Herald of Steel

"Hmmm, that wall is indeed else," Lord Theony, standing on the second wall commented as such while he gazed at the blockading wall Alexander had created, the amazement in his voice apparent.

The man was immaculately embellished in his full, decorative body armor while his stubby hands decorated with colorful gemmed rings twirled his magnificent mustache.

"That cursed thing was built in a month! Can you believe it?" While Lord Ponticus was much less appreciative of the concrete wall, only commenting just how quickly Alexander had managed to get this up.

The quickness with which the wall was a major factor that worked to push Lord Ponticus to such a dire state. 

"No, I truly cannot. I might not have even believed it if I did not see for myself. How did they do it?" While Lord Theony, ignoring Lord Ponticus's vexation sounded more curious than distressed.

"Who knows! Your guess is as good as mine," And to this Lord Ponticus could only shrug his shoulders, while purring his lips.

This was one of many new, unexplained things the enemy had shown to possess at its disposal.

And Lord Ponticus would admit, he was certainly fearful of what else the enemy might have hidden under its sleeves.

And as a coping mechanism to hide those feelings, he vented in front of Lord Theony, 

"Not only did they build it so fast, it's so strong too! Those new catapults that supposedly could break city walls did nothing to it."

"Weapon of the gods my ass!" 

Lord Ponticus here even put some of the blame on the catapults, though he was not being serious.

They worked perfectly well during tests, and so it was more likely that the wall was really strong.

While Lord Theony only obediently listened, letting Lord Ponticus air out his grievance as much as the latter wished, and then commented, 

"I can see how they were able to push you so far. Those walls are like static, ever-present siege towers."

"This is very clever. The enemy is not easy to deal with."

Lord Ponticus had of course told Lord Theony how Alexander was using the walls to suppress the wall defenders and launch fireballs into the city,  and seeing the walls for himself, Lord Theony came to understand the true gravity of the situation.

Lord Ponticus was really not exaggerating.

As for the lord's comment comparing the walls to the siege towers, well that referred to how sometimes siege towers were not used to directly assault the walls, but as raised platforms to fire arrows and siege machines from, as the higher elevations made targetting the defenders much easier.

Just like Alexander was doing.

"What's the commander's name?" Lord Theony hence asked.

He had obviously heard of Alexander but wanted to confirm it was him nevertheless.

"We are not sure. It is mostly that new lord of Zanzan who is leading the army- Alexander. But he has not shown himself in the open."

"Bastard did not even send us a formal declaration of war! Barbarous brute"  Lord Ponticus spar out both in indignation, as well as disgust for the poor manners Alexander had shown.

However he also conveniently forgot that neither had Tibias sent such a letter when they attacked Alexander.

And hearing this, Lord Theony only nodded and smiled, his thoughts busy on something else completely.

'This Alx…is really something,' The noble said to himself, thinking he should go find out more about him. 

He knew bits a pieces of the man, especially how his involvement changed the result of Adhania's civil war, but he was not well versed about the man.

But now, seeing his handiwork right in front of him, Lord Theony was very curious.

After all, as they said, 'Know thy self and know thy enemy and you will be victorious in over a thousand battles.'

While Lord Ponticus, seeing Lord Theony become quiet and stoic, suddenly decided to change the topic, turning to his counterpart to ask, 

"When they got my letter, how did the court react? Hmph! I bet everyone scoffed at it!" as he then slanted his eyes toward Lord Theony for his response. 

"...." But Lord Theony here paused a bit, knowing that Lord Ponticus was a proud man and that it took a lot out of him to beg Perseus so openly for help.

Even if the circumstance forced him, and even if no one would blame him for it, even then Lord Theony knew Lord Ponticus still felt ashamed at making King Perseus do all the work and bear such expenses.

He saw it as his failure to properly defend the city was entrusted to protect.

It was because so if Lord Theony were to say yes, he would be simply poking at his distinguished veteran's wounds.

