1 Prologue

The Year of the Lord 1587, 15th of Julious

Edeva, Southern Norsland.

In the middle of winter season, where the world should be blanketed with white, a large field is dyed with darkness – remnants of burned trees and blacked soil due to the burning of a large part of the forest that becomes an open area would soon be colored to another color again.

The sounds of drums and war cries can be heard across the desolated field.

In the northern part of the field, a wooden walled city, Edeva, can be found. The walls that are protecting the city are battered and some parts are already destroyed due to the continuous attack of siege weapons. Inside the city, the remnant army of once a large contingent of confederated tribes of Norsland can be found numbering 15,000 men and tens of thousands of civilians.

The Confederate Tribes of Norsland is a confederation of small tribes in the north that band together to combat larger tribes or nations on the continent. Other nations see these tribes as barbarians only and wished to eradicate the tribes, thus forcing them to band together to prevent their demise. But even such a confederation cannot stop the enemy currently standing outside the city of Edeva.

Forced by the constant barrage of the opponents' siege weapons, the Nors army in Edeva sallied out to meet the opposing army.

Outside the southern part of Edeva, on a huge snowy field, 10,000 men are forming in ranks and preparing to meet the enemy in battle. In the front, the discipline ranks of footmen are standing in attention preparing to march onward to battle. At the back, archers and various kinds of siege weapons can be found – 10 trebuchets, dozens of ballistae, and scorpions – are loaded with their ammunitions and crew on standby awaiting the order to fire. The army is at the lower part of the hill watching the enemy that is sallying from the wooden walls of the opposite army.

The force standing outside Edeva are the soldiers from the Empire of Aquintania.

The Aquintanian Empire lies in the center of the mainland continent of Aegoria. It is the biggest empire on the continent and has always maintained its power for more than fifteen centuries. Its mighty knights and soldiers dominated the region for centuries. It expanded to all sides of the empire, and it could wage war on multiple fronts against multiple countries all at once, making kingdoms and nations fear its might and power.

Right now, they are waging war in the northern front against Norsland who its last leg in its southern region is. Nors' northern and central tribes are still amassing a large army to reinforce the southern Nors army who is holed in the last Southern Nors city, Edeva, that is still in the hands of Norsland but it would change owner soon as this battle would decide its fate.

If the Nors can hold Edeva until the reinforcements arrive, the Aquintanians will be forced to abandon the siege and retreat to the imperial border. But if the Aquintanians can capture the city, it means the entire land in the southernmost of Norsland is under the control of the Empire as the city is strategically located, controlling the city means controlling most of the surrounding regions.

Both sides had shed blood for centuries and hatred runs deep from both sides. Both forces are clamoring for blood and steel upon its enemies.

On the hills not far from the battlefield, aside from the siege weapon that the Aquintanians possesses, there are 10 cannons that are firing nonstop at the Nors.

(The Aquintanian Imperial Cannon Type II has an effective range of 800 meters, making it lethal and has the long-range advantage. Catapults and sorts and arrows cannot reach this huge distance making it irrelevant in this era but still used.)

(Trebuchet, the highest range weapon of the type of catapults, has an effective range of about 400 meters while bows have 100-200 meters depending on the bow.)

Nors having no cannons and less siege weapons are forced to sally out and use their larger numbers to defeat the invaders rather than becoming target range of the cannons. Having 15,000 means having a 3-2 advantage against the Aquintanians and Nors are known for having strong warriors, especially the axe guards in which comprises of 2500 in the sallying army. The only other disadvantage of the Nors aside from the long-range capabilities is having no cavalry.

Aside from the cannons, there are a group of men overseeing the battlefield. Wearing the imperial military uniform, these men are officers who are commanding the Aquintanian army.

"The enemy is starting to march onward here."

Wearing black armor and wearing a dark fur coat to negate the coldness, even though a has little effect, is the one known as the Black Wolf of the North – Emile Dugeulux, a renown warrior who distinguish itself during this entire campaign that began six months ago and until now is still fighting.

His red hair and sharp dark eyes radiate his warrior and experience instinct and is feared by his enemies after the martial strength and valor shows in the battlefield.

He is known as battle junky and if not fighting is always drunk in the bars. But even with such rouge persona, the men respect his skills as a warrior and ally.

His armor has an insignia of a wolf, his cavalry commander's insignia, at his shoulder armor and a laurel at his front armor, his personal insignia.

"Yes, everything is going according to the plan. Signal the army to prepare and order the cannons to direct their fire to the center of the Norsland army"

The one known as the White wolf of the North and the temporary commander of the Aquintanian border army – Sir Constance von Arignon. A young man who is consider as one of best swordsmen in the Empire, but he is mostly known for his strategic intellect in this Nors Campaign, leading this small ragtag imperial border militia into a standing army that has not only repel the Nors attacks but lead the men to offensive.

