Stones of Light, the likes of which even the most powerful nations on the continent dreamed of, had accumulated in Sanguinar's secret storerooms. These stones were not only a precious mineral, but an almost mythological source of power. But the people of Rhazgord, and especially Sanguinar and his family, knew only too well the true nature of the Stone of Light: That it was both a blessing and a curse. If the Stone of Light was used continuously, or taken in large doses at once, it could prove fatal. The power of the stone would soon consume the human body, increasing stamina but burning the soul. Therefore, Sanguinar carefully managed this huge resource at his disposal.
Only Sanguinar's family and a few loyal followers were given a limited amount of the Stone of Light, which was collected in warehouses. It was a strategic decision: If even the common soldiers of the Rhazgord gained access to such a vast amount of a powerful resource, the balance of power in the city could be upset. Everyone was a potential enemy, and empowering enemies was not a risk Sanguinar could afford to take. Therefore, the people of Rhazgord and ordinary soldiers had limited access to the Stone of Light. They could only acquire a small amount of Light Stones after major attacks against demons, and these rare stones were usually sold in the market. Sanguinar knew the value of his stones and kept them only in the most trusted hands.
Corvus, however, was one of the few who had access to this vast treasure. Everything that had accumulated in his father Sanguinar's warehouses technically belonged to the Tiamats. Corvus, the future leader of the Tiamats, knew that one day he would own all of this treasure. Even if Sanguinar lost his position, the ownership of the goods in the warehouses traditionally passed to Sanguinar's family. Corvus therefore had access to these stones as he wished, based on his father's trust.
Every time he entered the warehouse, the faint glow and powerful energy emitted by the stones made Corvus' body tremble. The gleaming stones were far more precious than gold and jewellery. But this power was a weapon to be used with care.
Corvus knew very well the value of the Stone of Light, but to realise his strategic goals, he had to take a big step. That's why he was now down a full fifty kilos from storage. Even though the Rhazgord's huge warehouse still seemed full to the brim, each of these stones was priceless. But for Corvus, this was not a loss, but the first step in a major investment. These Stones of Light would lay the foundations of the Rhazgord and its future power.
Belisarius and his men decided to load the stones late into the night, after the celebration was over. Every move was carefully planned; the Sizat Empire must never learn that the Stones of Light had travelled to the Kingdom of Adler. It was an almost impossible task not to miss the stones, because Sizat spies were everywhere. Belisarius was therefore determined to transport the stones to Adler as secretly as possible. During the night, they quietly prepared and set the convoy on its way. By dawn the convoy was ready for departure. But Belisarius was troubled; he wanted to say goodbye to Corvus. But Corvus was nowhere to be seen. Belisarius waited, but it was time to go and there was no point in wasting any more time.
Tired during the night, Belisarius threw himself into the back of a carriage and lay down to sleep. The monotony of the journey and the tensions of the night were enough to make Belisarius close his eyes. But when he awoke, he was disturbed by the sounds he heard. The sound of horseshoes outside was much louder than he had expected. When he poked his head out and looked behind the convoy, he saw thousands of Rhazgord soldiers marching behind him. The eyes of the soldiers were scanning the surroundings intently, every one of them walking on alert. As he tried to understand what was happening, he suddenly heard a familiar voice.
"So you left without saying goodbye to me." Corvus' voice was mocking, as if he was genuinely upset that Belisarius had not said goodbye to him.
Belisarius was startled. He did not know what to say in the face of this unexpected situation. He thought about what to say for a few seconds, then asked with a half smile on his face, "What are you doing here?"
Corvus answered this question with a big smile. He looked at Belisarius with a wry twinkle in his eye. "I have things to do in the same direction as you," he said, his voice full of amusement. "If I'd known you'd be so sorry to see me, I wouldn't have come!" He smiled slightly at his words, as if this encounter was merely a friendly joke.
