Nim Dagous, along with Milona and Kyforg, arrived in the still-joyful Voj. The rulers of the anti-Tamuzan coalition found themselves in the Principality of Golsod. Nugatu had been there for a long time and was full of Beorf's spies. There was also a new army. When Gestator, along with Fuhon, Lazeten, and Abon, reached Hamit, eighteen banners from the western Kingdom of Ehrudor stood outside the city. Along with this army, the King of Ehrudor himself, Nylit Ucibo, arrived at the capital of Golsod. He was the son of King Ucibo, who had founded that kingdom. When he learned of his neighbors' fears of Dagous, he decided to march with his army to aid the alliance. He didn't make it. He died before the war began, and his son was forced to continue his father's orders, but he arrived much too late.
Despite this, the reinforcements were considerable. Wehen, who ruled Golsod during Gestator's absence, welcomed his neighbor willingly. Now they only waited for news from Binyme. Both were convinced that the alliance would succeed and Dagous would be defeated. However, the news arrived with Gestator and remnants of the army that was to defeat Tamuz.
Wehen and Nylit were sitting in one of the numerous tents near Hamit when Gestator, Lazeten, Abon, and Fumeh arrived at Hamit on May 14th. It was a tragic sight. Thousands of exhausted, hungry, and filthy soldiers, their commanders not much better. The four immediately headed toward Wehen and Nylit, who emerged from their tent and stood stunned, staring at the soldiers. "
Greetings, Gestator," Wehen greeted him. "And you, noble rulers. This is King Ucibo of Nylit, who wishes to aid us in the fight against Tamuz and Dagous. And what about Binyme?" "I don't think the news is good.
I am greatly pleased by your presence here, King Uciba. I would like to say that your help will no longer be needed, but you come in a time of great need for us.
So what happened? Has Tamuz been defeated?" Nylit asked
. "No. We lost .
It's impossible." Wehen paled
. "It's possible. We must prepare for another battle. The Tamuzans won't stay in Voj for long; I even think they've already set out for us," Lazeten stated. "
The enemy has excellent soldiers, and they are supported by orcs and other strange creatures." Abon, however, didn't mention Daax and his angels, but everyone kept quiet about it. "But he's still weaker than us.
When will the Tamuzans arrive?" the King asked
. "We don't know. Maybe in a few days, maybe in a week. We can't know that," Fumeh replied. "
Perhaps if we attacked Dagous's men when they were heading here, we'd have a better chance.
You're right, Wehen. It might work." But before the enemy reaches us, our men must rest and regain confidence in their own strength. The recent battle has depleted their morale.
Before Gestator and his companions reached Hamit, Dagous himself arrived in Voj on May 7th. His arrival as the new ruler was greeted with great solemnity. On this beautiful, sunny day, Tamuzan soldiers, raising their swords, axes, and lances, greeted him along the road to the city. In the city itself, he was greeted by a shower of flower petals and cheering citizens. The king was clearly pleased, a fact he made no secret of. He smiled and waved to the welcoming soldiers and citizens of Voj. At the end of his path, in the upper part of the city, stood Fuhon's castle, and before him awaited him the victorious generals. "
Greetings, great leaders!" Dagous, smiling, dismounted his horse and went to shake hands with his commanders. "You are indeed great, and the country is even greater and more powerful thanks to you.
Thank you, gracious king." But without your wisdom, we wouldn't have made it this far." Beorf stood at the end of the line, and when the king approached him, he uttered these words: "
Sir, we invite you inside. There, a celebration and spoils await your majesty." Wiriem pointed to the gates of a small castle.
"So lead the way." Everyone followed the general, followed
by Dagous and Milo. The celebrations lasted a long time. Everyone drank a lot of wine. They discussed the future shape of the state, internal and external policies, and especially how to control the people of Binyme. Aren and Amex listened anxiously to Beorf's conversation with Dagous and Milo. They feared that the new terror would cause further rebellions.
"When will reinforcements for our army arrive?" Beorf demanded. "
A thousand orcs and another thousand foot soldiers will arrive soon.
What about supplies for the army? Without food, it will be just as difficult
. Everything will be in time, Marshal, and we will defeat our enemies. It's even better that Gestator and the others joined Binyme. The war will be shorter."
"And what about the rebels?" Milon asked suddenly. "Is there peace here?
Everything is settled, there will be no rebellions in Binyme.
That's good news.
However, I think these people should feel a new sense of power. What do you think?" "As usual, Dagous wanted blood to be shed.
As you wish, king." Beorf spoke these words lightly, as if he didn't care at all. Aren and Amex, on the other hand, were deeply concerned. "I will prepare the troops for the march."
Both generals were troubled by these words. Beorf had just sealed the fate of many Binymeans without hesitation. But it wasn't just them who were no longer happy about it all; Aren and Amex had finally reached an understanding. When they were returning from the celebrations, slightly tipsy, to their chambers, they struck up a conversation. "
Did you hear what Dagous was saying? Innocent blood will be shed again," Aren began . "
The worst part is that Beorf himself agreed to this. I would never have expected that from him."
