The journey that followed passed without incident. With the war so urgent, they no longer traveled as leisurely as they had during the autumn levy.
Other than hurrying onward, they only stopped briefly to rest and eat. There was not even a chance to gather together and share fine food.
Tulip City, which should originally have taken at least four or five more days to reach, was reached in only three days.
When they arrived outside Tulip City, its gates were tightly shut, and the city had already entered a state of full alert.
Fortunately, Nalant and the others did not need to enter the city. They merely passed by outside it and headed directly northwest.
Travel-worn and dusty, they continued their journey for days, passing through two earldoms in succession before finally nearing the border connected to the Ferdinand Earl Territory.
"Whew! After thirteen whole days on the road, we're finally almost there. I wonder how the battle ahead is going!" Boris said with a weary face as he remounted his warhorse.
With the battlefield drawing nearer, it was naturally no longer safe to sit in carriages.
Although Nalant's carriage was incomparably secure, he rode on horseback alongside the other nobles as well, so as not to stand out.
"Judging from the current situation, things shouldn't be too bad. A few miles farther ahead is the border of the Ferdinand Earl Territory, and Ferdinand Castle is only fifty li away. Since the flames of war haven't spread here yet, Ferdinand Castle should still be safe."
Nalant had actually already investigated the situation more than twenty li ahead.
There was a massive camp more than twenty li away, which should have been the camp of the king and the earls.
Since the king and the earls were all safe and