36 Ten Day Suppression War

At Corbray Fortress, a terrified Lyonel Corbray spoke to himself, in front of his advisors who were trapped within the fortress walls beside him.

"How did this happen? How did that damn Royce boy manage to take over the city in just 3 days?"

Even knowing that the enemy possessed the strange weapons that roared like thunder and spit fire, Lyonel was completely baffled by the idea that his walls did not fulfill their purpose and fell so quickly.

One of Lyonel's advisers, a slender, mouse-faced man, spoke nervously about the matter.

"My Lord, the walls of the fortress are much stronger than those of the city, I assure you that Artys will not be able to get in so easily. We can wait until Lord Belmore answers our call for help."

Lyonel mocked the man's reasoning. As a result of his rage, Lyonel threw his chalice at the councilor who had spoken and chastised the man.

"Artys is on our doorstep! It's only a matter of time before he takes this stronghold! What do you think he'll do with me and my only surviving brother when he enters my ancestors' home!?!"

Lyonel was no fool; he quickly realized the position he was in and immediately made a decision, although he hated the idea if he wanted to spare himself and his brother he would have to negotiate a surrender. Lyonel didn't want to encourage Artys to decide to cleanse his family of this world. So he turned to his advisers and informed them of his decision.

"I will meet with Artys and discuss the terms of my surrender, I don't care what it takes, but I will ensure the continuity of House Corbray!"

***

Artys was currently camped outside the Keep's walls with his army. They were loading the cannons; however, just before they could fire the first bombardment, a white flag was raised above the walls, which forced Artys to stay the hand. Artys took up a white flag to symbolize that he and his forces were willing to negotiate peacefully. After both flags were visible, the two groups found themselves between the besieging army and the stronghold's defenses.

Artys had a smug expression on his face as he stood in front of Lyonel, who was scowling with disgust. The two men stood opposite each other with a few guards to ensure their safety.

Lyonel quickly laid out his demands.

"I will swear allegiance to you as the new High Lord of the Vale. I will also offer compensation for the cost of this war. In return, I want you and your men to leave this land and my family in peace."

Artys looked seriously at Lyonel before bursting out laughing; after a few awkward moments, he calmed down before giving his opinion.

"You've got to be kidding. You realize that if we continue as things are, your walls will crumble and my men will storm your fortress. At this point, I really won't spare you or your brother's life..."

Lyonel frowned at that answer; he didn't have an adequate answer; he knew he could not effectively defend his stronghold much longer to receive help. This was a landslide victory for Artys, and Lyonel had no means to enforce demands of him. As such, he asked Artys in a slightly agitated tone.

"What is it you want then?"

Artys approached Lyonel, which immediately alerted his guards; however, he kept enough distance to maintain a certain degree of civility.

"What do I want, you ask? I want you to accept your position as my family's vassal; House Corbray will still exist, but it will not own Heart's Home. Now I can take your lands by force, but, in my opinion, there has already been spillage of enough blood. You have two options: you can return to your stronghold and await your death at your brother's side. Or you can submit to my rule and live to keep your House under my sovereignty. It's time to choose..."

With Artys' demands made, Lyonel was left with an ultimatum, which he knew Artys could fully comply with. Either way, Heart's Home would be incorporated into House Royce; his choice would only determine whether he and his House would live or not. Being cornered by the youth, Lyonel had no choice but to accept Artys' conditions.

"On these terms, I surrender to you... My Lord."

Artys smiled as he squeezed Lyonel on the shoulder as if he were an old friend before voicing his opinion.

"Swear allegiance to me, and I will accept your surrender."

Reluctantly, Lyonel knelt before Artys and spoke the Oath of Allegiance.

"I, Lord Lyonel Corbray, promise by my faith in the seven that in the future I will be true to Artys Royce and his House, never harm him, and observe my homage to him completely against all people in good faith and without deceit."

With these words spoken, the war that would be known to all in the future as the 10 Day War of Suppression, concluded, with Artys and his House ascending to the title of High Lord of the Vale, establishing direct rule over the most populous and fertile part of the Vale. of the Valley; the Gulltown peninsula and the right to two other territories.

A day later, Artys departed in his fleet with his prisoner Terrance Lynderly and the Corbray brothers for Runestone. He left Ser Julius and Ser Ben, each with 500 soldiers, to temporarily defend and administer Heart's Home and Snakewood.