Firefly Light

Chapter 20

A substantial portion of the kingdoms expansion in the past fifteen years had taken place in the north. Seven years after the twin victories at Deephaven and Harper's Retreat the kingdom had been approached by a coalition of small towns and two cavern communities located to their northeast. The caverns had originally been named Seneca Cavern and Smokehole Cavern. The first town was now called Seneca and the second one was known as Smoketown. This group had been experiencing serious difficulties with bands of brigands and thugs for many years, but, about the same time as the fall of the two southern caverns to the Otanies, their situation took a turn for the worse. A larger country to their east had laid claim to their lands and informed the residents that they could join their nation and become subjects, leave the area or die at their hands.

The aggressor nation was named Armania. Its capital was located at a city named Taylorton, which had developed in the huge cavern formerly known as Luray Caverns. The country was run by a family named the Holisters; originally the leaders of a band of thugs named Arman's Army, who had seized the town from the original settlers, much like had happened at Deephaven and Morgans Retreat. They were no more than brigands, but had styled themselves as Barons and adopted an air of crude nobility. Although they were known to be cruel and selfish, they had at least done a credible job of forming a functioning country. They had a small professional army and a simple governmental system. Although their citizenry was not well off, they were not so brutally treated as to be rebellious, and were able to live reasonably decent lives. The current Baron was named Robert Holister and he was a man who imagined his destiny to be a great leader, and to build a glorious empire. Armania was cohesive enough that the Holisters had recently been expanding their territory, and now they wanted the lands to their west.

The northern towns refused the annexation attempt by the Armanians and then managed to fight off two small invasions of their territory, but the cost had been high. Despite their initial frustration, however, their enemies would not give up. Now the Holisters had sent them a final ultimatum that the coalition was to capitulate and accept their rule, or the entire Armanian army would be unleashed, and would destroy all of their towns and kill their people. The coalition had two months from the date of the letter to surrender before the enemy army began its offensive operations.

Joseph made rare use of the throne room to greet the visiting delegation from the north, and listen to their story. Diana, Silas, ten year old Edmund, and the Chamberlain were also present. The visitors explained their situation and offered to become part of the kingdom if they could gain the protection of Otania. It was explained to the delegation the terms under which the coalition must be accepted into the kingdom. The new citizens must be educated in and adopt Otani ways, customs and laws. They would be required to swear allegiance to the crown and the people of Otania. After further discussion the visitors agreed to the terms. Jefferson then wrote up a document for both parties to sign. With the delegations signatures on the document they were then provisionally accepted into the kingdom. The king ordered two Legions to be immediately dispatched to defend the new lands.

Both units moved northeast and were in position at the border of Armanian territory well before the end of the time period given by the Holisters. As the Royal Otani Army units marched through the new lands joining the kingdom, they were greeted and cheered as welcome guests and heroes by the population. The locals were all clearly relieved to have been accepted into the kingdom, and to now have protection from their attackers.

What roads still existed in the mountainous area were in poor shape and a lot of work would have to be done on them, but there were also good natural resources in the region that would be very welcome back in Hamilton. The people were not only quite friendly; but hardy and brave as well. There were many who asked if they could join the army immediately, or at least could they come and help the Legions repel the coming invasion. Field Marshall Mitchell was in charge of the expedition, but the king had sent the Chamberlain to observe and to start talks with the local officials about the pending Otani administration of the area. They both politely declined the offers of military assistance, stating that the two units involved should be able to handle the six thousand man army that their enemies were reported to be fielding, but they were impressed with the spirit the locals had displayed and they would certainly make excellent additions to the army in the near future.