As the three armies drew closer to the Bedine's sacred ground, something caught Aaron completely off guard: not only had the Bedine failed to organize any meaningful resistance, but even the barbarian cavalry sent to meet them numbered very few.
The left army advanced swiftly. After encountering little resistance for several days, it reached its designated area beneath Scimitar Peak and prepared to make camp.
The central army, meanwhile, had reaped some rewards. Big Dragon Aegir repeatedly robbed Zhentarim caravans, and her brutally violent raids brought the central army a tremendous windfall. Aegir even seized a large shipment of Moradin Series weapons fresh from the Hextech armaments factories. According to Zhentarim prisoners, the Zhentarim had ordered these weapons from the Sunset Lands, routed them through Zambia beside Cormyr, then shipped them from Dragonmere along the Trade Way to the Sword Coast, intending to send them on to the Moonsea.
Now that they had returned to their rightful owners, Aegir naturally accepted the entire haul with delight.
From the Zhentarim prisoners, Big Dragon learned that the Zhentarim seemed to be plotting something lately.
What exactly was it?
Aegir reported everything to Aaron. Big Dragon also pointed out that one of the Zhentarim's "Lords of the Sky," a mage, had escaped in the chaos.
Aaron offered no comment.
The right army also pressed forward. Near the shores of Lake Erazad, it finally encountered fierce resistance from a band of Bedine cavalry. Their leader was Alaric, chief of the Moose Tribe. He and his brother Sigurd led several hundred Bedine in a stubborn delaying action. After a day of fierce fighting, the Bedine were defeated.
Then Aaron's rear army gradually approached. The heraldic banners of the Sallyan family and Green Velar, along with the banner of Cormyr's Shogun, were unfurled. The strength of