Proofread by Thomas F
Count Viremont
"He is not taking the calls," informed Kaus, and I hit my hand across the table, making the runes flare on it.
It's an heirloom! I reminded myself: one of the few pieces I could bring out of my territory before those bastards captured it. Still, I could barely control my anger.
"Bastard!" I cursed, not Brennor, but Silver.
It was his doing that Brennor suddenly disappeared yesterday before saying he would not join me in Greltheaven. We had signed a strict contract with a high monetary penalty, which had been paid in the morning.
Many people have left in the past two weeks, but it's Brennor's disappearance that hurts the most.
A few mercenaries were powerful, but not as much as Brennor. He is a Lv. 40+ and quite a good one, with an aura method and skills that would have helped us tremendously.
"My father used to say, mercenaries are dogs; they would go to whoever offers them the biggest bite," said Loxley, from the window of my office, before turning to me.
"They may be dogs, Viscount, but we need them," I replied. I hate mercenaries, but I need them. Especially the ones at Brennor's level.
Every Lv. 40 matters; they are the ones who decide victory and defeat.
Especially one like Brennor; he might not be the most powerful, but he has a special set of skills that allows him to lock down an enemy more powerful than him.
I wanted to use him to lock down Silver's General. He hadn't shown his power, but our intelligence assessment states that he is just as powerful as Silver.
"With him gone, the responsibility to handle the elder-blood general would be yours, Viscount," I stated, and the man grinned.
"It's been a long time since I killed an elder blood," he replied with a grin. He wants it; he asked me many times to let him fight the elder blood general when we reach Greltheaven.
I shook my head.
Loxley is a rabid dog; there is too much bloodlust in him. I don't mind killing people, but only when it serves a purpose. Mindless killing doesn't serve any purpose, unless it is the purpose itself.
He loved that, and I will let him loose once we capture Silver's first city.
The fear it creates will help us when we fight in Greltheaven.
Fear is a weapon. If used well, it could achieve things that even battle could not.
"There is a call from Baron Halemore; he says it's urgent," Kaus said suddenly.
Halemore is one of my allies; I am waiting for him. So, I could leave, but it is taking time, more than I like.
He had been fighting in front with Princess Orlena's side, and that woman delayed him. If not for it, I would have left for the Renwell already.
I nodded and extended my aura.
'Count Viremont,' the man greeted as the call connected. "Baron Halemore, I hope you have crossed Ardel?" I asked. It's afternoon; he should have arrived by now.
'I wish, my lord, but Count's men stopped my forces, claiming there might be fugitives hiding among my forces,' replied the man with clear frustration in his voice.
It's not the first time he had experienced something like this or those that were coming toward me.
"Bloody bastard!" I cursed.
Orelna may have delayed him, but she did not cause the real delay; it's that bastard Silver.
My allies are getting stopped in the territories of nobles they are passing through for various reasons. Sometimes it is fugitives, sometimes it is permitted, and other times it's something else.
The delay isn't big; it's a few hours to half a day at most, but it's adding up.
'It isn't the only thing, my lord. Earlier, one of my captains had suddenly disappeared, along with his men,' he stared, and I smashed my hands against the table once more.
If delaying is not enough, he is contacting people to leave the army and paying them for it.
He is also paying nobles to recruit from my allies. I already lost thousands of people because of it.
"Don't worry, Baron. I will contact the Count and sort this out quickly," I reassured the man. 'Please do, my lord. It is demoralising my men.'
I cut the call and turned to Kaus.
"Call the Count of Ardel," I said, and Kaus nodded. A few seconds later, he opened his eyes with a terrible expression. "The Count's mage had informed me he is busy and could only talk to you in the evening."
"I have to say, Silver has some tricks." Laughed Loxley. I glared at him, but that didn't stop him.
"Contact his adviser; request him to release Galmore's forces as soon as possible," he nodded, and his staff lit up.
Ardel is powerful; I can't threaten him.
Even the weak nobles, who didn't dare to speak in front of me, are doing this. They are delaying my allies and doing it for only a few hours to half a day.
But these hours of delays add up and turn into days.
This wouldn't have been a problem if the imperial highway were still active.
It is in the name, but the nobles have taken unofficial control of many parts of it. It has made things very difficult. It is even more so when a bastard like Silver interferes.
My original plan was to leave before Arenthel does.
So when she reaches the region, I could swallow her forces peacefully or by force.
Now, there will be at least a week of difference between us arriving in the region, despite her coming from the edge of the empire while I am in the middle.
"He assured me he would try," Kause stated a few minutes later. It's not enough, but I will have to accept it.
I close my eyes for several seconds before opening them and looking at the large map of the Renwell region. I want it all, but there would be challenges.
Silver is the first, but there are also Grimvale and the undead.
It is why I wanted to deal with Arenthel first. She could be troublesome, and the plan didn't change. I will finish her first, before moving to Silver.
A few hours passed; I contacted allies, looked at supplies, and did a few other things. Including trying to recruit a few more people for the last time.
I gathered a good force, better than I had through. Thanks to the deep pockets of merchants.
Still, I wish I could gain more; Renwell is not an easy place. A bigger force and more powerhouses would always help more.
I pushed those thoughts away and walked down the hallway of the manor before reaching the room at the end. My guards and mage stopped, while I unlocked the door and stepped inside alone.
The room was small and dimly lit, with a man sitting on a chair by the fireplace from where the light was coming.
He was wearing a mask, not a normal one but an artifact. He didn't have to; I know who he is, but others didn't need to.
"Brennor left," I said to him.
"He did, and somehow, he disappeared, with our agents losing track of him," he replied.
That couldn't help but surprise me; their agents are very good at their jobs, very capable, and even I don't want to go against them, despite all my strength.
I have a feeling that somehow Silver has a hand in it as well.
"He was important; his and others leaving had weakened my force," I stated. "Don't worry, we have promised you help, and we will help you."
"I hope it's good. It's not like the person you have suggested I hire." Immediately, the man turned to me, and I felt the hair on my body rise.
Still, I didn't look down.
He suggested, or more like ordered me, that I hire someone to bring morale down in Greltheaven. I did, paying immense money to the man, but it failed; the man simply disappeared.
His last communication was that he had reached Greltheaven and I should expect good news within days.
Taking on this idea, I also hired someone, and I believe they will succeed, unlike the person he asked me to hire; the one I did had a personal stake in it.
"When can I expect to get the help you had promised?" I asked after a minute of silence. "You will get it before you reach Inam."
"Just remember to keep your word after you succeed. We cannot harm Silver because of the obvious reason, but you do not have such protection."
"If you break your word, you will suffer the same fate as your grandfather did," threatened the man before melting into darkness and disappearing.
I remained in my place with my eyes closed.
I didn't want to make a deal, but there was no option. If I didn't, someone else would have. It's a good deal, and as long as I kept my word, I would be fine.