After the vanguard battalion stormed the top of the wall, they engaged the defenders in hand-to-hand combat using short-barreled guns and bayonets. The fighting was not intense, and the Fire Forest Fortress defenders, whose fighting spirit was already weak, quickly collapsed under the fierce offensive.
Royal Army Soldiers seized the fortress gate, removed the obstacles and heavy bolts, opened the gate, and the main force outside poured in, completely occupying the fortress.
After clearing the battlefield, Harrison discovered that Earl Zek, the enemy's highest commander in the area, was nowhere to be found. After a raid and interrogation of the prisoners, some confessed that Earl Zek had escaped through a secret passage in the fortress.
Although it was a crushing battle, the Royal Army still suffered some casualties. Harrison decided to let the troops rest for a few days and wait for the supply train that had fallen behind.
On the path leading south, the defeated Earl Zek was galloping desperately on a fast horse, with only two trusted attendants by his side. His troops and his family had all become prisoners of the Kingdom Army.
"Look! That's the Grand Duke's banner! He's already reached the Phantom Wing Fortress!"
A servant pointed ahead with his riding whip, and in the distance, a green flag with gold patterns and a wolf's head was fluttering on the city wall.
"Very good!"
Earl Zek, who had become somewhat disheveled from fleeing and rushing, regained some of his composure. Prince Giles was moving much faster than he had expected, and perhaps his army would soon be able to help him reclaim the Firewood.
As he galloped to the city gate, Zeke suddenly hesitated. How should he tell the Grand Duke about the defeat?
If you lose, you can at least offer some explanation, but how do you explain losing so quickly?
The guards at the city gate recognized Zeke and let him in without checking him. With a heavy heart, he slowed his horse and hesitated as he rode to the mansion of the local lord, which had become the residence of Greedy Wolf Grand Duke.
The count asked his guards for an audience with his lord.
"bump!"
Greedy Wolf Grand Duke's bronze scepter slammed onto the stone steps with a dull thud, startling the ravens roosting outside the hall. Earl Zek knelt on a wool rug embroidered with thorns, cold sweat trickling down his temples and into his collar.
He had tried his best to downplay his defeat, saying that the Royal Army's attack was so swift and he was so caught off guard, but he still put up a resolute resistance.
If it were anyone else, they might have been moved by Zeke's bravery, but Giles was not fooled by his words. With a few direct and incisive questions, he managed to extract the truth of the battle from the flustered Zeke.
"Almighty Father!" Giles cried out in disbelief, making no attempt to hide his anger. "Firewood Fortress was such a fortified castle, and you let it fall into the hands of the Yankees after only three hours of resistance!"
Giles's roar shook the stained glass windows. He waved his arms and cursed Zeke, his deep purple velvet cloak billowing as he moved, revealing a ruby-inlaid scimitar at his waist. Several times his hand touched the hilt, making Zeke's heart pound.
"The Fire Forest Fortress fell even faster than my cook could burn a quail!"
Faced with the wrath of Grand Duke Greedy Wolf, the surrounding servants silently shrank into the shadows of the pillars.
At this moment, Sir Samar, another of Giles's men, suddenly burst out laughing.
He was peeling an apple with a silver dagger, the peel curling up and falling beside him.
"I heard that the Royal Army's Cannon was just set up when someone was already studying the thickness of the spider webs in the secret passage." He spoke casually and softly, but his words were sharper than the dagger in his hand, piercing Earl Zek's ear.
Zeke suddenly looked up, his dusty face appearing exceptionally pale in the sunlight.
"You're still making sarcastic remarks here. Wait until you experience their firearms and cannons for yourselves..."
"Oh, come on, our dear Lord Zeke. Historically, Fireforest Fortress has withstood the bombardment of dozens of catapults and ballistae without suffering any damage."
Wendell, Giles ' other right-hand man, suddenly interjected, his iron gauntlet striking the sword at his waist with a crisp metallic clang. Wendell often served as Giles' envoy between various powers and was not usually known for his martial prowess, but he was actually a highly skilled swordsman. This time, he had accompanied Giles to the battlefield and was also equipped with a sturdy suit of armor.
"Okay, I admit, those Cannons were more impressive in name only than in substance, but the more crucial factor was the Royal Army soldiers … "
"Enough!"
Grand Duke Giles suddenly lunged forward, grabbing Zeke's sweat-soaked scarf, his jade-encrusted ring leaving a red mark on the man's Adam's apple: "Do you know how far the Royal Army is from us right now? A hundred miles! A hundred miles!"
Because he had brought his army in haste, he didn't have many troops at his disposal. He had originally expected to have more time to wait for his vassals to arrive and join him, but now everything was ruined.
With each word he spoke, he pushed Zeke back an inch until the back of Zeke's head hit the wall.
"And you came back like a scalded stray dog, tail still tucked with the key, just to make excuses for your failure?"
Samar whistled, the apple core he'd just finished eating landing precisely in the fireplace, sparks illuminating his eyes: "Perhaps the Royal Army stuffed their cannons with cheese? After all, our Lord Zeke has a dairy allergy." He paused deliberately, admiring Zeke's fist clench instantly, "After the cheese shells came at us, Lord Zeke had to withdraw from the battle due to severe discomfort."
Wendell laughed along, the sound like a dull knife scraping against a rusty shield.
Zeke broke free of the Grand Duke's grip, his anger and humiliation palpable: "Yes, I have been defeated! I wanted to buy you more time to regroup your troops, but I'm sorry I failed. I am willing to accept any punishment the Grand Duke may impose on me!"
He opened his eyes wide and looked at Giles, the fear and shame in his gaze gone.
" Your Highness Giles, please announce your decision regarding my fate!"
The Grand Duke stood with his back to the broken stained-glass window, the crimson afterglow stretching his shadow long until it completely enveloped Zeke.
"Take him to the dungeon."
Unlike his earlier outburst of rage, his voice was now very calm.
Two guards approached Zeke, one of them saying, "Please, Your Excellency."
Zeke glanced at Giles with resentment, but Greedy Wolf, the Grand Duke, gave no response.
"Very well, Your Highness, please allow me to make a humble request. My family has been captured by the Kingdom Army, and I beg you to rescue them."
"I will!" Giles replied.
Zeke puffed out his chest, held his head high, and walked out with the two guards.