The soldiers at the gate first saw a cloud of dust approaching in the distance, and then a black flag caught their eyes. The sight of this symbol sent a shiver through them, for the waving of the flag meant that Rhazgord was at war. The realization that Corvus had come as a leader carrying this flag sent a chill through their veins. The soldiers hesitated for a moment, unsure what to do.

Corvus was racing with the wind as he approached the city gates. The clouds of dust he left behind, rising up the road with his speed, looked like a storm approaching the entrance to the city. The black flag he raised in his hand waved like thunder, bearing the sacred symbol of Rhazgord, sowing fear and respect in the hearts of the soldiers guarding the city gate. These warriors, responsible for the safety of the city, even though they were from Tanar's tribe, were overwhelmed by the magic of Corvus and the flag in his hand. Their loyalty clashed with their fear.

As Corvus approached the gate, he fixed his hawk-like gaze on the two warriors at the door. His voice boomed like thunder as his horse's footsteps echoed like heavy blows on the ground:

“Do you obey the call of the flag!”

Corvus' question was clear and brutal. It was obvious that he wanted a clear answer. If the two warriors had answered in the negative, he would have torn them to pieces without blinking an eye. But the excitement in the hearts of the warriors was so overwhelming that they did not even notice the threat Corvus posed. For them, gathering under the banner was both an honor and a sacred duty. They both raised their axes and shouted:

“To the last drop of our blood!”

Corvus was delighted by the warriors' enthusiastic response. The two young soldiers had made their loyalty clear. Seeing the determination in their eyes, Corvus took a deep breath and spoke with a serious expression. His voice was as harsh and resonant as a battle bugle:

"Listen carefully to what I am about to say! The enemy is now in Bahoz!”

The news came as a shock to the fighters. As they involuntarily turned around and looked back at the city, their faces reflected confusion. Their eyes were filled with worry, as if they were trying to see a shadow hiding behind the city walls. Corvus, seizing the opportunity, gave his orders:

“Close the city gates and sound the alarm! All the warriors will gather in the south of the city, while I will gather the people under the flag.”

As soon as the soldiers heard the orders, they scattered like arrows. Corvus' words seemed to energize them. The city gates closed with a loud bang, and footsteps echoed through the streets, signaling that the alarm was spreading. Corvus had deliberately asked the warriors to gather in the south. This would concentrate the warriors, most of whom were loyal to Tanar, in the southern corner of the city, buying Corvus time and giving him the opportunity to pin down any potential enemies.

As he plunged into the city's main street, Corvus marched forward, waving his flag in the air. The streets narrowed and narrowed, opening towards the square, the heart of the city. With each step, more and more soldiers rushed to the false threat to the south, trying to defend the city. Corvus' plan was working; the square was almost empty and only the footsteps of civilians echoed through the city streets. Now he had only one goal: To unfurl the flag, rally the people around him and bring everyone into his ranks before he takes the city.

The footsteps of Corvus' horse echoed across the floor of the square as the dust rose like a shimmering curtain in the sun. It was as if the square could not wait to witness one of the greatest moments in history.

When Corvus stepped into the city, carrying the black flag, those who saw him followed him as if mesmerized, filling the square one by one. As he walked through the streets, the dark but majestic waving of the flag drew the crowds after him. In a few minutes the square was filled with the roar of an enthusiastic and agitated crowd. Everyone was eager to see what this young leader of the Rhazgord would do.

When Corvus reached the center of the square, he dismounted and stepped quietly but firmly to the ground. As his gaze scanned the crowd, he slowly raised the horn in his hand to his lips. When Corvus blew on the horn with all his might, every sound in the city suddenly fell silent. It was as if the echo of the horn dominated all the sounds in the city. Nothing could be heard in the whole city except the sound of the trumpet. This shrill and powerful sound, the harbinger of war, instilled both fear and courage.

Corvus sounded the horn three times. This, according to the customs of Rhazgord, signaled an emergency gathering and danger. Every soul in the city heard the call. The crowd gathered in the square like a mass wave of thousands. Eyes were on Corvus; breaths awaited the words from their leader's mouth.

Corvus slowly thrust the spear bearing the flag into the ground. The flag danced with the wind, waving like a dark storm behind him. The sight cast a shadow over the crowd in the square, adding to the heaviness of the waiting. Corvus looked around and spoke in a voice as resolute as the sky:

“Children of Rhaz! Our country is at war!”

