BEORF King of His Kingdom II The Rise of Strength

While Beorf was expanding and strengthening Chemos, a new power was growing in the south in Thamuz. Baron Dagous of Eket declared himself King of Thamuz in 4833 and openly sought to unite the surrounding lands with his army. Thamuz was much larger than Chemos, and more people lived there. Dagous also had a much larger army at his disposal than Beorf at the time. However, in terms of weaponry and training, they fell far short of the Chemos banners. He did have money, which he ruthlessly extracted from the land's inhabitants. He knew his army was weak, so he sought mercenaries, until in December of that same year he found the army he was looking for.

"King," Aren, one of the generals, entered Dagous's chamber. "I think I've found the solution to our military problems."

"Then speak quickly; you know how important this is." This news so roused him that he suddenly jumped to his feet.

"Have you heard of orcs, sir?

" "A little. They're large and strong creatures. I've never seen one, but they're said to be excellent warriors.

" "And they have powerful weapons.

" "But what's the point, General Aren?

" "I've learned there are plenty of orcs not far from here. They wander aimlessly in the Forest of Shadows. They're disorganized and scattered, but I'm sure they'd love to earn some gold. If we could bring them here and build banners with them, we'd certainly gain an advantage over our enemies.

" "That would open the way for us to conquer the lands to the west and north." Dagous glanced at the enormous map of Keta hanging on the wall. "How many can we bring in?

" "I think about three hundred to start with, then maybe two thousand. It depends on how much we have to pay.

" "Excellent." This will be your task, then," he said excitedly. "So go ahead and don't worry about the cost. Pay whatever they ask." Aren bowed and left the room, equally satisfied. Dagous approached the map again and stared at it. "Summon Milon!" he shouted to the guards. Milon was Dagous's second general. Always loyal and obedient, ready to obey his master's every command. Even the most brutal and ruthless, he carried out without a moment's hesitation.

"Greetings, my King," he said upon entering.

"Greetings, and sit down. I have ordered Aren to go to the Forest of Shadows for the orcs. With them, we will create the army we dream of.

" "That will make us invincible!" Milon erupted with euphoria, though the fact that Aren had been given this task clearly didn't sit well with him.

"However, you will take command of them. Orcs are ruthless and brutal warriors." You, on the other hand, are best suited to effectively utilize their skills. With their help, you will build a new order in the conquered lands." Dagous sat down next to Milo.

"Orders, my lord." The general listened with pleasure.

"So where do we strike first?" The king rose from his chair and moved towards the map, followed by Milon.

"And which lands do we plan to conquer, Your Majesty?

" "First, we'll direct our forces westward, where the opponents are weakest. Then we'll expand our influence in the north, and finally, we'll take Ahad. Perhaps Talgidr or Binyme first? What do you think, Milon?

" "Those are large lands; in Binyme, we'll face a mountain fight. That will be a significant challenge for the orcs.

" "So what do you propose?

" "Perhaps a small land to start with. We'll test our banners in battle and gain experience for our soldiers. I suggest Chemos in the north, or Ezo to the southeast. I know Your Majesty didn't plan to take Ezo, but it will be the easiest opponent.

" "And so we will. Chemos is too strong." Besides, merchants from all over Keta are flocking there, stopping in Eket. War might deter them.

"So we're attacking Ezo?

" "That's where we'll strike. We'll be closer to the orcs. Now, focus on preparing for war. This will be the beginning of a new, great state."

Dagous ended the conversation, and General Milon bowed and left the chamber. The fate of this part of Keta was sealed. The king made no secret of his warlike intentions and preparations for war. His plans, however, didn't much concern his neighbors. They hadn't expected him to attack so soon, and they certainly hadn't expected the orcs to join him. And that was only the beginning. On

March 17th, Aren arrived in Eket at the head of 250 orcs and 10 trolls. Their banners marched through the city, causing fear and sensation. Orcs had been created by Afabolis as a counterpart to humans. However, they had little in common with them. A typical orc was about two meters tall, dark skin, long, curly, and matted hair, well-muscled, and almost always in iron chainmail or armor. Some even wore beards, but such an orc was rare. They weren't particularly intelligent, though there were some exceptionally capable and intelligent, sometimes even honorable, orcs. They were the only ones who could communicate with trolls. These, in turn, terrified the people of Tamuz even more. They were similar in appearance to orcs, larger, about three meters tall, more muscular and bald, and extremely dim-witted. However, they were extremely dangerous in combat. Furthermore, Aren found an unusual group of trolls in the Forest of Shadows. They were armed with iron swords and orcish chainmail. This was an extremely rare occurrence. Trolls fought primarily with their large paws.