Indeed. When I first met him, he seemed different—they both found their way to Amex's chamber and sat in comfortable armchairs.
And so it was. He's changed terribly.
When I arrived in your capital, he seemed like a great and sensible leader. And yet, he was only thirty. Now he looks more like Milo, with his ruthlessness and devotion to Dagous.
It was power that changed him so much. When Kunuga, his leader, died, that's when it all began. He killed Xekar, and then, against his will, he was proclaimed Lord of Chemos. That was the beginning of everything. When you arrived in Chemos with the envoys, he was already somewhat different; even the city's inhabitants noticed the change in him.
How do you know Beorf?
I don't know where he came from. We never spoke of it. He arrived in Chemos a few years ago, joined the guard while I was there. He rose through the ranks quickly, was a brilliant warrior and a capable officer, until he became commander. But then, everything was perfectly fine. Now, along with Dagous and Milon, they're nothing but a threat to the Kingdom.
Why do you think so? Aren wasn't too surprised; he thought the same
. And do you think this war will end there? The king is eager for further conquests, and so is Beorf. He, on the other hand, believes he's invincible. Wars will continue endlessly until we finally fall. The coalition is the best example. The next one will be even stronger. Moreover, Dagous sheds innocent blood, and Beorf does nothing. Just wait until the next rebellions begin.
Maybe it's only temporary; Beorf is a great leader, and that's how I knew him
. He was different even then. But now he's started to overdo it. First with those mages... and you heard what happened in Talgidr.
Not really.
Apparently, the orcs bloodily crushed the rebellion, taking revenge on the peasants and other innocent people, all on the Marshal's orders.
So you're right. They both pose a threat. What are we going to do then?
I didn't want to do this, but all three of them must be removed from power.
It won't be that simple. And for now, it's impossible. At least not until Dagous and Beorf score further victories. We can't do anything alone, though personally, I don't like the King for what he did to me once.
For now, we can count on General Xema's support; we still need to talk to the others.
And wait for a more opportune moment to act.
Tomorrow I'll try to talk to the other commanders who could support us. Together, we're sure we can manage.
Very well then. I'm returning to my chamber. Soon we'll depart for Golsod.
Farewell, Arena,
and you, Amex.
Beorf began his work in the morning. The Marshal began by inspecting all the banners. He, along with the King and the other generals, moved among the soldiers standing at attention in their respective formations. These, in turn, had grown in stamina and strength thanks to the successive battles. That same day, the King appointed a new Lord of Binyme, General Kyforg Iwajep. He, along with Dagous, had to begin a new reign. All those suspected of any conspiracy or who had formerly held high positions under Fumeh were sentenced to death. Those who were lucky and had difficulty proving anything were imprisoned throughout Tamuz. Despite this, the hostility toward the new authorities was not great. Although the people and Beorf disliked the harsh punishments, he remained silent. At the moment, his only concerns were the army and Golsod. At least for now.
Amex and Aren had failed to contact the other generals privately. The Marshal constantly issued new orders, prepared the army, and gathered supplies. Everyone was busy and frantic. On May 9th, the expected reinforcements arrived in Voj. One thousand orcs under the command of the orc general Puroh and one thousand Tamuzan infantrymen under the command of General Faloj. These were considerable reinforcements. Only the orcs formed new banners, while the Tamuzans served as reinforcements for the shattered formations. Additional food supplies arrived with them, and on May 11th, the entire army was ready to attack the Principality of Golsod. But this time, King Dagous himself was to lead the troops in the continuing battle.
That same day, news of reinforcements from Ehrudor reached Beorf. He ignored them completely. For him, victory was already certain, and nothing could change that. Before they set out, two dwarves arrived with newly forged armor for him. This one, like the previous one, was entirely black with white and silver insignia. The full plate armor forged in Sajsi cost him a fortune, but it guaranteed effective protection. Moreover, its appearance inspired both admiration and fear, primarily thanks to the helmet. It was cylindrical in shape with a rectangular visor, topped with sharp spikes pointing upwards. This armor suited the new Beorf, and he rarely removed it.
In the afternoon, the seven-thousand-strong army set out from Voj for Hamit. The distance was six hundred kilometers. It was to be the most murderous and exhausting march of the war. As the army set off, Beorf donned his armor and rode on horseback between the ranks of soldiers, who immediately parted at the sight of him. Seeing him, Amex declared that Beorf was no longer his friend, and General Khun paled. He had seen a wraith once, and now he thought one of them was riding a horse. Beorf was an uncanny presence. Milon and Badun envied the Marshal, while Dagous was proud of him. The leader of his vast army must have inspired justifiable fear. He had always harbored this vision, and now it was coming true.
Marshal? What change has come over you? The King asked. What armor is this?
I've decided to change it. Beorf's voice through his helmet sounded just as terrifying. "Now we're a great empire, so we must inspire admiration.
