Age of Heroes (Age of Heroes Chronicles)

Chapter 199: Harald oath (1)

The sun rises and the surrounding get brighter. The birds chirp outside as it flew out from its nest

The castle gets busy as the guard begins their works.

The servant began their days, the market opens their stalls and a person get up from his bd. He bathed himself and after a hearty meal he started going down to his stables.

He wanted to spent a little time with his horse while his troops waited for him. He enjoyed the brisk morning air as he walked to the stables from the second floor.

Descending the stairs, Arial began thinking about what has happened and what is about to happen.

Today Supervisor Zhang Liao Bao has started his journey with the representatives to Vern at dawn.

With ten captains they depart in small group. Arial hope nothing bad happens.

According to the plan they will stop at Shanhai Pass and then they will try to win the Austen family approval.

Arial wanted this to be a success. The approval of the Austen family that guarded that Pass is crucial if he want a total victory and peace secured in the Northern border.

Arial did not want the Emperor of Vern to have advantages at all. The enemy of my enemy is a friend. That is what The House of Austen for Arial

The enmity between the Emperor and the Austen family is at its height.

In his original timeline even when the demon army attacked the Human Continent the Austen was still at war with the Emperor with no victory at sight for both of these enemies.

It is because of the late response that the Demon army march unimpeded into the Human Continent, bringing massacres and death wherever they go

The enmity between the imperial family and the House of Austen all started like any story would. Because of a woman.

Arial began sensing a pattern with Emperor of Vern.

It is ironic that the greatest war at that time also started with a woman. Thinking about it, most of the war that George the Fifth has started, most of them is because of a woman.

The story goes, that one of Lord Nigel Austen sister was drunk in one of the palace of the Forbidden City in one of the emperor famous balls.

The Emperor saw her and was intoxicated with her beauty and in a moment of drunkenness raped her violently.

Of course Lady Jeanne Austen, the girl in question kept quiet of this matter, too afraid to speak of it, until of course Lord Nigel found out.

Considering the Austen's are powerful at the South of the Empire, Lord Nigel in his anger quickly take control of the region there and do not answer to the central government anymore.

In other words, they rebelled. So, started their war of attrition with each other.  But there is no marching involved to each other stronghold.

Austen stay at their fort and Central government sent battalion of army every month to harass them but in all sense Austen control the region near Taiyuan and rule it like a regional Overlord.

And so there is this sense of stability between these two forces. Of course it started after the Succession War between Adrian and Alderam.

Even before then, the House of Austen and House of Montblanc have never been in good terms but raping Nigel sister is the last straw.

Maybe the Emperor raped Nigel sister because he knows he can't defeat Lord Nigel if he tries to attack him directly and his frustration with Nigel is infamous

That could be his motives. Maybe it is because of his lust. Who knows?

So that is how their enmity started. Arial then listening to the rebellion efforts in Vern decided to appeal to the House of Austen.

Gaining the House of Austen as an ally would be beneficial to the rebel cause if they decided to rule.

That is what Zhang Liao Boa is supposed to do. Since he is acquainted with the members of the rebellion, Arial send him there

And while his court, is busy with the arrangement an aiding efforts for the scheme in Vern, Arial had another plan.

He has decided to depart to Vangua. There is many reason why he is deciding to go to Vangua

One of them is because of Harald invitation. When the news broke out that the King of Vangua is in Arrandy, Harald sent a letter from Arleans to Arrandy.

He informed him that Vangua will be happy to accept the King back to his throne. Arial then informed Harald back that he himself would accompany King Edward back to seat on his throne.

If that is not enough to intimidate the Orleans family, Arial also informed Harald that he will bring about five thousand men with him to escort the King.

After a few days a reply come from the House of Orleans. He agreed to the request. Arial was not requesting at all.

And Arial knows that Vangua needs its ruler, its rightful ruler now more than ever.

Herald don't have a choice. With unrest every day and rebellion springing up in the Kingdom, Vangua needs a ruler.