Fresh graduate from the Imperi Aquintania Militari Academi, graduating a top student and having white hair and red eyes which seen as bad or evil physical traits by fellow nobles who believes that people who had brown or blonde hair, and blue or brown eyes are superior, he is ostracized and discriminated even if he is a noble.

Due to others' hatred and jealousy towards him, he is assigned to the Northern Front, known for its harsh winter and considered the quagmire of the Empire, for his first assignment where the other hopes for his failure and demise.

But instead of bringing him down his assignment in the North became his opportunity to fame and glory.

After repelling the enemy, instead of staying in defensive has launched a campaign winning two major battles before arriving in this moment, standing outside the most prized city in the southern region of the Confederate Tribes of Norsland.

The two have become legends in the northern front and are feared by both enemies and allies alike.

"Hahaha… I have never expected that serving under you will bring me such joy. I can die happily now"

"Old man, you reminded me that hiring you in the bar is the best choice I have done in life."

"You still remember it kid? We are fighting back then because I punched you for sitting in my favorite spot and I am still young, old is the time when your sword cannot stand proudly anymore kid."

Both are laughing like old men remembering the first time they met in the bar, acting like old men even though Constance is still young in the age of 18 while Emile is still in the middle age of 35 seems surreal to the troops with them. Fighting for almost six months in this front deepened their brotherhood and bond where people see them as father and son rather than a commander and his subordinate.

Then in the middle of their conversation, a mounted messenger arrived at the spot. The messenger wearing high quality made armor and a violet cap means that someone from the Capital has arrived.

"Who is Sir Constance von Arignon?"

"It is me. Who ordered you here?"

Constance and his men are confused why an Imperial Guard Knight is sent here. Constance then thinks someone of prominent position from the capital has arrived in the battlefield, but the problem is who it is and why. There are not any warnings that someone important will arrive here.

"I have brought a message from His Majesty the Emperor, who is coming here now."

"His Majesty is coming here?"

Constance and the soldiers around are deeply shocked that the emperor is here; he did not expect that the emperor to come to this Godforsaken place personally. He expected a high ranking official or military general would come but not the emperor himself.

The emperor is the highest ranking and the absolute ruler of the Empire. His words are law and for the emperor to come here means that there is something the emperor wants from him. He is also shocked because if the emperor would come here, he would know and it would take about a month and half just to reach Nordica, the Southernmost City in Nors peninsula and serves as the main city of the Empire in this region.

And from Nordica to here, it would take about 9 – 10 days in carriage to reach and in this weather, it might be twice the time. It means two to three months; the emperor has travelled to reach this barren place, and something is brewing that will affect him.

I did not expect this to happened tsk… this is not part of my plan. I don't want to be embroiled again in the politics in the capital.

Constance is thinking of what the reason might be, but he is disrupted when the Nors army that is about 800 meters away from the Aquintanian lines started to move towards their troops. He ordered Emile to ride where the hidden Emile's mercenary band of 200 cavalry is located and wait for his signal to implement the tactic.

He also sends the order to the Laetori that the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th infantry diovori would be on the front, then the 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th infantry diovori would act as reserve and in the second line. The 9th and 10th infantry diovori would be in left and right flank respectively as they were the most experienced and in this battle the flanks would play a huge role.

(Diovori – a division of men, 1000 men in full strength. Every diovori is commanded by a Diovor who acts as division officers in the battle. Every 10 diovori has 1 Laetori that acts as the field army commander in the battle.

Laetori – battlefield army commander of 10 diovoris, guarded by 10 cavalry soldiers to deliver commands and order across the battlefield especially if it is chaotic and noisy. )

750 meters…

Both sides are tensed to the incoming battle especially the Nors who are battered by the artillery fire. If they charge immediately, they can reach the line of the opposing forces faster, but fatigue and tiredness might bite them back when they reach the opposing lines. The Nors soldiers are forced to march under the cannon bombardment witnessing their fellow soldiers killed without the chance to fight back.

The Nors commander is at his wits end seeing his army shredded into pieces due to the cannon fire. But he also knows that acting due to emotion will bring his army's demise, the only thing he can do is to rally his men to continue onwards and increase their morale albeit slightly.

450 meters…

The Aquintanian footmen are breathing heavily under their helmets.

The only thing they can hear is their own hearts pounding, the loud sounds of cannons disappear completely. But their previous success in the campaign and their pride keeps them planted on the ground, gritting their teeth for the mixed emotions of being in front of the ranks.

The crew members of the catapults, ballistae and scorpions are preparing to fire and awaiting the commands of the commander. The cannon crew members continued to fire the cannons at the central force of the approaching enemy army, inflicting heavy casualty on the other side.

The coldness of winter cannot even stop the sweating of the soldiers and the crew members for they know the ferociousness of the Nors in combat. They know that if the battle is just based on brute strength, the Nors who are already typical and adapted to the freezing weather and experts in close quarter combat have the huge advantage over them.