These words instantly ignited the crowd. The holy war of the Rhazgord had once again brought them excitement and adrenaline. A few raised their weapons in the air, shouting war cries. Corvus' speech created a wave of excitement, just as the people in the city of Rhazgord had experienced. But Corvus did not let this enthusiasm get out of control; he raised his voice and continued:

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“But the enemy is here! In Bahoz! Tanar sat and watched while the enemy infiltrated Bahoz! That is why he is under arrest and will remain so until the truth is known!”

These words shocked the square. In the crowd, members of Tanar's clan began to grumble in annoyance. Some murmured, others looked around nervously. Tension poisoned the air. Corvus noticed that people were getting restless. His brow furrowed, he turned to the crowd with a threatening look. His voice was sharp as a dagger:

“One way or another, the Black Flag has been given to me! All who see it must come under it, under my command! This is the ancient law of Rhazgord and anyone who defies it will be punished!”

His voice grew in volume, echoing off the walls of the city's buildings. Silence fell in an instant. Even those of Tanar's tribe stopped grumbling, feeling the weight of this sacred law. Corvus' eyes traveled over the crowd gathered in the square, taking in each and every one of them. The determination and leadership in his eyes intimidated everyone in front of him. Then, over the silence that filled the square, he called out once more, this time with a deeper echo:

“Do you obey the call of this flag?!” he thundered. Corvus' voice fell like a thunderbolt on the crowd that filled the square. His eyes pierced each and every member of the crowd, his gaze sharp as a sword, waiting for a response. The sudden silence was almost suffocating. This was not a warning, but a moment of decision. All the people of Bahoz looked at the black flag in Corvus' hand, feeling the weight of Tiamat blood and the shadow of Rhazgord traditions. Everyone knew that if they refused to come under that banner, they would betray not only the Tiamat, but the ancient heritage of the Rhazgord. And the penalty for betrayal could only be paid in blood.

At first no one moved. Eyes turned to each other, faces tense, hesitant. Whispers rose, but no one dared to take the first step. The unrest growing inside them was a rebellion over Tanar's arrest, but the flag was there. Corvus was a Tiamat and the country was at war. A young warrior shouted in a shaky voice, “To the last drop of our blood!” It was like the first drops of a great river, and the crowd erupted in a wave of shouts. Even members of Tanar's family reluctantly raised their voices. There was no turning back now; united under the black flag, victory or death awaited them.

“Everyone follow me!” Corvus ordered, his voice still echoing. The huge crowd instinctively followed him. The people of the city moved like an army behind the determined steps of their new leader. Some wielded swords, some spears, most were simply filled with rage and anger. Perhaps they were not professional warriors, but their determination made them dangerous. Corvus' strategy began to work. If things went wrong, he could hold Tanar's men for a while with these people in Bahoz, and with reinforcements from Rhazgord he could see his plan through to the end.

As Corvus swept the crowd behind him like a whirlwind, the soldiers gathered in the south answered the call of his horn and moved toward the center. The echoes of the bugle and the sounds of the roaring people drew them to the center. Each step seemed like a trap, but the soldiers were unwittingly falling into Corvus' embrace. Those gathered in the south were heading towards their own fate.

But the city was not just Corvus' theater of war. Shadows stirred in the dark alleys and treacherous plans continued to be hatched. In hidden corners of the city, masked men gathered in panic. Months of labor, deceit and intrigue were for this moment. Every effort, every gold, every plan they had spent to capture Bahoz was now about to crumble to the ground. Corvus' sudden intervention had upset all their calculations. But all was still not over. Like a dark shadow, the leader of the masked men continued to work his insidious plan.

“Send the messenger birds! Get the troops waiting at the border here now!” the leader ordered. His voice was dark, cold and cruel. The orders were swiftly carried out and the birds, with small letters tied to their feet, were quickly released into the sky. Even though Corvus had given the strict order, 'Not a bird shall escape from the city!', the birds soared free and soared towards the horizon. Even if his plans had gone awry, he could have turned the situation around by calling in the army. Still, it would take at least six hours for the troops to reach here, and it was almost impossible to hold out that long under Corvus' pressure.

The leader of the masked men moved swiftly through the shadows like a hunter. He watched the echoes of Corvus' bugle and the movements of the soldiers gathered to the south. In the midst of the chaos, he was looking for an opening for himself. A cruel and treacherous idea swirled in his mind. If he made the right move, he could upset Corvus' plan and get one last chance to capture Bahoz. But it was a big risk. Either the whole city would fall into Corvus' hands, or his.