The atmosphere beneath the Unicorn banner was extremely grave. Caleb Winifred recounted his father's analysis of the situation.
"Everyone here knows that the Duchy of Cavendish lies in the southwest of the Kingdom of Manchel, while Farpass County sits at the westernmost edge of the duchy. Farpass County's western border adjoins the Kingdom of Assyria. Farpass County has long been infiltrating Assyria and gathering intelligence there, secretly reporting what it learns to the Duke. The Kingdom of Assyria was reestablished by the Assyrian royal family after the people of the West were driven out during the Order War. After being driven onto the Reeding Continent, the people of the West spent fifty years lying low. Now they are ready to take revenge on the Audrian Continent. From the look of things, the first step in that revenge is to retake the Kingdom of Assyria—to recover the lands west of the Red Pine Mountains that once belonged to the people of the West."
Caleb looked around, then continued after making especially sure Catherine was listening carefully. "And because of our Blackport City's particular location, we too were among the West Empire's targets in its first round of attacks. The vast Mist Sea lies between the Reeding Continent, now occupied by the West, and the Kingdom of Assyria. If the West Empire wants to attack the Kingdom of Assyria without any worries behind it, then it must first make certain there is no threat anywhere on the Mist Sea. The Reeding Continent lies southwest of the Mist Sea. The Kingdom of Assyria lies to its north. And to the east lies our Narnia Peninsula."
"Black Harbor is the largest port on the Narnia Peninsula, and unfortunately, it was hit by a surprise attack from the West Empire fleet. We were occupied with mourning Holy Archmage Hilquins and neglected those Fallen Mages of the West across the Mist Sea—people who have hated the Audrian Continent for fifty years..."
The Count of Blackport spoke again. "Caleb, is there any new intelligence from Floating Corpse Harbor?" Floating Corpse Harbor was the place where the people of the West had been driven into the sea during the Order War. It was also now the largest port in the Kingdom of Assyria. Fifty years ago, the waters of that port had been covered with the floating corpses of people from the West, which was how it came to be called Floating Corpse Harbor.
To the Kingdom of Assyria, the name Floating Corpse Harbor was a symbol of glory. To the West Empire, it was a symbol of humiliation. Yet that ominous name had continued to be used for fifty full years. Caleb shook his head. "Farpass County's latest information on Floating Corpse Harbor is already a month old. If even Black Harbor has been attacked, then Floating Corpse Harbor may very well have already fallen to the West Empire fleet. The Kingdom of Assyria's strongest troops are its heavy infantry led by Cipher Mages. Its navy is its weakness."
At that moment, the distant cannon fire finally ceased, and Black Harbor suddenly fell silent. The West Empire fleet had stopped firing. Black Harbor had finally been reduced to a state that satisfied them. The ships leisurely raised their sails, turned about, and left the waters outside the harbor.
After the West Empire fleet departed, Black Harbor was a ruin. The moon was exceptionally bright tonight, illuminating every detail of the port's devastation. Dozens of merchant ships had sunk in the shallow waters of the harbor. Wooden crates and burlap sacks that had not yet been unloaded floated on the surface. The wooden piers used for unloading cargo had vanished completely. Only the occasional load-bearing piling remained, standing alone as the seawater struck against it. The stone embankment along the shore had collapsed, and the coastal road had been destroyed.
Black Harbor was ruined...
The Count of Blackport turned toward a young man. "Marcus Nawey!" A nervous young man stepped forward and said in a trembling voice, "My Lord Count..." Count Leopold frowned.
"The second Viscount of Rouen Castle—your father, Captain Louis Nawey, commander of Blackport County's naval fleet—was gloriously buried tonight together with his Narwhal Fleet. Marcus Nawey, from this moment onward, you are the third Viscount of Rouen Castle. You will reclaim everything your father lost and shoulder responsibility for the future of the Narwhal Fleet. Look at me! Raise your head!"
Marcus Nawey's dazed state clearly did little to satisfy the Count of Blackport. The Count continued, "Viscount of Rouen Castle, in your judgment, how many days would it take the West Empire fleet to sail from Black Harbor to Floating Corpse Harbor?" Marcus Nawey stammered. Sweat ran down his forehead, and he had no idea how to answer.
Of Blackport County's five viscountcies, Rouen Castle was the only one whose fief directly bordered the sea. For generations, the Viscounts of Rouen Castle had controlled Blackport County's navy. Questions about the navy could only be put to the Viscount of Rouen Castle. Leo looked at Marcus Nawey, his former classmate, and rather boldly allowed himself to feel sorry for him.
This was not merely the end of Blackport County's navy. It was also the end of the foundation upon which the Viscount of Rouen Castle's house had been built. Viscount Marcus Nawey had also attended the Military Academy with Leo, but they belonged to different circles and had rarely interacted.
Within the duchy, there were two ways to obtain a noble title: military-merit nobility or nobility by grant. The former depended on military merit and was the only path upward available to commoners. The latter depended on bloodline and favor, and was a symbol of noble glory. Those who inherited titles, however, were often worse with each passing generation. Whether it was military merit or favor, neither was easy to sustain.
The third Viscount of Rouen Castle clearly did not possess his father's courage. Faced with a single question, he could do nothing but stammer and sweat without producing an answer. At that moment, Catherine stepped forward. "My Lord Count, Marcus Nawey's father was only killed tonight. Marcus needs some time to come to terms with the news."
Marcus looked at Catherine with immense gratitude. He badly needed someone to help him out of this situation. Blackport County's losses had been so severe that the Count of Blackport had already lost some of his composure. He truly should not have been too harsh on Marcus Nawey on a night like this. But Leopold looked around and realized there was not a single experienced naval officer present. He regretted it now. Blackport County's navy had proven even more fragile than he had imagined. Not only had it failed to damage the West ships, not a single ship of its own had escaped and returned.
Caleb spoke again. "My Lord Count, I estimate that those West galleons would need only ten days to reach Floating Corpse Harbor from here." The Count of Blackport closed his eyes, no one knowing what he was thinking.
Major General Stuart Cavendish said heavily, "In other words, we cannot rule out the possibility that the West Empire fleet will attack Blackport County again twenty days from now. A surprise attack ensures the least resistance, but it cannot ensure maximum results." The officers of the 3rd Corps fell silent. If they encountered the West Empire fleet a second time, how were they supposed to resist it?
The Count ended the night's council in a voice filled with killing intent. "Major General Stuart! Investigate! Investigate everything! Find every criminal who set fires in Blackport City tonight! Find out how many West Empire spies are still hiding in Blackport City! Find out why Blackport County's navy detected absolutely nothing before the West Empire fleet's surprise attack! If you find anyone who deserves to die, tighten a rope around their throat and hang them from the gallows in Toronia Square! For the next twenty days, I do not want those gallows standing idle for a single second!"
Comments