Victor and Solk broke off their conversation and turned toward the messenger. The delight on his face told them he had good news.
"What is it?" James asked.
"My lord, Viscount Markut's and Viscount Brown's troops have arrived. They're less than ten kilometers away.
"We've made contact with their advance units. The two viscounts will ride ahead with their cavalry and be here soon. Our reinforcements have arrived!"
The messenger spoke loudly enough to draw the attention of the nearby soldiers. At the word "reinforcements," they burst into cheers.
Veterans and recruits alike were cheering. Clearly, even the steady-looking veterans had not been as calm as they appeared.
As the soldiers celebrated, James and Sulke let out long breaths of relief.
It was good news indeed. No matter how many men had come—even if it was only a thousand—the boost to morale would be immense.
James also knew Black Pine Territory and Stream Territory well. As the oldest noble territories in the region, they had grown stronger over the years. Their private armies could be counted on in a fight.
James glanced at Iron Mountain in the distance. After so many years of work, Redrock Iron Mine had finally grown to this scale. It would be a terrible waste to let war destroy it. He could not simply abandon it now.
"Sulke, stay here. I'll go welcome the two viscounts myself!"
"All right!"
James then rode south with a squad of cavalry, guided by the messenger.
They had gone barely a kilometer and had not yet left the Redrock Iron Mine grounds when James spotted a cavalry force over a thousand strong. The two banners at its head bore the family crests of Viscount Brown and Viscount Markut.
The two parties soon met, and James saw both viscounts dressed for