"There is a civil war in Cridia, and I am afraid that Korkas can't spare his troops to help us as he promised," a hoarse voice heralded the news from the doors to Jilai's quarters.
"So what? We can wait that out," a tired voice replied from the darkness inside. "It's been a week since we received the orders to lay low, so we are going to lay low, dammit!"
"What is the Empire doing?"
"The Metaka Empire is calling their soldiers. They are going to expand using the turmoil in Cridia. But they grossly overestimated their chances. Korkas is pissed; he sent Kneht to the border and wants me to aid him just in case."
"Shouldn't you prepare to leave then?" A man standing at the doors lit the lights, annoyed by talking to Jilai, who was sitting in darkness. "Oh fuck, Jilai! You wasted so many of our wares."
Jilai was lying on the bed, surrounded by the sleeping or dead naked women of various races. Jilai laughed horribly and stood up. He beamed, showing his fangs, and put on a shirt on his green body.
"What? I was bored. It's not my fault these bitches couldn't stand more than a few rounds with me."
"Some of them could have fetched a really high price!"
"We will capture new ones." Jilai yawned, bored. "Mukka, what the fuck do you want? We have been kept underground for months, and when we should have resumed our operations, Korkas wanted us to play mercenaries. I don't fucking run a charity."
"King Korkas ordered me to tell you 'the Void's calling,' and you are supposed to know what it means."
"THE FUCK YOU JUST SAID?" The big Orc turned his head abruptly towards the shorter Lizardman, causing his neck to crack audibly.
"The Void's calling..."
"Prepare the soldiers immediately!"
"How many?"
"ALL OF THEM!"
•••
I read the reports and sighed heavily. It had been three days since the Dragonkins had started working their asses off to prove they were worthy. I blankly stared at the wall and sighed, recalling all of the instances where the Guardsmen had reminded them of their status. For their credit, a substantial portion of them already had the right idea. The rest... They were trying, at least. I returned to my previous thoughts and looked at the map. My conquests in the south and west were decisive and rarely ended in battles or sieges. The Cridian army left to defend these lands could not challenge anything larger than a few companies. My most significant concerns were not connected with the Cridian army at all. The local dungeons seemed to grasp the wind of what was coming. I decided they posed a far more significant threat than could be easily determined.
That was why three of my scions embarked on the mission to subdue all of the dungeons in the area. The last important part of this puzzle was politics. The surface level of dependencies and relations between the countries was pretty easy to grasp. It got gradually complicated as my spies' reports reached Avalon. The continent was in a delicate balance, and its peace was guaranteed by the brittle promises and uncertain treaties. However, the convincing reason for the civil war in Cridia was enough to plunge this world into chaos. More extensive and smaller countries raised their weapons at each other, and wars of all sizes started to break out. Of course, some of them weren't even apparent to the people living in some countries; somewhere, a border skirmish broke out; somewhere else, the Royal Family was assassinated, and only here or there a big-scale war occurred.
I put away the report about foreign affairs and picked a more optimistic one. The two additional legions were ready to be fielded: Legio V Mors Praecones, which meant Death Heralds, and Legio VI Vermiculus Venatores, which meant Crimson Hunters. After Fulminata and Ferrata, I made up legion names since the historic ones were too detached from my new world, or I simply didn't like how their names sounded. This way, I had four legions for the gruelling campaign that awaited me in the north and east.
"Darling?" Amber raised her head from over her documents.
"Yes?"
"I don't like the moves made by the Empire of Metaka and the Holy Kingdom of Berna. Luna is trying to make something from the fragmented reports we are receiving. Still, it looks like they will ally themselves against 'the evil from the west and south and aid the righteous rebellion in Cridia against the tyrants.' I don't like the sound of that."
"Hmmm... I don't care what they say, but what are they doing?" I looked at her.
"This is the problem. Nothing," she sighed, and I tensed.
"They are not even gathering their soldiers?" I asked, full of suspicion.
