374 THE NEWS REACHED THE CAPITAL

Of course this is just his conjecture and nothing could be confirmed until it actually happens.

Eric appear to lose but he is doing all this all to strengthen the internal power of the kingdom. 

Aero play chess and there is no way of winning a game of chess without sacrificing a few pawn along the way. 

He knew how important it is to sacrifice the pawn so that he could checkmate the King

Eric is trying to checkmate the King. So why would he care about a few pawns?

Aero smiles and shook his head. 

'Still, I have to meet him and talk with him. It would be a pity to not talk with such a hero' he thought to himself. 

Aero would not let Duvar fall into Eric hand. After all, why would he make it easy on Eric?

It is better for Eric to not have Duvar. And Eric probably would not have thought that Savillia kingdom had allied themselves with Vanheim.

This is the fickle nature of the rulers of the warring states period. The situation is ever-changing and fluid.

Eric wanted to flip the chessboard and make chaos reign in the western region. But how could Aero easily let that happen.

Aero is confident that he could take the capital before the week end. Kyle and Quentin is two capable generals and there is still the private army that the Empress had sent him.

Of course, this private army is send to him to rescue her father. Aero have more chess piece to use now.

Aero also knows that he needs news from the frontlines of Karak. He rides his horse toward the front of his army that was waiting on him

Looking at his soldiers, he smiles. They were all ready to follow him into battle and toward victory.

He turns his horse so that he would be facing his army.

Aero then said

'The Sages and the wise had said observe the bent of a man's will when his father is alive, and his actions after his father is dead. If during the years of mourning he does not swerve from his father's principles, he may be pronounced a truly filial son. Even before the ground that buried King Phillip is dry, King Alexander had renounce his father effort for peace!'

Aero then continue and said 

Saying this the other soldiers smack their shield and raise their weapons up into the air. Aero then rides forward riding toward the Veranis borders

Vanheim forces had moved out toward Veranis!

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The Capital city has been surrounded by an ominous air since the day that Veranis declare war toward Vanheim. 

The people of the capital all could feel this suppressive air all around them. 

They do not live in fear but they do feel the unease that is slowly spreading as more days passed without the news of the victory of the Empire.

They wonder, is the Veranis army is that strong?

The battle around the western border had been going about for almost six months. The area around the capital city had been silent 

It was in the afternoon and people are selling their wares and merchandises on the side of the street, enduring the scorching sun. 

Sometimes they talk about the war and wonder how long would it take for Vanheim to drive back Veranis

In the beginning of the war, everyone was confident that the Empire would be able to quickly drive back the Veranis invasion. 

Who would have thought it would have lasted this long?

To those who in the know, they know that the Emperor, the Imperial Prince had been the one prolonging this war for both of their schemes. 

To the citizens of the Empire, they did not know all of this inside story. 

They did not know why the Empire is still not able to drive back Veranis when it is a small nation compared to the Empire?

The confidence they have on the imperial army might reputation is slowly eroding. They do not know the games that the high lords play in this time of war and crisis

The Emperor is using the war as pretext to gain the allegiance of the warlords around the Plains to pledge their loyalty to the Empire.

Then he would unleash the true might of the Empire upon them.

As the merchants shouting out loud in the markets, trying to persuade people to buy their wares, they suddenly see a weird sight on the sky.

They look closer and they saw hundreds of pigeons flying over the sky, flying to different direction of the capital, most of them went to the high official's residences.

Immediately everyone felt that something has happened.

And only one event come to their mind. The war in the western border.

Flapflap

The sound of the pigeons flapping their wings could be heard all over the sky

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Countless of messenger pigeons flapped their wings and took off in various direction of the Empire, spreading the news of the victory on the plains to every dominion and territory of the Empire.

One of them went to one of the most guarded area of the Imperial Palace. 

The throne room of the Imperial Court where all the officials would gather when there is a meeting to determine the policy of the Empire and the place where the Emperor do his work

Outside the throne room is dozens of guard dressed in golden brocade armor guarding the area.

These guards all emanated a powerful sense of pressure to the surrounding around them.

Most of them were high level warriors that could easily cut steel with only one of their slash but there are also battle mages who could use both sword and magic in fighting

Battle mages are one of the rarest type of mages. One could guess the importance of the person inside the area to be given such protection.

There are only a few people in the Empire that would be accorded such respect. One could easily guess who 

The pigeon did not enter that area. Instead it stopped in the middle of an empty area in front of the throne room.

The steward that was working in the throne room today, went out from the throne room and took the message and after one of the mages there check the letter and making sure there is no poisons or some curse embedded into the letter, the steward went inside the throne room and present the letter to the One inside the throne room

Inside the throne room, sitting on his throne, is the Emperor of Vanheim, Emperor Edward the First.

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