“Your Grace”

“I can see them.”

Emerged from beyond the horizon, around three hundred yellow lights are approaching Voyage.

They come closer and closer, brighter every foot the men holding them step toward, shining their brilliant light on the banners that the army is bringing along. The imperial banners of the Latilians, with their crimson-blue navy-gold colors cannot be mistaken for any others in the continent. Latila, unbelievably and ridiculously, is invading Elestovakia, and this city will be their first target.

Ten thousand men, that is the low estimation of the might of the invasion force. Cavalry of the Winged Husaria, former Ganeoese Crossbowmen, some knights from the Cathedral, musketeers, many more, few of the most elite units of the Latilians army are there, outnumbering the defenders more than three to one. With those observations, even the most idiotic mind can say that the attacking army is far from being underprepared. However, so is the city:

“Close the gates.”

The new duke of the city orders from the command tower of the city’s central castle. A moment later for the command to be delivered to the entrance, the giant wooden gates of the city slowly move, they move with strength of mechanical wheels and manpower. With the gate sealed, it will be a great problem if the Latilians want to assault the city via this entrance.

Oompah!

A navigator blows his giant tuba, alerting the citizens to take shelter and military personnels to hurry to their positions on the barricade. The Latilian are just 2 kilometers away from the city, they will come tomorrow. Having received the intel of a coming invasion force, the city and its officials had prepared everything they could, they had always waited for this moment to come.

“They are here.”

“Yes.”

Gelime, the Duke of New Voyage, standing with his advisor on his back, takes a deep breath. He smashes a flint into a bar of steel and lit the pile of tenders and drywoods on the tower the duke is standing over.

The fire illuminates its beautiful yellowish light in the moonlight.

**

A week passed after the invasion of Elestovakia, the Center Army was encamped on a small grass hill located in the outskirts of the city of New Voyage, capital of the Duchy of Nova Voiaiologos formerly known as the Archduchy of Voiaiologos (Voyage). From where the soldiers are standing, with a little help from Aurora with her scope, Belisari could see the top of the Voiaiologus Voyage castle. Or, in other words:

“My domain.”

Lily says, giving the scope back to the little girl-”Tomorrow we will encounter Voyage, the first advanced settlement in our expedition and might be the first major garrison on our expedition. I hope the citizens can cooperate.”

“I don’t think so, Your Grace, Your Highness.”

Said Angela, stepping out of Lily’s tend joining the conversation between the Archduchess and the Prince. Surprised, Belisari asks about the details:

“How so? What told you that they will not help us?”

“They are willing to, but they cannot.”

The flier continues with her words-“From my scout squadron hovering over the city yesterday. The Duke of New Voyage, his name is Gelime, Gelime Valdai. He was a notable commander in the Northern Expedition, hence he was given title and land in this area.”

“So…what with it?”

“He has a loyal army of around eight hundred men”-Angela says-”They were all given privileges to be guards of the city and suppress the revolting civilians and protect the city. I dare say so because I saw a few men being executed in the square of the city in public for trying to reach us.”

“That’s unfortunate. The army is willing to enforce their rules upon the civilians, so we cannot seek their help. Quite an iron fist policy. What the hell is that loyal army you mentioned?”

“The New Voyager Guard Corp they are called, and for sure they are well-armed, extremely loyal and stubborn, and are not willing to surrender and give up their goods. Their commanders are also smart enough to not try to engage us in an open field and rather choose to be besieged. We have no choice but to attack the city headon”

“But by attacking Voyage.”-Lily draws-”We will have to fight from a disadvantageous position, which is from the outside of the wall.”

Forgot to mention, unlike the two armies in the north and the south, the central army brings no war gear, as they are too heavy for a maneuverable army. This may increase their moving speed, but it will be a problem when facing a city or a garrison that is not willing to submit:

“We will need a good plan….”-Belisari said.

Ten thousand against three thousand. They can win, but how to win without many casualties, that needs trickery.

“Trickery, I have.”

Lily stabs her sword down to the ground while saying that. She does have something in her sleeve.

The moon fell under the skyline, the sun rose up. After the camp was packed up, the army descended downhill toward the city.

By now, dwellers living in Voyage must have seen the dust cloud created by their cavalry, troops and wagons descending the hill and heading to their home, not to mention the massive Latilian imperial banner hanging on the pole of the carriage Belisari is staying in. That banner, moving with a black cloud created by feet of the mighty force of ten thousand men, should be imitating enough to warn any defender to lay down their arms and avoid resisting at all means. This is also what everyone hopes for, because they cannot afford to lose too many men in this early stage of the war.

