the ongoing situation. He was now completely obsessed with defeating the rebels and capturing or killing his brother. A war council had been convened in the tower room of the giant, imposing fortress of Heron Getracht, on the Isle of Tialeu. King Vantrax stood at the head of a large table surrounded by five of his commanders, all of whom were arguing amongst themselves about the rebel ‘problem’ and the lack of progress in their campaign of conquest in the south.
As soon as he believed he had subdued his brother’s forces, Vantrax had invaded the neighbouring countries of Nadjan and Perosya across a broad front extending the breadth of Estia, from the Sapil Ocean in the west, to the Tarcian Ocean in the east. His battle-hardened mercenaries had met weak, uncoordinated resistance and they had conquered much of the two countries. They were now within a few hundred miles of the borders of Siatol and Ursium, the two remaining countries to be taken before completing the conquest of the entire continent and reaching the Fetril Sea – the channel between the continents of Estia and Mynae.
“Silence! All of you!” Vantrax barked loudly, immediately halting all conversations in the room. He pointed to the large map of Estia that lay across the huge centre table. “Obreth, let us begin with you. Tell me, what news of the Southern Army?” he demanded. “This line suggests that you are still within the borders of Nadjan and Perosya. I hope for your sake that this is a mistake?” he added, in an ominous blend of threat and question.
Obreth looked sheepishly at his master. “Srr, I... Y-yes my Lord!” he replied nervously, in a voice that suggested he himself didn’t believe what he was about to say. “The lines are correct. But, they do not perhaps tell the whole story. We continue to push the enemy back toward Siatol and Ursium sire. Srr, their strength is weakening with each passing day. However, we are fighting on a broad front, our forces are spread thinly, too thinly some would say to avoid being outflanked and encircled. I feel sure that with another ten thousand recruits....”
“More recruits??!!” Vantrax interrupted angrily. “More leeches for me to house and feed? You already have the largest army Estia has ever seen! Tell me then, why have you not crushed the enemy? I want details, not excuses. Numbers, names, locations. Who is leading them? Who is helping them? How long is this wretched war going to take?” he raged, staring at Obreth with an intensity that unnerved the experienced soldier.
Obreth was a Nadjan noble, he was once a knight in the Nadjan army and a favourite cousin of Queen Bressial, the ruling monarch who’d been captured in the early days of the invasion having been betrayed and led into a trap by a group of nobles led by Obreth, and now languished in the dungeons of Heron Getracht. Obreth was very ambitious, he was usually a confident, arrogant man, but everyone was scared of Vantrax and Obreth was no exception.
“Srr... Begging your leave, sire. The enemy have fallen back to regroup, in our opinion for one last all-out effort. They have concentrated their forcesaround the fortified city of Dassilliak. Their army extends outwards from there, across the Arechnivar mountains. It is a good defensive position.”
Obreth paused for a moment as he noticed Vantrax’ obvious displeasure at his negative tone. He continued almost immediately, this time trying to sound a little more positive. “But, they are not as strong as they might seem. They have lost a lot of men of late. We are fighting an army of different nations – some Rhuaddans, Nadjans, Perosyans, and even some volunteers from Siatol and Ursium. Although those two countries remain neutral at present, I do not think they know what to do. Your friends have served you well there, King Vantrax.”
He coughed a little, unnerved by another glare from the evil wizard. “It is never easy to defeat ‘the last stronghold’ of an enemy,” the warrior stated, “they tend to fight with extra fortitude. But they are divided, they lack cohesion and strong leadership, they number less than our own soldiers. Victory is assured, I believe. But we are spread thinly as I have said my Lord, it may take time.”
He stopped in mid sentence realising that on this occasion he would probably not win additional resources with persuasion alone. He tried a different approach.
“Well sire, if we cannot have more soldiers, then perhaps