I like this armor too," Milon interjected . "
Then I'll send you the dwarves who made it for me.
It will be an honor.
Perhaps you could make such armor for all the generals?" Dagous said, pleased. "What do you think? We certainly can afford it.
It's a good idea indeed." Milon was clearly happy
. "But we won't worry about that now. First we must capture Hamit."
Soon Voj disappeared behind the rocks of the Binyme Mountains, and Dagous's army was advancing towards its goal. But just a few days later, the first concerns arose. Beorf hadn't anticipated prolonged hostilities, and the army's food supplies proved insufficient. Fagril reported that the ration would soon have to be cut, as it wouldn't last the entire journey. There weren't many villages along the way where such a large army could resupply. Transports from Tamuz were delayed, the vast distance, and the Binymean highlanders made the situation even more difficult.
On Tuesday, the rains stopped, which initially made the march easier. But the next day, the sun began to shine so brightly that only walking in the shade of trees was bearable. However, the Ibinian lands they were marching through were sparsely covered with small forests, as was much of the entire continent. The soldiers marched in sweltering heat, practically boiling in their armor. The Chemosians, on the other hand, thought Daax had abandoned them, but morale remained high.
When they were already one hundred and eighty kilometers from Hamit, they crossed the Ibine-Golsod border. That's when the situation became dire. The soldiers began to starve. Exhausted and tired, they ate whatever they could. The orcs, who needed much more food, slaughtered the inhabitants of Golsod and Ibine, then devoured their bodies. Dagous and Beorf were shocked by the sight of several Chemoski elite soldiers chasing two chickens. But there was nothing anyone could do. Only the orcs, despite the opposition of all the generals (except Badun and Puroh), somehow managed to cope.
While Beorf sat in the royal tent, Zipre Xema arrived. "
King, if this continues, our soldiers will starve before we reach Hamit.
I realize, General Xema, that the situation is dire, but there is no turning back now.
When we take Hamit, our situation will improve; if we fail... I will resign," the marshal said, lying on the sofa . "
First we have to get there, and to get there, the soldiers must eat.
Limited rations will last all the way to Hamit!" Beorf shouted .
They'll start dying by then," Zipre persisted and slammed his fist on the small table he was standing at. "
Do the other generals agree?
Yes, my lord. Almost all of us think the same. Even Badun sees our dire situation. We won't eat humans like orcs and trolls!
We won't," Beorf stood up and tried to calm Zipre
. "I guarantee you we'll reach Hamit, intact. And we'll capture this city, as well as all of Golsod. In a few days, we'll be fighting battles; let the generals think about that too."
Zipre bowed and left without a word. He knew it wouldn't change anything, but he had to try. On Sunday, May 20th, Tamuz's troops were approaching Hamit. Beorf didn't know how far the city was, so he sent Colonel Kudor ahead with a group of soldiers. He quickly returned with the news that there was no city ahead, but an army ready for battle. After three more hours, over fourteen thousand soldiers were facing each other. Tired, dirty, and starving Tamuzans faced the frightened and combat-challenged alliance banners. Marshal Beorf believed in his soldiers, believing that their skill and will to fight would allow for victory. And Dagous believed in him. Tamuz's enemies feared his army, especially the orcs. Beorf had to exploit this, although Gestator and Wehen convinced their soldiers that there was no need to fear, for they had the advantage over the enemy. It was of little avail.
Despite the enemy's superiority, Beorf risked everything. The alliance forces lined up in the same manner as before. The Marshal divided the entire army into three parts. Milon stood on the left, Badun and his orcs took the right wing, and he himself took the center. He also wanted to lead the soldiers into battle. He ordered the archers to draw their swords and advance with the infantry, after ordering everyone to shout and scream.
When Beorf drew his sword, the people knew it was a sign. The marshal charged toward the enemy army, followed by seven thousand Tamuzans and orcs. Although his armor was much heavier, he easily held the soldiers running alongside him in a stunned manner. As the entire mass, screaming, moved, the ground began to tremble. The soldiers of Gestator, Lazeten, Abon, Fumeh, and Nylit began to retreat timidly. Panic was imminent. Despite the arrow fire, the Tamuzans reached the enemy position without significant casualties, and the real battle began. The orcs showed no mercy, Milona ordered no prisoners, and Beorf himself fought like a madman, inspiring terror. He ran among Nylit's soldiers and, surrounded, cut them down in a circle. He took many blows, but his armor protected him effectively. The Red Lord's sword was dripping with blood. After a few minutes, none of the soldiers would fight him anymore. They avoided him like the plague, and soon began to flee. The same thing happened on the side of Badun and Milon. Some banners still put up stiff resistance, but they too soon began to flee the battlefield, seeing their hopeless situation. "
It's over," Gestator said calmly. "Now we have no chance. We have been defeated.
How can you say such a thing?!" Wehen was furious. "You, who said we must fight,
must return to Hamit and sue for peace. We have no other option.
