Watcher's Fortress.
The north wind is howling, and the sky is filled with black clouds.
The dense orc army outside made the air extremely depressing.
Yesterday, the fortress received a warning from a scout that the orc army was approaching.
When the sun just rose today, the black orc army poured in from the depths of the distant grassland.
There were not only their own cavalry, but also infantry phalanxes sent by the human vassal states they conquered.
These human servant armies carry advanced siege weapons, including ladders, columbines, battering rams, trebuchets, ballistas...all available.
Above the fortress, the legion commander Duke Morton frowned.
When he received the news that the orcs had negotiated peace with the Gabera people, he realized that the orcs' attention would be directed to the west.
Great Chief Abar’s ambition for the human world will never stop at a few small oasis countries in the desert.
The vast plains and forests are his real goal.
Knight Arthur ran over, "My lord! I have two letters for you. One is from the orc messenger, and the other is from... Earl Grayman of the Northwest Gulf."< br>
Duke Morton took it, opened the orc’s letter first, and quickly read the text on it.
He could recognize that the letter was written by Abal himself, which shows that he attaches great importance to him.
The warchief is proficient in several human languages, including Aldo.
As the commander-in-chief of the Watcher Fortress, he cannot help but have to deal with this prairie king. Both of them are familiar with each other's handwriting.
“What did the orcs say?”
“Persuade us to surrender.”
Arthur was furious, “This is clearly humiliating us!”
But then he asked with some worry: "You...what do you think?"
Duke Morton smiled bitterly.
Abal has written several similar letters to him, some threatening and some tempting.
"What are you thinking? Let the orc envoy bring back a message, I will be the Duke of Aldo in life and death!"
Arthur breathed a sigh of relief.
“As for this letter!”
Duke Morton opened the letter from the northwest bay.
“I don’t know Count Grayman!”
Arthur rubbed his head, “I seem to have heard of this last name somewhere! Uh, by the way…”
He suddenly realized and remembered an old incident.
“When Sir Duke and I went to the Northwest Bay a few years ago, we met an Earl of Grayman, I think it must be him.”
"Really?" Duke Morton looked surprised after reading the contents of the letter.
“He actually warned us that the orcs were about to attack! How did this earl in the northwest bay know?”
Of course, Duke Morton didn’t have the time to think too much about it now. An attack is imminent.
It would have been nice if this letter had come earlier.
Arthur turned around to go find the orc messenger to send a message. As soon as he left, Sir Duke, the deputy commander of the fortress, came over.
Morton sighed, "Looking at your face, it seems you didn't bring back the results I wanted?"
Sir Duke nodded sadly, "The lords gave me some soldiers, but they were either old or weak. Sick and disabled, or gangsters and criminals."
"Oh, it's always bad. I hope they can show their value as Aldo people in the battle."
"Ugh— —! "
A dull horn sounded in the distance, and the orc army began to move, slowly approaching the fortress.
The attack is about to begin.
——
Beiwang Fort, a town in the northern part of the Nairodan Corridor.
At the city gate, two knights stood on their horses and looked towards the north.
The towering Rocky Mountains lie like a giant dragon. And the people they are waiting for will come from the mountains.
"Are we...really going to do this?"
Longfellow looked at his companions hesitantly and asked.
Boyle shook his head, "It's not us who want to do this, it's Archduke Bradley who wants to do this."
"This is dishonorable!"
"Executing the orders of the lord is the greatest honor of a knight."
The argument between the two came from their mission - to welcome the orc army into the inner Rodan corridor.
This was personally stated by their lord, Grand Duke Bradley.
Inspired by Giles and Veblen, Archduke Bradley, who was granted a title in the northeast of the kingdom, also had other thoughts.
But his strength cannot be compared with the previous two, not to mention that there is a Watcher Legion loyal to Jingyao stationed right under his nose.
It became Archduke Bradley's choice to use external forces, and the royal tent on the grassland also threw an olive branch at the right time.
In fact, the Grand Duke’s family has long had a friendship with the grassland forces.
With the help of the Bradley family's cover, a large number of goods controlled by the kingdom were continuously transported to the grassland, and valuable items such as fine horses, gold and silver were brought back, all of which were collected by the Bradley family.
This collaboration has been going on for generations.
“They are coming!”
In the distance, an army with an unfamiliar banner gradually appeared in sight.
Orcs!
“So many people, it turned out to be an entire army!” Ferrandro was shocked and confused at the same time, “It’s unbelievable, how did they cross the great northern mountains!”
“ I guess there must be easy-to-pass valley passages in the Rocky Mountains, and the orcs found them."
Boyle was very scared, "It's really shuddering to think about it now. The existence of these passages makes the Watcher Fortress. It’s a joke, it turns out that we are under threat from the orcs at any time. Fortunately... we are allies with them.”
"Are they allies?" Longfellow looked bitter. "Before their large army arrived, small groups of orcs running from the mountains had been ravaging the northern villages for a long time."
The army gradually approached, and Ferrandro and Boyle identified Figures of orcs.
They look similar to humans, but they are tall and powerful with fierce eyes.
Under the sunlight, a layer of fine fuzz can be seen on the exposed skin.
The two men urged their horses to meet him, and performed a knight's salute in a very awkward manner.
The orc leader who led the team was tall and outstanding even among the orcs.
He returned the gift in a dignified manner and said in a low voice: "Human, we are here for the friendship with Bradley."
Ferrandro felt a little ironic, The corners of his mouth twitched.
Boyle introduced himself first, and then asked for the name of the orc leader.
"Callum!"
"Welcome, but the plan has changed slightly. My Lord hopes that you will be stationed here first and not go to the Watcher Fortress for the time being."
Callum's eyes widened, "Our people are fighting bloody battles. , I can't stay here for long!"
"But..." Ferranlo explained to him, "Jingyao sent an army to 'support' us, and it was led by Her Royal Highness Princess Catherine!
"Oh? Is it Princess Catherine? I've heard of it. The Archduke asked us to destroy this army halfway?"
"It's better than letting them smoothly join the Watcher Legion. Right? But... regarding the princess, the Grand Duke hopes not to harm her, but to ensure that she remains intact.”
Callum laughed loudly, "You've rebelled and you still worry about this. I can only promise not to harm her. If she wants to commit suicide, it's none of my business."
Boyle smiled awkwardly, it's true The reason is that the Bradley family hopes to have a descendant with royal blood.
He changed the subject, "Chief Callum, you are so courageous. You brought the army yourself without sending a forward to explore."
But the other party showed disdain. "My boys have long memorized every plant and tree here."
Boyle was speechless.
Indeed, with the connivance of their master, a small army of orcs had already begun large-scale activities in northern Narodan.