CHAPTER 9.5: A BROKEN AGREEMENT

***The Biorno camps, the city of the Saint’s Tower***

When the news of the ambush of the Biorno regiment near Fangborough reached them, there was a great consternation among the entire military high command of the Lord Sargdhenerri. Following the rumors of a possible enemy counterattack, they hurried in constructing pickets and defensive trenches shielding their city from an offensive coming from the Tambara clan’s territory.

As the panic and tension was high, a council of war was called in the tent of their commander, the Lord Sargdhenerri.

“Milord, according to our scouts, our enemies were led by the Lord Gracchio and the Lord Greg Santos.”

“That human is a danger to us! We should aim to eliminate him!”

“Let us attack Fangborough with a larger army!”

The demands for vengeance for their humiliation, as well as for a pre-emptive attack echoed throughout the tent, as the Biorno officers were all unified in their sentiments. However, amidst the calls for further bloodshed, the Lord Sargdhenerri rose, and that was enough for everyone to be silent.

“My friends, my family,” he began. “I believe we’re all being affected by our feelings. Let us take a break and examine our objectives for this conflict.”

“But milord, we can’t let the Tambaras take the final victory!” a retainer told him. “They even still have to answer for the death of our master!”

“True enough, they still have a debt to us,” the Biorno vassal replied. “However, is it even worth it to escalate the tensions further by attacking them? The Conclave has fallen to us already, and a regiment of our kin was lost near Fangborough. And to add, we’re fighting against a living legend, the Lord Greg ‘Kuro’ Santos of Arles. That veteran has been involved in many conflicts from other realms! Not to mention, we all experienced what this man can do with his god-powers: calling in successive hailstorms, sandstorms, thunderstorms, and whirlwind against our forces! It’s only by his own volition that we are spared!”

The silence among the Biorno military leaders was deafening, as they suddenly realized their situation.

“Do you think that by returning with a larger force, we can easily walk over the Tambaras who are fighting in their home territory? Do you think that human, the Lord Greg, hasn’t prepared sufficiently for our arrival?”

The officers were shocked to hear his words, “Are you saying we give up on avenging the blood of our master?”

“I did not say that. However, considering the situation—the ambush at Fangborough, the escape of the allied armies, and the united clans against us, we ought to rethink our strategy in prosecuting this war. While we have excellent arms and morale, we can’t afford to lose people, as what has happened before.”

“So what’s your proposal, milord?”

“We shall limit our operations to small-scale raids,” the Lord Sargdhenerri recommended. “Let us be prudent. As our population is small compared to other clans, so we have to preserve our forces. The raids to be conducted shall disrupt the lines of communications between the allied lands, as well as the secondary aim of determining which territory is the most vulnerable to attack. Once we got the sufficient information, only then that we can launch an offensive against the weakest clan and knock them off the war, weakening our enemies.”

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With the demands for an attack deep into Tambara territory silenced, the Biorno forces switched to the strategy proposed by the Lord Sargdhenerri. Preparations were begun, and plans were drafted, as the units and commanders to each respective raiding ‘parties’ were assigned and trained. Of course, while the officers accepted the recommendations of their overall leader, there were still those who refused to believe that it was the best course of action.

For one, the ‘initiative’ was on their side, and their enemies were either on the defensive or were retreating. And second, it was only a regiment that was lost in Fangborough. Many thought that a bigger force could defeat the Tambaras in ‘one huge, decisive’ battle.

“…”

However, among the greatest opposition to the Lord Sargdhenerri’s new strategy came not from within his inner circle of retainers, but rather, from the outside.

“Halt!” a Biorno sentry stopped a hooded figure at the gates of the city of the Saint’s Tower. “This is an active battle zone! Please identify yourself!”

However, the individual ignored his demands and told him, “If you know who I am, and what I will be, then you would think twice before aiming that pistol at me. I need to talk to your lord, and you have no business with me, foot soldier!”

“!!!”

When the Biorno sentry tried pulling the trigger to give the hooded figure a warning shot, he was surprised that he couldn’t fire his M1911 at all. As he panicked, the individual he challenged continued on his way inside the Biorno military camp, heading towards the tent of the Lord Sargdhenerri.

Nevertheless, he didn’t have to go that far. The Biorno vassal was conducting inspection of his supplies and equipment nearby, and when the incubus lord saw his visitor, he stopped on his work and stood up.

“It’s been a while since you last visited us, Lord Gaius!” he greeted.

“What’s with the preparations that I see?” the former god asked, without bothering to return the welcoming gesture of the Lord Sargdhenerri.

“They are for the regiments that will participate in our raids,” the Biorno vassal revealed. “The weapons you gave is really effective, so we decided to go on the offensive by conducting limited attacks against our enemies.”

“This is not what we agreed about, Lord Sargdhenerri,” Gaius replied. “Haven’t we reached an understanding that once you begin the battle, you would annihilate your foes?”

“Milord, it’s not an easy task,” the demon countered. “We are dealing with the human with the god-powers, and I do not wish to sacrifice my people for a risky adventure. Nevertheless, in an attempt to fulfill our obligations to you, we’re conducting the raids.”

At that moment, the former god rushed to the Lord Sargdhenerri and grabbed him by the collar of his clothes, causing Gaius’ hood to fall behind him and revealing his face, full of wounds and bruises. “That is not how I wanted you to satisfy my demands, Castrio! Your incompetence caused the allied armies—and the Lord Greg—to escape. Now you and your clan is bound to experience the wrath of that human because of your negligence!”

“Milord,” the demon vassal forcefully removed the former god’s grip on him. “With all due respect, I believe that my loyalty is in my people, and not to some disgraced deity of old. If you wish for me to break my oath of honor to our traditions, then you’re utterly mistaken! I will fight my battles the way I want it, not because someone told me what to do. Now, if you’re going to threaten us by taking away your supplied weapons, then by all means, I would issue an order for my soldiers to surrender those right at this moment.”

The Lord Gaius locked glares with the Lord Sargdhenerri. However, the demon vassal would never back down, as he was determined not to be dictated by anyone. The latter’s retainers were prepared to intervene for their lord; but then, seeing that he couldn’t convince the Lord Sargdhenerri to change his mind, the former god let go of his clothes and said…

“Consider those weapons my parting gift for your people, for I am a generous god. They shall be living their last days on this forsaken land…”

With that, the Lord Gaius retreated and disappeared.