Ibin will fight to the end," Lazeten shouted
. "And he will fall anyway. We will all fall. There is no strength left on Tamuz." Gestator pointed at the sad Fumeh, who had spoken similarly during the last battle. "From the beginning, our chances were slim.
Even if we had won, the angels of Daaxa would have appeared and settled the matter like at Voj," Abon added. "
So what will happen now? I don't think we'll give up so easily.
The king is right, we must fight.
Wehen, you are like your brother. You never want to surrender, but now we have no other choice."
If he were here, we would have won
for sure! Certainly! - Gestator laughed. - We will make peace. Dagous's army is exhausted and can fight no longer. Ours is shattered. If King Tamuz is wise, he will agree. Let us return to Hamit.
Most of the soldiers fled and did not return to the city. With Gestator and the other rulers, only 2,500 soldiers remained.
Dagous and Beorf were unaware of this and were preparing to besiege Hamit. The soldiers began building siege engines, which significantly delayed the march. Meanwhile, the alliance rulers were growing impatient; eight days had passed and there was no sign of the Tamuzans.
But on May 28th, King Dagous and Marshal Beorf arrived with their army at Hamit, the capital of Golsod. This city resembled Voj in appearance. Its walls, too, were already made of stone. Just as the troops were about to begin their assault, they noticed the city gates open, and tents containing the remnants of the coalition army were standing against the walls. The astonished Tamuzans, at Beorf's command, began to set up their own camp, and soon two messengers from the Gestator arrived at the tent where all the commanders and the king were resting.
They all sat in armchairs, and in the center rested Dagous in silver-black armor with a red cloak. To his right rested Beorf in his armor, wearing his usual helmet and a black cloak as long as the king's.
Both messengers bowed and said,
"Your Royal Highness." We bring news from the Prince of Golsod, the Gestator—said the first.
The rulers of the warring lands, Abon, ruler of Byor, Lazeten, ruler of Ibin, Prince Fumeh, ruler of Binyme, King Nylit Ucibo, ruler of Ehrudor, and Prince Gestator, ruler of Golsod, wish to sign a peace treaty and invite you to Hamit to discuss its terms.
We will arrive soon. To the generals' surprise, the king quickly responded and sent the envoys away. When they left the tent, the commanders did not hide their surprise at the ruler's quick and surprising decision. "
Why did you answer so quickly?" Beorf finally asked him. "We should have thought this through first.
There was nothing to think about here. I am not interested in peace," Dagous said. "We will enter the city and arrest these imbeciles. Gather your best soldiers and let's go to that lousy village. We will both go there… and you, Badun. Let him take away our great strength." They'll think we're coming in peace, but we'll take the city without any problems.
I'm on my way – Beorf was very pleased with this plan.
Two hours later, a thousand Chemo soldiers crossed the city gates and headed down the main road through Hamit. The inhabitants emerged from their homes and looked with disdain at the Tamuz forces. Badun marched ahead, followed by Dagous and Beorf on their horses. He inspired the greatest fear. Some said demons or ghosts fought in the Tamuz army. As the first ten banners passed through the city gates, another thousand did the same, spreading across Hamit in a wave of new order. The remaining soldiers, under Milo's command, began disarming the alliance soldiers in front of the city walls.
The new ruler of Golsod and his marshal rode up to the stone castle of Gestator. It was built on a square plan with two tall towers on either side.
Several soldiers from Golsod and Byor stood in front of the castle. Beorf dismounted first and called upon several of his soldiers to disarm the guards. Then, along with the soldiers and the king, he entered the castle. They followed him, protecting the king. Badun followed last. The alliance rulers waited in one of the halls, which was led by a line of guards. Beorf, marching among them, inspired fear, and his soldiers systematically took away everyone's weapons. Fearing for their lives, they calmly surrendered them and left. There, they were handcuffed and led outside the city to their remaining companions.
Finally, the hall doors opened, and Beorf entered. The rulers rose in terror at the sight of him. In the draft, his black cloak billowed slightly, adding to the eerie effect. He stood in the center, and then the enormous Badun appeared in the doorway, wielding his great axe and clad in heavy armor. Immediately behind him, King Dagous entered the hall with a calm and slow stride. All the nobles sat back down from the table. Dagous looked at them for a moment and then said, "
What shall we do with them, Lord Beorf?" Wehen became a bit indignant when he heard Marshal Tamuzu's name.
"Whatever Your Royal Majesty wishes,
I leave them to you." Dagous turned and left with Badun, while the soldiers took their places. "
We were supposed to talk about peace!" Nylit shouted indignantly. "
You were the ones who wanted to talk about peace. We wanted to take Golsod and Hamit," the marshal replied. "To the dungeons with them! Only the Gestator should remain where he is.
Are you Beorf? Son of Umbetyl." As the soldiers moved toward the gathered people, Beorf suddenly turned to Wehen and drew his sword. "
How do you know that?!? Speak!
It's me, Wehen. Don't you recognize me? Don't you recognize your own brother?" he said, smiling, to which Beorf sheathed his sword and removed his helmet.
