"When I mark my goal,

obstacles can only get aside"



Immediately after being informed of the assault on the fort, Daemon called all his ministers to discuss the situation.

Fear was in the air, and more than one person was worried, but in reality, almost no one was overly surprised by what had happened.

Somehow everyone knew it couldn't last.

Daemon had said it without mincing words the day they met for the first time, precisely with the aim of extinguishing easy enthusiasm and bringing everyone back to harsh reality.

"We cannot exclude that sooner or later someone will try to steal the freedom we have earned." he had said. "And when that happens we will have to be ready to defend ourselves."

That moment had finally arrived.

Too early for some, later than expected for someone else.

The Free State was born, now it was necessary to defend it.

Luckily nothing had been left in the hands of fate.

The establishment of an army, massive investments in armaments and emergency supplies, as well as the construction of some strongholds in strategic points of the country were all precautions that had been taken precisely in order to prepare for such an eventuality.

After reassuring everyone that no one would be overlooked, the first decisions were made, starting with public order.

The special law was established which limited access to food, guaranteeing everyone the necessary sustenance while containing speculation and waste. The powers of the police prefects were also implemented to maintain order and ensure that all villages had a security corridor to escape to the nearest fortified center in case of need.

Then it was the turn of the economic aspect.

Almost all the merchants who had begun doing business with the Free State in the last three months had black market contacts, and were more than capable of moving money and goods even in times of war by exploiting secret channels and subterfuge. The leaders of the guilds were received, and they agreed to continue the business in exchange for an adjustment to the profits to compensate for the risks.

Nobody was happy about the idea of selling out to those leeches, but it was the only way to keep the business going.

Naturally, in order to continue trading there had to be something to sell, so the order was given that all activities remained open, starting with the mines and the care of the fields.

Finally the battalions were reassigned and repositioned, with the veterans of the Revolution who would occupy the most exposed positions, garrisoning Grote Muren and the impervious Gael Pass, the only two points of connection between the east and the west of ancient Eirinn.

According to Oldrick, garrisoning the pass would have been a waste of resources, because it was simply impossible for an armed army to cross it easily, perpetually covered as it was by snow and ice.

"In a war you leave nothing to chance, Oldrick. I thought you knew. The attack on the fort was obviously only a test. And even if we want to listen to the rumors that depicts Victor as a certified idiot, General Lefde who commands the western army of the Grand Duchy is a much more prudent man. Now that he has tested our defenses at Grote Muren, it is logical to assume that he will do the same at Gael Pass. And we have to be ready."

Once the meeting was over, and accompanied by Scalia, Daemon also wanted to meet the elf who had contributed to the defense of Grote Muren with her prowess, and who after the battle had been brought to the Castle under guard to meet him.

"So you're the boss here?"

"More or less. And you are?"

"Natuli."

"First of all I want to thank you for your contribution. Without you, there could have been many more victims in the attack. They told me you would like access to the Free State. Can I ask you why?"

"It seemed like a place like any other to make some money."

"An elf who talks about money." Scalia commented. "If I didn't see it I wouldn't believe it."

"Explain it any way you want to. You have many enemies, and I know how to take care of them. So? Do you need me or not?"

The two stared into each other's eyes as if trying to study each other, and Scalia was surprised to see how the elf managed to remain calm in the face of her brother's penetrating gaze, usually capable of making even the bravest men tremble.

Then, the verdict came.

"Undoubtedly you know what you're doing in many ways. Okay, you can stay, but under one condition. You will have to serve in our army. We are creating a unit of horse archers, you will have to train them and become their commander. You will also be responsible for training all our archer units together with our other instructor, Drufo."

"Fine for me."

No one, not even the few who had demonstrated skills comparable to Natuli's, had ever risen through the ranks so quickly, and this left both Scalia and everyone else present quite surprised. But nevertheless not a single objection was raised.

"It's a deal. Septimus, take care of it. From this moment on I give Natuli the role of Captain of the Horse Hunters."

"As you wish."

Having said this, Daemon took his leave and headed towards his office, still followed by Scalia.

