The Cornflower Witch

Book 2: Chapter 109: The Strange Events in Valley City

Vol 2 Chapter 109 The Strange Events in Valley City

A lingering flute tune floated through the woods. Under the clear blue sky, a line of mounted soldiers rode through the shade.

Their armor and clothing varied, with no unified insignia, and their ages ranged from old to young.

They carried no banners, riding in orderly formation as if heading to a necessary errand, though not one of pressing urgency like a market day.

"Up ahead is Valley City."

After cresting a hill, the troop halted for a moment, horses planted on the slope, eyes fixed on the valley and the city by the river.

"There. Prince Jabers has already issued a summons. We will join his banner and fight for Regas in the days to come," the aging knight leading them said, turning to look at the others.

No loud response rose from the men. Their gazes were calm, a little expectant, but not overly so.

These people were all descendants of the original Knight Order of Regas. Some had been granted land and had become minor nobles in the countryside, while others were ordinary commoners whose ancestors' glory had long since faded into ruin.

For them, living under the rule of the Kingdom of Ante had been uncomfortable, but not unbearable.Everything would have continued on like that, slowly fading.

But the Ante Kingdom's troop withdrawals brought many changes across Regas. The quiet lives they had taken for granted were ending as the royal house issued another decree.

For these descendants of the original Knight Order, although they had little faith in the royal family, out of family vows and a longing for the legend of the "Knight King" Raygard left by their ancestors, some decided to place their trust in the Regas royal family one more time, thus this gathering and convergence came about.

They would, like their forebears, unite under the fir-tree banner and fight, carving out a nation for themselves in the mountains.

"Are we almost there? I wonder whether that brat prince is someone we can entrust ourselves to," a middle-aged fighter in leather armor said, pulling his mount to a stop and peering down at the valley plain.

These troops felt a mix of anticipation and distrust toward a prince none of them had met, which kept them from fully committing to their decision.

"Since we're here, let's go see him, Brother Haines," a younger cavalryman urged, bringing his horse closer to the older man.

"Heh heh, of course. If I hadn't held out at least a little hope, I wouldn't have come," the older man replied with a smile. He spurred his chestnut warhorse and fell back into the column.

The main forces of the Ante Kingdom were currently straining to hold back the Winter Kingdom's iron cavalry and could not spare much attention. The garrisons within Regas were in disarray and began enlarging their ranks, recruiting local residents as soldiers. That, however, did little to reassure the high-ranking officers stationed there. Those newly ennobled felt uneasy and began scheming to protect themselves.

"Yesterday I met with Valley City's lord," Prince Jabers said, draped in a deep-red fur-trimmed cloak, pouring himself a large goblet of red wine and wearing a pleased expression.

In the room, a beautiful woman in a black dress stood by, nervously clasping her hands at her chest.

"Wasn't it dangerous for you to meet him?"

"Heh heh, Sister, you're worrying too much." Jabers leaned back in his chair and crossed his legs.

"He's very anxious right now," the prince said, his shoe tip tapping.

"Valley City lies in southern Regas, far from the Ante heartland. If unrest breaks out, he won't have many chances to flee back home."

"Now the situation is bad. Even if he could get back, if Ante falls to the Winter Kingdom, he would lose everything."

"So, he plans to throw in his lot with me." Jabers raised his goblet again and swirled the wine.

"People are so weak and changeable, Sister."

"The Regas nobles who surrendered earlier were like this; now the Ante nobles are the same," he shook his head.

"Don't worry. I'm perfectly safe. When I met him yesterday, two of the sect's 'warbinders' trailed behind me. With them present, he wouldn't dare make any trouble."

"He claimed he greatly admires the legend of Knight King Raygard, believes this land is rightfully ruled by the Knight King's descendants, and offered me a great deal of gold coins. I counted roughly four thousand coins. That's no small sum."

"With that money, we can recruit soldiers and produce equipment much more easily. Valley City is an important southern grain-producing area; it can easily provision an army of nearly ten thousand."

"Look forward to it, Princess Mursa. In two years' time, we'll return to White Cliff City and rule over Regas."

Hearing this, the golden-haired Princess Mursa, wearing the black dress, shook her head slightly.

"Will it go that smoothly?" She still had many worries, not just about the Ante Kingdom, but also about the Hundred-Eyes Sect.

"How is your progress with the knightly path these days?" Princess Mursa asked cautiously.

"The knightly path?" Jabers frowned slightly.

"Why bother? Let the common troops learn that. Am I as the royal blood supposed to go to the front lines?"

"As a monarch, the most important thing is to command power and possess the regal bearing that makes people submit. Where are there kings who personally lead battles nowadays?"

"Even Father used to appoint generals or capable noble marshals to lead the army into war."

"Look at Ante and Eagle Scorpion. Which neighboring country doesn’t do the same?" Jabers shook his head.

"Sister, you read too many family poems and legends. Not everyone can be like Raygard's ancestors. Besides, that was a founding era, when all forces had to be risked."

Princess Mursa ceased her argument then, still worried about her brother going to the front and fearing some unexpected misfortune.

She prayed silently that things would turn out in their favor.

...

Over the next few months, currents ran beneath the surface in Valley City. Increasing numbers of fighters rushed in from across Regas; some even gathered openly in the streets to discuss matters.

Faced with this, the Ante garrison in the city turned a blind eye. Even when a few soldiers grew displeased and tried to punish or detain these men, their comrades held them back.

"Don't. We all know what these people are thinking, but the city lord has tacitly allowed it. If you interfere, you'll just make yourself unpopular."

"If it doesn't work out, slip away and return to Ante quietly. Everyone's panicking. The city lord won't chase deserters right now."

Under such circumstances, many Ante soldiers felt the situation worsening and quietly withdrew.

After all, those receiving land grants were the nobles; for common Ante soldiers like them, the grants meant little. If they could snatch enough coins during the conquering, they would be content. For many, it was better to return to their hometowns and enjoy life.

As this trend continued, the Ante garrison in Valley City grew thinner, while forces rallying under the old Regas royal banner increased and their confidence swelled.

This shift could not be hidden. The situation in Valley City was soon reported back to Ante by a secret envoy. Even amid the frantic efforts to resist the Winter Kingdom, Ante dispatched an elite force to head straight for Valley City and eliminate this looming threat.

If Regas could be held, even if the Ante Kingdom fell, there would still be places from which to retreat and regroup. If Valley City fell as well, Ante would be trapped with no escape, caught between north and south.

The troop movement was known to the city lord of Valley City too, for he had once been an established noble within Ante and still had various channels for intelligence.

Hearing the news, the city lord grew sleepless and anxious, fearing punishment from Ante, and so he once again met with Prince Jabers to pass along the information.

"Only one detachment?" Jabers asked with a smile after hearing the report.

"Perfect. We'll use them to make an example. If we rout them, I guarantee the next day a flood of lords will pledge allegiance to me."

"How could I refuse such a gift?"

Faced with the impending suppression by elite troops, the fighters gathered in Valley City intensified their training, and the banner atop the city walls was finally changed to the royal deep-blue of Regas.

One week from now, they would head north to ambush and crush that long-marched elite force, burying them and restoring the royal house's prestige.

The second war to refound the kingdom was about to ignite.