Chapter 365: Do you believe me now?

“Who will you trust?

The man and the woman he chose despite your enemy’s allegations against her, or your enemies who appeared out of nowhere, seemingly knowing everything about you as if they had been spying on you and your family for years?”

Imperia repeated Morvain’s question, and Kael and Lavinia looked at each other with light smiles on their faces.

This was unexpected.

They didn’t think Morvain would suddenly turn the situation around this way. They didn’t need Imperia to know how the Velmourn Soldiers’ opinion changed as it happened. However, unable to contain his curiosity,

“What are the soldiers saying?”

Kael questioned excitedly. He wanted to know how many of them now sided with the two of them. Imperia nodded at his words,

“They are now stari—”

She could see that the responses were good and the soldiers were now looking at the situation much more practically. However, just as she was about to reveal the good news, she suddenly turned silent.

“Ria?”

Kael frowned. Lavinia too glanced at the Ant, worried about her sudden silence.

“Father.”

Imperia called out with a solemn look on her face.

“The Stonefang clan is marching toward us with their army.”

“What?”

Kael’s expression changed and Imperia nodded.

“Their entire army of 250 warriors is marching down. At their current speed, they will be here in twenty minutes.”

The Ant informed.

“The Stonefangs…”

“It is the muscular tribe that focuses on strength. They are expert hunters and warriors and frequently raid Velmourn hunting parties and storehouses to seize supplies and livestock.”

Imperia informed.

There were quite a few tribes living in Ashen Heights beside the Velmourn people, so while Kael did learn about them from Alrisa and Imperia, he still wasn’t well informed about them and mostly relied on Imperia for any information he might need.

This is also the reason they received the information about their army marching down toward them so late. If there were only one or two tribes, Kael could have infiltrated their ranks using his Ants, getting access to such information far quicker than now. However, right now, he had only left a few ants in all tribes, limiting the scope of their information.

“How many soldiers are there at the Wall right now?”

Kael questioned.

“Eighty-three.”

Imperia answered. She had counted before she left.

“Will they be enough to resist them?”

“The Stonefangs are known for their strength and fierceness. The Velmourns usually outnumber them and have twice as many men, yet the battle is still difficult. But with almost all of the Velmourn Army at the East Coast, there is no way they would be able to hold out.”

Imperia shook her head.

Kael’s face turned solemn. Lavinia too finally sat up and looked into Kael’s eyes.

“We need to leave.”

She spoke.

Kael nodded as well.

He stood up. Imperia jumped into his pocket and he picked Lavinia like a princess before he jumped into the air.

The group quickly made their way toward the Wall. Five minutes later, he landed on the stone wall and gently placed Lavinia on the ground.

The soldiers positioned there looked at them with strange looks on their faces. All of them were already tense when they had heard about the Drakthar Ships that were sighted and the possible war that might have ensued, yet…

Seeing the two of them roaming around thoughtlessly… did not leave a good impression in their minds.

Of course, Kael was oblivious to that. Yes, there were ants here who heard about how tense the soldiers were, but it was something Imperia found quite natural so she didn’t inform Kael about this, not when so many important things were happening one after the other.

Therefore, Kael simply glanced at the acting leader and—

“Enemy incoming.

The entire two hundred and fifty-man strong Stonefang tribe is moving, and they will be here in ten minutes!

Send someone with an agile bond to inform the Matriarch. The rest, get into defensive formations and prepare traps if there are any!”

He informed and relayed instructions. He still did not know much about the Wall’s situation and available resources, so he trusted Sergeant Halrick, the current Leader of the Men of the Watch in the absence of Korvath and Kayden.

But…

Sergeant Halrick raised an eyebrow at his words and stepped forward, his gloved hands clasped behind his back.

“And how do you know that?”

He questioned, his voice full of suspicion.

Of course, Kael expected that, but he didn’t exactly have a way to convince him. He could only say—

“I sensed their movements.”

“You sensed it?”

Sergeant raised his eyebrow.

“That is correct.

It is not an instinct or a premonition.

I know they are coming.”

Kael nodded with a grim look on his face. He had seen how seriously these people took their work, acting on even the slightest clue, so he didn’t think it would be hard to convince them. After all, it didn’t take anything to get into a defensive position for a few minutes. If the enemy actually came, they would be prepared. If they didn’t, even better.

