Chapter 348 - Development
A/n: The 5000 extra
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Weapons of the Forsworn clashed against the shields with the Dragon and Crescent coat of arms, only to hear the ringing of the hits being deflected. As they were confirmed close, the shields would bash and three rows of spears would go forward and obliterate the close Forsworn.
The two forces were clashing for almost an hour. A well equipped militia of highly trained soldiers and a chaotic horde of savages. The savages had high grounds but were being pushed back on a systematic pace.
Alina was the one leading the Company's Militia of 400 troopers. She watched from the back how the tactics were being implemented by the militia and commanded the Mages to land decisive hits on the back of the enemy.
In most cases, she would prefer to be in the shadow of Jon basking in his glory but on the battlefield, she would send him to the front and command the whole force from the back. That was Jon's and Alina's understanding.
Jon may be a scary opponent in battle but his strategies were all about gorilla warfare, surprise attacks and overwhelming force. In the clash of armies, Jon wasn't anything special and there where Alina came. Corrupted or not, Alina's eyes were always special. No lie can pass through them, the would see through the hearts of people and would even see the future. Even a monkey possessed those eyes, it can command the Imperial Legion itself let alone a small militia let alone a wise girl like Alina.
The Forsworn tried to surprise her from the back only to find Fireballs already raining at them. They tried to throw rocks from the mountain only to find the Dare Militia completely handling them fine. Nothing was working. The Forsworn leader was in a complete disadvantage in his own camp and felt completely desperate.
Just who in the world can face Alina when she has an army that is capable of maneuvering all the death traps and the fortifications?
Of course, that power of hers was a strategic secret only a few were aware of and Jon has already seen its potential. In the mock battles between the various teams, Alina has already driven Jon insane countless times. She can see anything coming unless it is Jon himself, who is strangely immune to her powers.
The deadly beautiful leader stood at the back of the troops wearing her ice armor under her signature style of dresses that color was black covered by a black fox mantle. The two blades [Bloodscythe] and [Soulrender] were on her left side over each other and she wore an expressionless face.
Behind her there was some of those who are close to her and Jon such as Freyja, Vladimir and Hafthor Firemane; as well as Trudvar, Jon's Housecarl; Svakin Sky-Walker, Alina's Housecarl; Lanmas Sadar and some Imperial Legion officers.
The ones aware of Alina's power to command an army were as impressed as the ones who are not aware. She has her own system of commanding troops and she kept the casualties very low. Hell, the casualties were only some minor injuries.
Other than Alina, what was more impressive was the power of the militia. They were put under many disadvantages factors yet they were fighting as if they were some army of dead men. First, they were fighting on the lower grounds which eliminated there ability to charge and gave the enemy that advantage; second, they were going up the mountain road while maintaining formation which was ridiculously hard; third, their equipment resembled that of the Imperial Legion except for its Nordic style, still the infantry carried Scutum Shields, long spears and arming swords, the archers carried lever-action crossbows and the mages carried special staves. Those were professional fighters that the Legion would lust over them and try its best to saw them to its side. Still, they were mostly Nords and Dunmer so it was hard to sway those two races.
The battle went on and the Forsworn refused to surrender until the last man. It seemed like admirable courage but it was nothing but fanaticism. Luckily there were always prisoners.
And by that, Lost Valley Redoubt fell in Alina's hands.
Dealing with the aftermath was simple, the corpses were incinerated thoroughly and the prisoners were tied down and got interrogated. A tent was made for Alina on the mountain and the place was secured.
She walked with firm steps towards the top of the mountain and arrived at 'Bard's Leap Summit'.
"This is the place where Jon jumped from to escape from the Forsworn?" Alina looked down the mountain all the way to the far river.
"Yes, Lady Alina. Lord Jon was sighted escaping by jumping from here to the river… or that's what the merchants, that witnessed him, claim." The Imperial Officer replied.
"Jumped that far?" Svakin wondered.
"Eh… believe it or not, the witnesses said that he had black wings and was maneuvering down in a volley of arrows."
"He didn't fly." Alina concluded, "He must have used [Greed] to glide, he always said it was possible but… why?" She kept mumbling to herself.
"""???""" The ones around her didn't get a word.
