257 Twelve Minds

Fifteen thousand men soon arrived in Erik's camp. Three legions, hardened by Timothy's many exploits in Canton. Unlike his Apple, these legions had bled and gritted some losses already. They were probably the most experienced soldiers in the world.

Well no, Erik mused. Those in Rooster were the most experienced. And now Rooster was dashing towards Kotara, all on horseback. They would arrive in the Pearl of the South in a few days. Erik would have to delay Sarah Wismar for at least a week to ensure a smooth siege of Kotara.

The three legions settled in the camp, doubling its size. Since Eastern Canton was still belligerent, their supply lines there was fragile and only supported by a series of small fortifications. Erik wasn't worried that the Eastern Cantonese would again attack forts though. Without Sarah Wismar they don't have the capability to do so. Also without the unifying effect of Sarah Wismar, Eastern Canton had descended into chaos. Local leaders vied for power. The whole region had become a barbaric civil war torn place with nobles battling each day. Erik had even heard that Mythrille burned the other week. Thousands were ash now.

Serves them right, Erik thought. Although retribution would come after they have dealt with Sarah Wismar, the main punishment for Eastern Canton was the withdrawal of the Union's help. No matter how hard they plea, nobody would help them.

The assembly of leaders had grown now. Twelve people were inside Erik's tent. The six Generals of the Castonian legions, two Prefects of the Cantonese army, Ash, King Harold the Stutterer, the Hadean Princess named Layfare and Erik- all of them were seated around the cramped table. A bottle of Hadean wine was served although Erik was afraid to open it. General Hoover was already eyeing the bottle.

"So" He turned to the Hadean Princess, the new face. "I'm surprised that your father allowed you to come here. He is rather famous for being protective of his daughter."

"He had some... reluctance sire" Princess Layfare said.

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"I think reluctance is too weak of a word to describe your father's reaction" Erik smiled. He remembered Timothy telling him in a letter that King Corey threatened war if his daughter incurs even a scratch.

Someone cleared his throat and Erik knew who it was. General Hoover was grinning at him.

"I think the Princess is thirsty sire" General Hoover glanced at the wine. "The summer season is at its peak. Sweat trickles down our foreheads. Our throats are dry"

Damn you, Erik glared. He regretted presenting a bottle from one of his collections. He gestured and soon General Hoover was indulging in his wine.

"We are here to plan, not to drink ourselves to sleep" General Bourgis wasn't even blinking. His eyes swiveled towards Hoover. "We are in the presence of Marquis Erik of Greenwater. Have some dignity"

"Dignity for Angel's Wings" Hoover shrugged. "Good trade"

"Hoover!"

"It's alright" Erik said although his heart ached looking at the depleted bottle. "Let's just begin. All of you already know what is happening right?"

"Rooster will go directly to Kotara while we hold Sarah Wismar's army here." Said General Tref, the one in-charge of Apple legion.

"The gist of it, yes. But do you know why?" He looked at Ash.

You better know. Omniscient's will, please show you've at least learned something from me. Erik bit his lips.

Ash stumbled on her words. "Kotara is... it is the second largest city of Wismar, dubbed as Pearl of the South. Most of the Wismarine navy is anchored there. Capturing it would capture their ships, give us morale and prestige and open the gate for the Vanadian legions to disembark."

Erik smiled, satisfied.He turned to the other people around the table. "If we capture Kotara then Prince William Castonia could transport the five Vanadian legions he trained in Holm. He also has a few companies of mercenaries, good and loyal ones. The man was once a mercenary captain after all. Now, transporting the Vanadian legions is their main problem. We have bit too deep into the enemy's lands that our supply lines are getting fragile. We need to capture the Pearl of the South. But that is the King's problem. Leave that to him. Our problem is holding Sarah here. Any ideas?"

"We should attack her in force. We need to punish her for what she did to Goldentooth and General Brent" General Bourgis said.

General Keef, the new General of the remnants of Goldentooth, nodded to that. Erik saw the fire in General Keef's eyes.

"Punish?" Erik asked, one brow raised. "You throw around that word as if it is just jam you can spread on a bread. It is honey, General. We need to get stung a thousand times and risk our lives just to get a whiff of it. We need to be cautious. Sarah Wismar is not just a local tramp you can swindle for discounts. Well of course she is a tramp but she is one with an army twice our size and a brain to match it."

"We should first hide the fact that Rooster is missing. Spread false news about where they are" Ash said.

"Good thought" Erik nodded to that. He turned to General Bourgis. "What did you tell the men regarding the whereabouts of the Rooster legion?"

"Nothing" General Bourgis said.

"Ah nothing yet. Now there are of course spies lurking in our camp. They would soon be asking soon enough where Rooster is. What should we tell them?"

"That the King and the Queen went home for safety" One of King Harold's prefects said.

"Too shallow. They went home after they captured Hadea? Sarah Wismar would know that as a lie" Erik said.

"I h-have an idea" the stuttering King said. "They w-went to Levan to forge an alliance"

"And if her spies in Levan told her otherwise?"

King Harold opened his mouth but slumped after.

Nobody uttered a word until the Hadean Princess glanced at Erik.

"You have an idea"

"Well, yes but.."

"Tell us"

"We should just remain silent about it. If the men ask then we don't answer." Princess Layfare said.

Erik smiled. "Now there's someone who uses brain. True. We should remain silent about it. Now many people would wonder about the whereabouts of the monarchs and the Rooster legion. We simply won't give answers. Listen here all of you" Erik shifted on his seat. "You all need to understand the kind of enemy we are facing. Regard her with danger for she is danger. Fear her because she is to be feared. We can't lie to Sarah and expect her to believe it. We should stay silent. The fewer words we utter, the fewer clues we give to her"

"She would soon realize" General Hoover said, putting the empty bottle down.

Erik shook his head. "She would. Our job is to delay that realization"

"How?"

"By giving her a distraction. And what better distraction there is than a battle?"

Everyone's faces had frowns after Erik said that. Silence filled the tent.

"She has t-twice our number. She has elephants" King Harold said.

"Indeed"

"W-we would lose"

"We would" Erik agreed with a nod. "We will just keep our losses to a minimum"

"You told me that we would just follow her around, not inviting or accepting a battle" Ash said, eyes still staring at the table.

"And you told me earlier that a direct assault would be foolish" General Bourgis said.

Erik looked at Ash. "Sometimes we must be flexible." He turned to General Bourgis. "What you suggested earlier was a direct assault. I don't want a direct assault. I want her to attack us. We would choose the field, erect fortifications and defend"

"And how can we make her attack us?" Ash asked.

"How? By doing what King Timothy is doing right now. We will march directly towards Kotara. Sarah Wismar cannot let that happen and so she will attack us. Or if she is cautious she will just block our advance. Either way we could keep her busy"

Silence again. It was broken when General Bourgis balled his hand on his chest. "The monarchs chose you to lead us and we follow. May the Omniscient give us victory"

"Not victory" General Hoover said. "A tender defeat" He also saluted.

Every person in the tent followed. The last one was Ash.

"Lead the way sire" She said.

Erik rose, his chair ruffling the carpet. "Now friends" He scanned them all with his eyes. "Raise the tents and prepare for a defeat"