| Marc Pelzer | Reynal Juliandi
The argument had been three days ago. In those three days, he hadn't spoken to Yaena nor seen her. She seemed to be avoiding him intentionally. In a way, he was fine with it, even though he couldn't stop thinking about her. Moreover, he hadn’t discussed the situation with the Duke since he gave his opinion on the matter. However, he could feel that the Duke was still angry with him. Yesterday, during the morning briefing, he had stared disdainfully at Gemon when he gave his opinion on the incidents at the border. Most of the nobles who had attended the feast were now out of the country and out of the Duke’s security's hands. However, an important trade convoy, carrying Varnas iron to the city of Daanre Var, was attacked. The Duke hadn't even commented on the news and had continued with the day's business.
Now Gemon sat in the guardhouse, staring at the coarse grain of the table. He scratched at it absentmindedly and pried loose a splinter. Another flaw in an already old and not particularly artistically designed table. Suddenly, the door to the guardroom was flung open. Unfortunately, he was so lost in thought that he started violently and drove the splinter into his finger. "Damn!" he shouted more loudly than he intended. The newcomer, not expecting this reaction, paused and closed his mouth, from which he had been about to announce his urgent message. "Sir?" he asked after a few seconds, "I have news from the border. Our scouts have spotted some groups of female warriors. It seems Daanre Var is assembling its forces." A drop of blood flowed from his finger and fell to the floor. But that didn't matter in this situation. He pulled out the splinter, sucked the spot with his mouth, and pulled a glove over his hand to avoid staining the report with blood. No sooner had he received the paper than he was already running. This was bad news, very bad. The female warriors of Daanre Var all had magical talent. Their reflexes were faster than those of normal humans, and their strength was greater than that of regular soldiers. Even a small group of these warriors could pose a significant problem. He couldn't understand why the trading city was responding with troops to an attack on a convoy that was headed for Daanre Var anyway. Finally, he arrived. The Duke was just in a meeting with the military advisor to plan a troop exercise. Perfect. The guards posted at the door recognized their captain immediately and opened the creaking door without a single question.
"Your Grace, Sir," Gemon interrupted the advisor, "Daanre Var is mobilizing troops at the border. We must take action." General Sir Treyhem, initially not pleased with the interruption, immediately grasped the situation. He was a smart man and had witnessed the great war as a child. He was well aware of the danger posed by this magic-wielding warrior caste from Daanre Var. Swiftly, he grabbed the report and read it attentively, without getting far. The Duke stood up, snatched the report from his hands, and read the paper from his border soldiers. In disbelief, he laid it on the table. "A city declaring war on us? How does that make sense? The Dan Vara has always been reserved and indifferent. She will not risk starting a conflict with her most important trading partner." The Dan Vara, Gemon remembered, was the leader of the warrior caste and the ruler of the city and all its territories. Sir Treyhem spoke up: "Your Grace, we have no battle mages in our ranks. If it comes to a conflict, we will need our full military force to defend our lands." Fire mages could be hired by generals for a fortune; he had never particularly liked those people, finding them dangerous with their power. However, he hadn't seen one in two years. "The entire military force, never!" exclaimed the Duke. "So soon after the feast, I will not gather warriors. This could not be a worse time. Everyone will think we are planning an attack." Eldrik ran his fingers through his long white beard thoughtfully. Gemon felt out of place but followed the discussion attentively. His biggest problem would be securing the castle and preparing for sieges in the event of an invasion. "Let me gather the troops, sir. We can send messengers to our neighbors; they will understand the situation," the General continued to suggest. When the Duke still stared thoughtfully at the report, the advisor tried again. But at the first word, the Duke's raised hand silenced him. "I will not gather troops! At least not officially..."
Gemon's tongue burned. He couldn't help but interject: "Your Grace, why don't we first send a messenger to Daanre Var to see what the Dan Vara has to say?"
Eldrik turned to him, not angry at the suggestion: "Gemon, do you know what was transported in the wagons? The ones that were attacked, I mean." He couldn't answer the Duke's question. "It wasn't just iron, but also runes. Powerful spells that Yaena had prepared for months. They serve to protect the city walls. The current protective spells of the city are failing. If this information became known, Daanre Var would quickly fall victim to attacks. At this point, they will think we either sold the information or are planning to integrate the city into the Duchy ourselves." Sir Treyhem added: "The situation is tense, but we must protect our land. We cannot allow anyone to cross the border with hostile intent." The Duke repeated: "I will not gather troops!" The advisor could only shake his head stubbornly. "Instead, I will travel to Daanre Var. Gemon, I want to be on the road before dawn tomorrow." However, he didn't get a chance to respond, as Sir Treyhem immediately began to protest: "Your Grace, this is madness! Are you out of your mind?! You are running into the hands of the enemy!" Eldric Valerian stood up abruptly and reminded his advisor with a deep, stern look who the Duke of Varnas was and who made the decisions. And the decision was made. "Nothing will happen to me, Daanre Var also relies on clarification. They will at least let me speak with the Dan Vara. And besides," he looked at Gemon, "I will take my bodyguard with me." With that, he left his two followers in the hall.
