The entire preparation for Justinian's army took twenty minutes, Justinian himself donning his royal armor and weapons.
The rest of the time spent doing one last drill to ensure they don't break, and finally equipping each one with balance gear, ones that Lucan himself handpicked, heavy, bulky, but flexible.
A duke's personal army reflects the duchy itself, so Lucan only picked the best.
"This should be it."
Justinian muttered, wearing his full plate ornate armor, like a golden star shining across a field of silver, prominent against the rest of his men.
In his hips sheathed a sword that matched his armor, leather with a beautiful dark hue with red etchings intricately sewn into it.
And a cape of his coat of arms that completed the look.
'Twenty minutes already had passed...'
Justinian impatiently tapped his foot, his arms crossed; he knew mobilizing an actual army like this would take longer.
But he was lucky that he had skilled advisors.
As the men finished up in their drills by the courtyard, they began to mount their horses, each one riding towards the city's outskirts by Lucan's orders.
"The men are ready, my duke."
Lucan yelled out, already in his mount, leaving for the outskirts as well.
"Then let us head out!"
Kalos, his steed, was already on it, appearing in front of him and fully covered with armour.
It was absolute overkill for only a threat numbering forty, but it also helped to send a message if any survivors managed to flee.
"Let's do our best out there."
Justinian patted the Horse's mane before mounting his horse.
Cassia, meanwhile, was already behind him, already on her own horse, a spare one that Lucan had prepared for her personally.
He nodded in her general direction, quickly departing his courtyard to where the army had positioned.
***
Snowkeep - Outskirts
***
Outside the city was complete chaos, as citizens watched the heavily armed cavalry stationed outside the city.
"What's going on!?"
"Are we being attacked!?"
The growing crowd had to be stopped by the militia, preventing them from getting too close; it would only cause more chaos.
Matthias himself was behind the militia's perimeter, reassuring the crowd, his presence alone calming down the citizens.
"Men!"
Justinian yelled out as he finally arrived, his men already in a triangle formation.
"Today you will taste blood!"
"RAHHH!"
The cavalry roared out, their swords raised high in the air.
Lucan was also beside them, with his own group of men. The plan was simple.
Lucan controlled his own force while Justinian and Cassia controlled another, simplifying the flow of information and allowing Justinian to gain battle experience.
With Cassia guiding him throughout his first battle.
"Enough of the pleasantries!"
Lucan yelled out.
"All of you here are wearing the duke's finest gear from his treasury! His chosen warriors! The pride of Snowkeep!"
He was a marshal for a reason; making an impromptu speech to motivate the men was simple to him, but his own men, however, didn't need such speeches; already trusting Lucan enough that they would win.
Justinian smiled at Lucan's speech to motivate his own men before Cassia rode out beside him, handing him an armet.
"Your helmet, Justinian."
She herself was wearing one as well; only Lucan didn't wear a helmet, not because he was prideful, but to build morale among the beginners.
Justinian laughed, hiding his nervousness. He himself steeled himself to be a ruthless duke, but this was going to be his first actual experience on the battlefield.
He has the skill, but the fear of death still permeates his mind.
As he wore the helmet that Cassia handed him, the padding inside making it more comfortable than he had expected, he was now prepared.
"Ride in formation!"
Justinian commanded, the stationed army finally riding out to defend Herdrin from Elberich's men.
***
Snowkeep - Outskirts, Milita Perimeter
Matthias' POV
***
"Calm down, everyone! Lord Lucan and the Flower of the South, along with the duke, march with them!"
Matthias proclaimed to the crowd, using the prestige of the other two legends to ensure stability.
After all, with those two on Justinian's side, it definitely was an assured victory.
"Lord Lucan!?"
"The Vesuvian knight herself is there!?"
"Lord Justinian himself is marching with the army!?"
The crowd shouted questions, with the militia having to shove some away since they were getting dangerously close to Matthias.
He decided to steer the public opinion here and now; the citizens were still vaguely pro-Rhyne, only calmed down due to Matthias's own loyalty to Justinian.
"Lord Rhyne and Elberich have chosen to rebel! burning down villages as we speak! The Duke plans to stop this once and for all!"
The crowd froze, faces paled.
Matthias wanted to do this long ago, but he couldn't act on it since he lacked power. But now that he had Justinian's backing, he could finally move to break the traitors' support in the capital.
The citizens themselves were in the dark about it, mostly concerned with hating on Justinian and supporting Rhyne; none of them knew about the blockade, thinking it was just outposts to protect the capital.
But Matthias himself was now breaking the illusion.
And Justinian's speech from yesterday also contributed to that.
"The duke did say about traitors..."
"Does that mean...?"
"If he's marching with the army, that means he's fulfilling his promise of ridding the traitors..."
The crowd chose to believe Justinian yesterday, but now, with Matthias himself speaking and confirming his speech, the actual tide was starting to turn.
Justinian's speech for temporary stability sparked into permanent change in public opinion.
The domino had begun.
Matthias listened closely to the citizens' murmurs, his head sprawling with thoughts and concerns, all of Justinian's actions; was it all planned for this entire moment?
The real answer was no, but Matthias doesn't know that; all he sees is Justinian's divine foresight.
'My duke... has the gods finally blessed us?'
Matthias's lips curled into a smile, chuckling slightly as he continued to hear the citizens turning into a living propaganda machine.
'I'll have to pray to the gods for this miracle...'
Matthias' loyalty had now solidified even further.
***
Justinian's POV
***
[The Book of War Responds]
Snowkeep (Capital): Unrest (7.6%)
'Huh...? How did it get so low?'
Justinian questioned, still riding with his army towards Herdrin.