Chapter Summaries

Victor agreed to become Brando’s guardian and learned Count Black’s plan to protect his territory from the Duchy’s attack by seizing White Earth City and delaying the assault until winter. After Victor left, Count Black coughed up blood, while Victor and Number One began preparing defensive counterattacks aboard the ship.

• Victor understood why Count Colt could not serve as Brando’s guardian and agreed to take on the responsibility.
• Count Black explained that he had asked Count Colt to seize White Earth City and outlined a plan to delay the Duchy’s attack until winter.
• Victor approved the plan and learned that he would take over Brando’s education next year.
• After Victor departed, Count Black coughed blood and worried that Colt’s success was vital to Brando and the Great Oak Family.
• Aboard the ship, Victor and Number One discussed Count Black’s poor health and began planning defenses for Victor’s territory.

Victor learned that the Duchy planned to attack his territories after the Noble Council and accelerated preparations to defend against roughly ten thousand troops. Short of experienced soldiers and officers, he sought help from his father’s trusted allies and sent letters requesting troops.

• Victor told Foss and Holmes that the Duchy would attack after the Noble Council, likely around October 10, and ordered them to prepare the territory’s defenses.
• Foss and Holmes identified shortages in recruits, equipment, manpower, veterans, and junior officers, while Victor arranged for Ron’s troops and transport support from Iron Birch Territory.
• Victor used Number One’s calculations and confirmed the fleet could carry only three detachments’ worth of troops and supplies per trip.
• Victor reviewed Old Baron Wembley’s list of trusted allies and decided to request experienced troops from Viscount Blue Rose, Baron Black Oil Pine, Baron Oil Sunflower, and Baron Silver Sunflower.
• Victor sent two letters by carrier pigeon to Iron Birch Territory and Two Rivers Territory, then dispatched riders with four letters to the allied families.

Victor organized Golden Sunflower Territory’s defenses while allies sent reinforcements from Two Rivers Territory and neighboring territories. As the forces assembled and Victor revised his deployment plans, nobles at a conference in Silver Maple City noticed the Iron Birch Family’s limited representation and grew uneasy about the Grand Duke’s meeting.

• Victor settled at fortress No. 1 to oversee construction and train recruits while Two Rivers Territory’s leaders arranged reinforcements in response to his letter.
• Wembley ordered the First Regiment to prepare, and Iron Birch Territory’s fleet helped transport three infantry detachments and one cavalry detachment totaling more than 2,200 men southward.
• Four neighboring territories sent veteran units totaling 600 soldiers, which arrived in Golden Sunflower Territory by October 3.
• Victor assigned the veterans to his existing units, expanded his planned mobile force to six detachments, and placed five detachments under Foss and Holmes for interior-line defense.
• At the October 5 nobles’ conference in Silver Maple City, attendees noticed that the Iron Birch Family had sent few representatives and grew anxious about the Grand Duke’s meeting.

Grand Duke Mora accused the Northern Frontier nobles led by the Iron Birch Family of Colt of treason and demanded that all independent nobles help suppress them. After Prime Minister Lagos presented evidence and had several nobles expelled, he brought Bolton Ironvine onto the dais as a witness, leaving Count Lloyd furious and apparently targeted.

• Grand Duke Mora arrived at the Noble Council and had Count Lagos deliver a speech praising his rule before announcing the alleged Northern Frontier rebellion.
• Mora ordered the independent nobles to join the coming military campaign, warning that anyone who refused would be considered an accomplice to treason.
• Council Speaker Lance Iron-Thorn Willow called on Lagos to present evidence, and guards removed the Northern Three Commanderies representatives and other nobles named as Count Colt's allies.
• Lagos announced that another highly respected noble had secretly colluded with Colt and introduced Bolton Ironvine as a witness.
• Count Lloyd recognized his nephew Bolton on the dais and stared at him in rage.

Count Lloyd was accused of treason at Grand Duke Mora’s assembly, while Mora secured unanimous support for war against Colt and imposed a military levy on the nobles. The meeting ended with an urgent report that the Northern Frontier Allied Army had taken White Earth City and trapped two Fifth Legion regiments in Sextus County, leaving Mora furious.

• Baron Bolton accused Count Lloyd of conspiring with Colt and planning to marry his daughter to Colt’s son, and Count Lloyd denounced Mora before allowing guards to escort him away.
• Count Lagos persuaded Bolton to press his uncle to accuse Colt, promising that the Iron Vine Family could retain its countship.
• Grand Duke Mora called for war against Colt, and the nobles unanimously raised their hands in support.
• Count Lagos announced a special military levy, required nobles to send troops, and named eastern Boler County as the first target of the campaign.
• An Imperial Guard messenger reported that the Northern Frontier Allied Army had captured White Earth City and surrounded two Fifth Legion regiments in Sextus County, and Mora crushed his wine cup in fury.

