Chapter 132

The Gates of Umberland

Umberland Mountain Path

The vanguard column under Servius was a day away from the camp when they received news from Lord Lansius about a new threat. While his staff was surprised to hear about beastmen so far from their territory, this did not deter them. They continued their mission to retrieve the fallen scouts.

In retrospect, the demise of the scouts was likely caused by the same beastmen that had attacked the Lord's tent. Moreover, the Lord himself had confided in Servius through his missive, suspecting that the grotesque warning in the forest could be a strategy employed by the beastmen.

It was possible that the beastmen used this grotesque warning to draw the troops away from the camp, thus enabling them to infiltrate it easily on a foggy night and attempt the assassination. After all, the beastmen, or more correctly, half-breeds or half-beasts, possessed intellect akin to humans.

While Servius contemplated the new threat with his staff, there was little he could do other than maintain his men's discipline and march in full readiness.

On the second day of the march, the column found what they were looking for. Guided by the same group that found it, Servius personally inspected the site.

Due to the grotesque nature and deteriorating condition of the bodies after several days in the open, only a special group was allowed to approach. There, Servius made the decision to bury them at the nearest suitable location.

Lord Lansius' missive had informed him that the situation had changed after the beastmen's attack. As formidable as they were, beastmen were not fell-beasts.

The running sentiment was that men could kill beastmen, but not fell-beasts.

Thus, with the situation altered, the missive also gave Servius the option to bury the victims in place, which he did because the bodies were in a worse condition than expected.

Witnessed by their fellow scouts and men-at-arms, the fallen scouts were dressed in clean clothes and gambesons before being laid in their graves. Earthen mounds were made, and stone markers were placed.

The column camped for the night, and Servius met with Sir Harold, who had just returned from surveying the mountain road.

"We found no threat at all and I'm considering proceeding further to Umberland City," Sir Harold told Servius after their supper.

Servius nodded. "Indeed, we have yet to find any suspicious activity or movements."

Sir Harold sipped at his warm posca—a sweet, vinegary wine and water—and said, "With a small group of horsemen, I could reach Umberland Castle in a day or two, riding like nomads with spare horses."

Servius gazed at him squarely. "I'm not sure what to say. But the Lord wants you to lead the entire Dragoons."

"If it's for recon, I'll move faster with fewer men. Say forty? I'll turn around if I encounter strong opposition."

Servius thought about the new plan. "I must admit, learning about Umberland Castle's current situation would be a big boon."

"Then will you agree?" the knight asked.

The Nicopolan condottiere chuckled. "I'm not your superior, Sir."

"Well, the Lord taught me to always coordinate; otherwise, we'll get destroyed piecemeal style."

"That is true..." Servius mulled before deciding, "Then, Sir, feel free to scout ahead. The rest of the dragoons can return with me."

"Gratitude. And what about you?"

Rubbing his shoulder that had marks from flogging, Servius said, "The scouts have found a suitable place to build a small fortified post. I reckon it's the same spot that the Nicopolans used when we traveled from Umberland to Korimor."

Sir Harold nodded, realizing that Servius had traveled the area once.

"It'll be easily converted for trade or other uses later," the older gentleman continued.

"Like the Lord's market post?" Sir Harold ventured.

"Indeed." Servius grinned. "I've heard of them and realize their potential."

The knight laughed. "The Lord would be pleased. Just make sure it's well-defended against both men and beasts."

"I will. It should accommodate 20-30 fighters with good wooden construction to withstand the biggest bear attack."

Sir Harold stroked his chin. "Hastily made from uncured wood would bend in summer, but let's worry about the long term later."

"I agree. Lord Lansius will certainly have a say in this," Servius concluded their plan.

Afterward, they had a relaxed chat by a small fire underneath the tent. Both still wore gambesons in case of a beastmen attack, and their weapons were nearby. Gradually, the discussion shifted to the subject of Lord Lansius and the Nicopola region.

"The way I see it, we're caught between a rock and a hard place," Servius explained. "We need enough men to defend Umberland and deter more armed refugees from Nicopola. That requires a lot of men. And a lot of men is hard to sustain."

Sir Harold nodded, aware that Umberland had little fertile land and had most likely fallen into ruin after the Nicopolan raids. "So, what do you propose?"

As they sat on the carpets, Servius leaned forward. "We could go down to Nicopola and claim the nearest farmland."

The knight sighed but didn't shake his head. "Is that even feasible...? First, we need to secure Umberland. Then, somehow, we must find the marauding Nicopolans, drive them out, follow them to Nicopola, battling our way, and conquer the farmland there?"

Servius exhaled deeply, acknowledging the plan's ambitious nature.

Adding more wood to the waning fire, Sir Harold asked, "What drives you, Servius? Why go to such lengths?"

Servius watched the fire consume the slightly damp branch, listening to it snap and crackle. Then, he turned to the knight. "Two reasons."

The younger man remained silent, giving Servius his full attention.

"First, I want to save the province and its people from further harm. Without intervention, the whole province could be in ruins for years."

