Chronicles of Camdairon Chapter 3

Duke Loghain stood over at table with a map of the kingdoms of Nurfrost and Vlyaria and figures representing armies of both side on it. On the other side of the table stood his older brother King Hector, both were the sons of their late father King Julius Argon who had united Vlyaria into a kingdom when it once stood as different dukedoms quarreling amongst themselves. That was when their father was a young man. Now it faced its first war as a united kingdom. A war his brother started, while both Argons wanted to expand the kingdom their father started, Loghain thought it was unwise to go against the Nurfrians of the cold eastern highlands. Where winter were long and harsh and summers short and warm, A far cry from the lowlands of Vlyaria,whose lush forests and long fields spread for miles along rolling hills. Nurfrost was a slightly larger nation than Vlyaria given that it extended deep into the mountain range of Nyfralk, yet it possed a enough lowlands to plant enough fields to support a population equal to that of Vlyaria. After days of looking at detailed maps and scouting reports, Loghain concluded that they would only be able to take the lowlands territory, never would they be able to breach the old mountain strongholds of Nurfrost, whose walled sprang from the mountain sides and towers that could stand guard over miles of territory. It would take thousands of men to die in order to breach just one of the longstanding strongholds, as the mountainous terrain would leave little room to deploy their forces, unlike the room they had to deploy in the open fields outside of the lowland cities and towns.

A messenger entered the room and delivered a message to King Hector. A quick grin appeared on his face. “Alistair has routed the enemy’s northern army and is marching his forces to Castle Ygrolek.” One of his aides took a stick and with it removed the figure that represented the Nurfrian northern army, and then moved the figure that represented Alistair to Ygrolek castle. Ygrolek castle was a small fort that was of vital strategic importance, it sat on the green river and controlled the northern most region of Nurfrost. From there, they could control if any enemy forces could retreat into the Ahae Emirate, who had a small force mobilized along it's southern border should the fighting spread onto their lands. Loghain looked back at his brother, “Ygrolek should fall easily, after that it will be a matter of holding it from the remainder of the northern army as he marches south.” Hector nodded, I will dispatch Lord Argile’s men to help any garrison that Alistair leaves, his three hundred men should prove a useful deterrent should any enemy force think to take the castle. Then, Marshall Lyle’s army is still dancing around the south trying to get Jarl Olaf’s forces to meet him on the field.” Loghain shifted his view to the southern edge of the map where two figures would constantly keep changing positions with no news of battles. “Olaf is simply waiting for reinforcements to come from Yargrir, even if he and Lyle are of even strength he knows a battle like that would cost him dearly.” Hector moved further down the table. “I know, which is why I am sending Duke Aelfrick to take the town of Vlafrish here.” He pointed at a town that stood between the city of Yargrir and Jarl Olaf’s forces. If Aelfrick can take that town then King Haldain will think twice before sending Olaf’s forces when we have forces so close to Yargrir. He would then look to head straight for our center, which will comprise of Duke Hruyle and Duke Hrisco. Their forces should be able to take positions at these two fords.” He pointed at two small crossings that lay along the Ivgrir river which lay thirty miles from where his and Hector' forces were located at Tevarin castle, the easternmost castle in Vlyaria. Loghain shifted his attention back to the south. “What about reinforcing Lyle? Even if we do succeed in cutting Jarl Olaf from reinforcements, engaging him would cost us dearly.” Hector bit his lip, a bad habit he developed as a child and no beating from their father or the maids could erase from him. Biting lips meant insecurity and their father had always said that an insecure man could lead the people that depended on him to ruin on one bad decision. “We have no other forces to send him unless we detach from ourselves. How many main does Cailin still have?” Loghain looked at his brother, would Hector really send his own nephew to the slaughter that would await Lyle and Olaf, would Hector send his son? “Cailin has about five hundred men.” Hector gave a brief nod. That would have to do. He turned around and spoke to an aide. Send message to lord Cailin that he is to gather his men and march south and join Marshall Lyle.” The aide nodded and went off in search of Duke Loghain’s son. Hector lean leaned back and stretch, as he stretched he saw Loghain’s look. “Do not worry little brother. Cailin will be fine. Both he and Alistair are fine young men, better warriors then us when we were their age. Do not think much about it. Now my advisors await me back in my tent with news from the capital and other boring stuff. I suggest you take a rest, you need it Loghain.” With that he walked out of the room. Loghain gave one last look at the war board and thought about the strategy his brother had just devised and tried to think of all the possible scenarios in which it could go wrong and then thought of counters for those failures.