When the new banners arrived at Dagous's palace, he felt immense pride in having these creatures under his control. Milon was somewhat terrified by the sight, but he knew these were the soldiers the Kingdom of Tamuz needed. Dagous went to the orc commander and had a long conversation with him. Badun, the most important of the orcs, was not a seasoned speaker, but he was an expert in warfare, which the King immediately recognized. He learned from him that if the campaign against Ezo was successful, he would bring up to three thousand orcs to Tamuz, equal to Dagous's current army. And in the future, even more from the Zobna swamps. He set one condition, however: Dagous was to build a temple dedicated to Afabolis for the orcs and trolls. The King agreed to this condition without hesitation.

Orcs were larger and much stronger than humans, and they also had superior weapons. Besides dwarven and elven weapons, there was no weapon on Ket that could withstand the blow of an orc's sword. However, no human possessed such a weapon.

Preparations for war were almost complete, and Milon planned an attack for mid-April. He also took command of the orcs and two thousand Tamuzan soldiers. Aren, on the other hand, was given a thousand infantrymen to command and was to remain in Eket, a position he never gave to Dagous.

In the second half of April, General Milon gathered his army on the Ezo border and on April 28, 4832, attacked Finiz's kingdom. Almost without a fight, he captured the settlement of Oruti and then headed south toward the Brown Mountains and Finiz's army at Jedegl, the capital of Ezo. However, he did not advance directly on the city, but headed up the Naalh River, along its left bank. He planned to cross the river in the mountains and attack the city from behind. Finiz knew his movements from his scouts. It was difficult to conceal such a large army, and the ruler of Ezo knew this. He also learned from the bribed Tamuzans what Milon's plans were. Finiz gathered as many soldiers as he could and set out for the only bridge the enemy army could cross. There, Finiz's only chance lay in fiercely defending this narrow passage over the steep Naalhu River. If he managed to stop Tamuz's forces and inflict heavy losses on them, Milon would be forced to sign a truce, and Finiz would be prepared for another war. But now, the bridge was his only chance. Ezo's army numbered 350 men: two hundred infantrymen armed with bronze swords, one hundred archers, and fifty highlanders with axes and hatchets. On May 4th, Finiz reached the bridge from the right bank of the river. There, he saw an ancient wooden structure spanning the steep banks of a 10-meter-high chasm. Below, the torrential Naalhu crashed between the rocks. The bridge was only four meters wide and fourteen meters long.

"What do you think?" Finiz turned to one of his officers. "Is it better to destroy the bridge or defend ourselves here?

" "If we destroy the bridge, we'll only delay the attack on Jedegl. Tamuz's army will bypass the river and attack a few days later."

"We can defend ourselves effectively here," the second officer interjected. "The bridge is narrow; many will fall to our arrows.

" "So set up camp a short distance from here," Finiz replied after a moment's thought. "Tomorrow we'll begin building the palisade. When will the Tamuzans arrive?

" "They should arrive in about five days.

" "That gives us plenty of time. We'll be ready by then."

Over the next few days, the Ezonian soldiers painstakingly built a palisade of wood and stone. After four days, it was completely ready to receive the attack. It was built in a semicircle, three meters high, creating a small courtyard between it and the bridge. Infantrymen took up their positions on the palisade, and archers prepared on the sides of the palisade above the riverbed. They could effectively and safely strike the enemy both on and behind the bridge. However, Finiz was concerned about the forest on a small hill, which lay to the left across the river. Here, Tamuz's soldiers could find shelter from the hail of arrows. He was optimistic, however.

On the sixth day, scouts spotted the core of General Milon's army on the road. Two hours later, the entire force reached the bridge. The strength of the Tamuz's general's forces made them aware of imminent defeat. Outnumbered by more than six times, and with a multitude of weapons and banners, the soldiers barely fit on the road to the small bridge nearby. Milon gave the order to attack on foot. He believed such a large force would easily defeat the Aezonians. However, he ordered the Orcs to be held back, out of sight. Four banners, totaling four hundred soldiers, launched the attack. They quickly ran onto the bridge and reached the sturdy palisade. They were now to pay the price for Milon's recklessness. The archers began firing at the poorly protected Tamuzans. They were reaping a terrible toll, though they were not excellent marksmen. Those who reached the palisade unharmed were easily repelled and bombarded with a hail of stones. The next men, who were crowded against the palisade, became an especially easy target for the Aezonian archers. There was nowhere to hide on the bridge, so they took cover with the bodies of their fallen comrades. Some, seeing only the chance of certain death, began to flee, followed by the rest in a panic. Exhausted and terrified, they reached their own banners, but even there they were not safe. The Aezonian archers took a few steps forward and began firing at the entire line of Tamuz forces. The fire was much weaker now, but just as effective. And it was just as effective in causing panic. Milon was terrified; arrows were falling everywhere, not even near him, not to mention the soldiers. If he lost this battle, the king would not forgive him. He quickly ordered the fleeing soldiers from the front line to take refuge in the forest. They were safe there.