"That's a noble goal," Sir Harold remarked.

Servius nodded. "Secondly," he said with a smirk.

Catching the smirk, Sir Harold chuckled. The second reason didn't even need to be said.

"Nicopola is a vast region with large cities, towns, and villages. I don't know about you, Sir, but for a man like me, I'm looking for a good place to retire. At least as a lower noble so my family can have a better life."

...

The next morning, after sending a fast messenger to their Lord, Sir Harold led forty Dragoons, each with two spare horses, to ride to Umberland Castle.

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He explained to Lord Lansius that, given the circumstances, he had a better chance for reconnaissance in strength compared to risking another party of long-range scouts. He also mentioned his reluctance to bring a large cavalry detachment due to the mountain path's nature, which could complicate a retreat if necessary.

As Sir Harold and his selected forty riders ascended the hill, accompanied by a Nicopolan and a local familiar with the area, the Vanguard encampment buzzed with activity, preparing for their return. However, before they could break camp, a messenger arrived.

Servius greeted the messenger, who was none other than Sterling, the Lord's personal squire. "What a coincidence, Sir Harold just sent a messenger."

"Yes, I met him on the road," Sterling replied, after taking a drink offered by a pageboy.

"So, what news do you bring?" Servius inquired, inviting the younger man into his tent, which was still being packed.

Seeing the tent, Sterling remarked, "There’s no need to pack your belongings." He added, "The Lord and Lady are on the march. They will be here soon."

Servius smiled. He knew Lord Lansius wasn't one to remain idle when presented with an opportunity. "But what about the main camp on the hill?"

"The Lord of Three Hills has assumed command of the encampment."

"Excellent. Then, am I to assume I have free rein to build a post?"

"A post?" Sterling asked, eyebrow raised.

"Yes, the scouts have found an excellent spot along the mountain route." Servius led Sterling outside and pointed to where the mountain recessed inward. "It's likely the same spot travelers and Nicopolans like me used as a resting spot."

"I see, it’s a sizable area," the squire commented.

"Indeed. We plan to build a fortified post there."

Sterling surveyed the forested area. The mountain road to Umberland Castle was bordered by forest on one side and a cliff on the other. "It could serve well as an observation tower."

"Indeed. As a warning post, and to deter bandits, animals, and beasts if necessary," Servius elaborated. "What do you think, will the Lord approve?"

Sterling pondered briefly. "The Lord merely instructed me to prevent your return if the situation was clear of problems. But he specified that his orders shouldn’t hinder military maneuvers or activities."

"Then it's decided," Servius said, his mind already racing with plans not only to construct the post but also to secure and fortify the surrounding area.

...

Despite suggestions of beastmen activity, Servius was confident in the vanguard's readiness and instructed his men to begin the construction process. The Lord's insistence on bringing additional construction tools and materials proved to be a blessing.

Before midday, a sizeable area of the forest had been cut down, revealing a descending slope. Servius cleared the trees not only for raw materials but also to improve visibility and make it easier to detect intruders from the forest.

Ideally, he wanted to erect palisade walls along the roadside to enhance defensibility. However, realizing the significant time and effort required, he decided to leave the final decision to Lord Lansius. It was also possible to enlarge the post into a compound with stone gateways and even a small tower.

Such an upgrade would be advantageous in every aspect and would offer better protection for wayfarers, but it would require skilled guildsmen, not untrained masons like them.

With men-at-arms positioned defensively and dragoons armed with crossbows guarding the work site, the work steadily advanced. Day turned to night, and night to morning again. Despite a foggy morning, no attack occurred, and no scout was missing.

Encouraged by the calm, Servius maintained his position and continued the work.

Around midday, the blue and bronze banner was spotted in the distance, marching solemnly toward their position. Soon the Lord and Lady arrived. They brought additional men and supplies, along with a team of engineers from Three Hills to construct siege engines.

***

The horses were neighing, clearly showing their displeasure. Sir Harold recognized that the Lowlandian horses were not accustomed to the mountainous region. The grass tasted different here, the air felt different, and even the smells were unfamiliar. To calm their mounts, the knight expedited the rotational change.

Following his instructions, his riders dismounted, and fresh horses were brought forward. They took a quick break for a drink and then continued their journey. It was their second day, and they had yet to encounter anything suspicious.

His men had warned him about the unsettling quiet, and Sir Harold knew this assessment was accurate. Although forty riders might not seem like many, before the chaos swept through the Imperium, it was common for castles to be guarded by only a dozen men or so.

"This is where we bypassed the castle," the Nicopolan pointed out, indicating another larger trail that cut through the woods to Sir Harold. "There are several villages there with good streams from the mountains," he added with a hint of bitterness.

Those who heard him understood without needing to ask that the Nicopolan had witnessed these villages being raided.

"Should we split up?" the lieutenant asked.

Sir Harold thought for a moment. He could see the merit in checking whether Nicopolan armed refugees were hiding there—if so, they could risk a surprise attack from behind. However, the fighter in him refused to give in to baseless fear. Thus, he shook his head. "Just place two riders here as lookouts. Tell them to blend in."

