The Union Chapter 211

The Scribbler made one last bow before leaving with his papers . Timothy's eyes were stuck on the map . All of a sudden, he felt Lucia's soft and warm embrace . He closed his eyes, feeling every bit of warmth from her . Her head then popped from his side and looked towards the map .

"So we are surrounded huh?"

"The remnants of our enemies from the last battle have reformed and retreated to Mythrille . Good for them, bad for us . Thirty thousand, half are Cantonese loyalists and the rest are a mix between Inkish, Hadean and Wismarines . This could be our end"

A small laugh erupted from her "Stop trying to scare me Tim, I know you already have a plan against them . We have faced larger forces before and you would rout them all the same . Your eyes were bent on the map for another reason"

Timothy curved a grin "I cannot hide anything from you huh? So tell me what do you think this reason is?"

Lucia pointed not on Canton but on Wismar, far northeast near the sea . "Malzan, the Capital of Wismar . Many people say that Malzan is the largest city in the world, twice as large as Nirnava and with defenses comparable . The bay of Malzan is a hub of trade . The port is second only to Holm's . The people there wear silk robes with glittering gems like the sand beneath . But the most outrageous tale is that of a pyramid at the center of the city with a throne on top on which the King sits . It is made of white marble and four hundred and eighty feet high . It is taller than the walls of Malzan, towering in the heaven . You couldn't wait to conquer the city of Malzan"

"Yes" Timothy stared at Malzan on the map . "Nobody has ever conquered that city before . It is the center of the world . I want our names to be known as the only ones able to do it" He looked at her, dearly "I want to carry you in my arms to the top of that gigantic throne . Together we will sit side by side . With the world at our heels, you and I shall become the most powerful humans on the planet"

"That is a good dream" Lucia nodded . Her eyes shone for a moment "I want to share it with you . We will make it known that nobody could threaten our union . With you and I united, our enemies will crumble like dust"

Timothy kissed her, briefly but with passion . He again looked at the map "Ramming the gates of Malzan is a distant dream . We will come to it step by step and the first step is conquering all of Canton"

"We have already subdued half of the Kingdom, three cities including the capital . Only Westlime, Cloudcliff and Mythrille remain stubborn"

"That is because King Harold is still at large . We capture him and the whole Kingdom would surrender"

"Capture the head and the whole body would follow huh?" Timothy said with a smile "And do you have a plan? A sword can't reach where a sword can't go . But letters can travel faster and farther than swords"

Timothy wanted to dominate Canton as soon as they could . They were able to strike true and fast because the Inkit, Wismar, Hadea and Canton were separated . A coalition cannot match the unity of a single force . But time would unite their enemies eventually . And when that happens it would be difficult to defeat them . Wismar alone could topple both Vanadis and Castonia with its vast armies and resources .

If he was King Harold, he would just retreat and wait for reinforcements from his allies . But King Harold had been impatient for the last months . He attacked Timothy with everything he got, and everything he got was not enough judging from the seventeen victories the Union had cinched .

But lately King Harold seemed to be listening to wise advice . Although Timothy still won two more battles, those were cleaning operations . King Harold had remained in Mythrille ever since . Timothy had a plan of course and it could work despite some risks . They could take Mythrille in less than a month . But as Timothy was starting at the figure of his wife, he reiterated to himself that a sword is not the only way to win wars . Sometimes letters are more useful and quick . If Lucia could capture King Harold without him needing to send his four legions to Mythrille, that would be a better choice .

"Ash has already infiltrated their ranks" Lucia said, looking at the map with a serious face .

"Three days ago . Yes . You've told me . And?"

"She is trying to get King Brice's trust through… unspeakable methods" She looked at him and then avoided his eyes thereafter "It's not my command Tim . She decided that for herself . I didn't want it but she offered to give herself to the King"

"I know" Timothy caressed her hair . If Lucia was like his father Leopold who would use every method available, Canton would have fallen already . But Lucia wasn't like that . He knew her more than anyone .

"If Ash was unable to gain King Harold's trust, there are other ways . But a woman's warmth numbs caution more than anything else . I am betting on it . The next decision would be yours to make . What will you do with your Castonians for the meantime? We cannot afford to waste time . Would you still attack Mythrille just to be certain or would you use them to go somewhere else like Hadea or Inkit?"

"I trust in you . If you say that Ash could gain King Harold's trust, then she would gain King Harold's trust . I think I'll use Rooster to attack several forts in Hadea, enter their towns and preach their citizens to join our side . Nothing destroys a King's power like the citizens wanting another King" Timothy grinned "Nothing much really, just to weaken them a little bit just like what we did here in Canton"

Lucia laughed "Yea, I remember when we first entered Heraldshome . The people were throwing insults and garbage towards us . If not for Abraham and the other royal guards we would have bathed in smut that day . After a day of your famous speeches, they stopped throwing things . After the second, the insults ceased . The third, a few in crowd applauded . Now you are more popular than King Harold was" Lucia tiptoed and rubbed nose with him "What is with you that makes people love you?"

"Do you?" Timothy looked deeply into her eyes, drowning his being into hers .

"Are you really going to ask that despite knowing the answer already?"

"I want to hear it . I want to hear your sweet voice say it to me every single day"

Lucia embraced him "I…"

"Your Majesty! Red sealed letter arrived . The pigeon has a blue ribbon attached to it" Abraham's low and booming voice interrupted . Although Timothy was a little jarred by the interruption, he knew that a red sealed letter demands attention . The blue ribbon attached to it meant that it was from Ash, their spy in Mythrille .

"I will get it" Lucia said and went opened the door for the letter . She opened the seal and read .

"Change of plans we can't separate our armies now" That was her first words . There was both caution and concern in her voice "She is here and with a two thousand Falconheads . She just arrived in Mythrille"

"Sarah Wismar?" Timothy blurted the name of the person whose reputation was as large as his and Lucia's . She was a Princess of Wismar, the second in line after Skall . Unlike her foolish older brother, Sahar was famed to be capable . Her methods are dark . Once she put down a rebellion in the town of Medis by playing the rebel leaders against each other . She succeeded and then proceeded to burn that Medis to the ground . Everyone was put to the sword . Even animals and plants didn't survive her wrath . There are tales of how she laughed while thousands were being slaughtered in front of her . She drank and laughed and celebrated their deaths . Today Medis remained void of life .

The Falconheads were Wismar's answer to the Rooster Legion . They were monks of the falcon god Ashkara . They have taken vows of silence . The Falconheads were all trained as soldiers and they excelled at that . Their helms, things they never take off, were shaped like the head of a falcon . Some say they never tire, never fear and never disobeys orders .

"We are in trouble huh?" Timothy asked although he was certain that they are . Sarah Wismar with two thousand Falconheads would make things difficult for them .

"We are . So what are we going to do?" Lucia asked .

Timothy prided himself for having plans for all situations . But he never anticipated that the Wismarines would send their prized Princess to the front line .

"Your spy is in trouble"

"She is . I will recall her immediately . But what now?"

"I don't know" Timothy admitted . He looked at her "I guess all we could do now is wait and see"

Chapter end