After the formalities in the capital Arador of me being a Duke and receiving the Royal decree, we returned to Wyvrland.
It took us ten days of travelling with nothing major happening in our journey.
Not even a week later I returned to Wyvrland, I was in my chamber going through some reports from barons under my newly declared Duchy, Lyra stepped into my chambers. I knew something was wrong, the way she barged in.
She didn't speak. Just shut the door behind her and locked it with a quiet click.
"What happened?" I asked.
She dropped a scroll onto the desk, her expression unreadable. "From Greystone. You'll want to sit."
I didn't.
I broke the seal and read in silence.
Line after line, the words tightened like a rope knot:
Ravien's men drilling in Blackbarrow.
Fortifications in Drensfold.
Oakshade's border scouts gone silent.
New bannermen in Hollowfort.
Hoarded grain, conscripted smiths, whispered oaths.
My jaw clenched. "He's marching."
"He never stopped," Lyra said flatly. "The king's decree was a pause, not a leash."
"Damn him." I looked up. "And damn Alric for being too old to bite."
She approached the fireplace, eyes flicking to the flame. "You think he'll come straight for Oakshade?"
"Of course. It's exposed, thinly garrisoned. He'll want to sever it first. Divide us. Crush me before I can reunite the counties."
Lyra crossed her arms. "If he strikes, it'll be within the month."
I nodded. "Then we have less than that to prepare."
"Summon the council" I ordered.
Lyra nodded and left the room.
A few hours llate, Wyvrland's war chamber smelled like steel, and sweat. Looked like everyone hurried.
My council sat in a tense circle. Kaelen leaned forward, armored and looked ready. Arden's fingers tapped rhythmically against the hilt of his sword. Armin looked pale, Caldus muttered prayers under his breath, and Lyra stood behind me, silent as ever.
I broke the silence. "We've received confirmation. Ravien's moving. Slowly, methodically, like a spider weaving toward prey."
Arden grunted. "Then let's crush the spider."
"How many does he command?" I asked.
Lyra answered, "Excat numbers is not not confirmed but with Blackthorn mercenary company behind him, at least around thirty five hundred. Seventeen hundred men-at arms and around sixteen hundred levies. Maybe more if the mountain clans join. Rumours has it he's been funding them. "
Kaelen scoffed. "Mountain dogs. Hardly soldiers."
"Hard enough to bring us down," Arden growled. "Especially if they harass supply lines."
I turned to Armin. "And us?"
He hesitated. "We have managed to increase our men-at- arms recruitment with help from Arden, Kaelen and Dren and recruits from our newly added counties but it's still only one thousand men, a quarter of them are new recuits. We can stretch our levies from fifteen hundred to nearly two thousand men though, if we pull militia from Branholdt and Greystone."
"That leaves us vulnerable." I said, they could see my worried expression all over my face.
"We're already vulnerable," Lyra said coldly. "But better to bleed out there than rot here."
Caldus cleared his throat. "The faithful are... divided. Ravien calls you a heretic now. Says your claim to the duchy is cursed."
I smiled thinly. "Good. Then they'll fear me, if not follow."
Caldus didn't reply just smiled at me.
I ended the council for the day and they returned to ur ppost. That night, I walked the parapets of Wyvrland.
Kaelen found me and with a concerning look on her face.
"You planning to fight on the front lines?" she asked.
"Of course."
She studied me. "You shouldn't."
"You suggesting I hide?"
"I'm saying you're worth more alive than heroic."
I chuckled. "Didn't take you for a sentimentalist."
"I'm not. I just know what happens when leaders get themselves killed trying to look noble."
I paused. "You think we can win?"
Kaelen's answer came fast. "If we strike first? Maybe, If we don't? Maybe."
"Then we strike first." I said with a small laugh.
"You give orders, we follow them." She replied with a serious look on her face.
It sometimes surprises me how much loyalty someone can have for no reason. She is just a knight with no blood relation to me, but she will jump in the front lines to die if I order her.
"Say Kaelen, watch the stars with me for the night. Let's take a little break both you and me." I said.
"It's hardly the time to a break when war is on the horizon." She replied.
"It's an order, " I said with a big smile as if mocking her.
She accepted hesitantly.
We sat down at one of the tower of the castle and just spend the night having small talks and watching the stars.
---
Next morning, I dispatched ravens:
One to the king, informing him of Ravien's treachery.
One to the Duke of Valecrest. A calculated risk.
And one, unmarked, to a baron loyal to Hollowfort's gold.
If Ravien had friends, I will find their price.
---
Three days later, Elira found me pacing the courtyard.
"You're tense," she said.
"There's a war coming."
"There's always a war coming. This one just has banners."
I smiled faintly. "You don't have to stay."
She stepped closer. "I know. That's why I'm here."
I was about to ask her "why?", but Arden interrupted and said the council in waiting.
" You should go." She said with a smile.
I nodded and headed towards the council room.
Regular council meeting were held by me, but nothing major had been reported yet.
---
Finally, three weeks later Lyra gave the final report.
"Ravien's scouts were seen near Oakshade in small teams. Testing the roads. They are measuring us."
"How long before they strike?" I asked.
She didn't flinch. "He'll strike within the month. Less if we hesitate."
I turned to my council. "Then we won't."
I looked to Arden. "Mobilize the Iron Fangs. Have the Pike Serpents entrench the southern ridges of Oakshade. The Ashen Veil is to vanish into Oakshade's forests by sundown."
"Already done," Arden said with grim pride.
"Armin, fortify every grain store. Prepare reserve camps. If Ravien starves us, he wins without a blade drawn."
Armin nodded, already scribbling.
"Kaelen, pick riders you trust. I want warbands ready for raiding flanks and night raids. Ravien loves to march clean. Let's see how he handles mud and fire."
She grinned. "Gladly."
"Lyra, tell our spies in Hollowfort to start whispering rumors. Let the barons question him. Let them wonder if they've backed a man already burning."
She simply said, "It's begun."
---
And so, it began.
The hills outside Wyvrland darkened with banners. Crest of Wyvrling reborn from ash.
Men drilled by torchlight. Women forged arrows. Children carried water to the smiths.
Even the ravens flew faster.
We had one month at most.
Then the wolves would break the chain.