But Lord Theony also could not say no because then it would be insulting Lord Ponticus's intelligence.

The man surely had his own sources inside the court to know the basic gist of what happened.

So he embellished the reply with a little chuckle, "Hehehe, what do those soft punks sleeping in fluffy pillows know?"

"Bickering! That's all they do! Pointless bickering till your ears turn to wax!"

"My lord should not care about those imbeciles who throw stones at people while being a  thousand miles away."

"If they could see what you and I are seeing, they would very quickly change their mind."

"And besides, what truly matters is His Majesty's opinion."

"And he has supported my lord from the very first."

Lord Theony tried to paint those nobles in the courts as being unenlightened and unaware of the situation at the frontlines, while also reassuring Lord Ponticus that he was very much in the good graces of the big man, the man who really mattered.

And Lord Ponticus did not outright reply hearing this.

But Lord Theony did notice the man's lips curl up ever so slightly.

Clearly he was pleased at heart.

And then taking this opportunity, Lord Theony quickly changed the topic so that he did not have to play nanny to a grown man.

"By the way, what about the scouts? Did they find what we are looking for? If they cannot confirm it, our plan will not work."

Lord Theony did not need to specify the details as Lord Ponticus readily understood.

"Yes, it indeed exists. But they could not find the exact way. They say that will take a few more days." Lord Ponticus was very curt in his reply, leaving out many explicit details in fear that someone might be eavesdropping.

The chances of this happening were of course miniscule, but being in the military all his life, the experienced general was very measured in his speech when it came to military matters.

"Hmmm, that is indeed a shame. Zanzan might not give us that time," To this, Lord Theony a bit ruefully shook his head, laying his eyes on Alexander's completed siege towers and the ramp leading up as for his reason being so.

"Yes. Tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. They will attack by then," And Lord Ponticus fully agreed with him, the tone in his voice sure and confident,

And the fact that he could make such a prediction by just looking at the battlefield spoke volumes about his experience. 

To him, everything seemed ready on Alexander's side.

"Then let us commence the plan tomorrow. If we wait too long, the opportunity might be gone." 

Thus Lord Theony prosed.

And Lord Ponticus agreed with a heavy nod, adding. "Yes, let's. Though it is a bit risky, since the scouts have found the way, we can figure out the exact route as we go." 

"The plan might be a little dangerous, but it is certainly a very good plan."

"I will lead the flanking forces, Lord Theony can lead the main." 

Lord Ponticus very causally made a massive announcement.

"Mmm, okay. Then I will wait for good from Your Highness," While Lord Theony readily accepted, finding the arrangement wholly to his liking. 

Thus Tibias decided to launch the first strike before Alexander could go for the knockout. 

And that first strike came right after dusk on the very day Alexander decided that he would attack the next morning, right around the time the soldiers had finished their meals and were getting their beds ready.

This was also not as big a coincidence as it seemed because the attacking Tibian soldiers too had their meal around the same time as Alexander's and marched out afterward, hence the matching timing.

*Paaaaaahh*, *Thud!*

The Zanzan soldiers guarding the siege towers and the wall all heard the distinct sound of the city's drawbridge lowering itself with a strained creak followed by the heavy, metallic clanking of the port cutlass being lifted.

And moments later came the loud, thundering footsteps of heavily armored men wearing thick leather shoes.

Then soon a flood of red began to gather, as a huge number of soldiers began to arrange themselves into a proper rank-and-file formation.

Now, these soldiers did not come out of the front eastern gate that was being besieged.

That would have been too dangerous as the few thousand archers waiting on the walls just a bit ahead of them would rip these men slowly coming out of the narrow gate one by one to shreds like it was a turkey shoot. 

No, the men were more sensible, instead using the western gate which they now opened.

And then started to gather down at around the foot of the city. 

While Alexander was informed of this as quickly as possible, and he at once bought his army out to reply to this threat.