The first assault ended in a complete fiasco. Moreover, none of the Aezonian soldiers were even seriously wounded. Finiz was happy about this, the chance of victory became real.

"What losses have we suffered?" Milon asked, shaken

. "Three hundred and eighty dead... and many wounded," one of the officers replied. "

It will be a hard battle, but we will win it." Milon emerged from the forest and looked at the Ezonian palisade. The officers and Badun followed

. "Prepare for another attack.

" "General, the soldiers are terrified and exhausted; they won't make it.

" "Don't argue!" he shouted at the officer who dared to reprimand him. "Let five hundred soldiers attack the palisade again.

" "Chieftain," Badun growled in a deep voice, "We will attack, the trolls and we will easily smash the wooden wall to splinters. Your men will follow us to support us, for the glory of Afabolis.

" "So this palisade won't be a problem for you?"

"We will smash the enemy plague, dismember their bodies, and let our axes and swords flow with the enemy's blood.

" "All right, let your comrades charge, followed by two hundred of our soldiers. Execute!" The officers scattered to issue new orders.

"For Afabolis!" Badun shouted loudly and rushed to his banners.

"And King Dagous!" Milon added quietly. The orc turned and roared again, raising his axe.

Badun returned to his compatriots and offered a prayer to his god. All the orcs knelt and prayed for a moment, while the Tamuzans watched in astonishment at this strange practice. A few minutes later, the orcs rose and uttered a mighty battle cry, so powerful that the earth trembled and all the animals fled the forest in haste. Then they emerged from the forest, followed by ten enormous trolls. The Ezonians also heard the cry, but it didn't arouse any great concern in them. However, when the orcs began to run, their heavy, studded boots kicking up clouds of dust and trampling all the vegetation in their path, Finiz couldn't hide his fear.

"What the hell is this?" Finiz looked toward the edge of the forest, asking the nearest officer

, "I have no idea, sir." Everyone stared at the running crowd as if it were some kind of spectacle. But then one of the soldiers shouted

, "They're orcs!! Cursed be they!

" "Impossible. They can't be orcs." Finiz stared at the running column of orcs and trolls. As soon as the image cleared, and she saw their dark skin, he shouted

, "Shoot without orders, as quickly as possible."

But they could do little. The Aezonians' bows were too weak to penetrate orc armor or troll skin. Arrows bounced off troll skin as if it were iron, or were trapped in their chainmail. It was a wonder that these large, heavy creatures could run across this small, ancient bridge without collapsing it. The enormous, furious trolls continued toward the palisade, and subsequent volleys of bows had no effect. The palisade could not withstand the trolls' immense force and was shattered. Behind them, the orcs charged in, initiating a complete slaughter. The orcs' enormous axes, swords, and halberds took a terrible toll. Bronze swords shattered on impact, while leather armor posed no problem for them. Finiz ordered an all-out assault on the orcs, but it was pointless. The orcs and trolls were excellent opponents of the Aezonian soldiers, and Milon had sent two hundred of his own soldiers into battle. Though it made no difference, the Ezonians couldn't withstand such an onslaught. They fought bravely and didn't abandon the battlefield. Losses, however, mounted at an alarming rate. Finiz himself was killed in a fight with two orcs. At the sight of this, a handful of remaining soldiers fled in panic. However, only a few were able to return home. Only ten returned to Jedegl and delivered the sad news. The rest fell on the field of glory.

After the battle, Milon climbed onto the remains of the palisade with one of his officers. He wanted to assess the scale of the victory. He looked down at the bodies of the fallen Ezonians, and the Tamuzans and orcs bustling among them. Badun stood below, watching his comrades gather the bodies of the fallen. The orcs gathered the bodies of their fallen enemies and carried them away, but no one knew what happened to them.

"How many of your soldiers fell?" Milon asked Badun

. "Ten." They gave their lives for your king and our God, tearing apart the enemy." The general was clearly pleased. The orcs performed exceptionally well.

"And how many of our men died?" he asked the officer standing next to him.

"The losses are enormous. Four hundred and forty killed and two hundred wounded, mostly from arrows." The general's expression paled. The losses were enormous, but such was the price for not knowing the enemy.

