NOVEL NEXT Chapter 194: Common ground (1)
Chapter 194: Common ground (1)
Winter gripped the south with a biting cold that seeped through wool and leather, making the march harder with each hour. Though the skies held no snow, the bare trees lining the road shivered in the icy wind, their skeletal branches reaching out against the bleak horizon. Ahead, a procession of hundreds moved in disciplined unison, a river of men and steel marching through frostbitten fields and narrow, frozen pathways.
At the heart of the line, the banner of House Veloni-Isha flew high, its bird seemingly trying to reach the sky as if claiming their very own meaning , while beside it, the simple crest of the White Company fluttered,defiant and un-beaten . This was Alpheo's personal army, a force of 120 infantry clad in armor, chainmail glinting dully under the sun, marching with steady, practiced strides. Behind them, fifty horsemen rode aheahd , their breastplates shining in the pale light, their vambraces and simple guisses shielding them from the cold. These men were not simply a part of Alpheo's army but belonged to the elite Golden Steeds, a select unit of knights under the royal family. They rode under the directive of Princess Jasmine herself, sent to solidify Alpheo's standing and his position as her consort.
Alpheo led the march toward Bracum, his gaze fixed on the distant fortifications that rose from the gray landscape. It had taken many letters, but common ground had been struck.
Alpheo marched on with only Ratto and Jarza at his side as close companion. Clio and Leadio had remained behind in Yarzat, each with their own responsibilities to oversee. Clio managed security over their manufacture house, while Laedio held command over the garrison force of Yarzat.
Asag and Egil had been dispatched to Confluendi, the massive refugee camp whose administration demanded constant attention. Until Princess Jasmine's appointed ministers were ready to relieve them, Alpheo trusted Asag and Egil to keep Confluendi stable and functioning smoothly.
As Alpheo's company neared the city of Bracum, a line of armored men on horses appeared at the roadside. Among them, one rider held the heraldic banner of Lord Xanthios—a dark lion against a background of pale green—high above the rest.