered its skull.

A faint white mist emerged from the broken skull, which Sophia inhaled through what had once been the nose cavity. She stood, gazed around, and let out a silent roar towards the sky. With a speed uncharacteristic of a skeleton, she dashed into the forest, hunting for her next target.

The "Dragon and Beauty" mercenary group set out in the coolness of early autumn. Reginald and his thieves advanced towards Fort Cyrus to scout and set traps. In the main force, Grayson led one hundred and fifty knights at the front, while Ryder commanded two hundred swordsmen at the rear. In the middle were a dozen heavy wagons. Lucian sat in one of them, with Tristan, his guard, seated comfortably beside him. Dorian rode alongside Grayson, posing as an axewielding cavalryman.

Their destination was the town of Le Mans, sixty miles from Fort Cyrus. Le Mans was a modest town with about 2,000 inhabitants. Ever since Captain of the Snow Fox Brigade arrived, there has been no news from the alliance regarding this town. Reginald's reconnaissance efforts confirmed the frequent presence of the Snow Fox Brigade in the area.

At dawn, the people of Le Mans began their day, preparing for another day of sustenance. The sun had not fully risen, but the morning light already illuminated the town. The sounds of roosters crowing and dogs barking grew louder, and smoke began to rise from chimneys. The streets, though sparse, saw the early risers moving about. This remote mountain town, with its meager resources and infrequent trade visits, had long been accustomed to a self-sufficient, peaceful life.

The morning breeze carried a slight chill as the sun slowly climbed from behind the forest, casting a golden-red glow over the town. Trees shimmered as if adorned with golden leaves, and early birds joined in a chorus. It was a picturesque rural morning.

However, Dorian lacked any appreciation for such scenes. Frowning at the dilapidated houses along the main street, even though this is the widest street in the center of the town, there aren't many shops to be seen. The poorly dressed townsfolk eyed the intruding cavalry with curiosity, indifference, and even hostility.

"This town has 2,000 people, maybe three or four hundred households. Given their poverty, an average annual income of 2 gold coins per family would be generous. After taxes, that's about five silver coins, of which three and a half go to the duchy... So, fifty gold coins a year? Damn, is this my territory?" Dorian's muttering grew louder with frustration.

Tristan shot Dorian a disapproving glance, the fat man's greed spoiling his enjoyment of the rural scenery. Grayson remained silent, leading sixty light cavalry axemen, the rest of the mercenaries unseen.

The cavalry slowly reached the town's central square, already gathering a sizable crowd. An elderly man, tall and vigorous, stepped forward, bowing in greeting. "Honorable knights, I am Ian, What brings you to our poor town? Do you have any orders for us?"

Dorian replied nonchalantly, "We are the knights of the Asteria Duchy. I am Dorian, this is Tristan, and this is Grayson. From now on, this town and the surrounding areas are our domain. Mayor, prepare some food for us and report on the town's population and income. After we eat, you will show us around."