Age of Heroes (Age of Heroes Chronicles)

Chapter 189: Provocation (2)

'The Church.' Ser Massey said eager to give some suggestion.

'We can ask the Church to help us.'

Oliver shakes his head, while rolling his eyes at Massey. Massey looked miffed with that.

'My lord. The Church may have an amiable relation with us but even they will not try to rescue a Dark Land Princess. You know how the Church is.' He said looking at Massey.

'He is right' Arial nodded.

'Then, I guess I just have to send a letter to the Emperor.' Arial said and the other vassal nodded.

'Lord Oliver.' He said

'Yes my lord.'

'Try to find out if the Dark armies have begun marching. Send some spies to the Blessed Lands. And. find some of these Blood Brotherhood followers and see if they can be persuaded.'

'What are you thinking my lord?' Oliver ask as there is a smile on his face. Looking at his face, Arial guessed Oliver had already guessed what he wanted to do

'I'm thinking to support them with goldif the Emperor is stubborn.' Oliver nodded.

'Other news?' Arial asked the other lords

'How about Edward affair?' Arial asked.

'The Church has agreed to help' Massey said.

'They have sent their decree to the Orleans'

'And their response?'

'Their council is disbanded' Massey quickly handed Arial the reports. Lord Jean Orleans is dead. Harald is the new lord of Arleans. That is what the documents tell Arial.

'Hmm' Arial said.

'Will they retaliate?' Arial ask.

'Unlikely' Massey reply and Arial nodded.

'Defense on the South? 'Arial inquire.

'Top shape, my lord. Lord Helve has strengthened their forts and I have sent about five thousand troops to add to the forces there.' Arial nodded and smile

This is why he just can't fire this drunkard. He is too good at his job.

'Great job Ser Massey.'

'Thank you my lord.' Arial is nodding with satisfaction. Maybe he should meet Edward and tell him this good news.

Arial believed that Edward is treating him like a brother and he too treated Edward like brother. He sympathizes with Edward fate and will help try to help him.

Then Arial was reminded of something else. The Far East kingdom, Renasia.

'The Renasian movement?' Arial asked.

'They are advancing to other states.' Massey quickly answered

What is their objective? Arial asked himself. It never happens before in his past life.

The Princess never did engage in this annexing of state before, he thought to himself as he reads the reports.

But it amazes Arial that the Princess is smarter and wiser than he ever expected. She left the local ruling families intact.

This shows she is not planning to just rape the cities she conquered but rule it under her rule. Something like he would do. He mused

Consolidating power shows that this woman queen is a formidable strategist as well.

Thinking about it, that is probably why their kingdom was the last to fall in Arial previous life. After reading all the reports he wanted to excuse himself.

Then he wrote the letter to the Emperor and wait for Oliver reports.

He then excuses himself from their meeting. Arial walk to the courtyard where he sees Helia is speaking with his mother.

'Mother' Arial said approaching the Duchess.

'Dear' she said to Arial

'Prince' Helia said and he blush red like the Corian wine. The Duchess glances between Arial and Helia.

"Did something happen?" she asked.

'Nothing happen' Arial said still blushing.

'Nothing happens, my lady' Helia said to the duchess. Her cheeks are blushing, rosy red.

'Mother, why did you come here? Is there something wrong at the mansion?' Arial asked.

'No, nothing is wrong. I just wanted to come and look at my son. Your father also long for you. He wanted to meet you.'

Arial just nodded.

'Adrianna?' Arial ask.

'She is fine.'

'She is cute' Arial said, remembering the last time he visits her little sister in the mansion. Everything she did looks cute to Arial.

'And a crybaby' his mother said.

'Unlike you. I think we never quite appreciate how easy it was to raise you' his mother said.

'Maybe you have the Blood of light in you after all.'

'Mother don't jest like that. You're the one who always say that I'm not divine.'

'In times of great chaos and war, a step toward divinity isn't that hard, son.' She giggled.