"I wonder what Dagous will say to this? He certainly won't be pleased.

"Especially since he'll be coming to see the capture of Jedegl. We'll suffer losses there too.

" "I know. He'll say that since we suffered such high losses in our banners in such a small battle, we won't win any further battles," Badun heard.

"Let your lord send for my countrymen to the Shady Wood. There are many of us there. We orcs will deal with your enemies. You built us temples and are kind to us. You give us food and gold." We will show you our gratitude.

"That's a thought," Milon smiled. "Since so many of our men have fallen, and only a few of the orcs, Dagous will agree to send for the rest to the Forest of Shadows. Once he increases the number of recruits, we'll be sure of further victories.

" "Provided we don't run out of gold.

" "That's no problem for the king. Let's move on to Jedegl then. Let the soldiers rest until tomorrow. We'll set off at noon." On

May 11th, after a rest, the Tamuzan army continued its journey towards its final destination – the capital of Ezo. That same day, King Dagous set out from Eket at the head of a hundred soldiers. He didn't need more warriors for protection. Two mages were always at his side, ensuring his safety and offering sound advice. There were still very few mages on Ket, so few that these two could repel any attack. The first of them was named Kormig and specialized in battle spells, though he wasn't suited for a larger battle. The second, Nonduter, possessed the rare ability to read the minds of certain people, regardless of their location. He was also a man of great learning, having often visited Newla, the capital of the Kingdom of the Eternal Elves. He didn't know whose mind he could read. Some were simply more susceptible to it than others. Nonduter couldn't read Dagous's mind, though Milon and Aren posed no mystery to him. Thanks to this, the mages knew almost everything that was happening in Tamuz, and thanks to them, Dagous knew the same. On

May 16th, the two groups met at the wooden fortress of Jedegl. The city was poorly prepared for defense, and the inhabitants no longer believed in victory. Most had already accepted the fact that from now on they would have a new ruler. But Dagous didn't know this. He wanted to see his army in battle, he wanted to see the city captured.

"Greetings, General Milon," Dagous approached the waiting general

. "Your Majesty," Milon bowed to the king.

"I see we've won this war. We now stand before the capital of Ezo. Although I've heard rumors of many casualties. Is that true?

" "Yes, my lord. Many of our soldiers fell in the last battle." Milon lowered his head. "But the orcs performed exceptionally well," he quickly added

. "Yes, I know. I've already given the order for Aren to increase the number of orc banners. However, our soldiers also need better training." Dagous looked at the settlement. "For now, however, we must completely subjugate this land. So do your duty." Dagous turned and sat on the throne placed on a small podium, from where he could watch the entire battle.

"Order," Milon turned to the soldiers, who were already ready for the assault. "All attack!! On Jedegl!"

The mass of troops broke from their positions and marched towards the weakly defended palisades of Jedegl. The bow fire was now negligible, and almost all the archers had fallen in the battle for the bridge. The orcs and trolls easily reached the gate and smashed it to splinters. No further clashes broke out in the city itself, though the orcs killed a dozen civilians, and Dagous himself ordered the execution of anyone who so much as looked at a Tamuzan crossly. Terror reigned throughout Ezo. Anyone who disagreed with the king's will was subjected to torture or simply hanged from the nearest tree. Seeing the "successful" implementation of the new order, the king set off on May 20th to Eket. Milon remained in Jedegl and ordered a slight easing of the repression. General Aren, meanwhile, set off again for the terrifying Forest of Shadows to recruit more orc banners, a process he claimed would take him considerable time. Just rebuilding the losses suffered by Tamuz and assembling a new, larger army proved to be no small undertaking. The country was unprepared for such a strain. Food was scarce, and administration was in disarray. Furthermore, the situation in the north was beginning to deteriorate. In August of that same year, Nonduter arrived at Dagous with vital information.

"My lord," he said calmly upon entering

, "Yes, mage. Why do you come to me?

" "I bring important news from the north.

" "What news is this? Speak, then, if it's so important." The King grew a little impatient .

"Lord Beorf, ruler and lord of Chemos, attacked bandits in the Dead Hills." The King suddenly paled.

"Impossible." After a moment, however, he smiled. "Actually, that's good. Attacking these areas is pure madness. There's no way to fight there. He'll bleed his troops dry, or he'll engage in battle with Esun." And then we will march into Chemos, occupy its fertile fields and numerous forges. This is great news. When did Beorf set out for the Dead Hills?

"The fighting in the Dead Hills ended a month ago," the Magus wanted to continue, but the King interrupted

. "And what significant event happened? Did he suffer significant losses?