"Oh, on paper, they do plenty... They issued orders for total mobilisation, but in reality, their logistic divisions are doing nothing." She frowned like an angry cat.
"Hmmm..." I stood up and went towards her desk. I put my hands over her shoulders and slowly massaged her back while I leaned over her to read the report she was holding. "I see no point in declaring something like that and then doing nothing. The Cridians moved substantial forces on the borders, which greatly impeded their reaction times, giving me a huge advantage in the field."
Amber panted silently and moaned with pleasure, moving slowly under my hands, allowing me to help her ease her tension. "Hestia insists that they have no interest in helping us. Their pantheon never liked them, so there is no way they are helping now. On the contrary- Cridia was a stable but relatively weak country under the rule of Josla. Our Kingdom will be a monstrous power that surely will eclipse the Empire."
"You said that their pantheon never liked this one. However, it's possible that they sensed the Voidlings. In that case, they may feel obliged to do something, even if that's an empty promise of help? They will lose nothing but can later take the credit for helping us." I kissed her on the top of her head and returned to my desk, which made Amber sigh disappointedly.
"That is possible... I'll tell Luna and Hestia about it." She wrote a few sentences on a piece of paper and handed it to one of the Slime Maids, who swiftly disappeared.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
"In two weeks, the first and second legions should reach the Cridian borders on the south and west. Drake is following them with the Guardsmen Corps, and they are restoring order under our banners. Ban sent twenty thousand Guardsmen in the wake of the legions with enough food supplies to ease any civil unrest," I declared.
"The food might be a problem in the long run," Amber pointed out, resting her face on her elbow.
"The supply chain is non-existent, so no wonder..." I scratched the back of my head. "The first thing I will do after our legendary artisans kindly show up will involve sending them to build me a road network."
"I really want to know what they are doing..." Amber smiled flatly. "I swear, if they are building another carriage, I will personally make them run around the castle walls until they drop unconscious."
"Let's hope not..." I sighed. "I don't think that expanding Avalon for new crop fields is a good idea."
"Don't worry about it. Next week, I plan to visit Demesne, so I will see how they are doing in the City of Wolf Manor." Amber smiled and stretched her arms. "Irene, Luna, Hestia, and Aoi are going as well. Are you going with us?"
"Of course!" I beamed a smile that quickly was replaced by a sour grimace. "Unless something unexpected manifests itself to ruin that day..."
•••
"Lord Blair?!" An astonished voice called him from behind.
"In person, young lady," he replied cheerfully and turned around. "However, I am no longer a Lord."
The young Nekomi, who was somehow familiar, was gazing at him with adorable confusion painted on her face. Near her was a tall Elf, and he was holding her hand.
"Please, young Lady, could you refresh the memory of this old man since your face seems so familiar, yet I can't recall your name?" He rubbed his white, short beard, trying his best.
"My name is Idna Goldentail." She smiled and bowed to him politely.
"Miss Idna?! Is that really you?" He dropped his books in shock and eyed her even harder. "You changed so much! I... I'm so sorry..."
"What for, sir?" Idna and the man near her ducked and quickly picked up the books dropped by Blair.
"That I allowed my head butler to fire you. It turned out that his accusations were false. He blamed many things on you. I trusted that man who ultimately did that so his niece would get your job." The old man bowed to her. "I'm so sorry for that injustice."
"Eriar wanted that, Lord Blair." Idna laughed and handed him books, but seeing his surprised face, she added. "Not long after you fired me, my sister found me and took me to Avalon. If I were still working for you, I would have been reluctant to leave back then since you were a good employer, sir."
"I see. Then indeed it had to be that way..." He smiled softly and looked at the tall man. "She is a good girl. Take good care of her."
"I will," he promised with a serious but soft smile.
Destra Blair eyed him for a moment, and his trained eyes saw subtle hints and hidden weapons on his person, concealed so perfectly, yet they were apparent for the old veterans like him. But just a single gaze into his eyes was enough to read that boy and understand that he was madly in love with Miss Idna.
