The wind surged from the Mistveil Mountains and spiraled up the jagged mountain wall, making the smoke from the firewood smoke drift away.
Ferrum was lying on a protruding rock, lazily bathing in the sun, its tail hanging down the cliff, swaying gently with the mountain wind.
There was a rustling sound on the platform, Bearfolk was carrying timber across the mountain path, and Half-Orcs was building a ditch.
Further away, several Mountain Goblin herdsmen drove Stone-Step Sheep, raising a slight dust.
Nowadays, Windsong Plateau is on the right track. The rules and power framework of the territory have been established. Each clan is fully capable of handling internal affairs and being self-sufficient. The Hatchling Dragons have become leisurely, gathering together to eat and drink every day, lazily waiting to grow up, which is quite similar to the time of Ochre Valley.
Until Mountain Goblin leader Yazi rushed over.
His speed was extremely fast, his footsteps were heavy, and he was holding a sheepskin scroll tightly in his hand. The sealing rope of the scroll was pressed with Red Fort's fire paint.
"Lord, urgent news from Red Fort."
Yazi rushed to Chrome Dragon, presented the scroll, and added, "The messenger came in a hurry and asked to be delivered to the lord immediately."
Ferrum took the parchment roll, cut off the sealing rope, shook it open, twisted it in his claw toes, and looked at it a few times.
The next moment, his expression suddenly changed and he took a deep breath.
"What's wrong?"
Moqi noticed that his brother was looking wrong, so he quickly came up to ask.
"We'll leave for Steelspine Plains right away."
Ferrum handed the parchment to Moqi, turned to face Yazi, and said in a quick and clear tone, "Give me my order to summon all the soldiers on the platform and count the weapons and beasts of burden. It is noon now. Before dark, I want to see the army fully equipped."
"Yes!"
Yazi agreed loudly. Although he was full of doubts in his heart, the lord's order could not be doubted.
"Leaving now?"
Kेलaili, who was dozing aside, opened his eyes, his black pupils moving slightly.
Moqi took the letter handed by Ferrum and looked at it casually a few times. His mouth suddenly opened wide, he was completely speechless, and he shivered uncontrollably.
"What happened?"
Sensing that something was wrong in the atmosphere, Nickel Dragon Bido, who was originally staring at Half-Orcs, also ran back quickly.
"The family's troops stationed at Fertile Hills were attacked, Storm Family's army pressed on, and the battle on the front line was tragic, Diluntro·Karajiege..."
Moqi tried his best to squeeze out a few dry words from his teeth. "Fight and die."
"What?"
Kेलaili strode closer and snatched the parchment from Moqi's hand. He opened his eyes wide and stared, only to realize that those simple words had become so unfamiliar.
Cobalt-Blue Overlord's breathing became thicker, like a dull bellows.
"Something big happened." Kेलaili murmured.
Diluntro·Karajiege plays an important role in the family. He is the lord Gray Mountain, the master of the family's old northern defense line, and the spouse of the newly promoted Legendary Dragon Zane.
He once joined forces with Zane, launched several wars against the Tagoma Kingdom, captured a large number of Sandfolk as slaves, directly controlled three fully armed Warband, and had more than 50,000 dependents under his command. He had Disaster Level up to level seventeen, and was known as the "cold" Karajiege.
Even the original Ochre Valley was originally the asset of Karajiege. It was not until Veloya asked Taigo to come forward that he and Karajiege, Zane reached an agreement to transfer Ochre Valley to the new member Valyria·Burning Heart as an incubation pool to nurture Dragon Hatchling.
Such a powerful Lord Giant Dragon actually fell to death at the beginning of the war. It is no wonder that the little dragons turned pale in horror.
Kेलaili looked at the parchment roll in his hand, and then read on from Moqi's words. In addition to this shocking news, the letter also contained a war order personally signed by Taigo.
"To Lost Wilderness all land lords and clan leaders:
Our progress was hindered, Chromatic Dragon joined this war, they came to destroy us, but Ashmark Lineage will always defend their land with iron and fire.
I, Taigo·Ember Scar, Red Fort lord, Ashmark Lineage leader, Wildlands rule the whole territory We hereby issue a war call. All descendants of Ashmark Lineage and those protected by True Dragon will immediately lead all their soldiers to assemble at Ash Fortress.
Red Fort will take over the roads and warehouses and be responsible for the food supplies required by the armies. Anyone who delays or shirks or hides soldiers will be punished as rebellion.
I'm waiting for you to arrive at Ash Fortress.
For Ashmark Lineage."
The letter was not long and the content was simple and direct, but Kेलaili read it several times before finally confirming this fact.
"You also go and prepare, take out the things you need from your respective lairs, we will leave before dark." Ferrum said.
"Isn't it a little too hasty?"
Moqi was anxious. "We are all gone, what should we do with things in Windsong Plateau?"
"I decided to keep Withered Vine as the steward. He was originally an elder in the Mountain Goblin Clan. He works prudently and properly and can maintain the daily operation of the territory."