" "Beorf destroyed the bandit camp. He captured a considerable amount of weapons and gold. He also didn't suffer the massive losses one might expect." Dagous sat down wordlessly in his armchair and looked at the hanging map of Keta. He said nothing more, and at the sight of this, the Magus left the chamber without a word.

This news for the King was devastating. Such a magnificent victory, in such difficult terrain, meant that the small forces of Chemos were indeed very strong. Dagous was beginning to fear Chemos more than he had previously feared Ahad. The country's rapid growth in power could thwart his plans for conquest. However, he decided not to attack Chemos before it became even stronger.

Meanwhile, Milon returned from Jedegl and learned that he was to prepare a plan to attack Talgidr, a land lying east of Tamuz and north of Ezo, stretching across the rest of the Tamuzan plain. However, preparations dragged on, and further disturbing news arrived from the north. Dwarven merchants began arriving in Chemos. Soon after, ships from many cities, including the Elven Kingdom, began arriving at the port built in the city of Beorf. This entire unsettled situation lasted for three years, until September 4829. At that time, the Temple of the God Daax was built in Beorf, and all of Chemos came under his protection. At first, Dagous did not consider this information particularly significant. But the magicians convinced him that this had given all of Chemos a monstrous power against which Tamuz could no longer withstand. However, when in 4827 the walls of Beorf were fully completed, and Owhur was nearing completion, Dagous began to seriously fear Lord Beorf. He desired conquests, great victories. It might soon turn out that he would be the one to defend himself. Chemos already possessed a much larger force than Tamuz. And even Badun's 500 orcs might not be enough to defeat this small kingdom. Although Dagous initially planned to strike east, he could not be certain that Lord Chemos would not also decide to expand his domains. And given the weakened Tamuz, this posed an extraordinary threat.

However, General Aren and Nondutr came up with a rather interesting solution to the situation. In June of that same year, they met with the King in his throne room. General Milon was also seated beside the King on the throne. They bowed in submission and began a conversation.

"Your Majesty," the mage began, "I believe that General Aren and I, here present, have found a way to solve the problem that plagues you: the growth of Chemos's power.

" "General Aren," Dagous said, "Every time we encounter a serious obstacle, you appear and find a solution.

" "That is my task to Tamuzu and you, sir.

" "Then tell me what that way is.

" "Chemos is very developed and wealthy. It also has highly trained soldiers and the support of forces from beyond this world. However, the leader of Chemos is only a Lord, not a King, and you, sir, are the King," Aren replied

. "You mean to force his submission?" Milon interjected

. "Not quite. Beorf wouldn't agree to that. But we could try to come to an understanding with him. Offer him an alliance, join forces to expand our domains," Nonduter said

. "That's the idea." But what comes next? He will surely demand something in return. Besides, he will become even more powerful," Milo stated, while the king remained silent.

"Then we'll be strong enough to defeat him. During the campaign, we could gather an army on the border of Chemos that would occupy the country, while Beorf's troops would have to face us, trying to return to the previously captured cities." The king remained silent, but Aren's plan appealed to him. "Now all we have to do is send envoys to Chemos with an offer of an alliance. We have nothing to lose. If Beorf doesn't agree, we'll return to our initial situation. But thanks to this visit, we'll learn what kind of ruler he is and whether we need to fear him.

" "Your Majesty, I fully support this idea. This will give us additional strength, but also access to Chemos' supplies. And these will be useful in the future war." Dagous rose from his throne. He knew he couldn't defeat Beorf and Chemos, at least not yet. So he said

, "Aren. You will go at the head of our envoys to Beorf. You will convince him to form an alliance; if you fail, gather information about his army." If we succeed… then nothing will stop us now." He suddenly looked at the ceiling. "The council is over. Return to your duties." Dagous rose and left the hall.

A few days later, Aren, two envoys, and ten soldiers set off north along the Naalhu, towards Chemos. Meanwhile, Lord Beorf, Amex, and Kiseaso were in Owhur. Beorf wanted to personally oversee the completion of the second walled city. He was to remain there until the end of the summer, but on June 28th, he returned to Liveb. He had several more ideas that he wanted to implement as quickly as possible. While he was still in Liveb on July 3rd, Dagous's envoys arrived at the capital of Chemos. At that time, Beorf was in his throne room, conversing with his officers about certain changes in the army's organization. One of the soldiers entered the hall.

"My lord. An armed column from Tammuz stands before the gate." They claim to be messengers from King Dagous of Tammuz. Beorf, and the officers were astonished by this news. What could the ruler of a country with which Beorf had no relations want?

- Fagril.

- Yes, sir?