After the Noble Council ended in chaos, the nobles worried over the new levy and troop demands, while Taros faced pressure to seek help from Count Sibeth. In another room, Baron Bolton urged Count Lloyd to name him heir in exchange for the Grand Duke sparing the Iron Vine Family.

• Viscount Borey dragged Grand Duke Mora from the hall, and Speaker Lance ended the meeting as Count Lagos reminded the nobles to pay the levy and annuity.
• Central nobles complained that the military levy would worsen their families’ debts, and some voiced resentment toward the Silver Maple family.
• Taros refused an invitation to drink because he needed to return to Blackwater City amid the fall of White Earth City and the urgent military situation.
• After hearing others speculate that the Honeysuckle family could turn to Count Sibeth for money, Taros silently considered a difficult decision.
• Baron Bolton told Count Lloyd that the Grand Duke would stop pursuing the Iron Vine Family if Lloyd made him heir to the Count’s title.

Count Lloyd escaped Baron Bolton’s attempt to force his support, killed Bolton, and fled the city with Baron Nio and Viscount Ferry. Meanwhile, Grand Duke Mora learned the rebels had taken White Earth City and ordered a regiment of the Fifth Legion to reinforce Sextus County.

• Baron Bolton threatened Count Lloyd, but Baron Nio and Viscount Ferry arrived with warriors, disarmed Bolton, and bound him.
• Count Lloyd rejected Bolton’s pleas for mercy and killed him before leaving the city with Nio, Ferry, and their men.
• Count Lagos brought Grand Duke Mora a report that the Northern Frontier Rebels had retreated to White Earth City after driving the defenders back to Sextus City.
• Viscount Borey offered to send the Imperial Guard Legion, but Count Lagos suggested redirecting a regiment of the Fifth Legion instead.
• Grand Duke Mora agreed to send messengers to redirect the Fifth Legion regiment to reinforce Sextus County.

Grand Duke Mora worried that loyalist nobles might seize the rebels’ inland territories and their wealth before he could claim it. Baron Lovski Hawthorn presented him with a priceless pearl on Count Black’s behalf and requested permission for Count Black to lead an army against the rebels in exchange for forgiveness and the survival of his family.

• Mora rejected Count Lagos’s suggestions to let loyalist nobles besiege rebel territories or postpone an invasion until spring because he feared losing the spoils.
• An imperial guard announced that Count Black’s representative had arrived, and Mora agreed to receive him after Count Lagos intervened.
• Baron Lovski Hawthorn presented Mora with the Golden Light Flowing Flame Pearl, which Count Lagos identified as a legendary treasure of the Reef Coral Sunflower Family.
• Mora accepted the gift and said he had forgiven Count Black, prompting Lovski to clarify that the count also wished to make amends through service.
• Lovski requested permission for Count Black to lead the Great Oak Territory’s army and eastern nobles’ private forces against rebel territories in the Eastern Four Counties, surrendering all spoils to Mora in return for forgiveness and permission for the Great Oak Family to continue.

Count Lagos accepted a valuable gold nugget from Baron Lovsky and tried to recruit him, unaware that Lovsky was only pretending to cooperate on Count Black’s orders. Meanwhile, Alex persuaded Viscount Hawke to stop his advance after taking White Earth City, leaving the next move to Victor.

• Grand Duke Mora ordered Baron Lovsky to lead troops and eastern Boler County nobles against the rebels in Boler County.
• Baron Lovsky presented Count Lagos with a 6.5-kilogram gold nugget from Count Black and praised his service to the Grand Duchy.
• Count Lagos offered Lovsky ministerial or military posts, and Lovsky pretended he would leave Count Black to serve him.
• Count Lagos wondered what Count Black was pursuing and resolved to get involved if the territories held something valuable.
• Lovsky privately planned to feed Count Lagos false intelligence while remaining loyal to Count Black.
• In White Earth City, Alex convinced Viscount Hawke to halt their advance after taking the city, and Alex thought the rest depended on Victor.

Count Lloyd escaped Silver Maple City with Baron Nio and Viscount Ferry Saltwood while his forces began assembling in preparation for a campaign to reclaim Cornwall County. Grand Duke Mora learned of the escape and, at Count Lagos’s urging, ordered the city gates, routes, and docks sealed.

