"Viscount Alston, why did you come here now? I thought you guys in the east didn't want to redeem Marquis Vincent?"
Colin leaned lazily on the recliner, squinting at Viscount Alston in front of him.
Xiao Bai curled up on his lap like a blue sea cucumber, sleeping soundly.
"Sorry, Lord Viscount, I... have something to do, so I'm delayed."
Viscount Alston looked a little embarrassed, but he didn't have the nerve to tell the reason for his delay so far.
The reason why he didn't rush to Ice Rock City until now was because he miscalculated the chaotic situation in the northern border and overestimated the combat effectiveness of his own guards.
Originally, before the Winter Veil Festival, Viscount Alston marched towards Ice Rock City under the order of the Duke of the Eastern Realm, but after entering the Northern Territory, he realized that his guards were missing...
Bite the bullet and march forward for a few days, the more than one hundred guards brought by Viscount Alston suffered heavy losses, and the hungry and crazy slave mobs attacked his team desperately.
Coupled with his unfamiliarity with the place, Viscount Alston didn't even see the shadow of Ice Rock City, and found that his guards were on the verge of collapse under the endless harassment of rebels.
In desperation, he had to lead his army back.
After returning, he was naturally scolded by the Duke of the Eastern Territory, and even kicked and broke a rib.
After recuperating at home for a while, Viscount Alston led his guards and embarked on his second mission to Ice Rock City.
This time, he finally arrived smoothly.
Of course, the hardships and dangers along the way are also indispensable, but Viscount Alston will definitely not tell Colin, after all, it will really hurt the face of the nobles in the Eastern Realm.
"So, what does the Duke of St. Pros think of my proposal?"
"The Duke agrees with your proposal and is willing to exchange Marquis Garcia for Marquis Vincent."
"What time and place?"
"If you have no objections, we will exchange prisoners of war by the Nushui River in a month's time."
Viscount Alston took out a simple marked map and handed it to Colin.
"I have no objection to the location." Colin looked at the marked points on the map and said, "But as for the time... let's change it to three months later."
"Okay, the current northern border is indeed a bit uneasy, then three months later, I will report to the Duke when I go back, and if he has no objection, then it will be settled like this."
"Um."
From beginning to end, the two men did not mention the prisoners of war other than the two marquises, because they all knew that there were no other prisoners of war.
In the Battle of Shadow Canyon, except for the 8,000 remnants who escaped successfully under the leadership of the Logue Knights and the captured Marquis Garcia, the rest of the Black Cavalry soldiers were all killed in battle, and no one was spared.
Similarly, after the Battle of Silvermoon City, Ke Lin also "reciprocated" and executed all the prisoners of the Tianma Legion.
The first confrontation between the northern border and the eastern border after a hundred years can be said to be a lose-lose.
Perhaps, this is exactly the result that the San Theon family, who hid in the dark and manipulated the situation, most hoped to see.
Not long after Viscount Alston left, the butler Aemon came to report: "My lord, reinforcements from the half-elf kingdom are almost here."
Ke Lin stood up excitedly from his seat, and said with a smile, "Oh? Follow me to meet you!"
In order to deal with the coming storm in the north, Colin wrote to Queen Aisha last month, asking her to send the Silver Moon Guard to Ice Rock City for support.
Of course, Queen Aisha would not refuse Colin's request, and gave the order to send troops on the day she received the letter.
When Colin led Knight Rego and others to the top of the city, he saw a thin silver-gray line appearing on the horizon east of Ice Rock City.
As time went by, this thin line gradually spread, and finally covered the wilderness on the eastern outskirts of Ice Rock City.
The bright red thorn banner creaked under the cold wind. It was the emblem of the Miller family and the new symbol of the half-elf royal family.
Colin frowned slightly, thinking—Queen Elsa won't come in person, will she
Although Aisha would definitely be a great help to Colin if he came, but he hoped that the other party could stay in Silvermoon City to raise his baby with peace of mind.
Under Ke Lin's gaze, a small group of cavalry protruded from the formation of the Silver Moon Guards and rushed towards Ice Rock City.
When they arrived at the foot of Bingyan City, the city gate just opened, and a group of black cavalry came out to meet them.
The half-elf general at the head immediately got off his horse, knelt down on one knee, and said loudly:
"Respected Lord Viscount Angelet, by order of Her Majesty the Queen, 30,000 warriors of the Silver Moon Guard are assembled here, at your command!"
"Duke Merdewing, welcome to Ice Rock City!"
Colin was a little surprised when he first saw William Murdwin, but soon he understood the intention of Queen Elsa's arrangement.
It is indeed a good idea to let this former half-elf grand prince be the commander of the Silver Moon Guard.
At present, the middle-level generals of the Silver Moon Guard are basically members of the Miller family. If Queen Aisha is pregnant and cannot come, if another member of the Miller family is appointed as the commander, he may not be wholehearted. obey Colin's orders.
Especially when Colin needs a certain sacrifice from the Silver Moon Guard.
But the Duke of Merdewing was different.
This is an honest man, easy to manipulate.
What's more, since the middle-ranking generals of the Silver Moon Guard are all members of the Miller family, if the Duke of Merdevan doesn't want to be ostracized, he must get Colin's support.
In this way, it will be easier for Colin to completely control the Silver Moon Guard.
The Duke of Merdewin followed Colin into the city and marched all the way to the Red Keep. At the same time, he also reported the situation of the reinforcements: "Master Viscount, this time I brought a total of 30,000 Silver Moon Guards, including 10,000 archers and spearmen. Seven thousand, eight thousand sword and shield soldiers, two thousand shield soldiers, and three thousand light cavalry.
In addition, thirty-eight knights and fifteen rangers came with the army. "
"Well, very good." Colin nodded with satisfaction. With the assistance of the Silver Moon Guard, he now has more confidence.
"The 3,000 light cavalry will be incorporated into the Black Cavalry Army and put under the unified command of the Logue Knights."
"Yes, my lord!" Facing Colin's first order, Duke Merdewin complied without the slightest hesitation.
Even if this order is obviously to embezzle the cavalry unit of the Silver Moon Guard.
"Is Her Majesty the Queen and Miss Vera all right?"
"Your Majesty is in good health. As for Miss Vera..." Duke Merdewing suddenly turned to look at an attendant behind him.
Colin also turned his head in doubt, but saw the attendant slowly take off his helmet, showing a beautiful smile—
It was Vera!
"Vera, why are you running..."
Before Ke Lin finished speaking, Vera threw herself into his arms like a baby swallow returning to its nest.
Feeling the soft touch and familiar fragrance, Ke Lin smiled and said, "Why didn't you tell me in advance that you are coming to Ice Rock City?"
Vera buried her head in Colin's arms and said in a muffled voice, "Don't you welcome me?"
"Of course not." Colin laughed loudly, "The door of the Red Castle is always open to you!"
Seeing this, the Duke of Mordiven and the others quietly backed away a certain distance wisely, letting the two long-lost lovers say goodbye to each other.
(end of this chapter)