22 Chapter 22 Meet the Duke

Morgan was right, and Darius did regret it. Watching Dracule unparalleled amongst thousands of men. A God of war, Darius's thought. His emotion was unstable, it was human instinct to worshipped those stronger. Alpha amongst betas, what make a man different from a king. It was power, and Dracule, the most powerful king alive. Hidden within him, he thought, "If I had taken this sword for myself, would it not be me, the one to unify the continent, a wolf towering over lamb?"

It was possible, but life was never set in stone. His family was under the control of Dracule the first, and back then he was a loyal friend, no, a useful pawn to Dracule. He had no choice but to hand him the sword, Excalibur. His life and his family had been on the line, a man pride is his family, is there a point in conquering the world, in the end just to rule the dead. Darius believed these words, written by King Auther in his twilight years. Forsaken Books.

These rebellious thoughts, once they appeared, are rooted, hidden, and always ready to sprout. He truly regrets his decision back then, there must have been another way, but what? that he didn't know. However, Darius's didn't let these emotions show at all, and he continues to maintain his loyalty to Dracule. Forced but necessary to his survival, and his families. On the battlefield throughout each battle, Dracule grows stronger, at the same time crueller. From a Nobel ambitious youth that once desires to step out from the status of ordinary to that of a king, no, an Emperor, of the greatest Empire. His people loved him, time change. Stories of his deed have spread throughout the empire. Two sides have formed those who truly support him, and the ones who wish for his end. He killed hundreds of his own men. Generals to Minister he will not hesitate to behead. To keep his life, Darius can only play the role of a loyal man.

Now the Assyrian Empire higher power is rule by a few. Darius was an expert in the field of human psychology, so he believed. Has to be careful, otherwise, one wrong word will be his end. A mad king, that is what Dracule is. A few days ago, some generals were executed by Dracule for suggesting to put the war on hold. By now the generals' heads had arrived at their family. Savage and cruel. A show of power, he wanted to understand his majesty rulings, but, it was just madness. Fear continues to grow in his heart.

Fortunately, Dracule still trusted Darius, not only did he keep his control over the intelligence department, it was in full control by him. This would have been impossible before, but because most people in power have been purged, Darius was able to gain control of more departments, even the military. Dracule turned blind eyes, as if, he cares not if an insect can control other insects, at the end, he would be the wind that will clear any storms.

It would be impossible to let a general control more than one department. A taboo, if a subordinate is to amass this much power, it will lead to the collapse of the royal power, a monarchy no more. However, Dracule is not worried about Darius betraying him, an elephant may fear millions of ants, but a lion fears not the cry of lamb. He believes himself greater than a lion. Quotes from the book of Forsaken. After the Norwich showdown, Dracule was injured and needed time to heal, leaving Darius in charge of the army's affairs.

The moon was out, Morgan arrived by horseback, looking at the heavily guarded camp. Battle-hardened soldiers, who stood silently. No wonder the kings and lords lack confidence, the morale of the two armies alone was a world apart, in the age of iron and steel, strong morale was of paramount importance. A war cannot be fought with men that would flee the moment things get rough. Thinking of his purpose. Upon his arrival, Morgan was less concerned about morale and thought about how to convince Darius after meeting him.

Through secret channels, Morgan soon met Darius inside the Kings tent. As the army was under Darius's control, when they met, only two was in the room. Morgan and Darius. ''You, what do you desire, make it quick, my time is too important to be wasting it on you?" Darius laid back on the throne, his head backwards, staring at Morgan from above. Arrogant, with the grace of a king. In terms of authority, Darius was second only to Dracule in the Assyrian Empire, the only empire with the momentum and might to unify the continent. Darius's arrogance was justified, he fears only one man and that was Dracule.

"Schooler say times is an illusion, but king Auther believed otherwise, but unlike him, I think differently. I cannot waste what is not real," Morgan smiled at the Duke, was it a threat, no, it was a show of importance, when engaging those who see him as inferiors, Morgan would tame them with knowledge, wisdom is power. He holds these words true, "I came to save you, Duke Darius."