"Daemon, are you sure this is a good idea? She is certainly skilled, but to suddenly entrust her with such an important task..."

"She's a spy." the boy replied as if it was the most natural thing in the world

"What!?"

"She hid the tattoo, but it's obvious she's not clanless as she wants us to believe. Elves fret over everything out of line that happens on this continent, and we are out of line in many ways. They must have sent her here to monitor us and make sure we are not a threat."

"But if you understood it immediately, why did you give her that command!?"

"You heard Septimus' report too. Have you ever seen a better archer than her? If I hadn't adequately rewarded her talent, she would have understood that we had unmasked her."

"However, allowing a spy to take part in meetings and war councils, especially at a time like this... Wouldn't it have been wiser to arrest or expel her?"

"They would have sent someone else, someone more skilled than her to go unnoticed. And in any case, her talent is too precious to do without. Now let's not think about it anymore. Like you said, we have more important things to take care of."

Waiting for the two in the office was an old acquaintance whom they both hadn't seen for a long time.

"Zypax." Scalia said. "It's nice to see you again."

"It's a pleasure for me too, Scalia." replied the old bird "You have settled in well."

«Nice to see you again my friend. How are things in Dundee?"

"Very good. I have to thank you. With the money you lent us we managed to open our own forge."

"It was a pleasure. Your blacksmith skills deserved a better working environment than the squalid furnaces of the mines."

"I'm not saying that I miss that period, but I have to admit that every now and then I feel almost uncomfortable. Now we no longer have to scrimp on tools or worry about the furnace blowing up because it isn't repaired. These old feathers were used to the blazes by now."

"I would have liked to meet you again under better circumstances. But if you are here, I assume you have some good news for me."

Zypax diverted their attention to the bulky wooden box placed on the table: "You can count on it."

The moment Daemon opened the box, his eyes lit up like a feline's.

"What do you think?"

"I'm truly speechless. It's identical to the project I left you."

"It wasn't easy, but you know that. I'm the best."

Scalia didn't even try to ask what it was, even though that particular shape made her suspicious.

"Compact, robust, and light enough. Have you done any tests?"

"Certainly. All brilliantly passed. No cracks, no traces of metal suffering. The mechanism sometimes tends to get stuck, but with the parts we have available we couldn't do better."

"A limit that I had taken into consideration. I guess we'll have to make do for now. How many do you think you can build?"

"The first thirty are ready. Just say the word, and we can get to a hundred before the next moon."

"Then get to work immediately. I'm afraid we will need it very soon. In the meantime, I'll take care of the training."



The failure of the assault on Grote Muren did not cause much surprise in Faria, since no one really expected that someone who had been able to conquer a province in less than a month could be defeated so easily.

However, such a defeat required the first thing to be done to increase the availability of soldiers, so immediately after the return of the first expedition the necessary preparations began to be made by announcing mass conscription and the enlistment of mercenary groups.

In reality, the national coffers were far from full in that period, but there was the belief - for some more than others - that the re-conquest would amply cover the costs.

The Jormen were essentially thieves and marauders, barbarians from the far north-east who plundered the coasts, taking what they wanted, and who for this very reason did not disdain fighting for anyone who could afford their services.

Ignes' gang was one of the few you could recruit even deep inland, as the Jormen were usually never too far from the sea and their infamous ships.

No one looking at Ignes would ever think that she might be the feared Crimson Iron, whose ax had slaughtered so many enemies that it had turned red.

She wore braids and dressed like a little girl, but looking into her eyes would have terrified even the most fearless of generals because of how cold they were, and in battle, she waved that weapon bigger than her as if it was made of paper.

Her reputation was so infamous that no one dared to protest the rather heterogeneous nature of her gang, which included a good number of runaway monsters and freed slaves.

"His Highness the Grand Duke thanks you for your services." said Philippe, standing next to the throne from which Victor was attending the meeting with all the mercenary leaders hired for the occasion. "With your help, we will crush the rebels and reclaim control of the province of Eirinn."

"Enough with chats and talk about serious things." Ignes said shortly "When is the fighting?"

