527 DXXVII. Why Those Faces?

Kranus remained impassive, until a small blue sphere appeared in one of his hands, swirling over his palm.

"I said silence! Show respect for those who have allowed your wives to remain healthy and safe to this day!" Kron also shouted, who was the only one who had not yet participated in the discussion.

After his wise words, the soldiers lowered their voices and gradually stopped talking, intent on hearing the end of the speech.

Simultaneously, the sphere floating in Kranus's hand, which he had kept hidden behind his back, suddenly disappeared.

Dag, who had seen the whole scene, sensed that the spell the ice mage was about to cast would not do his men any harm, but still believed that his reaction was exaggerated and that by doing such a thing, he would dangerously lose the confidence of the men who the next day would represent his Clan during the most important war of the last decade.

"As I was going to explain before you interrupted my peaceful speech, we made a deal with the leader of the Claws Of Fenrir. We will help them claiming back Klorr and they will abandon our territories forever, leaving us free to expand our western borders. Besides, we will both benefit from the defeat of the Lies Of Loki, who after tomorrow's battle will find themselves with their army halved and can only remain silent in Dolken, staying immobilized in the far northwest!" Kranus continued, exalting himself as he spoke.

His speech, despite being exciting and truthful, did not convince the most skeptical soldiers, who continued to look at him with an expression of dissent on their faces.

"Why those faces? Don't you understand? If we win, we will no longer have to fear sudden attacks and we will be sure that our lands will be never violated and that our laws will be respected within our borders!" Kron exclaimed, speaking in an unusually optimistic tone.

"And who tells us that those bastard wolves won't turn their backs on us? How do we trust them?!" a man in the crowd exclaimed, raising his voice and hand to make his superiors understand his position and give them a chance to respond to him. 

"No one!" Dag replied, taking the floor without warning.

Kranus turned to the young Master, who walked in front of him and positioned himself by his side, looking at the man he had spoken to earlier.

"No one guarantees us that they will be loyal to the cause. But what do you want to wait for? Don't you want to change the history of your people? Do you always prefer to depend on the will of a stronger Clan? I thought the warriors of the mighty Ymir were far more than that!" Dag continued, provoking the soldiers.

"In my nation, there is not the same freedom that lives here. In my nation, when a Clan wants a piece of land, it struggles until its forces run out to get it, but at the same time, it only has the illusion that it has achieved something. Things are very different 'in my nation', but it doesn't mean they're any better. You do not have a King to obey without complaining, you can create your own laws! So now dare to face your choices and make Lies Of Loki understand that it's not enough to have a great army to rule a nation the size of Krypstorm! Let them understand that by deception and violence they will never get anything again! Their time has come to an end!" Dag yelled, venting some of his anger at the enemy Clan and leaving the soldiers amazed.

None of them responded, not knowing what to say and realizing that the words of that presumptuous boy were pure truth, slightly enriched with a little anger.

Kranus, who was noticing some interest from the Outpost warriors in talking to Dag, that was absorbing some of their skepticism, remained silent to listen, as did Atran and Kron, standing on the sides of their troops.

"The consequences will always be there and many men will die, both allies and enemies... many of them will leave their wives in poverty and their children will become orphans, just as will happen to many of us. But believe me, at the moment, nothing can lift the fortunes of this lawless country, other than this war! I betrayed my own King to join you and take revenge on the Lies Of Loki, who killed my father before the eyes of my mother and siblings, showing no respect for life, which is invaluable! It's the war they've always wanted, and now... we will satisfy their wish!" the young Master continued, raising a fist upwards, as a symbol of strength and courage.

"Yes, he's right..." 

"The boy says sensible things... the war that lasted all these years could end forever..." 

Two men joined Dag's thought and of their own free will broke the lines, taking two steps forward and looking at him respectfully, resting a hand on his heart, as if they wanted to take an oath before him and their commander. 

After a few seconds, one at a time, about ten other soldiers followed their comrades, doing the same, and standing in front of those who had not yet accepted the reason behind that war.

"When I met the leader of the Claws Of Fenrir in person and noticed the hatred he feels towards the Lies Of Loki, I immediately thought that for years you had fought against the wrong enemy" Dag replied.