"I see she is in good hands." He gave the assassin a gaze that he knew who he was, but the Elf smiled.
"Oh, allow me to introduce my fiance, Tulir." Idna smiled warmly and pointed at the proud Elf, who bowed to him.
"Tulir..." Blair focused on just a few names he learnt recently and looked in shock at the man, as all his doubts were gone instantly. Blair almost whispered. "The Blade of Fox Queen..."
"I'm looking forward to your classes, Lord Blair."
Blair smiled and nodded after they waved goodbye. He stood for a moment, wondering about fate and its twists, until he realised that his class starts in half an hour and it would be awkward for a teacher to be late on his first day. He mused about how peculiar his new King was...
•••
Ed and Rita stood in the cold alley behind the scant cover offered by the gate in the shop courtyard. They were observing with empty stares the soldiers wearing blue and white coats who recently arrived and took over the city. Rita smiled faintly, recalling that the evil city lord was imprisoned. Not that it changed anything in her life, but it was good to see that Lady Justice was not dead; she was just slow...
"Get out of here, you beggars!" The angry voice of the shop owner behind them sent both children running in panic.
They ran straight toward the market square, instinctively away from the danger behind them. Before they knew it, they bounced off a strange knight. Ed tried to shield her but was so weak that he could only pant heavily. The soldier looked at them from above, and his face greyed, making Rita cover her head instinctively in wait for an assault. But the punches never came.
"Captain! Two more orphans!" A voice full of compassion yelled right over Rita's head, and she felt something heavy and warm covering her.
When she opened her eyes, she couldn't believe them. A thick blanket covered her, and the soldier gave her brother a second one.
"Bring them to the town hall, Mattias!" another voice ordered.
"Yes, Sir! Willy! Take the boy!"
The strong arms lifted her, and she felt her tears falling from her eyes. The warmth changed into flames, and she almost screamed, making the soldier sigh.
"Not good... You are frostbitten. Willy, how is the boy? She needs to see a healer quickly."
"The boy needs to go as well; his feet are awful."
They quickly entered the Town Hall, and Rita's eyes went wide seeing this incredibly rich place. But the soldiers were unfazed by the gilded ornaments and incredible works of art. Instead, they pushed open the doors, and Rita found herself in front of a priest wearing incredible robes.
"Tom! These two need healing immediately!"
"Sir! We don't have any money," she heard her brother's voice.
"By the order of Queen Irene, we are obliged to provide medical help to anyone in need, young man." Rita watched the priest, who outstretched his hand in awe, put it on her head, and calmly said, "Greater Restoration."
All her wounds and frostbitten parts of her body were healed in an instant. Rita started crying when the Priest did the same to her brother.
"They are good now, Mattias. Take them to the others in the mess hall. These two need to make acquaintances with a few bowls of the stew." A priest named Tom patted her head. "Don't worry, little girl, it's all right now."
"Who are you?" Ed looked at Mattias, Willy, and Tom, who proudly presented their chests with the emblem the kids had never seen before. It was the same emblem that adorned their flags and standards.
"We are the soldiers of King Theon. We are the Guardsmen of Avalon!"
"Can you take us with you when you leave Pine Hills?" Rita asked timidly. "We can clean your camp or bring wood from the forests!"
The three of them started laughing, saddening Rita. But instead of excuses, Mattias ruffled Rita's hair.
"Depart? We are not going anywhere. We are the new city garrison. Until a Noble of Avalon arrives, our Captain will be a new City Lord."
"But what if Queen Josla and her army come here?" Ed asked, making the men look at each other with smiles.
"Before she gets here, she must fight her way through the Immortal Legions of Avalon. Then, she has to besiege and conquer Avalon itself, where the good King and wise Queens reside. Avalon- a place where the Cridian Army had already tasted defeat. If she somehow manages to do that, she will also have to beat us."