- Go and find out what they want. If it's something important, let them in. But keep the Tammuz soldiers from entering the city gates. Let only the envoys in.

- Yes, sir.

The young adjutant and his soldier set off towards Beorf's only gate. They had quite a distance to go. The city was constantly growing and was nothing like its original appearance. New buildings were already being built on the other side of the river, and a bridge connecting the two banks was already under construction. Meanwhile, Aren and his entourage stood before the stone gate, marveling at the might of Chemos. New buildings were already strewn all around them, too large to fit within the walls. Furthermore, they were surrounded by a multitude of people constantly entering and leaving the city. The whole thing made quite an impression on them. High, hard, slightly sloping walls, a gate with two towers and a massive steel portcullis that lowered to seal the entrance. The entire gate was covered with numerous religious paintings, adding to the effect. The whole was guarded by soldiers in black leather armor with white Chemos symbols and black chainmail. Each of them carried a dwarven halberd and a short bronze sword, as well as large shields covered with iron sheeting. Compared to them, the Tamuzans looked like a remnant of an army, not an army capable of heavy combat.

Aren was amazed at Beorf's work. Such a small land had, in a matter of years, become the richest and most developed part of Keta under human rule. He was pleased that perhaps soon the entire land would join Tamuzans and support his efforts. And that was only the beginning.

From where the Tamuzans stood, a section of sea was visible. On it, Aren saw the silhouette of a ship. He had never seen a ship before, and what's more, it was an elven ship docking at Beorf's harbor. All green, a huge, two-masted ship with low, exaggerated sides.

"Look over there," Aren pointed to the ship and said to one of the envoys, "Isn't it beautiful?

" "Indeed, general." If Chemos has such friends who build such magnificent things… then I see how small our homeland is.

“Soon. Soon,” Aren replied, his voice full of uncertainty.

“Greetings, distinguished guests,” Beorf’s adjutant pushed his way through the crowd to Aren. “I am Fagril, Adjutant to Lord Beorf.

” “Greetings. I am General Aren. An officer of the Tamuzan forces and an envoy of King Dagous, ruler of Tamuz. These are his envoys and our escort.

” “Lord Beorf is very busy, but he will receive you today if you would tell me what you are bringing. You will be allowed to enter the city gates, however, by the Lord’s order, your escort must remain outside the city. I can assure you that they will be properly received.” Despite these assurances, Aren hesitated to leave a guard outside the city.

“Agreed. The soldiers will remain here.” However, I would like to discuss the purpose of our visit with the Lord himself. And I can assure you, it is an important matter.

"Then you are welcome. I will take you to Liveb, the seat of Lord Beorf."

The envoys followed Fagril through a stone gate. Once through the first, they found themselves in a small courtyard, terminating in another gate. On either side of the courtyard, archers stood ready to fire on four-meter-high walls behind wooden screens. To the left was a small gate leading directly to the barracks. Beyond the second gate was another courtyard, significantly smaller, constructed in the same manner as the previous one. Once through the last gate, the largest and most magnificent structure in the city, the Temple of the God Daax, emerged on the left. The envoys suddenly stopped and were speechless with admiration. Seeing their reaction, Fagril stopped as well and decided to take a moment to let the newcomers admire the architecture of Chemos. For several minutes, they gazed at the incredible structure built by Kiseaso. Finally, speechless, they continued on their way, between the city's stone buildings. It was noon, so traffic in the city was heavy. It was full of stalls and merchants, a fact that also stuck in Aren's memory. They passed through the city's main square until they finally reached another wall and gate. There, just as beautiful as the temple, lay Beorf's palace, though decidedly smaller. They passed through enormous wooden doors into a long, high-vaulted hall filled with numerous columns. At the end were several large armchairs upholstered in gray leather. But only one was occupied. In it reclined a young man with short hair in black, wearing a large Chemos symbol on his chest. Three stars on an inverted triangle, and behind them three crossed swords. Vertically, Beorf's sword, point up, and diagonally, the swords of Chemos's soldiers. It was Beorf, waiting alone for the Tamuzan envoys. The envoys, along with Fagril, approached and said,

"Greetings, esteemed Lord Beorf." We bring greetings from Dagous, King of Tamuz and Ezo," said Aren

. "I welcome you warmly and accept your greetings. To what do I owe this visit? What does your king desire in return?

" "Our king sees in you a gifted strategist and a wonderful leader for this land," said one of the envoys.

"Therefore, he would like to sign an alliance so that our countries may live in peace and friendship. And that our enemies may never threaten us

." "That's an interesting proposition. So what will this alliance consist of?