By noon, the army reaches the outer wall of the city.

Unlike Latila with her extraordinary multi-purpose triple-layers wall, the Voyage wall of this city is rather simple, too poor in fact. It’s just soil built over a stone platform. It appears that for a thousand years of defending Latila, the Voyagers mainly focused on the capital of the kingdom, rather than the city bearing their family name. Maybe that was why the city of Voyage fell too quickly into the invaders' hand, but Latila stood.

Never did the Latilians expect that the lack of fortification in Voyage would give them advantage, not until now when they are the force that wants to gain access to the city. If their desire is to storm the city, it would be difficult for the defenders to hold them off. Acknowledging this, most Elestovakian archer guards on the wall had already assembled on their firing positions. Thank God they do not have cannon, otherwise the army would have their first major loss in casualties.

Oh yeah, before attacking, they must offer a chance of surrender first.

“Alright.”

Remain a distance between him and the entrance to the city, with two Marines holding their shield side by side to provide cover and fifty more on his back, Belisari holds the speaker Aurora gave him on his hands, saying loud:

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“Citizens of the city of Voyage and her defenders, the voice you are hearing is from Crowned Archprince Belisari Flarius of the Kingdom of Latila, this army is led by Lily Sobieski Voyage, Archduchess of Voyage, along with me is also Gerald de Payens, commander of the Order of Soldiers of Crossroad Pilgrims and of Montgilsard Cathedral.

I came here, brought with me a portion of the Latilian Expedition Army to liberate a former Latilian territory. As the most important city of the Kingdom besides the capital itself, Voyage was listed first among the cities we want to set free. We are willing to do that, no matter how costly it will take. Voyage shall reunite with Latila again.

However, that will be the last resort, we are still at war, losing men is undesirable. As the Archprince of Latila, I want to resolve the mission peacefully with the least bloodshed as possible. Elestovakian troops and officials in the city, if you surrender, I will ensure you, your families and your wealths will be kept safe under our rules. I promise all of what I said were true words, I pledge to God that I am not lying, for being a liar, I will be executed immediately by my friends. If you agree with the term, open the gate. We will give you three hours to decide. Choose wisely-”

Phew!

“Woah!”

At the moment Belisari was about to end his negotiation, an archer from his tower position fires an arrow toward the prince. He was standing behind shields, so Belisari was unharmed. The only damage it does is scratching off paint on one of the Marines’s shields, too bad for that guy, the paint was beautiful, now not anymore.

Putting that aside, more importantly, that arrow sent a clear message: The defenders do not want to surrender without a fight. Belisari, antagonized by Elestovakian hostility, mumbles:

“Damn, this is not a peaceful negotiation as I thought it would be.”

Pulling the arrow off the shield it pierced into, the prince loads it onto his crossbow rifle and returns fire. The missile did not hit anything important, just penetrated the wall, somewhere close to the aggressive archer.

“I guess we have to count on Lily. Send words to the main army, form a line and besiege this front of the wall.”

**

“I need some light. Move here.”

Navigating underneath the city in an abandoned underground aqueduct system, Lily is leading a team of a hundred Marines and a couple swordsmen to sneak into the city Voyage with little help from a gadget Aurora called “flashlights”.

The so-called “flashlight” devices shine a bright white light on Lily’s hand and several others’, illuminating their bright on every corner where they were pointed at like portable stars. They shine brighter,emitting no bad smell of burning oil nor making smoke that can blur men’s vision, far superior and magnificent to any light that is available in the market. They assist the rangers to seek paths underneath this barren way. Helpful it is, indeed, but Lily nor anyone was surprised by it. Any miracle that comes from Aurora should be considered a normal scientific gear, and that fact was agreed by anyone who had witnessed what the little Doctor of War is capable of, as nothing she crafted carried any magic with it, Angela confirmed.

Back to what’s happening underground, the men are walking toward the other end of this route, or to put it another way, the castle of Voyage. This aqueduct was what supplied the castle with water from a nearby lake until it was abandoned a dozen years ago. For the reason why Lily knows of this entrance, that is because she had explored every corner of her home. Vividly in her memory, there is a single abandoned entrance that led far outside the wall’s defense, which is this way.

““An ambush from within”. Well damn, this is the only way to force them to surrender without a fight.”