My brother," he smiled and hugged his brother. "My brother!!
Beorf.
Hello, Gestator, we haven't seen each other for so long." The soldiers and the prisoners left the hall and left them alone. "I would gladly speak with you, but I have certain duties. You are free. I will order the soldiers not to disturb you. In the meantime, let us meet tomorrow where we once trained.
Good, my brother, and know that I am glad to meet you, even though you have become our enemy and victor."
Beorf left the hall and went to Dagous, who was delivering a speech to the defeated. The king said nothing of significance, and the citizens' fears remained, especially since they had seen what the Tamuzan soldiers had begun to destroy. The new administration was beginning its rule.
The next day, the remnants of the alliance army were completely disarmed. A rumor spread through Hamit that the leader in demonic armor was in fact Beorf. Many residents remembered him; some were initially happy that things wouldn't be so bad, but others felt only fear when he walked through the city, and even more considered him a traitor.
That same day, at noon, Beorf set off alone out of town to a small forest, where Wehen and Gestator were waiting for him. They were sitting quietly on small benches in the middle of the forest. As soon as he approached them, he removed his helmet. "
Greetings, my friends," he said, smiling. "Greetings
!" Beorf sat down next to his brother. "We haven't seen you since you were cast out of the clan. I
haven't seen you either; it's been a long time. How is our mother, brother?
She died a year ago. She thought you would never return to Golsod."
Because I didn't intend to—Beorf grew sad.
Tell us, Beorf—Gestator suddenly asked. Why didn't you kill Guof then? After all, he killed your father.
Back then, human life still meant something to me. And I considered Guof innocent.
And now something has changed?
If Dagous had ordered me to kill you, I would have done it… I think
you have. You are completely different than before.
That was a long time ago, Gestator, and a lot has happened since then.
If you were then as you are now… you would certainly have remained in the clan, perhaps even become its leader.
You wouldn't have had to flee—Wehen added
. Yes, I know. But now I am Lord of Chemos and Marshal of Tamuz, so I have other obligations. And what happened to the clan, because I no longer see the symbols of its power?
When you left, a schism occurred in the clan. With my help, Gestator seized power and overthrew the clan, expelling all members who didn't support us.
So what happened to cause this schism?
You managed to escape, but Guof was captured. Before his death, he revealed several clan secrets, and the clan could do nothing in the face of his accusations.
So Guof finally died, Beorf said to himself without any emotion. "But now I remain in power, and every decision I make has Dagous' approval.
That doesn't change the fact that people treat you as invaders, and even the fact that you're a Golsodian won't change anything. Many consider you a traitor. And they will consider us one too, because they will think we knew about you and allowed you to take the city," the furious Gestator replied. "
Therefore, they must fear me. But that's not all, I want you to continue ruling Golsod in Dagous' name.
Why should we do this, so they will truly hate us?" At the words of his former teacher, Beorf stood up.
Join us or die! I don't want your death, and this is the only way to save you from the executioner. And to bring peace to Golsoda, otherwise the order of Dagous and Milon will reign here. I will fall asleep and I will be unable to do anything.
Remember, you are not invincible. Even with this army of orcs and these Chemos banners. A surprise attack could wipe out your best troops from the face of Zia - Beorf seemed to be completely disobeying the Gestator
. "So what will it be?
We must consider.
You have until tomorrow.
And what will happen tomorrow?" Wehen asked. "
The King and I will decide your fate."
Meanwhile, in the castle, General Milon arrived at Dagous's with very interesting news. He had something to tell the king that Beorf hadn't told him, something he had no intention of telling him. The truth that Beorf wanted to hide from them.
"Your Highness," Milon entered Dagous's chamber, out of breath. "
Hello, general, what news do you bring me that you've dropped in so suddenly ? " Dagous looked out the window at Hamit
. "I have very interesting news." Milon sat down in an armchair, which he did a moment later, and the king ...
"So , tell me." Did Beorf ever tell me where he came from? Or anything about his past? Beorf is from Chemos... at least I think so, but I never asked him . Today I learned that his father was named Umbetyl and was one of the most important figures in the Dohnu clan. That means nothing to me , general . This clan ruled Golsod before we took over Tamuz. Beorf is a Golsodian, and Gestator is his former teacher. Impossible, this is nonsense!" Dagous suddenly jumped up and sat back down. "How do you know that? Every resident of Hamit knows it. By chance, I overheard two residents talking about Beorf and took them in for questioning. There, they told me everything without hesitation. So tell me "everything." Beorf, his father, and his brother Wehen belonged to the Dohnu clan. The Gestator taught him and his brother how to fight and command. Beorf was the best warrior in all of Golsod, and there was no one to equal him. He had a great career ahead of him, he commanded well, and had many ideas accepted by the clan. But everything changed. While his father was training with his friend Guof, an accident occurred. Guof accidentally killed Umbetyl. Because there were no witnesses, the clan considered it murder, and Guof a common criminal and sentenced him to death. As the law of the time dictated, Umbetyl's eldest son, Beorf, was to carry out the sentence. He refused to do so despite a clear order. Lord Beorf, impossible—until now, Dagous had believed that his Lord and Marshal was completely obedient to any orders.
