The village of Mikali, only 9 kilometers from Kisor, had been transformed into a massive camp. Countless tents stretched across the plains surrounding the village, and the smoke from campfires rose into the early morning sky. Baron Sirot's 1,000 soldiers had joined the reinforcements sent by Duke Frederick, 2,500 men led by Commander Rick. 3,500 soldiers, a formidable force, were preparing for "Operation Breakthrough" towards Kisor.
Inside the grand command tent, Baron Sirot sat, his face dripping with confidence and arrogance. Before him stood Commander Rick, his features harsh, wiping his sword with a cloth.
"The time has come, Commander Rick," Sirot said, sipping from his wine glass. "This little Viscount Zidan will learn who his true master is today. But before we crush him, I want to give him one last chance to surrender. Perhaps he's enough of a coward to save his own skin."
Rick smiled a malicious smile. "A good idea, Baron. Let him see the scale of our power. I will send my best messenger."
An hour later, a messenger from Sirot's camp arrived at the gates of Kisor. He rode a magnificent black horse, wore shining armor, and carried the banner of Duke Frederick. He entered the castle and stood tall before Zidan in the throne room, flanked by Sivara, Zinan, and Javier.
"Greetings from my lord, Baron Sirot, and Commander Rick, leader of Duke Frederick's forces!" the messenger said in a loud voice, carrying a clear tone of threat. "Our forces have reached Mikali, only 9 kilometers from your walls. A huge army that you cannot resist. Cities greater and stronger than Kisor have fallen before the might of Duke Frederick."
Javier and Sivara tensed, but Zidan remained calm, his eyes fixed on the messenger.
"My lord Baron Sirot, and Commander Rick, grant you one last chance, Viscount Zidan," the messenger continued, his tone shifting to feigned praise. "We have heard of your generosity, and of your wisdom in feeding the refugees. You are an intelligent nobleman, and you deserve a better fate than to die in a losing battle."
The messenger raised his voice, attempting to entice Zidan. "If you surrender now, without a fight, Duke Frederick will enlist you in his army and grant you a respectable position. You will be a commander in the army of the victors, and you will preserve your life and your status. Think about it, Viscount. This is a solution without war, a solution that spares bloodshed."
At that moment, Zinan, second-in-command of Kisor's forces, stepped forward. His eyes shone with contempt, his face expressing suppressed anger. Zinan was a strong young man, loyal to Zidan to the core, and he had seen with his own eyes how Kisor had changed thanks to Zidan's leadership.
"Messenger!" Zinan said in a booming voice, trembling with rage. "You are not even worthy of a reply from His Excellency Baron Zidan himself! You are just a dog barking at the command of his occupying master! You speak of a solution without war? There is no solution without war with an occupier like you! You came to plunder our land and enslave our people! Kisor will not surrender! And we will not grant you the honor of fighting at our walls!"
The messenger stiffened, shocked by the intensity of Zinan's response.
"Return to your masters, you coward!" Zinan continued, slightly drawing his sword. "Tell them that Kisor will not bow! And tell them that I, Zinan, commander of Kisor's forces, will personally hunt them down to the hell of war! Go, before I cut off your head here and send it to your masters as a message!"
The messenger trembled with fear. He had not expected such a fiery response. He looked at Zidan, who was watching him coldly, then at Sivara, who was smiling faintly. The messenger ran in fear, out of the hall, out of the castle, and out of Kisor as fast as he could, leaving behind the echo of Zinan's resounding words.
Sirot and Rick's Anger and Zidan's Plan
The messenger returned to the camp at Mikali, panting from his run and fear. When he told Sirot and Rick what had happened, and how Zinan had insulted them, their anger flared.
"What? He refuses? And makes threats?" shouted Sirot, slamming his fist on the table. "This little Viscount has overstepped his bounds! He has insulted me! He has insulted Duke Frederick! I will make him regret this insolence!"
"It is time to move, Baron Sirot," Rick said, his eyes gleaming with malice. "This challenge cannot go unpunished. Prepare your troops. We will move on Kisor at dawn. We will crush them!"
Meanwhile, in Kisor, Zidan had summoned Sivara, Zinan, and Marion to the secret map room. Zidan was calm, but his eyes shone with determination.
"The time has come," Zidan said, pointing to a map of the area. "Sirot and Rick think we are cowards, and that we only have 800 soldiers. This is our chance to surprise them."
"Zinan, you will lead the troops," Zidan said, looking at his second-in-command. "You will lead a thousand of our elite soldiers. They will be mounted and will move under the cover of darkness."
Zinan's eyes widened with excitement. "Your command, my lord Baron! I will not fail you!"
"And with you, there will be 15 of the 24-pounder culverin cannons," Zidan continued, pointing to specific points on the map. "And with them, 100 shells. These cannons are our greatest secret. They must remain completely hidden."
"How will we hide them, my lord?" asked Sivara. "The cannons are huge, and moving them will be difficult."
"We will use large, black pieces of cloth to cover them completely," Zidan explained. "They will look like ordinary transport wagons, or piles of supplies. The soldiers will move in silence and will not light any fires. Marion, the Special Infiltration Unit will be our eyes and ears at the front. I want precise reports on the enemy's every move."
"Your command, my lord!" said Marion.
"Zinan, you will make camp with your forces on Cavir Hill," Zidan said, pointing to a small hill on the map. "It is only 3 kilometers from Sirot's camp in Mikali village. You will be close enough for a surprise strike, and far enough from their eyes."
"Only 3 kilometers?" said Javier, who had been watching in silence. "That is very close, my lord!"
"That is what is required, Javier," said Zidan. "We want them to feel a false sense of security. When they move towards Kisor, they will be in our line of fire. I want you to be ready. This battle will decide the fate of Kisor."
The atmosphere was utterly charged. In the village of Mikali, Sirot and Rick's forces were preparing to move, confident of their victory. And on Cavir Hill, the forces of Kisor, led by Zinan, were taking their positions in silence, under the cover of darkness, with 15 massive cannons hidden under cloth, waiting for the right moment to unleash the power of gunpowder. The forces were drawing closer to each other, and the calm before the storm enveloped the region.
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We have finally crossed the 10 chapter barrier, but don't worry, I am still preparing for you more than 30 chapters that I have been working on for days. I will publish them gradually.