The knight then took his helmet from his squire and reiterated their mission to his men, "Our goal is Umberland Castle."

Thus, the dragoons pressed on until they caught sight of Umberland Castle, its silhouette guarded by a mossy stone bulwark connecting two mountains. As the clouds darkened, Sir Harold, after ensuring their horses were well-rested for any potential encounter with a larger cavalry force, urged his riders forward.

What they encountered next surprised them.

***

Umberland Region

Aside from a castle for defense, Umberland boasted two separate bulwark walls and gates blocking access to the city. One was named the Lowlandia Gate because it led to the Great Lowlandia Plains, which then branched off towards either Korimor or Three Hills City.

The second separate wall, known as the Nicopola Gate, was situated further at a mountain pass leading to Nicopola. The Nicopola bulwark stood alone at a natural choke point where the road was flanked by a mountain on one side and a cliff on the other. The absence of a forested area made this mountain pass an effective guard against an out of province attack.

Different than the Nicopola Gate, the Lowlandia Gate served as Umberland City's wall. Its walls and gatehouse were integral to protecting the city and formed part of the castle's outer defense.

It could be said that the Nicopola Gate controlled access to and from Nicopola, whereas the Lowlandia Gate was specifically designed to protect the city and its castle.

Of the two, the Nicopola Gate was much older, nearly ancient, constructed during the early Imperium to counter threats that no longer exist. This bulwark predates the castle and Umberland City by at least a millennium.

However, due to its lesser importance to the local lord, the treacherous nature of the mountain road to Nicopola, and minimal trade, the pass received only minimal attention and maintenance.

Men assigned there were those who could not offer bribes, led by a noble out of favor at court.

Last summer, when the Nicopolans came, despite the mighty stone bulwark, the defenders could only hold for twenty short days before abandoning it due to multiple scaling attempts.

Servius and the Nicopolans who traveled with Sir Harold knew this firsthand. They had even taken part in the assault. At that time, it was considered an easy victory that bolstered everyone's spirits. They marched confidently into Umberland City, which was protected by another bulwark. However, this time, no matter how fierce their assaults, they were defeated.

Umberland's uniqueness lay in its castle and bulwark, designed to protect fertile land with mineral-rich water flowing from the mountain. A small river cascaded down into the city and castle, providing ample resources for defense.

The only vulnerability was the multitude of goat paths which, if diligently searched for by an invader, could pose a threat. Additionally, due to its remoteness, Umberland was relatively sparsely populated. Despite their formidable bulwarks, their troops numbered only two hundred.

Against the many thousands of Nicopolans who tried their luck at conquering the land, it seemed there was little hope for survival. While they indeed survived the first wave, which also brought Servius and his men, they knew at least another wave was trailing behind.

That was why, when Sir Harold and his dragoons arrived, they were amazed to see the banners of the Umberland House still flying proudly on the bulwark. The unique sound of brass horns blew, echoing through the mountains and adding a unique depth. Suddenly, men with crossbows and swords were ready at the bulwark, staring down at the invaders.

Sir Harold instructed one of his riders to fly the Blue and Bronze banner high. A man in full armor in the gatehouse noticed they were not armed refugees and immediately issued a challenge: "Halt, you are within the domains of the Lord of Umberland."

"Greetings. I have come from Three Hills, bringing the host of Korelia, Korimor, and South Hill, to aid Umberland and strengthen its defenses."

The answer shocked everyone atop the bulwark, who quickly turned abuzz with speculations.

"Good Sir, whose banner do you fly?" asked the knight on the wall.

Sir Harold smiled. "You must not be familiar with this. It is the Lord of Korelia's banner."

"Korelia? Then your lord is far from home. Where is the rest of your mighty host?"

"The Lord of Korelia is also the Protector of Korimor, the Lord of South Hill, and the leader of the Grand Alliance."

The announcement caused the Umberland troops to murmur.

"Please wait," came the expected response as the knight needed to consult with his superiors.

Sir Harold dismounted, sat on a boulder, and waited patiently. His men spread around, drinking and resting their weary bodies.

After a lengthy period, the knight returned accompanied by another person, more distinguished in appearance, wearing a colorful doublet. This individual, in his early fifties, looked red-faced, obviously panting after ascending a flight of stairs. He surveyed Sir Harold below and declared, "My good Sir, Umberland is safe and sound. Please return to your Lord and inform him we honor his goodwill, but Umberland does not require reinforcements."

The response was anticipated. Despite the waiting being in vain, Sir Harold responded with a smile. "I'll relay your words to my lord. Then, how about we discuss some trade and cooperation? It would be a missed opportunity for both Houses if the two Lords failed to meet and discuss potential cooperation."

The man in the colorful doublet exchanged glances with his knight, both appearing flustered, likely contemplating the necessity of another climb to consult their Lord on this unexpected proposal.

Meanwhile, two days' journey from there, the Lord and Lady were leading the main army toward Umberland.

***