And yet. He didn't kill him. He considered Guof innocent and the whole thing an accident. He knew, however, that the sentence would be carried out anyway, so he freed Guof, and together they fled Hamit. Beorf fled to Chemos and took refuge there, while Guof was caught and executed. However, before the executioner chopped off his head, he revealed several secrets of Dohn. In light of these secrets, Wehen and Gestator overthrew the clan and took over as leaders of Golsod. That's the truth about our marshal.
It's good of you to tell me, but it doesn't change much. Despite this, Beorf conquered Golsod for us. Perhaps he wanted revenge or something else? I don't know. I still consider him my friend, and he will remain in his position, regardless of whether he comes from Chemos or Golsod. He fulfills his duties to Tammuz with dignity.
However, it's best to keep an eye on him. There's no telling how the meeting with Wehen and Gestator will affect him, considering he didn't tell us all about it and left them free.
"Very well, but let our spies be careful. I don't want Beorf to know I have our own.
Order!" Milon bowed and left the chamber.
Beorf was just returning to the castle, and people were moving out of his way. He inspired incredible fear in the people, and on top of that, rumors of the Red Lord had spread throughout Hamit, and wherever he went, he was met with hostility.
The marshal hadn't expected everyone to learn the truth so quickly, especially about what had happened during the suppression of the rebellion in Talgidra. That evening, he would feel the fateful consequences of this knowledge. Waiting for his meeting with the king, he wandered the corridors of Gestator's castle. At night, guards remained only at the castle entrance. The corridors were empty, and Beorf no longer wore his heavy armor and sword. As he lay in the cloister and leaned over the courtyard, a figure in Golsod armor quietly emerged from one of the chambers. The figure tried to stab the marshal in the back, but he sensed danger and turned to avoid the blow. The attacker tried to slash Beorf several times with his sword, but he successfully dodged the sword's blows. He was an excellent soldier, a skilled fighter, but his opponent was just as skilled. And above all, he had a weapon. Beorf finally began to flee, heading for his chamber. As soon as he entered, the assassin appeared behind him. Beorf drew his iron sword and parried the attacker's blow at the last moment. Despite this, he fell to the floor, and the attacker tried to plunge his sword into his chest. The marshal spun and quickly rose from the floor, deflecting another blow from the attacker. And with another, he pushed the assassin to the other side of the room. "
You will die!" the assassin shouted. "And Golsod will be great; a criminal like you doesn't deserve to live.
Only you lost the war." Beorf smiled
. "You were one of us, now you're a traitor." You deserve death more than your filthy king.
Ha ha ha. But I won, I conquered my own homeland, from which I had to flee a stupid clan.
Die, traitor! – the attacker screamed and charged at Beorf.
That remains to be seen – he replied, and prepared for the attack.
As the assassin ran towards him, Beorf turned so that the assassin passed him and slammed into the wall. Then Beorf ran his sword through him so hard and with all the ferocity he possessed that it pierced his front armor. The attacker fell to the floor, and the Lord drew his sword from it. He then opened a small window and summoned the guards guarding the castle. As soon as they reached his chamber, Beorf went to Dagous. He was supposed to receive him for an hour, but he couldn't wait much longer. "
Hello, marshal, you were supposed to come later," he said as soon as the door opened and Beorf stood there
. "There was an attack on me a moment ago.
What?! Where are the guards, the castle must be protected…
It's all over, Your Majesty. He wanted me.
If one man broke in, another might try, who knows who he'll try to kill this time?" Dagous sat calmly in his chair. "But why should I be surprised? After all, you're a traitor?" Beorf suddenly looked surprised. "Why didn't you tell me Golsod is your homeland?
I see everyone has already found out." Dagous merely nodded. "Then know, King, that Golsod is no longer my homeland. It is Tamuz now.
I am glad to hear those words. What did you do with the rulers of the other lands?
Did I throw them into the dungeons
of All?
No. Wehen and Gestator are free.
And why is that?
Wehen is my brother…
And our enemy!
But he is still my brother, and I will not let him rot in a dungeon. Besides, he can't harm us anyway." Beorf had so decisively opposed Dagous for the first time. "
Never mind. We will decide about them tomorrow." Now retire and order the guards reinforced. However, I wonder who could have wanted to kill you.
It was just an officer grieving over the defeat. Nothing special.
It might only seem that way. Tell your spies to be more vigilant. Anything else?
That's all – Beorf left
. On May 30th, all the generals, the Marshal, and King Tamuz gathered in the Gestator's throne room. On this day, the fate of the alliance, Tamuz, Dagous, and his generals would be decided. Although no one had foreseen it. Dagous's personal guard was stationed around a small hall supported by columns. The King himself sat on the Gestator's throne, with the commanders following him.