"We're still finishing reorganizing our army." Lefde, who was also present, intervened. "It will take a few more weeks."

"All this deployment of forces for a handful of rebels? Pay me double and I'll solve your problem myself."

"Your fame precedes you Crimson Iron, but I urge you to be cautious. These rebels are like nothing you've seen before. Their commander is an extremely witty person, who trained his soldiers very well."

Invisible to everyone, hidden behind a column on the balcony overlooking the audience room, a cloaked shadow witnessed the meeting. Victor met his gaze a moment before he disappeared, pursing his lips in annoyance.

"However, the outcome will not change." he said, "What awaits us is a great victory, and I can assure you that you will all have your share of glory and spoils. Eirinn can be very generous to those who serve her faithfully."

"Let's keep loyalty and glory out of this." Ignes replied piquedly "We only care about money, and you promised us a lot of it. For your sake, I hope it wasn't a far-fetched promise."

"Watch your tongue, savage!" Philippe blurted out, losing his patience. "I remind you that you're talking with the Grand Duke of Eirinn!"

"I like your frankness." Victor replied instead. "There is no more trustworthy person than one whose loyalty can be bought, after all. Don't worry, this venture will bring you all more profits than you can imagine. You have my word."

At that moment, the doors at the end of the room opened, and even before the crier could announce the new arrivals a pair of young centaurs in armor appeared before the young Grand Duke.

None of those present had ever seen them, but everyone immediately imagined who they must be; which is why neither Philippe nor Victor were happy to see them.

"Greetings to you, Grand Duke Montgomery." the older one said after they both bowed. "My name is Athreia Ypsilanti, and I am the commander of the Vanlian Furies. At the request of His Majesty the Emperor, we now place ourselves at your service to assist you in the campaign against the rebels who have occupied the province of Western Eirinn."

"Your support is unexpected and very welcome Lady Ypsilanti, but we currently have at our disposal all the troops we could need." said Philippe, whose expression, however, told a completely different story. "Not to mention that in our current conditions we cannot afford to hire more troops."

"Hey horses, aren't you trying to steal our jobs?" Ignis said as she walked up to her and defiantly stared at her, even though Athreia and her sister were twice her height.

"We are not mercenaries." Medea said offended "We are an elite unit belonging to the imperial army."

"Calm down, Medea. His Imperial Majesty has sent us here to express your closeness and reaffirm his support for your undertaking to free the province from the control of the rebels. We will obey you as lord of these lands, but we intend to respect the order received from our Emperor. If you don't want our help we won't fight, but that doesn't mean we will fail in our duties."

Philippe's teeth creaked from how hard he was clenching them.

It was all too clear why the Emperor had sent those damned centaurs there. And since the Furies were notoriously concerned with suppressing revolts, no one could have accused His Majesty of having acted in a prejudicial manner.

"They call it help, but they're really just putting a leash on us." Lefde said to himself, not without a bit of relief.

"Come on, there's no need to get so hot." Victor replied in such a calm and controlled manner that it left the two men speechless. "If His Majesty sends us help it would be foolish not to use it. Ultimately, we are acting on his behalf. You are welcome, you and your unit. And since you are here, we already have the right task to entrust to you."

"We are at your disposal."

"We tested the strength of our enemies with a rapid attack on the fortress of Grote Muren, and unfortunately we had to see that those rebels are more organized than we thought. Therefore, before moving on to the actual offensive, we would like to examine all possible solutions."

Young Montgomery called everyone's attention to the gigantic tapestry hanging on the wall to his left, depicting the old Grand Duchy in its heyday.

"As you surely know, the valley in which Grote Muren is located is the only connecting point between the east and west of old Eirinn large enough to easily pass through with a large army. But there is also another road, more impervious and dangerous, north of the fortress."

"I heard about it. It's Gael Pass."

"A frontal assault against Grote Muren would certainly cost us considerable casualties. But if we could get a small force through the pass and beyond the Khoral range, we might be able to cut off the enemy's supply lines. At that point, conquering the fort would become a much easier matter."

"Yes, I see."

