403 Chapter 164
Rfitan glared at the princess, his anger boiling just below the surface. He turned to look at Maxi when she spoke.
Though Maxi was slightly relieved to discover that her husband found the princess's attention unpleasant, she maintained her blank expression.
"You said we had to pass through the Ignord Plains before it gets dark," she pointed out.
"You must mean the Gnoir Plains," the princess corrected primly, taking a sip of wine. "Is it not rude to call a place in Dristan the Wedonian way?"
"Forgive me, Your Highness," Maxi replied wryly before fixing her gaze back on Riftan. "Should you not order the men to break camp and prepare to depart if we are to cross Gnoir Plains before sundown?"
"It is usually a commander's prerogative to decide when the army sets out," the princess replied sharply as if readying for a fight. "Though you are Sir Riftan's wife, do you not think you are overstepping a little?"
Losing her patience, Maxi glowered fiercely at the woman.
Before she could say anything, Riftan snarled, "I will not allow any discourtesy toward my wife."
He gave the princess a warning look and stressed each word, adding. "She is a mage of the Remdragon Knights, which means she has the right to offer her counsel at any time. I believe it is Your Highness who should watch for overstepping."
The princess's expression grew surly. Riftan opened his mouth as if to say something more but stopped himself.
Looking thoroughly fed up, he rose and coldly bellowed to the spectating knights, "Rest is over! Get ready to set out!"
With that, he wrapped an arm around Maxi's shoulders and led her to the tent where the horses were sheltering from the snow. Maxi glanced back at the princess's rigid face with great satisfaction before furtively looking up at Riftan.
"Is it all right...for you to speak to the princess like that?" she asked, trying to sound concerned. "If this were to earn the royal family's ire-"
"King Thorben is not a fool who would let his sister's personal feelings cloud his judgment. And you also needn't tolerate her effrontery just to keep her happy," Riftan replied flatly as he walked Talon out of the tent. Ñ00v€l--ß1n hosted the premiere release of this chapter.
Maxi frowned. If the princess did not have the influence to sway King Thorben to their side, why was Riftan putting up with her? She looked up at her husband with disapproving eyes.
Soon, the legion of soldiers on the field positioned themselves around the city. Maxi followed the Remdragon Knights to a ridge that directly overlooked Vesmore.
It did not take long to get a clear view of the hundreds of stone structures that crowded the city, including a grand basilica. Maxi's face turned grave as she assessed the sturdy walls. Like Midna, the ramparts showed no signs of heavy damage, as if the city had been taken from the inside.
Did this mean they had to execute another infiltration to open the city gates? She was discreetly watching the nearby Temple Knights when she heard Ruth sigh.
"It seems the army that went north has yet to arrive."
Indeed, the forces led by Sejuleu Aren and Princess Agnes were nowhere to be seen. Since the units led by Riftan had circled south to get here, the others should have arrived at least a week earlier.
"Could they have...run into trouble?" Maxi asked.
"They are likely having problems with supplies as well. Arex is no friend to the armistice after all," Ruth replied, scratching the back of his head in annoyance. "Then again, since the nobles were hit with hefty taxes to fund this war despite the famine, it's no surprise that they are unhappy with the request for additional supplies."
"B-But ...we are fighting for the peace of the Seven Kingdoms. The feudal lords have a duty to support the men fighting in their-"
"Why would they care about duty when they're on the verge of going destitute? They fear their draining coffers more than the vague threat of the dragon's resurrection."
"A-Are you saying they do not care whether the army starves to death? When we are risking our lives-"
Maxi halted her heated outburst. She had just spotted what appeared to be a flock of crows advancing toward them in the distance like ominous clouds.
A chill ran down her spine when she saw what they truly were. They were not crows but wyverns - hundreds blocking out the sky. In the same moment she realized this, a kopel blared out from the font.
Ruth was the first to come to his senses. "Raise shields!"
As Maxi hastened to summon her mana, large stones began to fall from the sky like hail. holding back a scream, she sped up her mana circulation. Even though the barrier was in place, the sight of the raining rocks made her break out in a cold sweat.
While trying her best to maintain control of her mana, Maxi frantically looked around. Though the other mages had quickly summoned shields as well, their efforts had not been enough to protect the whole army.
Soldiers struck by the hurtling stones were sprawled on the snow in ghastly conditions, and several of the army's wagons, siege weapons, and tents lay in pieces strewn across the ground.