Ferrum made a lot of decisions in an instant. He raised his head and looked at Dragonclaw War Banner standing on the cliff. The battle flag on the black background was swirling in the wind. The dried blood suddenly became vivid again. The smell of moist rust came from the wind, which made people feel uneasy and dangerous.
"Ferrum Boss, do we really have to work hard for the family?"
Bido asked cautiously, "We spent four years and managed to accumulate seven hundred soldiers. Seven hundred soldiers sounds like a lot, but once you enter a Battlefield like Steelspine Plains, they may all be killed in the blink of an eye."
Ferrum turned around and looked at Nickel Dragon: "What do you have to say?"
"It's not that I want to disobey the family's call, but we are not like Great Dragon, who just shouts loudly and has family members flocking to follow him. It is not easy for the boss to accumulate such a group of family members. We all know the hard work it takes."
Bido rubbed his two front paws like big flies. "These seven hundred soldiers are treasures. My suggestion is to leave the soldiers behind and go to Ash Fortress ourselves. They can't decide the outcome of the war anyway, but if it really comes to a moment of life and death and a comeback, the role of these soldiers goes without saying."
After Ferrum finished listening, before he could speak, Kेलaili suddenly erupted, his cobalt blue scales stood up one by one, and he roared in a low voice.
"Asshole!"
His voice echoed in the canyon, causing several Mountain Goblin nearby to shrink their necks subconsciously.
"Did the family give birth to you, raise you, and raise you up in Wildlands so that you can speak like a pig or a dog when the family needs it? If you were not Nickel Dragon but Cobalt Dragon, Cobalt-Blue Overlord would eat you alive right now."
Kेलaili was breathing heavily, and two streams of white air came out of his nostrils.
Bido subconsciously bared his teeth when he yelled at him, but Nickel Dragon's power was too weak in front of Higher Species. He did not dare to confront the furious Cobalt Dragon and took a step back in fear.
"There is nothing wrong with seeking personal gain, as long as you have a clear understanding of the current situation."
Ferrum glanced at them and whispered, "Our family is proud of war and plunder, and it protects Hatchling Dragon meticulously and thoughtfully. I believe that if it hadn't been for trouble, the family would not have issued such an order, mobilized the power of the entire wilderness, and even brought Hatchling Dragon to Battlefield."
"This is an unprecedented crisis."
Kेलaili said seriously, "Maybe the situation on the front line is already worse than we imagined."
Ferrum turned to Bido and said in a low voice, "When brothers Chrome Dragon defected, it reminded me that my family might have disaster in the future. What I said to them at the beginning is also true for you now."
"There will be no intact eggs under an overturned bird's nest. If the family falls, those of us young scales who rely on the family for nutrition will not have a chance to survive. When I took away Nether Iron, I said that if the family really encounters a war, I will fight here to the end."
Ferrum said, "I was not hypocritical at that time."
"Heavy-Metal Dragon, always defend your commitment and dignity." Moqi said proudly, this is what Nurturer once taught him.
The news soon spread along the Windsong Plateau road to every valley.
The heavy copper bell was rung high up, and the sound crossed the ridge. Bearfolk walked out of the stone house and wooden village, and moved the spears, giant axes and iron buckles stored in the warehouse to the open space; Mountain Goblin counted the bows and arrows and daggers; Half-Orcs brought in the pack animals and tied the grain bags, animal skin tents and herbs to their backs.
Evening has not yet arrived, and seven hundred soldiers capable of fighting have already gathered in the center of the platform, crowding into the not-so-wide open space at the bottom of the valley.
Four hundred Bearfolk stood at the front, with Mountain Goblin and Half-Orcs lined up on both sides. This team was not neat, and the weapons and equipment were not sophisticated, but they were all warriors with iron shields and iron weapons, and they had a certain combat effectiveness.
Ferrum stood in front of them. The wind poured into Vale from the mountain pass, blowing the battle flag behind him.
"I will respond to the call of my family and go to Steelspine Plains to join the war. You are my soldiers and should obey my orders, so I will not ask you about your wishes, and I have nothing to say to encourage you."
Ferrum paused for a moment, his eyes slowly sweeping over those familiar or unfamiliar faces.
"There is only one thing. Ashmark Lineage's dragon will not hide behind its own soldiers, and neither will I."
Ferrum said, "Hold your swords and follow my battle flag closely. As long as the flag does not fall, I am not dead yet."
There were no cheers in Vale. The soldiers just clenched their weapons and rubbed their thick fingers against the wooden handles, making a low sound.
Those Bearfolk who were subdued by Ferrum in the past and gradually returned to their hearts over the past four years looked at Dragonclaw War Banner on the other side and straightened their bodies one by one.
Kेलaili walked up to Ferrum and glanced at Chrome Dragon, who was smaller in size but stronger in strength and will.
"For the family." he said,
Ferrum looked back at Kेलaili and nodded lightly, "For the family, Scattered Fire Sets the Plains Ablaze."
After finishing his words, Ferrum suddenly turned around and faced the mountain road leading outside the platform.
"Let's go."