" "King Dagous sends us to convey this news to you and to encourage you to accept the offer. But to discuss all the details, he invites you to Eket," added the second envoy. Beorf stood up and replied

, "Then I will give you my answer soon. But until then, remain in the city. My men will provide you with everything you desire. Explore the city, visit the inns, the barracks, and, of course, our beautiful temple." I will try to inform you of my decision as soon as possible.

The envoys bowed low and departed. Beorf asked Fagril to summon Amex and Kiseaso, along with all the most important figures in the kingdom. Such an important decision required their presence. Two days later, they all arrived in Liveb's throne room. Despite this, Aren and the envoys were already growing impatient. They awaited Beorf's decision, but it never came. Nor could they enter the palace to see the Lord. However, Beorf continued to discuss Dagous's proposal with his friends. The discussion lasted a long time. Most, including Beorf and Amex, favored the alliance, Kiseaso remained indifferent, and the opponents fell silent, knowing it would change little.

"Then we set out for Eket to meet the King," Beorf concluded. "Amex and Kiseaso, you will come with me. I will need you there."

"But who will rule Chemos in our absence? One of us must remain," Kiseaso replied.

"He will hand over power to the governor of the cities. They should manage. Fagril, summon the envoys." Fagril left the vast hall and returned an hour later with Aren and the envoys.

"I have decided," Beorf rose from the throne and said.

"So what is your decision, my lord?" Aren asked

. "Tell your king that I accept his offer." A smile appeared on the envoys' faces. "Then return to your homeland and tell Dagous that I will soon come to Eket to discuss the details with him. You are therefore free to go.

" "Praise be to you, Lord Beorf

." "May your wisdom flow to your people," the envoys replied.

"This is a historic decision," Aren concluded. "May our nations grow stronger." It will be an honor for me to fight alongside such a great warrior and such excellent soldiers.

"General Amex. You will provide an escort for the envoys to the very border. May our guests reach their homes safely."

Aren, bearing the new news, set out for Eket that same day. This news greatly pleased the king. He no longer had to fear the power from the north. Moreover, this power was to be on his side. The path to conquest was open. To welcome Lord Beorf, Dagous ordered a great festival. He brought his finest soldiers to Eket, among whom Beorf and all the orcs were to march. Preparations began for a gala dinner, with vast quantities of food and wine, dancers, and jugglers. Dagous wanted to show that his country was equally strong and wealthy, and that the alliance would be of great importance to both countries.

On July 25, Beorf's envoy arrived in Eket with news that the Lord would arrive in four days. All preparations were nearing completion, and the Lord's arrival was eagerly awaited. Despite this, Dagous couldn't hide his impatience. He longed to personally meet the leader Aren had heard so much about. Finally, it happened. On July 29, 4827, Lord Chemos, Beorf, General Amex, and Architect Kiseaso arrived in Eket, leading a group of three hundred of the finest Chemos soldiers. They entered Eket with them. The residents, who had emerged from their homes to witness the event, showered them with flowers and greeted them as heroes. Tamuz soldiers flanked them along the entire route between the wooden buildings. But it was the Tamuzans who were most impressed by the Chemos banners. Standing tall and proud in their black armor bearing the symbols of Daax and Chemos, they marched at a steady pace, the earth trembling with their rhythm. Finally, they reached the end of the road. There, in the large square in front of the king's court, was a huge table, and at it stood the king and his officers. Orc soldiers and Badun stood behind it. Beorf was quite surprised by the sight of large and powerful orcs.

"Who are those? Those back there? Aren't they orcs?" he asked Amex

. "I'm not certain, but I think they are orcs. Look at their armor and weapons.

" "They are huge. I see Tamuz isn't so weak, since they were brought here." Beorf dismounted, as did Amex and Kiseaso. They approached Dagous's table. To his right stood two magicians, Kormig and Nonduter, and to his left stood generals Milon and Aren.

"Greetings, my dear guests," the king said to them. "I am pleased that you have decided to join us in peace and friendship, to together raise our lands to glory." Shouts of joy echoed through the crowd. "Then I invite you to the table. May this celebration be the beginning of our great friendship. Together we will defeat our enemies, so that no one will ever again shake our position.

" "I gladly accepted this invitation. Especially since it came from such a wise and distinguished ruler. And I will do my utmost to ensure that our countries are united in friendship and peace. Our enemies will fear our combined strength. And may our nations grow in the strength and wealth they deserve!" Beorf shouted the last words, raising a clenched fist into the air.

