***

Commander Gallion looked back at his troupe and the Lord of Westforte castle as he rode into the Flom, and sighed. He had not thought this would be the outcome of waiting for the second wave to arrive. He remembered when he went up to their commander and asked to be reassigned to Northern Lan capital, where the main war was taking place. The commander just raised a brow and told him he is to return home to the capital. His troupe had reacted the same way he thought they would; they were disappointed. They had not had a good war in a while. They were not like other commoners forced out into war, they were soldiers who would gladly die for their kingdom. In haste to leave before he was forced to return home, he told the commander he was to take the lord of Westforte to see Lord Steinhouse; that was their last mission.

And like dogs without a master, they were returning to the city of Flom to see Lord Steinhouse. He is the only one that can help them get into the thick of the action.

They arrived the city and found somewhere to stay. He then led the lord of Westforte to Lord Steinhouse's residence. There, he was told that Lord Steinhouse had not been around and just returned. The maid said he would be with them in a while. He and the lord of Westforte waited.

Walter walked in a while later, looking freshly bathed. Commander Gallion looked back at the guard who always followed Walter around and frowned. They both looked as though they had just had a bath. The sun was out, so he wondered what they could have possibly been doing to need a bath at midday.

Walter paused at the sight of the two seated guests, who had now stood the moment he walked in.

"Sit," he said and he took a seat opposite them.

"Lord Steinhouse, I'd presume. I am the lord of Westforte," the lord of Westforte said.

"How should I address you? I am not sure how the titles are addressed in Northern Lan, but I am aware, you do not hold a formal title," Walter asked.

"Hunjur Khan, my lord. I'd assume the other castle lords have met with you," he said and Walter sighed inwardly. He glanced at D'huile and he vanished.

This startled Commander Gallion and Hunjur, who stiffened visibly. The realisation sunk into their heads. The guard is a high-ranking martial artist.

"Let us wait for them to arrive. I don't like to repeat myself," Walter said and they all descended into silence.

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After a while, D'huile walked in with four grandly dressed men. Walter took in their appearance. He was aware that only Hunjur did not have a title. Two of the rest were barons, one, a viscount and the other, marquees.

"Please, sit," Walter said and they all sat as silence descended.

"Let's be clear on one thing, you will all lose your titles. This is something you cannot help. Juhntt has a certain number of nobility; This will not change. But I offer you to keep your power over your territories. You declare allegiance to the house of Steinhouse and you pay certain amounts of royalties and work in my name," Walter said, his eyes looked bored and tired, as though he could not wait for them to leave so that he could get some sleep.

"Do you think we are stupid? We offer ourselves to the king of Juhntt and he would let us keep our title and maybe give us another instead. You may be winning the war, but you need the people to submit to you. Only we can do that," an elderly man said. Walter was not sure of his title, so he asked.

"What are you called?"

"Luq Skeron, Viscount of Tomaine,"

"I'll explain this as simply as possible. Your king stole the new queen of Juhntt's mother, also known as Lady Teel, head of the Teel family. The kingdom of Juhntt cares a lot about the Teel family and the new queen. The king has every intention of taking away all your power and title to redistribute to the nobility in kingdom," Walter said and the man paled.

"Is that the real reason for the war?" another asked.

"Yes. Now, I know who Lord Tomaine and Hunjur are, please introduce yourselves,"

"Mairon Skeron, baron of Thrum,"

"Xiu Drakar, Baron of Ansville,"

"Viaka Asnor, Marquess of Hamitshire. Why?"

"Why what?" Walter asked back.

"If the king will redistribute the titles and land, yet you still choose before he does so, that means you have the ability to ask for any land you wish. I know you are married to his niece, so it's possible. So, why do you choose before time?" Lord Hamitshire asked.

"Did you not find it odd?" Walter asked commander Gallion who had since felt out of place and was waiting for an opportunity to stand. He could not be sitting while those lords were sitting. He was at first confused as to who they were, but now he feels more out of place. He stood the moment Walter asked him a question.

"Odd, my lord?" he was confused.

"When you delivered arms to Westforte, did you not find it odd? Their weapons were better, more sophisticated and well made," Walter said making commander Gallion frown. Yes, he had noticed so.

"Why would a small city like Flom have such a weapon? I don't think your cousin, the city mayor knows where it is from or much about it. Igar issued it. You are all on the boundary of Northern Lan and Igar," Walter said.

Hunjur sighed a relief when Walter did not suspect his cousin of anything.

"So you intend to use us to protect Juhntt from those suppliers, as we are the boundary between two kingdoms?" Lord Ansville asked.

"I have no such intention, I was just curious. Not only are your lands fertile and productive, but you are also in a position to help me fulfil my curiosity. I just intend that you watch and report. That is all," Walter said standing up.

"You will go to Juhntt under my name. I will give you a letter to hand to my wife. She will handle the rest. For now, rest. It's a long journey to the Juhntt capital," Walter said, walking away.

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