But Belisarius ignored Corvus' mocking tone and slight smile. There was a bigger question occupying his mind. He began to think about what Corvus meant by 'things to do'. Clearing the trade routes was where Corvus should be going. If Corvus was travelling in the same direction as him, that meant there were dangers on that road. And if the roads were not cleared, then the convoy with the Stone of Light was in trouble. Belisarius' mind was suddenly filled with uneasy thoughts.
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He slowly dismounted from the carriage and walked over to Corvus. Despite Corvus' cheerful appearance, his eyes were filled with scepticism. "So..." he said, cautiously. "These roads are still dangerous, are they?"
Corvus lifted his eyes to the sky, as if to downplay the situation. "Ah, yes. A few minor problems," he said, as if the situation was not important at all. Then he added with a serious expression, "But don't worry, Belisarius. While I am here, these roads will be safe for you. Did you think I would leave you alone in the midst of danger?"
Belisarius felt uneasy as he listened to Corvus' words. Despite Corvus' relaxed demeanour, he sensed that this journey would be far more complicated and dangerous than he had thought. The discipline and alertness behind the Rhazgord soldiers made it clear that this was no ordinary journey.
Corvus, noticing the worry on Belisarius' face, looked into his friend's eyes and smiled. "Don't worry..." he said, his voice calm but confident. "I have three thousand men with me." He gestured to the soldier marching in front, carrying a large flag. This flag was decorated with the figure of a black lion on a bright red background. The flag was the ancient symbol of the Tiamats. The soldiers marching under the flag marched with pride and discipline, each one looking ready for battle.
"That is the banner of my family," Corvus said, a gleam in his eyes. "There is no one in the Rhazgord who would dare attack a man who stands behind that banner!" His voice was full of determination and pride. The confidence of not just a leader, but a man who carried the legacy of a nation.
"Near the border is the city of Bahoz," Corvus continued, his eyes fixed on the horizon. "We will escort you there. There are several bandit groups in that area." His tone was serious, for the city of Bahoz was strategically located for Rhazgord and the surrounding kingdoms. Attacks by bandits posed a serious threat to the trade routes.
Belisarius remembered the city well. He had stayed there himself. Bahoz was the only town close to the border, and everyone who travelled to Rhazgord stopped there at least once. This crossroads had the potential to be a vital centre for both trade and diplomatic transit.
Corvus turned to his friend thoughtfully. "I will give you some men to escort you to Adler," he said. These words eased some of Belisarius' uneasiness. However, Belisarius wanted to make it clear in a polite manner that this help was not necessary.
"Thank you, Corvus," he said, without losing his courtesy. "But it's really not necessary. I don't think we'll have any trouble."
Corvus, after listening to Belisarius' polite refusal, widened his smile and decided to reveal his true intentions. "They won't just come to protect you," he said, his voice taking on a more serious and diplomatic tone. "They will also come to protect our treaty!" His words lit a spark in Belisarius' mind. With those words, Belisarius realised for a moment that his friend was fast becoming a true leader.
Corvus knew how critical it was for Belisarius to get the Stones of Light safely to Adler. The success of the treaty depended on these stones reaching Adler. Otherwise, it would be impossible to fulfil Corvus' demands for goods. Therefore, securing this journey meant not only clearing the trade routes, but protecting the future of the Rhazgord.
Corvus' plan did not stop there. He also wanted to ensure that trade was fair. So the men Belisarius was to send with him would not only guard the convoy, but also investigate the internal markets of Adler and the other kingdoms along the route. In this way, Corvus would gather critical information for future deals and learn the true value of the goods Rhazgord produced.
After a day and a half of tiring and silent travelling, the city of Bahoz appeared on the horizon. Even from a distance, the city resembled the harsh and irregular architecture of Rhazgord. Buildings made of stone, with sharp corners, were jammed together. Some appeared to have been eroded by the wind over time; others were held up by patched roofs on the verge of collapse. The grey sky covered the city in a dark blanket, as if the clouds over Bahoz would never dissipate.