He did so with such force that the crowds of Tamuzans gathered in the square began to shout the same. Beorf took his place at the table to Dagous's right. Next sat Amex, Kiseaso, Fagril, and the officers of Chemos. To Dagous's left sat the mages, followed by Aren, Milon, and the mighty Badun. People throughout the city were gripped by a frenzy of celebration; they knew that even better times were coming, that they would now be wealthier. The mood at the table was equally good. Beorf and Dagous had become friends. They talked a great deal, but not about high politics or similar matters. The king wanted to get down to details right away, but Beorf disagreed. He wanted to wait until morning. He decided that they should have fun now, and work would begin tomorrow. However, the work took longer than anyone could have anticipated, and negotiations only began two days later.

In the morning, Lord Beorf arrived at Dagous's throne room with Fagril, Amex, and Kiseaso. Aren, Milon, Nonduter, and Kormig were already waiting for them there. The king expected Nonduter to be able to penetrate Beorf's mind, or at least his companions'. However, the mage couldn't do that, at least not yet. Although some of Kiseaso's thoughts flashed before his eyes.

"Greetings, Beorf," Dagous said with a smile; the relationship between them was already very good

. "Greetings, king.

" "Call me Dagous. From now on, we are friends. So, where shall we begin?

" "For now, I suggest we begin our conversation in private. We need to discuss certain matters privately. Our companions will certainly wait.

" "Agreed, then, let's go to my chamber." Dagous and Beorf walked a few meters to the oak doors, behind which lay the stairs to Dagous's chamber on the first floor. When they were seated in comfortable armchairs, Beorf spoke up

. "First, tell me, what is this alliance for?" Tamuz isn't a weak kingdom; I know about your war plans, but you should be able to handle them yourself.

"I see you're well-versed in the situation.

You can learn a lot of important information from the merchants.

" "But not everything. Our power is fragile. We have many soldiers and enormous potential, but it's untapped. Your country is small, but more powerful. You have excellent warriors and a superb organization. If we combine all these elements, we will build a true empire.

" "An empire capable of conquering the surrounding lands?

" "Yes, that's the main point.

" "But you know it won't be that easy. Strengthening Tamuz will require years of hard work. The entire army, economy, trade, and administration will have to be reorganized.

"You, however, are capable of doing this. What you've created in your country is beyond my imagination.

" "But for what? You need Chemos more than I need Tamuz."

"You're a tough mediator. What do you demand in return, and what are you planning?

" "First of all, for me to make the necessary changes, a simple alliance won't be enough. We need to unite Chemos with Tamuz.

" "Sounds interesting, continue.

" "We'll unite both lands. I'll become your vassal, commander of the army, and you'll entrust me and Kiseaso with oversight of the economy and trade. "

"You're asking a lot.

" "But you'll gain a lot. I also want as much power as possible; I also intended to expand Chemos in the future. That requires some action.

" "So what changes do you want first?

" "First, we'll deal with the administration. We'll divide the country into districts, and each one will be controlled by one of your appointed Lords. Each of them will swear fealty to you and become lords of these lands. They will be your vassals. I'll keep Chemos to myself." The second will be Ezo, and we will divide Tamuz into the north, with its capital in Huzet, and the south, with its capital in Eket. In each district, the Lord will be responsible for executing our orders, and later he will be responsible for the entire district. This will improve our control over the country.

"Quite a lot. I think we can now summon our advisors." Dagous stood up, opened the door, and shouted to the generals waiting in the throne room. Once they were in the chamber, he said:

"We have reached an agreement." Dagous briefly discussed the matters he had raised with Beorf. Milon spoke

. "So now that everything has become clear, I can discuss the possibility of war with Talgidr.

" "We must suspend all activities," Beorf jumped up. "At least for now. As I told the King, he must first organize the new kingdom. Only then, when we grow stronger, can we consider war. Now, it could end in disaster." We must send spies to Talgidr, let them gather information on its strength. We must gather supplies, a new army, and many other essential things must be done. And this will take some time. I think everyone agrees with me." Milon didn't look pleased, but he couldn't deny Beorf's point.

The new war required long preparations. And after the heavy losses in the last war, this was obvious. And the way he planned the war differed significantly from those known on the continent. The lord planned his moves meticulously, a cautious and patient strategist. He had no intention of thwarting Dagous's war plans; he was even beginning to like them. Although all his subjects were happy, and Amex and Kiseaso were not favorable to conquests, Beorf was taking them quite seriously. He was no longer the same calm and pleasant soldier. He was transforming into a ruthless warrior, a Lord of Destruction. Now his plans could become reality. Although he didn't possess absolute power, his decisions would have a huge impact on Dagous. Dagous, in turn, shared the same thoughts and saw in Beorf a way to implement them. Beorf had gained enormous power, which he intended to use. But first, it had to be properly prepared.