"Keep him alive," Sir Treyhem demanded in an agitated voice before he too left the room hurriedly. And Gemon got to work.
Now Gemon sat in the guardhouse, staring at the coarse grain of the table. He scratched at it absentmindedly and pried loose a splinter. Another flaw in an already old and not particularly artistically designed table. Suddenly, the door to the guardroom was flung open. Unfortunately, he was so lost in thought that he started violently and drove the splinter into his finger. "Damn!" he shouted more loudly than he intended. The newcomer, not expecting this reaction, paused and closed his mouth, from which he had been about to announce his urgent message. "Sir?" he asked after a few seconds, "I have news from the border. Our scouts have spotted some groups of female warriors. It seems Daanre Var is assembling its forces." A drop of blood flowed from his finger and fell to the floor. But that didn't matter in this situation. He pulled out the splinter, sucked the spot with his mouth, and pulled a glove over his hand to avoid staining the report with blood. No sooner had he received the paper than he was already running. This was bad news, very bad. The female warriors of Daanre Var all had magical talent. Their reflexes were faster than those of normal humans, and their strength was greater than that of regular soldiers. Even a small group of these warriors could pose a significant problem. He couldn't understand why the trading city was responding with troops to an attack on a convoy that was headed for Daanre Var anyway. Finally, he arrived. The Duke was just in a meeting with the military advisor to plan a troop exercise. Perfect. The guards posted at the door recognized their captain immediately and opened the creaking door without a single question.
"Your Grace, Sir," Gemon interrupted the advisor, "Daanre Var is mobilizing troops at the border. We must take action." General Sir Treyhem, initially not pleased with the interruption, immediately grasped the situation. He was a smart man and had witnessed the great war as a child. He was well aware of the danger posed by this magic-wielding warrior caste from Daanre Var. Swiftly, he grabbed the report and read it attentively, without getting far. The Duke stood up, snatched the report from his hands, and read the paper from his border soldiers. In disbelief, he laid it on the table. "A city declaring war on us? How does that make sense? The Dan Vara has always been reserved and indifferent. She will not risk starting a conflict with her most important trading partner." The Dan Vara, Gemon remembered, was the leader of the warrior caste and the ruler of the city and all its territories. Sir Treyhem spoke up: "Your Grace, we have no battle mages in our ranks. If it comes to a conflict, we will need our full military force to defend our lands." Fire mages could be hired by generals for a fortune; he had never particularly liked those people, finding them dangerous with their power. However, he hadn't seen one in two years. "The entire military force, never!" exclaimed the Duke. "So soon after the feast, I will not gather warriors. This could not be a worse time. Everyone will think we are planning an attack." Eldrik ran his fingers through his long white beard thoughtfully. Gemon felt out of place but followed the discussion attentively. His biggest problem would be securing the castle and preparing for sieges in the event of an invasion. "Let me gather the troops, sir. We can send messengers to our neighbors; they will understand the situation," the General continued to suggest. When the Duke still stared thoughtfully at the report, the advisor tried again. But at the first word, the Duke's raised hand silenced him. "I will not gather troops! At least not officially..."
Gemon's tongue burned. He couldn't help but interject: "Your Grace, why don't we first send a messenger to Daanre Var to see what the Dan Vara has to say?"
Eldrik turned to him, not angry at the suggestion: "Gemon, do you know what was transported in the wagons? The ones that were attacked, I mean." He couldn't answer the Duke's question. "It wasn't just iron, but also runes. Powerful spells that Yaena had prepared for months. They serve to protect the city walls. The current protective spells of the city are failing. If this information became known, Daanre Var would quickly fall victim to attacks. At this point, they will think we either sold the information or are planning to integrate the city into the Duchy ourselves." Sir Treyhem added: "The situation is tense, but we must protect our land. We cannot allow anyone to cross the border with hostile intent." The Duke repeated: "I will not gather troops!" The advisor could only shake his head stubbornly. "Instead, I will travel to Daanre Var. Gemon, I want to be on the road before dawn tomorrow." However, he didn't get a chance to respond, as Sir Treyhem immediately began to protest: "Your Grace, this is madness! Are you out of your mind?! You are running into the hands of the enemy!" Eldric Valerian stood up abruptly and reminded his advisor with a deep, stern look who the Duke of Varnas was and who made the decisions. And the decision was made. "Nothing will happen to me, Daanre Var also relies on clarification. They will at least let me speak with the Dan Vara. And besides," he looked at Gemon, "I will take my bodyguard with me." With that, he left his two followers in the hall.
"Keep him alive," Sir Treyhem demanded in an agitated voice before he too left the room hurriedly. And Gemon got to work.