So we are the victors," he turned to the assembled crowd. "We have defeated Ibin, Binyme, Golsod, Byor, and Ehrudor. It is time to decide what to do next. However, my resolution is simple. We will kill all the rulers and their officers so they do not cause any more problems, and our great army will occupy their lands." Whispers arose among the generals. It was a mad plan. Only Badun, Puroh, and Milon rejoiced. To them, it was obvious.
We cannot kill them all. They may be useful to us, and further war will destroy our army," Beorf protested .
"And I know perfectly well that you mean your brother. Don't let your family blind your mind as a leader. First your god, and now your brother, has clouded your judgment.
I will not let my brother and Gestator die!" Beorf shouted. This was a bad sign for Dagous—besides, both are best suited to rule Golsod, and my family ties will be the best guarantee of their loyalty."
I fully support the Marshal." General Refin rose from his seat, followed by Wiriem and Fehli Ubidys. "
I don't care about the other oligarchs.
So let the rest die. I will spare your brother. So be it.
Gracious King," Aren spoke up. "Don't you think we're shedding the blood of the conquered nations too much? People hate us, and not just here. There'll be another risk of rebellion if we lose everyone.
So we must restore order here!" Dagous flew into a rage. "If they rebel, they'll regret it greatly.
If we leave them alone, they certainly won't.
Murdering and burning their homes won't change much," Zipre added. "The people of the conquered lands want to live in peace, so let them have this peace, and everything will be alright.
Besides, we can't fight any more war. Our army is exhausted," Xat added, and Kyforga and Faloj stood up with him. "
And what else?! These people need to feel the firm hand of the new ruler. Yesterday there was an assassination attempt on our Marshal, and you tell me everything will be alright.
But they are partly right .
And you, Beorf? Why can't any of you accept the justice of my actions?
Our army is exhausted, as General Khun said. We won't be able to continue the war. We must make peace and release the rulers who agree." Most of the generals were pleased with these words.
"Rubbish, our soldiers will continue to fight," Milon growled
. "General Badun's orcs, yes, but they alone won't take Ehrudor, Ibin, and Byor. Our people, on the other hand, won't be able to fight until at least October. We must recruit new soldiers, forge new weapons..."
"Let me think in private," Dagous interrupted Beorf. "You're going somewhere and come back when I call you." So the officials split into three different factions. The generals left the king and formed three groups. The first were Milon, Badun, and Puroh. The second were Beorf, Refin, Wiriem, and Fehli Ubidys. But the third was the most important, consisting of Aren, Amex, Zipre Xema, Xat Khun, Faloj, and Kyforga Iwajepa. "
Something must be done, otherwise that accursed Dagous will destroy Tamuz with further war," Zipre said when everyone had gathered. "
We must overthrow him; we have no other choice." Kyforga's words surprised neither
him nor Milon, but what about the orcs and Beorf?
Badun is no problem; he only cares about money and the temples of Afabolis. The situation with our Marshal is worse. Until now, he's always sided with the king. I have no idea what he might do if we rebel, Aren stated. "Maybe he'll support us, maybe he'll side with the king.
We should overthrow him too." Faloj was ready to act at any moment—let him decide then. Or at least let's remove him from more important positions.
Silence, he's coming here." Beorf suddenly approached Amex
. Dagous is a fool. We have to persuade him to make peace.
Why have you suddenly changed your mind?
I haven't, Amex. From the beginning, I believed that further war would be disastrous. We have to wait a while before taking further action. I'm counting on your help. Beorf realized that his friendship with Amex had weakened somewhat.
You have our support." Beorf bowed and left them. "I think we'll put our plans on hold
. Perhaps the marshal would side with us. At least that's the hope," Zipre stated. "
There's one more thing: without Beorf, we won't be able to rule the entire country, so he must help us." Besides, it seems he and Dagous are losing their liking for each other," Aren added. "
Remember that Beorf treats him as his sovereign and himself as a vassal. It's as if he's forgotten how powerful Chemos was." Amex's face grew sad. "But Aren is right. Beorf is too important to overthrow. At least not yet.
Generals," Dagous's voice echoed through the Hall. "Guards, bring in the prisoners." After a moment, all the rulers appeared in the Hall, and Wehen and Gestator emerged from the side entrance. Beorf approached the king. "
What is Your Majesty's decision?
" He replied curtly and stood up as the prisoners approached the throne. "You are here to learn your fate and the will of the victor. I personally intended to sentence you all to death... but given certain circumstances, that won't happen. At least not with most of you. You wanted to speak of peace, so I'm listening. What do you propose?"
I wanted to protest against such treatment—Abon blurted out—it was unworthy of the position we hold. Your Marshal threw us into dungeons!
It doesn't matter. The Marshal did the right thing—Dagous smiled. “What about our peace? That's what you wanted!” The generals rejoiced; it meant there would be no more devastating war.
