The days following Lord Gruff's resentful retreat became a whirlwind of purposeful action for Kael and his revitalized forces. The air, no longer heavy with the immediate threat of overwhelming battle, instead hummed with the joyous anticipation of a kingdom reclaiming its own. Serpent's Tooth stronghold, now firmly under Kael's command, served as the vibrant heart of this burgeoning reclamation.
"Every hour we gain is a victory in itself," Kael declared during a council, his finger tracing a path across the detailed map of Zuna. "Gruff's barbarians are still a distant shadow, and Volkov has withdrawn. This window of opportunity is precious. We strike while the Eldorian garrisons are demoralized and the hearts of our people burn with hope."
General Theronis, his grizzled face reflecting a grim satisfaction, nodded. "Our scouts report crumbling morale among the remaining Eldorian occupiers, My King. Many are isolated, cut off from any central command since Valerius's demise. They know their time is short."
Kael's strategy was precise and relentless. He divided his swelling army – now augmented by thousands of new Zunian recruits, eager but still largely untrained – into several swift-moving columns. The core of these columns comprised his seasoned Zunian loyalists and the disciplined ranks of his Solaran and Valenor allies. Their experience provided the backbone, ensuring stability and professionalism.
The Liberation of Ironspire:
The first major target was Ironspire, a strategically important mining town in the foothills, held by a particularly cruel Eldorian garrison. Kael led the charge personally, astride Aether, his elemental magic a formidable force. They approached at dawn, a thick fog, conjured by Kael's Water magic, clinging to the ground, obscuring their numbers. As the Eldorian sentries peered into the mist, Kael unleashed a sudden burst of Fire magic, igniting supply tents within the garrison walls, creating immediate chaos. Before the Eldorians could react, a section of the wall, weakened by a precisely aimed Earth tremor, crumbled, creating a breach. The combined forces surged through, met by only sporadic, disorganized resistance. The townsfolk, having endured years of oppression, rose up, joining the fray with whatever tools they could find. By midday, Ironspire was liberated, its mines once again under Zunian control, its people cheering Kael's name.
Rallying the River Provinces:
From Ironspire, Kael dispatched Prince Arion with a significant detachment downriver. The river provinces were fertile and heavily populated, but also dotted with numerous small Eldorian outposts. Arion, utilizing his keen strategic mind and the superior mobility of the Solaran cavalry, employed a tactic of swift, overwhelming presence. They would appear suddenly, surround an outpost, and issue a clear ultimatum: surrender or face destruction. Faced with such overwhelming force and the undeniable news of Valerius's death, many garrisons chose to lay down their arms. The Zunian people of these provinces, once hesitant, now openly embraced Kael's cause, swelling Arion's ranks even further. Supplies flowed freely from these rich lands back to Serpent's Tooth.
Valenor's Steadfast Advance in the South:
Meanwhile, the Valenor forces, renowned for their disciplined siegecraft and unwavering resolve, were tasked with reclaiming the fortified southern strongholds. Led by their grim-faced commanders, they systematically besieged and conquered several key Eldorian castles that had long dominated trade routes. Their methodical approach, coupled with Kael's occasional magical intervention to soften defenses, proved devastatingly effective. These conquests not only secured vital territory but also further isolated any remaining pockets of resistance.
With each victory, large or small, Kael moved quickly to establish new, compassionate governance. He appointed trusted Zunian leaders, many of whom had secretly maintained loyalty to the crown, to oversee the liberated towns and cities. Supplies were shared, food distributed to the neediest, and the harsh Eldorian laws immediately revoked. Seraphina, a tireless force of compassion, oversaw the establishment of field clinics and distribution centers, ensuring that the liberated populace received immediate aid. Her presence, a beacon of healing and hope, solidified the people's belief in a benevolent new reign.
The maps in Kael's war room, once heavily marked with Eldorian red, were now predominantly green. Only the furthest, most heavily fortified Eldorian bastion, the Shadowfang Keep in the desolate western mountains, and a scattering of isolated, minor outposts remained under enemy control. Zuna was breathing, awakening, taking back its destiny.
Yet, even amidst the triumphs, Kael remained acutely aware of the unseen threats. Scouts continually tracked Lord Gruff's northward movement, reporting that his thirty thousand barbarians were indeed retreating towards their homeland, likely to regroup and plan a future, more vengeful, strike. And though General Volkov had withdrawn, the political vacuum in Eldoria was a volatile thing. Kael knew that the complete reclamation of Zuna was within grasp, but it was merely the first phase of a larger, looming conflict. The King's burden, the weight of a kingdom's future, only grew with each hard-won victory.