Entering the aqueduct, the combatants have to duck down, the height of the entrance does not allow full size people, especially heavily armed soldiers like the knights, bowmen or musketeers to enter. The Marines here have to leave their iconic crossbows and shields behind and only equipped themselves with matchlocks and a blade, barely enough for skirmishing.

For Lily, her massive sword was pointed forward like a pike to reduce its frontal surface. Can’t wait to test the might of this weapon. Nonetheless, they do not prepare for a full scale conventional clash.Minor battles are alright, but if a large group shows up, they must retreat.

Also, who the hell thought proper sewage systems existed back in the medieval era, they should reeducate themselves. At best, a normal size city would have an aqueduct to supply water into privileged households, while contaminated water would exist via a local river. Voyage is no different, although the river entrance is heavily guarded, so this route is more desirable when it comes to access. From here and out, pretty sure there will be no men who jump out to ambush them.

Going through the corners, they are coming straight to the castle approximately around the city center, thanks God there is only one way, otherwise getting lost is very likely:

“Where will we exit though?”-someone from the team asks.

Suddenly, Lily stops, then say:

“A female bathroom.”

Bang!

The Archduchess makes a hard kick into where she guessed to be “the way out”, and it really is. What is exposed after Lily moves her leg out of the way and debris stops falling is what seems to be a bathroom, a female bathroom according to the Archduchess. Why not male one might ask, it is because Lily only entered the female bathroom, so reasonably she only knows the aqueduct that led to the female one.

Whatever, they are inside the castle. To be specific, the second lowest floor of the castle. At this place guards are absent. The sneaky intruders jumps out one by one from the aqueduct, trying their best not to slip over on the wet floor of the bathroom, readying their matchlocks to secure the floor:

“Morgan team calling Lilium Unus, we are about to go upstairs. Require cover.”

Aurora taught them to communicate like that, “Sounded more professional” the little girl told them. Gradually, the entire marine corp adapted the codes:

“Lilium Unus heard that. Copy.”

And the Archduchess acts along as well.

A group of six marines, half holding matchlocks half holding blades hurry their feet onto the higher floor. No enemy, at least that is what the Latilians believe.

“We go.”

Taking a few steps toward, the men pull down every possible thing that might provide them covers, from tables to vases, to doors. They are making it to the main tower, where previously the former Archduke’s office stood. Gelime is believed to be there.

The squads move in rapid speed, trying to avoid guards. The closer they are to the main tower, the denser the network of defenders. Cautious is a must!

“Halt!”

“Hya?”

Another corner, a maid sees them, but she is a Latilian, and she did not alert, probably out of fear and surprise. Lily signaled her to run, and so she did. Having citizens in the middle of a fight is not a good scenario. Anyhow, just a few more corners to go:

“Alright, I can see-”

Just as the team was about to come out from that hall, a go by patrolling Elestovakian soldier, perchance, very unfortunately, found the intruders.

“Hah!?”

“No!”

Taken by surprise, the man went back by a few steps and drew out a sword, though almost fell on his knees. He is trembling, with no will to fight, and can be considered disarmed. Seeing that, a Marine come to him, trying to comfort the man before coming any trouble:

“You there, I can guarantee you safety, so please do not-”

“Alert! The enemies had entered the castle! All personnel gather at the sixth hallway immediately!”

Much to their surprise, the man shouts loudly, alerting the whole castle about their presence.

“Wha- no!”

“Alert! I repeat-” Slash!

The soldier’s words were cut short as Lily launches herself out and smashes the guy into his skull with the weight of her mighty black greatsword.

Sling!

The black sword was pulled out from the pile of skull debris and blood. It was quick, mere second, too fast for the Elestovakian to reach, to even feel death coming toward him. The man died with open eyes, painlessly:

“Tch!”

The Elestovakian body falls. Blood shoots up onto the black attire.

The Archduchess looks up. The alert of the soldier kneeling in front of her has gathered more guards, and they are forming a defensive shield wall.

On the other end of the team, the same thing is happening. They are besieging them in a castle.

“Damn you all…”

From Lily’s observations, each one of them equipped with a sword and a heavy shield, matchlocks of the Marines cannot do much harm, so even when the commando team gathers around Lily, the Elestovakians manifest no fear at all. They have numbers, and they have better arms, it is sensible to think that the intruders will be grounded within a moment:

“...I wanted to avoid this, but you forced me to.”-Lily says with the corpse in front of her before brutally kicking it aside-”Switch the plan, we have to go all assault.”

However, they did not bring ranged weapons.

“Draw out your melee weapons. We will wipe the floor with their blood.”