But they also believe in their own strengths that is the result of their harsh training and experience from previous battles. Each Diovor in every diovori inspired his men to fight for the glory of the Empire and for their families. Reminding them that they are now proud soldiers of the empire, not just any border militias stationed at the boundary of the empire that would act as delaying unit of the enemy or cannon fodders.

400 meters…

The siege catapults and ballistae are starting to fire at the incoming Nors army.

The battlefield becomes more hellish with the addition of the firing of the catapults and ballistae.

Bodies splintered and mangled. Red blood colored the snowy covered ground of the battlefield. Orders and commands started to break down as more artillery poured down to the Nord ranks. They are furious at the loss of their comrades even if they have not made any close contact with their opponents.

Some Nors warriors started to charge towards the enemy without following the commands of their superiors. The semblance of once a Nors army has broken down into a charging mob due to anger and confusion of chain of command.

Bloodshot eyes and furious war cries as they charged to the Aquintanians line.

200 meters…

The archers from both sides start to fire. The only range capabilities of the Nors are their bows so the time they reach the range they start to fire without command. Hatred and vengeance for their fallen comrades fill the mind and hearts of the Nors warriors.

The first rank of the first line of the Aquintanians formed a compact shield wall that overlaps with each other to protect each other. The following ranks raised their shield to cover themselves and their comrade from the Nors' arrows.

75 meters…

The Nors suffered heavy casualties already, but their morale goes up as they are getting near to the ranks of the Aquintanians. It will not be long before their spears and axes will drink in the blood of the mainland invaders.

Filled with hatred, they charged headlong, not heeding the command of the officers to at least form a semblance of line as they charged. Most Nors believed that the imperial forces would immediately rout once they were in contact and would be eaten like sheep.

It is not only the Nors who have lost men before the clash, Aquintanians also suffered casualties due to being hit by the arrows sent by the Nors archers, but it is fewer compared to their enemies. Even if some were hit by the arrows, they maintained the shield wall and ranks to protect themselves from the charging Nors warriors.

As both sides are getting near, both sides throw their javelins or spear to the opposing side to inflict as many casualties as possible before clashing with their swords and axes in the battlefield.

0 meters…

The land became a scene of hell.

Clashing of metals and flesh.

The air filled with the scent of blood.

The battle between the two sides draws out the worst sides of humanity. Killing their fellow human being in battle to survive and win.

Constance then ordered a mounted messenger to relay his order that the 5th to 8th diovori would commit half of their forces to support the front line while the remaining would support the 9th and 10th to flank both sides of the Nors.

He also ordered one archer to fire a flaming arrow to the sky, the signal that Emile waited to charge with his 200 cavalry horsemen to charge the rear of the Nors trapping them from all sides.

After Constance gave the last order, knowing that all steps of his plan were already in motion. He rode on his horse, Gregory, together with a hundred cavalry that was with him to charge to the rear of the Nors.

The Nors commander, during the battle, realized they were encircled and tried to order the soldiers to form and break out to the rear is unsuccessful as the men are in heat of battle. Also, the fatigue and tiredness are starting to bite back to his men and their movement is starting to be sluggish and slow, making them easy opponents of the Aquintanians who were just waiting them to come.

The Nors commanders with some of his loyal men tries to break the right flank, but luck is not with him, the Black wolf is approaching him with a lance planning to kill the commander to destroy the morale of the Nors.

The commander falls from his horse to the ground as he tries to evade the lance. When the commander fell to the ground, Emile unsheathed his sword in the waist and galloped back where he fell. Then as the commander tries to stand up, Emile is already near him and slashes his sword to the commander with a clean and precise swing, cutting the head of the commander with a single swing. When the commander got up, his sight started to spin in the air, and he realized that his head was detached from his body.

Emile successfully cut off the head of the Nors commander and raised the decapitated head to show it to everyone on the battlefield.

Seeing their commander had perished already, the Nors started to panic and flee from the battlefield.

But they were cut down by the Aquintanians planning to destroy the army to prevent them regrouping and countering. The Aquintanians needed to completely wipe out the enemy here to break the morale of the other Nors army forming in the central and northern region.

The battle becomes a one-sided massacre. The fleeing Nors warriors were mercilessly cut down by the Aquintanians. Constance called some soldiers from the 9th diovori to follow him towards the walled city, Edeva.

The momentum and initiative are in their hands, so it is the right time to capture the defenseless city. He ordered his men to avoid looting and killing the civilians in the city. Constance, together with his cavalry galloped towards the part where the broken wall is located to gain entry into the city. The detachment of soldiers followed them where they were headed in high spirits.

When they reached the wall, Constance shouted to the city populace to open the gate or face annihilation. The city populace, fearing the threat of the young commander, immediately opens the gate when Constance had said that there would be no looting and pillaging if they would peacefully comply.

He then orders some of his men to go up on the walls of the city and plant the banner of the Empire. The men immediately cheered seeing the flag on the walls of Edeva and captured what remained of the enemy forces.

On this day, Edeva fell to the Empire of Aquintania and the end of the northern campaign of the empire.