"Unfortunately for us, this Daemon also reached the same conclusion. We have just been informed that the rebels have started to fortify the pass. Therefore, it would be necessary to test their defenses here too, to understand how feasible this operation could be."

"So you would like to entrust this task to us?"

"Your unit is small, but very powerful. Perfect for a narrow environment like the pass. Faced with the strength of your charge, the rebels could even abandon the field immediately, opening the way to the west."

"In this case Grand Duke, you can start planning the offensive immediately. Because you can be sure that we will clear the pass before the rebels can even notice us."

"I was sure we would get along. I'll let you know when we can start the operation. Meanwhile, Eirinn welcomes you as allies and friends. Follow my chamberlain, he will lead you to your quarters."

"Thank you, Your Excellency."

To say that Philippe and Lefde were speechless would be an understatement.

But if for a moment Lefde wanted to delude himself that the son of his old friend was finally starting to understand what it meant to be the Montgomery heir, Philippe who was next to him did not miss the grin that materialized on the boy's face when the two centaurs turned their backs to him.

And it satisfied him enormously.



The top floor of the noble wing of the palace was forbidden to anyone; no one had to see what old Berthold Montgomery had become.

Not that he was ashamed of it; he simply knew how important the way he appeared was for a sovereign, especially for a family like his who carried the weight of a nation in an identity crisis on its shoulders, in the constant search for a strong figure to cling to.

The people themselves were unaware of the real reason that had forced the Grand Duke to renounce his role in favor of his son; there was talk of an unspecified health problem. Inevitable when dealing with a disease that ordinary people considered a divine punishment.

For a few months, leprosy had even taken away the Grand Duke's sight. But by now he knew his palace so well that he could walk it far and wide without any need to see, always being careful to choose those paths where he would not run the risk of meeting anyone.

So, when he had the strength, he went around, listening to the voices of the servants and guards, and sometimes attending audiences in the safety of the colonnade overlooking the hall.

"I don't think there is any need to report to you, since you felt obliged to attend the meeting." Victor said closing the door to his father's rooms

"You are going down a dangerous path, my son." said the figure barely visible behind the bed curtains speaking in a hoarse and croaking voice "The Empire may be weaker than in the past, but it is still capable of biting anyone who dares to challenge it."

"And so we should continue to bow our heads in front of an old and dying lion? Do you have no pride?"

"Watch your words. Even though I swore allegiance to the Emperor, my heart and spirit have always been for the good of Eirinn. And if you think I've forgotten what it means to be part of this family, you're sadly mistaken."

"Really? Because honestly it seems the opposite to me, and your behavior proves it. This is our best chance to take back what belongs to us, and you wish we would let it slip away."

Victor didn't have the courage to say it openly, but he wrongly suspected that his father had a hand behind the arrival of the Furies. It didn't take a genius to understand that it was a ploy to remind him and Philippe whose name they were fighting for.

"If we had been dealing with the old emperor I would have been the first to suggest that you do this. He was just an incompetent old man, a prisoner of his vices. But his brother Arnold who now sits on the throne is a completely different matter. He is crafty and perceptive. And even though he now has a lot of problems to think about, you are wrong to assume that he would ignore what you and Philippe want to do. Eirinn will one day be united and free again, but that time has not yet come."

"That moment will never come as long as there are people like you running this country. Isn't that why you sent Aria to study at the imperial academy? To tie our destiny even more to that of the Empire, precisely now that we could finally free ourselves from this humiliating condition of vassals?"

"Watch me. My body is rotting, and I'll probably be dead within a year. Do you really believe that if I thought your actions could restore us to freedom, I wouldn't give you my blessing, if only so I could witness Eirinn's rebirth before I took my last breath? Many will die if you take this step, and their deaths may lead to nothing. Are you really willing to sacrifice your soldiers, your kingdom, perhaps even your life in the name of a goal that may be beyond your reach?"

"There's your mistake, father. I'm not a coward like you. I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty, and I would let a hundred, a thousand, even a million men die under my command to give Eirinn back the place it deserves. So just sit here and watch as I accomplish what you and your ancestors never even came close to."