'Two years old' Arial said suddenly, trying to change the subject

'Adrianna?' his mother said.

'Yes.'

'Yes. two years old'.

'Maybe I should visit her more often else she will not know her brother.'

'Maybe you should.'

After that they talked about other things and laugh until the evening.

That night Arial and Helia met again in their balcony and sings love song while Arial listen, and sometimes teasing her and at the end of the night he would take her and cradle her to his bed as they love each other until morning.

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1015 AFTER FALL WHITEMONTH

The winter has come. The winter cold has come to the castle and people outside holed inside their home, with their family.

The cold sets in quickly the moment the winter wind blows this year.

The snow has fallen and envelope the courtyard. And today news has come from the Empire which alarms the entire council.

The moment the messenger informs that he has received the letter, the whole castle is abuzz.

Arial has presided the council and all his council member is present. Only the Ecclesiastical is not here.

They are sensitive about the Demons not to mention because of the matter of their faith. And mostly they irritate Arial, as they are always preaching to him.

'Give me the letter.' Arial said. Quickly the messenger handed him the letter.

The letter is seal with a griffin holding a scepter.

TO: LORD ARIAL, PRINCE OF ARRANDY

FROM: EMPEROR GEORGE, FIFTH OF HIS NAME, RULER OF THE EMPIRE.

YOU DARE DEMAND OF ME! Come and I will kill your army before they even reach my land.  I guaranteed it. If you dare take what is mine, I will kill every single one of your family and I will take your head and put it up in a pike. I will rain your state with arrows. I will come to your state and pillage its cities and rape its inhabitants I-

And Arial throw the letter to the brazier. His face is red with anger.

'The arrogance of the Emperor.' Arial has written politely in his last letter.

To think it will be received and reply in such lack of civility angers Arial. His vassal seeing this trembled. The dragon is angry.

'BRING ME SOMETHING TO WRITE WITH!' he yelled and Oliver in his fear dropped his bag. He quickly brings a paper for his lord to write. Quickly Arial write

TO: EMPEROR GEORGE, FIFTH OF HIS NAME, RULER OF VERN.

FROM: THE DRAGON

It is you that don't know your position. I will give you a few guarantees of my own. I guarantee that even if you came here, even if you win, even if my cold, dead body is lying on the field, you will rue the day you ever set foot in my state. For every inch you advance I'll exact gallons of your people blood. Your Empire will be washed in blood and fire. I guarantee that there will be not one family of the Imperial descent will be alive the day you decided to invade us. They will mourn and they will weep and cried their hearts out seeing the blood that I will spill if you dare marches against me. I guarantee that even if you are triumphant the fruits of victory will taste like dust in your mouth, tasteless and bitter, rotten. I guarantee that if you fail to kill me the day you march here; you will meet me again. You will meet me at every city, every town, every village, and every hamlet. You will meet me on every crossroad, on every hill. I will fight you with every sword at my command, with every arrow, with every dagger. I will fight you with pitchforks. I will fight you with the very rocks of the land you try to conquer. And in the end I will prevail and your throne will be nothing but ash, your palace will turn to rubble of stones, your descendants will be no longer. So, I dare you. Come and I will show you fire of the dragons. Because I tell you this. The Dragon is coming.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

And with that he gives the letter to Oliver and tells him to send it to the Emperor. Under his breath he muttered,

'The Emperor doesn't know the repercussion of his action.'

If he has to war against the Empire, he will. Better than fighting the Invasion horde.

Oliver seeing his lord so enraged doesn't dare say anything. The whole castle tiptoe around the lord that day, fearing he would lose his temper.

Actually Arial is very lenient to his people, but because of his widespread reputation, people always seem to fear he would get angry.

That day they all waited in anticipation whether the provocation will be retaliated through force of arms.

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The last chapter of the triple release for today as the conflict between the Empire and Arrandy intensify. Anyway, hope you like the chapter and leave some comments and please vote for the story. There will be mass release in the 29th so be ready y'all