In exchange for peace, we want Tamuz's troops to withdraw from Golsod and Binyme. Thanks to this, our countries will be able to live in peace and trade with each other—Nylit Ucibo
Ha! said confidently. Dagous laughed loudly. “This must be a joke. I thought you were going to say why I shouldn't occupy Ibin, Byor, and Ehrudor. You, on the other hand, are mocking Tamuz's power. Binyme and Golsod already belong to me, and it doesn't matter. I am the winner, and you are the losers. You seem to have forgotten that.” You can still save your country, provided you offer something in return.
Ibin will never surrender!" Lazeten shouted, jumping up, but the guards quickly brought him back to line
. "Then he will be taken. The guards will take this idiot away." The guards grabbed Lazeten again and led him out of the hall.
"You won." Nylit lowered his head as he spoke these words. "We will sign a peace treaty and withdraw to our lands.
And you will pay a ransom of two hundred kilograms of gold... each.
Let it be," Abon said, furious. "But know that you are common bandits.
So tomorrow we will complete all the formalities. The guards will lead them away, but let Abon and Nylit be kept in their chambers, and Lazeten and Fumeh to the dungeons. I bid you farewell.
What will become of Lazeten and Fumeh?" Aren asked, "after the prisoners were led out.
Tomorrow they will both be executed. And what about you?" "Dagous turned to Gestator and Wehen.
As you said, this land belongs to you. You are the winner," Gestator replied, bowing.
"Yes... I would gladly follow Milo's advice and lose you." Beorf was clearly furious upon hearing this. "But I'll think about it. Now get out, we have important things to discuss, and you can't be there." As soon as they both left the hall, Beorf ran up to Dagous. "
You promised not to harm Wehen and Gestator!" he shouted, furious. Amex remembered that Beorf had been so furious recently when he went to Xekar and rebelled against him. An image flashed in his mind of the Chief Guardian running the Pretender Lord through with his sword
. "You forget yourself, Beorf. I am the ruler here, and you are my subordinate!"
You're the one forgetting yourself, Dagous! You're forgetting who built your power. Who won battles for you and led this country from backwardness into civilization. You've forgotten me, Amex, and Kiseaso—Dagous had never heard such a decisive statement from Marshal. It was the beginning of the end of their friendship, and Generals Amex, Aren, and Zipre saw it as a great opportunity. Civil war suddenly hung in the balance. Amex was only thinking about when Beorf would remove Dagous from his tone with his sword
. Are you defying my will?!
I won't allow them to die. Fuhon and Lazeten don't interest me. And the best Lord for Golsodu will be Gestator. And he wasn't cold in his opinion—the Alliance was reaping its harvest. He hadn't defeated Tamuzu, but he had caused considerable conflict within it.
Good—Dagous thought quickly. Too many were against him today. He knew Beorf was a powerful man, and he had made him one. For now, he had to reach a compromise, but he could forget about his friendship with the marshal – it will be as you wish. Gestator and Wehen will take power over Golsod, but spies and our soldiers will remain here to watch over them. "
And what about Ibid?" Aren asked, while Beorf turned and took a few steps back
. As for Ibin, our troops must enter there. Lazeten doesn't want peace, so I guess there's nothing more to discuss. And since there's nothing more to discuss, I bid you farewell. Oh, and one more thing. Beorf, convey my decision to your friends. Have Gestator appear before me to discuss the details of his assumption of power.
"Yes," Beorf said, rejoicing, but his expression was furious.
This long and difficult meeting ended. The generals left the throne room of the former Prince of Golsod and retired to their chambers. A massive schism developed between the Tammuz rulers, though no one suspected the consequences. Beorf and Dagous had no inkling of Amex and Aren's thoughts, and spies had no access to them. The generals decided to wait and put their plan to overthrow the king on hold for now.
That same day, Beorf spoke with his brother and Gestator about Dagous's decision. The two had little choice. They had to place Golsod under Dagous's protection, in exchange for which they could continue ruling and spare the Golsodians suffering. Although Marshal Tammuz himself was related to them, this did not alleviate the residents' fears, and in fact, made them fear him most. The Red Lord was never welcome in his homeland.
As Dagous had predicted, the next day a crowd of people, generals and soldiers of Tammuz, gathered in front of the castle. Despite the shouts of the disgruntled crowd of residents, Lazeten and Fumeh were executed, which Abon and Nylit also had to witness.
Immediately afterward, Gestator was appointed Lord of Golsod, which partially calmed the inhabitants. Nylit and Abon, along with some of their soldiers, set off on their return journey. Soon after, Beorf began preparations for an attack on Ibin, and Wehen was to build an army of a thousand men, which he would lead. The king remained in Golsod, fearing that the new Lord would rebel, and he also took two thousand soldiers from Beorf to remain in Hamit under Milo's command.
The marshal had already achieved great success, so he readily agreed. For the next two weeks, the army of Tammuz rested and prepared to march.
Despite conflicts between the generals and the king, a looming rebellion, and civil war, Tammuz was already an undisputed power. No force capable of defeating the land stood in his way.
However, everything was soon to change. Another war, one that would change the fate of all the Tammuz lands, was approaching with unexpected force.
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