• Count Lloyd traveled south disguised as a caravan merchant, grieving the men who had sacrificed themselves to help him escape.
• Baron Nio and Count Lloyd discussed their plan to mobilize before Cornwall County’s loyalist nobles returned, while Viscount Ferry Saltwood reported that the army was assembling.
• Count Lloyd ordered the caravan to move faster so they could leave Milan County before nightfall, and Baron Nio warned that Hampshire and the border legions might respond.
• Count Lagos arrived at Maple Leaf Palace and found Council Speaker Lance kneeling before Grand Duke Mora.
• Council Speaker Lance reported that Count Lloyd had vanished, Baron Bolton had been killed, and the Noble Council guard commander was missing.
• Count Lagos urged Grand Duke Mora to seal the city gates, major routes, and docks, and Mora sent Viscount Borey to carry out the order.

Viscount Borey pursued a ship suspected of carrying Count Lloyd, but found a lookalike who had killed himself aboard. Far away, Count Black prepared to lead a deliberately weakened campaign and pressed Victor to become Brando’s guardian.

• Grand Duke Mora dismissed Count Lagos after discussing Council Speaker Lance and the nobles who had followed Jorah.
• Viscount Borey traced Count Lloyd’s escape through the eastern gate and pursued a ship south with Light Cavalry.
• With help from the Third Legion, Viscount Borey intercepted the ship and lost many soldiers boarding it before finding a dead man dressed and disguised as Count Lloyd.
• Count Black received Baron Lovsky’s report that the plan was progressing and summoned Boler County’s independent nobles to Dos City before October 10.
• Count Black ordered campaign supplies prepared and insisted on leading the army himself, despite his butler’s concerns, while saying he intended not to win.

Count Black sailed from Sunset City with three battalions to join the defense in Boler County, while asking Knight Yellen to judge whether Victor Golden Sunflower was fit to lead Great Oak Territory’s forces. Count Black hoped Yellen would support Victor and Brando after his death.

• Count Black sent three battalions aboard ships, leaving his steward and Brando watching from shore.
• Knight Yellen warned Count Black that Boler County’s noble houses could field at least twenty thousand troops, far more than the force they had brought.
• Count Black explained that he wanted the nobles to act independently and intended to test Victor’s abilities before entrusting Brando to him.
• Count Black urged Yellen to assess Victor and assist him if he proved suitable, for Brando’s and the Great Oak Family’s sake.
• Yellen pledged not to fail Count Black’s trust.

Victor received the Northlands relief fleet at Linshui Town and organized its troops, supplies, and horses for safe unloading and rest. As the reinforcements marched to camp, Ron reported that Victor’s family was settled in Two Rivers Territory and that its combined army now exceeded ten thousand men.

• Victor told Lessot to continue expanding and maintaining Linshui Town’s docks despite the decline in merchant traffic.
• Victor welcomed Captain Jack and learned that all forty-one ships had arrived, though two sailors had died in an undercurrent.
• Victor ordered the exhausted cavalry horses to camp for rest and arranged feed and salt, while Ron led the infantry to the Main Camp for hot meals.
• Victor entrusted the remaining unloading to Lessot and the military equipment to Foss, then rode with the troops and asked Ron about Two Rivers Territory.
• Ron said Victor’s family had adapted well, recruitment was progressing, and the forces of Baron Brown and Viscount Black Pine had helped bring the territory’s army above ten thousand men.

Victor discussed troop deployments with Ron and learned how Count Black had secretly helped Ron's fleet reach the Blackwater River. Rather than wait for Count Black's forces to assemble, Victor decided to launch an early operation using three detachments and a battlefield he had already scouted.

• Victor planned to leave detachments behind next year to guard Two Rivers Territory and considered whether Iron Birch Territory's fleet could transport the southern expedition.
• Ron told Victor that Count Black had sealed off the estuary and disguised their fleet under the Great Oak Family's heraldry so it could sail upriver unnoticed.
• Victor inferred that Count Black intended to weaken Boler County's loyalist nobles while testing Victor and supporting Count Colt's Northern Alliance Army.
• Victor ordered Ron to select a well-rested detachment for a mobile operation the next day, explaining that two other detachments were already set aside.
• Victor explained that he had surveyed the neighboring independent nobles' territories and searched for suitable battlefields using a detailed map.

Victor identified the neighboring Perilla and Red Ginseng families as his targets after scouts confirmed that their private armies were assembling. He planned to strike before they could join the other nobles.

