Building a Kingdom and Conquering the World

Chapter 121  A few hours before

The Frozen Forest resembled the sacred abode of ancient gods and mythical beasts, where even the mountains dared not extend their peaks, seemingly stopped by an invisible barrier preventing them from invading the lands. This characteristic created a flat terrain where the Snowfire Horses could run without obstacles, if not for the countless gray trees composing the forest.

This barrier was like a transition point, one that those who entered the Frozen Forest could instantly notice. When one stepped inside that cursed land, the wind seemed to be like a cruel whip that descended upon their bodies, wildly lashing at the intruders. And, the trees resembled the eyes of the forest itself, watching over every step of those who walked amidst them. It felt as if the forest itself was alive.

Henry led a group of approximately three hundred barbarians out of the cursed forest toward the woods bordering the capital walls and the Frozen Forest itself. Their destination was a place that could provide them access to the White Merchant Road, where the scouts of Stahl reported Luak's approaching army.

"I hope Luna and Iosif have done their homework" - Henry thought, his mind wandering towards the plan they had prepared to receive the invaders. - "Although Luak's are not like the barbarians, they are not going to predict this plan. We just need to be fast and I am sure that the plan will work fine.

-x- n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

A few hours before the army of Luak laid eyes on the walls of Eisenburg, the capital of Stahl and the house of the royal family.

On top of the walls, Iosif gaze fell on the western horizon, focusing on a specific area where a road cut through the trees and seemed to open the hidden mysteries of nature to those who walked on it.

"They'll be here soon" - Iosif thought, arms crossed and eyes fixed ahead, like an eagle. He didn't even dare to blink. He couldn't miss the right timing.

Thanks to the old kings, he and the other soldiers perching on the walls could have a clear line of sight. The throne's predecessors ordered their subjects to clear out a radius of three hundred feet (90 meters) around the walls of Eisenburg. Henry even considered this action one of the best taken by the previous kings, when considering the defense of the city. In order to protect the city, it was crucial to quickly spot any approaching enemies. The trees near Eisenburg's walls posed a significant risk, providing cover for invaders and hiding spots to execute surprise attacks on the defending teams that dared to leave the safety of the gates. Therefore, maintaining such a dangerous asset around them wasn't a wise decision. However, these trees still held some value if kept a few hundred feet away from the walls, allowing them to act as obstacles for invaders while giving all archers on the wall a clear line of sight to shoot any of them down. The trees also made it difficult for large armies to approach in tight formations, those capable of bringing the walls down. In the end, if they wanted to attack, it could only be using a scattered formation that couldn't immediately bring the walls down.

"I'll have to thank Miss Luna after this" - Iosif muttered, his fingers unconsciously tracing the contours of the small leather pouch in his hands - "These things will undoubtedly save hundreds of lives of our soldiers. It had worked previously and it will surely work now. Dealing with these invaders will be much easier. I am sure of that."

The wall of Eisenburg were filled with long lines of soldiers and only a handful of watchers were stationed at the other gates. Despite the crowded space, soldiers with shovels kept diligently clearing the piled snow from the walls, an essential task to ensure the logistics of war and a firm footing to the defenders

 "General! I might need your help" - A familiar voice sounded behind Iosif, prompting him to turn around, only to find nothing. However, he soon felt a soft poke on his belly, causing him to glance down and discover Luke, the midget and a trusted man from the king. Being below his eye line, Iosif had missed him for a brief second.

Right after the king left, Duke rushed back into his room and donned a full set of armor, a rare item that even the king himself only had a couple few. Despite his size, the small figure in that iron armor couldn't be ignored by anyone in the city's streets. Luke claimed boisterously that he would fight against the invaders just like he faced the Death Spiders in the Frozen Forest. However, Iosif understood that he would probably hide somewhere within the castle, maybe even in one of the towers to not get easily seen by the enemies. "What is it?" - Iosif asked, rubbing his forehead. He already had his hands full of problems, and a new one just popped out. "The women, elders, and children from the barbarian village just went through the North Gate, but there was a clash a few minutes ago" - Luke explained, frustration evident in his voice as he scratched his head angrily, nearly pulling out his hair. - "Some residents had complaints and attacked the barbarians. Looks like there are a few broken bones, and the leaders there are asking for you to assess the situation." Sigh - Iosif couldn't help but release an annoyed sigh, leaving red marks from his fingers on his forehead. The barbarians were causing problems.