Arial knows why the Orleans suddenly changed its tune.

The Church has a hand in this. The Church recognize King Edward as the rightful king of Vangua.

Majority of the people in the Kingdom of Vangua is of Lucellian faith.

The Church now is a hammer that need to be used carefully and prudently, and that hammer is striking towards the House of Orleans in a bid to aid King Edward must have shown its effect.

From what Arial had heard the Church exerted pressure on their family must have shaken their ambition.

And as such, the words of the church moved the people

For now, whether they like it or not, they must acquiesce to the common folk outcry. Harald, whatever his fault, is an able ruler and brilliant in sensing where the wind is blowing.

To be honest Arial himself have no enmity towards Harald but Arial did not know how he thinks about him

After all Arial did kill Harald father. Weirdly enough, Arial hate Alderam but he did not hate his son that much

Though, thinking about it, even if Harald really does hate him, he knows that Harald would not behave unwisely.

He would not show his displeasure to him so openly, one aspect that differentiates him and his father.

He is smarter and wiser than his father thus making him more formidable. If he is not capable why would people die for him? If he is not capable why would people, follow him?

Arial smile at his own thoughts. Then there is the matter of King Edward.

King Edward will be entrusted to Kyle and West who will accompany and guard him to Vangua. Of course Arial will also follow this entourage

He has his own objective of going to Vangua. On the other hand, Helia will accompany his parents. Lisa was also forced to take care of his mother.

She insisted that she wants to follow them but Arial did not need her for this particular mission.

King Edward other than Kyle and West, he will also be accompanied by his lord and some Priest and Bishop to fill the Church in Vangua.

These churchmen are the priest and bishops of his duchy. They will act as his spies and fight for Arrandy interest in Vangua court

Arial then arrived at the stables as he could hear the sound of neighing and he smiles a bit.

He walks around the stables looking at some of the horses and he keep walking forward.

The stable master sees him and nodded as he understands why he is here. He opens the stable door and Arial whistle. Coming out form the stable door is Arial companion in the battlefield.

Arial laughed. Firebringer sauntered slowly to him and he brush the mane of his horse as his horse neighs joyfully.

'There, there'

'My lord' the stable master greets him and bow his head slightly. Arial nodded and excuse him away

He then took the brush and brush Firebringer hair. Firebringer is the only horse in the stable that nobody could ride.

It was his horse. It was the horse of the Lord of Arrandy, Lord Arial Vermont. It is the most well treated horse in the entire duchy.

To Arial, Firebringer is like an old friend. Since he was a knight, this horse has been with him for almost half of his life.

Firebringer is his loyal steed that accompanied him in every battle and it is the only steed that could keep up with him.

When they ride into battle together, it was like the master and the steed have telepathic connection, understanding each other.

Where many steeds would lose their courage when hearing terrible sounds of the battlefield, Arial horse has always performed more than expected.

When he charges through the battlements, this horse of his leap across people like it was flying.

After playing around with it for a while, he nodded at his horse and his horse neighed. Arial then jumped on top of his back and Firebringer neighed happily.

'Ouit' He let out and he took the reins tightly and Firebringer neighs back.

Then he pulled the reins as they ride together. Not long after he is outside the castle where he could see from a distance, his entourage is waiting for him

Arial rides to the front as the knights bowed their heads when they see him. Arial ride to the carriage and seeing Edward Arial nodded.

Edward nodded at him as he closes back the curtain. Arial could see that in the carriage is his trusted lords.

Arial then rides pass them and join Kyle and West in the front

'My lord' they bowed slightly when they notice him.

'Dispense with the formalities in this journey' they both nodded. Arial then look behind him and then he shouted

"Let us go" With that he tightened the rein and urged Firebringer to sprint and Firebringer ran like the wind.

Arial and the carriage starts to move to Vangua, the Old Abodes of Emperors.

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Fourth part of the mass release. Hope you like it as we enter into a new volume