I march my army to the city of Tundo, while Midrax heads south to the free the slaves of Bravens mine. Hopefully that idiot won’t waste anymore men. I can’t let every tool go to waste when I have an island to conquer.

But that is something I can do anything about now. The best I can do is wait to see if he succeeds.

As the city comes into view. I put my army into a pincer formation. If the defenders of the city come out to fight us.

Alex will take the left side, and Max will cover the right.

Before I can attack, the city needs to be surrounded.

I know what the city hides, their gate to other cities. They will have some tricks up their sleeves to protect their gates.

Not like it will mean much. It will be mine in the end.

The Cinari hide behind their cobblestone walls as we surround their city. Some shout orders to rearrange their defences as we continue our encirclement.

Hours pass as I wait in my tent for my men search for any way we can enter the city. It seems the Cinari have dug themselves in well.

‘We could starve them out. Keep one army here while the rest can focus on taking over the rest of the island,’ Max says, looking over the rough layout of the city.

Alex shakes his head. ‘That could take months, maybe even years. In Mindas, they could store food that would last them for six months. Tundo is a city. They will have enough food to wait for reinforcements. We have to take the city before any help can arrive.’

‘So we attack when we have no way of getting into the city?’ Max questions Alex.

‘We do.’ I hop off my chair. ‘If we can’t go through the walls, we have to go under them.’

‘And how long will that take?’ Max asks me.

Alex replies to Max’s question. ‘A week maybe. Enough time for Midrax to arrive with backup.’

That will be plenty of time for Midrax to return, but if the Verns are telling the truth, it will also be enough time for more Cinari to arrive inside the city. And, we can’t just dig under the city. We will need to distract them before they can set up proper defences against our miners.

‘Do you have any plans, Marak?’ Alex looks at me.

I trace my finger on the map. ‘We need to set up our ballistas around the city. Don’t fire the special bolts, we’ll hold on to them in case the sky demons come. While that happens, a small team will mine under the city walls. Either we will emerge in the city, or we collapse their walls.’

‘What about the fort up north? How do we handle them?’ Max points to Fort Shatler on the map.

Alex rubs his chin. ‘Max could have half of her army keep an eye out. If they get close, they can ambush them before they reach the city. And if things do get out of hand, her scouts can warn us before they can arrive.’

Alex brings up a good point. Max’s strategy and scouting techniques can serve us well to alarm us if any Cinaris are coming. She is competent enough to take them on. Alex and I can handle the siege without her.

‘My king, I have a message!’ A Dog runs into my tent.

I growl at the messenger. ‘Make it quick. I have more important things to deal with.’

‘It’s the leader of the city. He wishes to talk to you. He is waiting at the front of the city’s gates.’

Max and Alex stare at me in surprise. Why would a Cinari care to talk to me?

It doesn’t matter. Their General made the same mistake. It wouldn’t hurt to talk to the monster in person. And it will give me a good understanding of who I am dealing with.

‘I’ll be there. Maybe they are going to surrender.’

Alex folds his arms. ‘And if they don’t?’

I head out of the tent to meet up with this leader. ‘Then we treat them how they should be treated.’

I make my way to the city’s entrance. The figure waits outside, wearing his armour.

This can’t be the leader. This has to be some sort of joke or messenger. He isn’t wearing the typical decorated armour of gold and jewels. His hair is short and dirty, his nose crooked and misplaced. He is way younger than their other leaders. Something must be up.

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We stand a few meters from each other, both of us with our hands firmly placed on our weapons.

‘You must be Marak,’ the man shouts in an authoritative tone.

‘I am, and who must you be?’

‘Commander Volas Regali. I am in charge of this place. So what brings you to my city?’

So he is the leader. Maybe not all the Cinari leaders wear the black and gold armour.

‘I came to take it. This city holds an artefact that I need. It is a shame that your people have it. For now, at least.’

‘I am disappointed to inform you that it isn’t yours to have. Nor will you have my city. I am going to politely ask you to leave or surrender.’

I laugh at the idiot. Why would he think I’d surrender to him? ‘You are a foolish to think I will give up to you, Volas. I’m on the verge of taking over the south. It is inevitable that the north will soon fall.’

‘I am not like the other Commanders, Marak. If I can beat your men in the crossing. I will beat you here.’

So he is the reason Midrax lost so many of his men. I have to admit; he doesn’t look intimidating. Maybe he isn’t like his fellow Cinaris Commanders.

‘You still lost the crossing,’ I tell the beast.

‘The crossing wasn’t meant to be held. It was meant to be a killing field for your kind. So I’ll ask you again. Will you leave, or surrender?’

I scoff. ‘You know I won’t leave, Cinari. But I will promise that this will be your last city to defend.’

‘Don’t count on it.’

I snarl at him as we part ways back to our armies. As Volas enters the gates of his city, I walk to my men as we prepare our siege.

I will make sure they suffer for defending what is rightfully mine. And I will enjoy their torment.

For three weeks, we besiege that city.

We try scaling the walls, breaking them with ballistas, even mining under them has proven difficult for us.

The Cinari here are different. They are far more organised and brave than those I have fought out west.

This Volas guy might have something to do with it. He is the one that defeated Midrax’s men. I can’t disrespect him for his fruitless efforts. But if he is as good as to nearly defeat one of my Generals, he must not live. He would be a risk to my plan and expansion.

‘May I enter, your highness?’ A Dog stands at the entrance of my tent. She is probably going to report how the siege is going, repeating the same phrases about how we are right on schedule or how one of my generals did something.

‘Come in, what’s the news?’

She walks into my tent with her hands by her side, shaking as she gets closer to me.

‘The wall has been breached where Alex is. He is currently pushing into the city, but is facing heavy resistance from the Cinari.’

‘That’s good. What about Max?’

‘Her miners have reached the city, but she is facing resistance from their own miners. The tunnel fighting was so bad, some of her men have ran away for safety and-’

‘Run away?’ I interrupt her.

She points outside. ‘Ye… yes, my king. They are-’

I push her out of my way to head outside to the cowards who ran away from battle. All of them are tied up and on their knees, their heads facing down in shame. Twelve cowards, refusing to speak a word.

A gush of icy wind breezes through me. I look up to see the first drops of snow. It’s good to see winter is finally here after so long. A shame that their blood will have to mix with it.

‘Who among you ran away first?’ I pull my sword out to see them panic in their binds.

I won’t allow cowards into my kingdom, for they are a plague that needs to be stamped out. I am their king, and I will decide when it is time to walk away or to keep fighting. Not them, not anyone!

‘Cowardice is punishable by death!’