Truth be told, Iosif hated the barbarians, who had taken the lives of his grandfather and father during their march to the South. Yet, the king had welcomed these individuals under his throne, proclaiming them citizens of the kingdom and warning that any action against the barbarians would be a violation of royal law. In front of this situation, Iosif found himself with no choice but to comply. Perhaps, Henry had purposely assigned him to the eastern regions of the kingdom, aware of his animosity, and effectively distancing him from the barbarians.

"Let's go." - Iosif said, swallowing his hate and anger. Despite his intense disdain for the barbarians, he had to maintain his neutrality. It was the right moral thing to do and also the right way to follow the royal laws.

-x-

"Your place is not here!" - echoed a shout through the North Avenue that connected Eiseburg's North Gate to the Royal Castle in the heart of the capital - "Go back to the woods!" Out of nowhere, a small stone was hurled at the hundreds of barbarians entering the city, striking a golden-haired woman right in the head. Her green eyes were desperately scanned behind the line of barbarians behind her.

Thud - The stone hit the woman's face, drawing blood that soon covered her vision. She continued looking behind her, as if she didn't feel an ounce of pain.

"Harvor!" cried out a thirteen-year-old teen, who was as big as an eighteen-year-old. He hurried to the woman, using his hands to stem the bleeding. "Damn!" - Another kid exclaimed, realizing the blood wouldn't stop. Grabbing the rock from the ground, he hurled it back with all his might, aiming at a resident of Eisenburg standing in front of a simple store adorned with a few animal furs for customers to see.

And, in that moment, the North Avenue transformed into a chaotic battleground as tension exploded between the barbarians and the residents of Eisenburg. While the city could tolerate trading with these outsiders, the idea of coexisting within the walls was a line the residents couldn't cross. Although these groups of barbarians were considered inept, unprepared or unable to fight in wars, they still possessed strong bodies that could easily overpower these ordinary citizens. The women and elders took the lead, jumping at the residents that lined along the avenue to see the parade, throwing powerful punches at them. These people had grown up inside the Frozen Forest, and they were not about to take this treatment lying down. Their blood wouldn't let them do it.

The citizens and barbarians exchanged countless punches between them, and even with the city guards trying to intervene and restore peace, their efforts fell short. Everyone was caught up in a wild fight, with even the kids joining in, throwing punches and kicks and getting in on the chaos.

"Enough! Stop this madness!"- Iosif's voice thundered over the tumult as he dashed into the avenue, now a battleground to satiate the old grudges left by the previous generations His stern gaze swept across the chaotic scene, waiting for them to stop. However, the fighters seemed oblivious to his presence.

"I told you there was a problem, and only you could fix it" - Luke remarked, keeping his body a step behind Iosif, almost as if trying to shield himself from getting caught up in the fight.

Iosif remained silent, his eyes coldly analyzing the chaos unfolding before him. They were on the verge of a war, with enemies knocking on the gates, yet such a situation occurred.

"I have no time for this" - Iosif impatiently muttered, reaching for the shield of a city guard nearby who was struggling to quell the conflict. He effortlessly took the shield from the guard's hands, despite the soldiers unconsciously resisting. "I have no time for this" - Iosif impatiently muttered, reaching for the shield of a city guard nearby who was struggling to quell the conflict. He effortlessly took the shield from the guard's hands, despite the soldiers unconsciously resisting. "Enough!" Iosif bellowed again, striking the shield and producing a deafening sound that cut through the brawl. "I don't have time for this."