Age of Heroes

EDWARD MEROVICH

The soldiers have heard the drum being hit and the sound of the trumpet signal the beginning of the conflict in Vangua

Edward forces have begun to march toward Mostone, after garrisoning the northern border as the south is trying to march to the north while Harald position his army near the King region.

At Dester city, Lord Randolph, a vassal of Duke Harald arrived with his levies to stiffen the king's military arm, and some of the Arrandians, who is led by Lord Leander, advised an immediate attack on the rebels.

Lord Silas on the other hand had a different plan on his mind when he looks at the bigger picture of the conflict and its benefit and cons toward Arrandy. 

He could not let such hot headed commander, eager to fight, to dictate an important battle like this, to persuade the King to attack Harald forces which right now, is superior in force and experience. 

To the King, Silas advises caution and vigilance. 

And King Edward the ever-cautious monarch agreed with Lord Silas assessment, after all, he is not totally convinced that the interests of the hardline war party were necessarily his. 

The war party referring to Lord Leorid and his vassal of southern lords that had heed his summon. 

All the while this is happening, Edward sent letters urgently, to the other lords to bring their power, arms and men, to aid him in this battle.

Silas approve of such action. 

After all he know that it is on the lords and nobles, it is on their attitude that the outcome of the crisis would turn. 

'You approve of this Lord Silas?' Edward had asked when he present his course of action, hoping for some advice.

'I approve Your Highness' he said in one of their private talks in the tents. Edward nodded.

Silas then added

'As long as the military power of the Orleans is formidable, and your own weak, please stall the matter. There is no reason to strain yourself and your forces, Your Highness. Fortify your positions. Concentrate your forces. And wait for the opportune moment'

While Silas was given full access to the King, not every Arrandy representatives is given such rights.

Lord Leander on the other hand always had to asks for an audience with the King, urging him every time he came for the King to engage Duke Harald in a pitched battle. 

Lord Leander is eager to prove that he is a talented leader to Lord Silas and to his liege lord in Arrandy. One day Edward had enough of his incessant urging and shouted to him

'Then call your lord and ask him to send reinforcement to his southern border!'

And at this Leander shut his mouth. 

He dares not tell the young lord of his failure to contain the situation in the south. 

After all he has already pleaded to Silas to downplay his failure when he is asked to report to Lord Arial.

And of course the escalated conflict that is now embroiling in Vangua that started from his matter would not look good for him in the eyes of the people of the court of Arrandy.

'I'm sorry Your Highness. Like you have said, maybe it is better to wait' Leander finally relented. 

Edward continues to stall but his stalling has a clear objective. He wanted to persuade the northern noble and to ask them to betray Harald.

But he knows the suspicion of the northern nobles to the companion he kept at court, the Arrandians, Silas, Leander and so many others.

Thus he is not hopeful of the northern nobles to side with him

But while Edward wanted to rid out of Harald and the Orleans he could not risk an open war. 

After all he is the King of Vangua and he has a responsibility to his people.

Edward is sure, that an all-out military struggle with the Orleans would leave Vangua unacceptably weak, whatever the outcome, and an easy prey for an invader.

It is the reason he offers Arial the crown. 

If Edward offers the crown, Arial in Arrandy might wait for him to die and the reason for such waiting would be for the Vermont to take the throne with justification.

Of course, Edward himself did not know whether the Vermont was interested in the throne of Vangua. 

Arial might not have been interested in it, but Helia is interested and because of that Arrandy had begun to look toward the South with covetous eyes.

What Edward had done was to stave off a probable future enemy with empty promises.

Edward had a plan. surely before he dies, he would leave an heir, one whose claim will be better and Arial will then have no justification in conquering Vangua if he ever had the intent to take the throne of Vangua.

Though he meant no personal harm to Arial, he could not let Vangua goes to a noble family of other nations

even though it looks to the people that he had favor Arial immensely, he still had some reservations to the foreign lord of Arrandy. 

Edward did it only to secure time for Vangua to strengthen itself. 

He knows the military might of Arrandy, that powerful military machine when concentrated would be an invincible force that could break any defenses. 

And with Arial marriage with Lady Helia, inevitably one day, it will push Arrandy to a conflict with Vangua.

And hopefully if the amiable relationship between Arrandy and Vangua is preserved, at least Vangua will have time to be ready when that time comes.

The obvious middle way between battle or bowing to the Orleans which he used to do before now is to use legal machinery, especially as this was the course most favored by the Noble Circle.

And now he waits for the nobles to reply to his call, as the forces of Harald and Edward is on a stalemate.

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The matter had finally come to a head

After great discussion, arguments, defending and attacking Orleans and Harald, countless letter traded between the great families and houses of Vangua, hundreds whispers in secluded courtyard, oath of honor and fealty raised, the Noble Circle has decided that the Orleans will be summoned to Caen to answer before a full council of the greatest in the realm, all the great noble families in Vangua will participate in accordance to the law of Vangua, a hearing that is to take place on 54th day of Seedmonth on the year of 1019 After Fall

That day would surely be written in the annals of history because of its implication to Vangua future.

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