• Victor reviewed the duchy's divided noble factions and noted that the Golden Sunflower Family had become openly disloyal to the Silver Maple Ducal House.
• Victor's account traced the Golden Sunflower Family's old feud with the Green Oak Family to wildfolk settlements in its former exclave and the Green Oak barons' efforts to obstruct its development.
• Victor recalled that the Perilla and Red Ginseng families had refused his offers of commercial cooperation and remained hostile toward Golden Sunflower Territory.
• Victor learned that both neighboring families had begun assembling forces of roughly seven to eight hundred men each, including only two to three hundred actual soldiers.
• Victor decided to attack the two families before they could gather with the other nobles, confident that three detachments could defeat them.

Victor and Ron planned to attack Red Ginseng Territory first, with Victor aiming to seize its serfs and grain for Golden Sunflower Territory. Victor laid out a two-route assault, while warning that their coming war carried grave risks.

• Victor told Ron that he intended to attack their neighboring families, and Ron enthusiastically supported the plan.
• Ron recommended attacking Red Ginseng Territory first to draw Baron Charles Zisu into reinforcing it, and Victor agreed because the territory had more people and resources to seize.
• Victor explained that he would lead two detachments overland to distract Baron Freyzer while Ron took a detachment by ship to capture Red Ginseng Territory's dock.
• Victor said he wanted to take Red Ginseng Territory's serfs and grain to provide labor for Golden Sunflower Territory's production and construction.
• Victor admitted that he was worried about the campaign despite their military advantage.

Victor prepared Golden Sunflower Territory’s troops for battle while assessing the enemy’s grain shortage, possible allies, and timetable. He left the Main Camp to inspect the eastern fortress, then assigned Orlando an intelligence mission to investigate the Boler County Coalition and the nobles who were staying out of the campaign.

• Victor told Ron that the Central Region faced an autumn grain shortage and discussed the difficulty of winning its nobles over to Count Colt’s side.
• Victor estimated that the enemy would need several days to assemble and march from Dos City, giving his forces time to strike Red Ginseng Territory and move its people and grain.
• Victor returned with Ron to the Main Camp, where the troops rested before their planned departure the next morning.
• Victor inspected the eastern fortress and told Harris to signal for reinforcements if the enemy threatened to overwhelm him.
• Orlando arrived at Victor’s quarters, and Victor assigned him to identify the Coalition’s participants, survey their remaining forces, and investigate nobles not joining the campaign.

Victor received the Northern Alliance nobles’ unanimous declaration granting him command of their forces in the Eastern Region, strengthening his prospects of becoming a marquis after the war. Meanwhile, Alex and Viscount Hawke learned that a regiment from the Fifth Legion had arrived in Sextus City and ordered an investigation before deciding how to respond.

• Orlando gave Victor the nobles’ declaration, which endorsed his command over Northern Alliance forces in the Eastern Region.
• Orlando delivered a dark-gold signet ring from the Iron Birch Territory, and Victor accepted it without investigating its meaning.
• Victor told Orlando to remain in the Golden Sunflower Territory through winter and continue his Intelligence Department assignment.
• An officer reported to Alex and Viscount Hawke that the Third Regiment of the Fifth Legion had arrived in Sextus County.
• Alex ordered his people to investigate the new regiment and told Hawke to strengthen vigilance until they confirmed its strength.

Alex planned to lure the Third Regiment out of Sextus City while Viscount Hawke followed with reinforcements, and their forces marched toward the city. At the same time, Victor set out to draw Freyzer into Red Ginseng Territory while Ron prepared to seize its dock.

• Alex rejected an attack on Sextus City and proposed using his cavalry as bait while Viscount Hawke's troops struck the enemy's flank.
• Viscount Hawke agreed to follow Alex and pledged his territory's support to the Iron Birch Family.
• Alex and Viscount Hawke's troops left camp on the morning of the 8th and marched south toward Sextus City.
• Victor told Ron to attack Red Ginseng Territory's dock after its castle garrison left, then led his troops across the border.

Baron Freyzer prepared Red Ginseng Territory’s army to join Count Black’s forces before attacking Golden Sunflower Territory, while planning to plunder its townsfolk despite orders to leave the family’s property untouched. In the morning fog, Sertis spotted approaching black-armored Cavalry and realized the column was under attack.

• Baron Freyzer told Fick and Sertis that the army would march to Dos City and later return to attack Golden Sunflower Territory.
• Fick explained that although Count Black forbade taking the Golden Sunflower Family’s property, they could still rob Freemen and serfs.
• Red Ginseng Territory’s army set out, and Sertis and Fick patrolled the slow-moving column through the fog.
• Sertis chased a dark figure, then saw a formation of black-armored Cavalry charging toward him and shouted that the enemy was attacking.
• The leading black-armored Cavalryman struck a Red Ginseng Cavalryman from his horse, and the others turned to flee.