Chapter 538: At Any Cost
The mobilized army from Nolan City numbered around twenty thousand. Ten thousand were true elites, while the rest were recruits at best. However, interspersing them among the veterans at a one-to-one ratio rapidly improved the recruits' combat experience.
Lunsoget was merely a kingdom, and its military was hardly formidable. Even an important stronghold guarding a pass had a permanent garrison of only a little over ten thousand.
In the past, however, even with just ten thousand defenders, taking that mountainside city astride the main route would have been a pipe dream without five to ten times as many troops.
Before entering Kinit Gorge, the mounted scouts carefully reconnoitered the area and confirmed that there were no ambushes. Only then did the entire army pass through the narrow gorge and reach the remote mountain pass.
"M-my lord, once you cross the pass ahead and travel another half day, you'll see Dite Rock Pass City... I really, really can't go any farther with you! Please let me go!"
While the army rested, the guide approached Heno and Brantai, once again pleading with Heno to release him, his voice thick with tears.
Heno was studying the surrounding mountains.
There were no animal cries here, nor any birds in sight. Everything was eerily quiet. Had they not repeatedly sent scouts to confirm the absence of an ambush, they would never have dared pass through that gorge.
As though he knew what his father was thinking, Brantai took a drink from his waterskin and said,
"They're fleeing a disaster. The animals around here are fleeing a disaster. Beasts, birds, crawling creatures... all of them. I read a similar account in a book. Beasts and birds can sense terrible disasters coming, and many will begin fleeing well in advance."
The soldiers