"Any update on the interrogations?" She asked.
"Yes, some of the prisoners cracked." Trudvar replied.
"Good, let's see what they have."
*An hour later*
"Jon was trapped here… in this… foul place? For two months?" Alina gasped as soon as she arrived at the Briarheart Grove.
On her shoulder, a small version of Gleam, the spirit of the Eldergleam, was watching the sight with horrified eyes.
"Those trees… foul ones! So many of them?!"
The trees were already destroyed by Jon but they were still mostly intact with the corpses stuck on them and under their roots.
"Jon destroyed them all, but why would he be stuck in those trees for two months?"
"They were feeding on him." Gleam replied, "These bad ones feed on people. But they were defeated in their own game. Your man has devoured them instead."
Alina nodded as she sensed the answer. Traces of Padomic Energy were everywhere in the Grove.
"Jon cultivated on them while being captured and regained his power. He still had to cut his foot and some fingers to escape. It still confuses me."
"He was surely unable to cast Magic. Those ones can put an ancient curse to stop devour magic. I am not sure of what happened to him but it explains why was he impossible to locate with divination."
"Unable to use magic… yeah, I can accept that explanation. He should be still having problems with that and can't contact us or leave the Reach but I am sure he will be fine"
"You are not worried?"
"Why would I? His Voice is still as strong as ever. He may be facing some hardships but these are all minor setbacks for Jon. What I am worried about is his impulses. When men get desperate, they get stupid. Jon is not an exception."
Alina smiled and thought of the declaration of war Jon made. Surely it will cause many problems.
She cast a Flame spell on the trees in the Grove and turned everything to ash. Such foul things should be completely destroyed.
Outside the grove, Svakin was waiting for her. He approached her and whispered.
"A message from Lord Jonrad. He said we should camp in this place and clear all the Forsworn around it and keep watch on Karthspire settlement. The Firemanes will send reinforcements from the North."
"Good, I can at least cope with that."
Alina nodded and started to prepare for a long term camping.
With her arriving at this place, the Forsworn were put on a tight situation. They are now blocked from the east by Alina and her militia and from the west by Jon himself. From the North, the Fireman will come and the south is blocked by the Jerall mountains.
Still, who said there are no Forsworn allies in the south?
It will all be revealed 7 days from now.
***
After he arrived at Markarth and passed the regular checkup in the gate, Jon kept a low-profile in the city and made sure to hide the [Mace of Molag Bal]. This thing was eye catching and would give off a scary vibe of energy but thankfully, it can be covered with [Greed] to shape a large club or anything.
The first aim is to find his trusty companion, Nefertiti.
He had no clue on her location for two months but one thing he knows that they are bound together by their souls. One of the things that made Jon feel grateful towards Hircine. Nefertiti cannot die unless Jon himself dies.
How so?
Jon refused to become a werebeast as his soul should be clean to continue on his path of meditation. Hircine wanted something from Jon and Jon was already powerful to resist the blessing of the Prince of the Hunt and ever remove it so Nefertiti became Jon's beast side and she started to mutate into a higher life form, the Faerie.
Jon was aware of her being already above the norm of being a werebeast and gradually taking over the Blessing of Hircine. And if she is near in Markarth, she will at least respond when she senses him. Even though the cursed vine is getting in the way of them sensing each other, a magical life form like her can sense a human when they called by a chant they like in a place near where they live. Thankfully, Jon knew just the song that Nefertiti loves.
Jon went right away to the Silver-Blood Inn, the people inside saw him and all went away. He was an infamous person known as Krilon, the bounty hunter.
"Mr. Krilon, welcome back. Should I prepare you the same room or you are looking for a contract? Some of the Jarl's men left a bounty just a while ago."
"Thanks, Frabbi." Jon smiled, "I'll just warm myself by the fire and have some honey mead."
Jon walked quietly and sat by the fire then had his mead and started looking at the fire and smiling. Once he was ready he circulated his Essence Energy forcefully and activated [Bardic Knowledge].
[A/n: Mary Poppins - Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious … google it without copy, I dare you!]
"It's Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!
Even though the sound of it is something quite atrocious
If you say it loud enough, you'll always sound precocious
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious…"