But…

“Is that so?”

Halrick gave a long, exaggerated sigh as he folded his arms.

“Your senses are quite sharp. You even sensed movements that the ones on the Watch couldn’t.”

He then turned to the watchmen behind him and—

“Anything?”

He questioned, and one by one, they shook their heads. The Sergeant once again turned towards Kael.

“See? Nothing. No scouts reported in, no signals from our posts. The skies have been clear too.”

“That’s because they haven’t reached visible range yet, but they are quick. They will be here any minute now.”

Kael didn’t back down.

“Right.”

Halrick nodded.

“They didn’t reach the range of scouts, but you were able to sense them, eh? As I thought, your senses must be quite sharp—unreasonably so.”

He spoke sarcastically. Kael, who heard his condescending tone, narrowed his eyes,

“I am not trying to joke around.”

“Really?”

Halrick grinned condescendingly as he glanced at the two of them and then suddenly, his expression turned strict,

“Dragon Rider Kael.”

He spoke slowly.

“Right now, you were supposed to be at the East Coast, together with the rest of the army.”

Kael narrowed his eyes—an expression Halrick misunderstood,

“Surprised? Of course you will be. You wouldn’t know this, would you? After all, when everything was announced, the two of you were not at your station, were you?”

Hearing those words, Kael finally understood the problem,

“This isn’t about—”

He tried explaining, but—

“I’m not judging,”

Halrick interrupted lightly, raising his hands.

“Really. I get it. You’re both young, passionate… It’s just that maybe next time, you could… keep these bonding exercises someplace private?”

He spoke lightly and then—

“These… activities are better done behind the walls, not at the Walls, where one is supposed to fulfill their duties.”

“…”

“…”

Both Kael and Lavinia turned silent. They tried to clear the misunderstanding, but—

“And being proactive is one thing. Trying to create a false sense of emergency by making up some random stories just to hide your actions…

It is not something that is expected out of someone, even if they joined the Watch only two days ago.”

“We’re not making anything up, th—”

Kael tried to converse, but—

“Of course not,”

Halrick cut him off.

The same half-smile never leaving his face.

“You’re just… very proactive.”

All this while, Lavinia stayed silent, observing Halrick’s face. The wind blew gently across the high wall, shifting cloaks and hair. The soldiers behind Halrick looked unsure, caught between the conversation and their own doubts. Lavinia even grabbed Kael’s arm, as if telling him to stop.

An action Halrick didn’t seem to like very much.

“You know, I’ll have to speak to the Commander about this,”

He continued.

“Leaving one’s post for… well, reasons. It’s not something we overlook.

Even for a Dragon Rider.”

He threatened.

But…

“…”

“…”

Both Lavinia, and now Kael, stayed silent.

Lavinia’s small gesture was more than enough for Kael to understand what she was trying to say. He slowly observed the soldiers around him and he understood why Lavinia held him back.

Their suspicious, unsatisfactory eyes told them they wouldn’t listen, no matter what he said. So in the end, he had no choice but to let it happen.

He just stared out over the edge of the wall, eyes scanning the horizon, no longer speaking or arguing.

“Silent now, are we? I suppose that’s good. At least you know when to back down.”

Halrick gave a small chuckle. He turned and began walking away.

“Go on then,”

He called over his shoulder.

“Get some rest. Or a better alibi, maybe? I don’t know.”

He shrugged as he continued walking away,

But then—

DONG DONG DONG

Three loud chimes rang from the Tower. The soldiers all turned towards it and suddenly,

“RED SMOKE!!”

One of the soldiers on the Watch shouted, and in an instant, every soldier on the wall froze.

Red smoke…

That’s the signal from the scouts beyond the Wall.

Enemy sighted.

And not just one—it is a complete army.

Halrick stopped in his tracks.

“No…”

He muttered.

He rushed towards the Tower, grabbing the scope from the side rack. First, his eyes fell on the smoke signal, then, as he looked more carefully, he finally saw them.

The Stonefangs.

Hundreds of them.

All of them armored.

Their bonds kicking up dust as they charged across the rocky slope.

“What…?

But Winters aren’t here yet…

This… this doesn’t make sense.

Why now, of all times…?”

He spoke, pale-faced.

And finally, he heard a voice.

“Do you believe me now?”

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