Days passed.
The agonizing wait finally ended.
Four days later, the first mercenary company's banner appeared at the edge of Highland Fortress's view.
It bore a design of four glowing arrows separating four crows.
The Stormcrows!
Tomonbu's heart sank.
The Stormcrows' mercenaries were fierce fighters individually, but there were only five hundred of them-
That number was a drop in the bucket against the Easterner.
Next, the Second Sons arrived under Mero, the "Titan's Bastard," with roughly as many mercenaries as the Stormcrows.
Only on the fifth day, when the Bright Flame Company's red banner, like a burning sea, and the Iron Shield Company's black iron-colored heraldic banner, heavy as a mountain, appeared on the horizon, their enormous columns raising clouds of dust that blotted out the sky and sun, did Tomonbu finally feel himself slowly release the stale breath he had held for so long.
The Bright Flame Company had five thousand warriors, while the Iron Shield Company had a full seven thousand!
These were mercenary companies that could sway the course of the battle.
The fortress gates opened, and the mercenary leaders were led up onto the walls.
Suppressing his discontent and impatience, Tomonbu went to greet them.
Kewo, commander of the Bright Flame Company, wore magnificent, fiery-red plate armor.
He strode forward haughtily, undisguised contempt in his eyes as his gaze swept over Tomonbu.
"Commander of the Myrish! Which hole is that audacious Eastern rat hiding in now, trembling after daring to run wild on the Free Cities' territory?"
Tomonbu's expression stiffened. He inwardly scoffed at the man's arrogance and was about to offer a warning when another voice cut him off rudely.
Geluer, commander of the Iron Shield Company, was built like an iron tower.
Wearing heavy plate armor, he walked to a crenel and pointed