"Uh, hahaha, with what. Morgan of the coast. I know about you, I know more than most men, and you, I've only heard of your name. You of no importance, I'm humble, but wind changes, so do I." Darius almost choked, then laughed wildly, he looked at Morgan as if a clown stood before him, this bearded boy, no, man. seems Interesting. He was the only duke of the Assyrian Empire, and his power was astonishing, who could kill him? especially when he's surrounded by thousands.

"My lord, you laugh now, but it may be your last. You won't be able to laugh when Dracule breaks through Norwich City, he would break your neck next." Morgan said his voice went from low to high, the time of playing games is no more.

"Bold, little man, dare to threaten me with lies." Darius's face changed, his body no longer liaises about, his posture was that of stone carvings. Straight and full of confidence.

"I'm the messenger of the hundred nation league," Morgan said

"So you're an emissary of the coalition." Darius paused, and he continues and his voice deep and said, "Are you here to surrender, bend the knee to the Assyrian might?"

"On the contrary, I came to persuade Duke Darius. To come and work with us to end Dracule together.''

"What did you say!" Darius was startled by what Morgan said, his heart couldn't help but thump and he stood up. Facing Morgan as an equal, his red hair, tied as a ponytail sway as he moved. Two head taller than the 160cm Morgan. He didn't care about such insignificant details, the seed within his heart was sprouting, he could feel it.

"My lord, when Dracule broke his promise and killed his people. Did you need feel hatred, does your heart not cry toward the clouds?" The Duke nodded, he continues "Not only did he not share the power of kings with you, but he also killed indiscriminately, Duke Darius, although you could escape if the wind change, from Dracule. But who can guarantee what the future holds,'' Morgan said, his eye move not from Darius own?

Darius' eyebrows compressed, his face slightly changed, he could feel fear. Morgan word caused him to feel fear, that was being hidden. Morgan's eyes felt like they could see what lay behind his facades, his true heart. He may be loyal to Dracule, but he fears this man more than he fears death. To seek the power of kings so many Nobles and Ministers have been killed, those people's status were higher than his, they had more wealth, more influence. Yet they were beheaded. Without warning, even his own son, Dracule, did not let go, the crown prince was killed. His only child left, is but a babe.

Observing Darius's expression, Morgan was overjoyed and continue to persuade him: "Lord Duke, even if you fear not death. Doesn't the thought of immortality intrigue you? Think about it, if you have the power of God..." Morgan pause, leaving Darius to imagine, the possibilities.

Darius's heart moved, he seen what Dracule could do. His breathing could not help but hasten. But soon, he thought of Dracule strength showed on the battlefield. He felt hopeless, can that demon really be killed. He was a rational and logical man, and that's why he was able to gain Dracule trust for such a long time. And to stand strong in the political storm, Morgan seeing that Darius was changing his mind. Continue to speak, but no hope. Darius stood silent. Faced with this situation, Morgan was anxious, racking his brains, and ultimately failed to convince Darius.

If the news of his meeting with Morgan came out, Dracule would certainly not let him go, and Darius would have to get rid of Morgan before that would happen, dead man tales no tail, after all. Morgan knows that, his heart race and he said: "Darius are you such a coward?" He shouted blatantly.

''Godly power or not, what man does not desire it? But a million men can not kill Dracule, what makes you believe we can take him on, even with a thousand of me the situation would still be hopeless."

"You're wrong, it true that Dracule is strong, but you forgot something, his just man like you and me, flesh and bone, his no god, otherwise he won't get hurt. As long as we work together to trap him within a valley, we can kill him. " Morgan suddenly said his trump card.

"Possible!" Darius's lips moved, a smile.

''My lord, please take a look,'' Morgan took a map out of his pocket and pointed to an area in the Sunset Mountains, close to Norwich City.

"Seems familiar?" Darius asked

"This is where king Auther was buried," Morgan added. He reminded him, Darius remembered, before the battle in Norwich, Dracule had led cavalry to intercepts the army of the allies troop of the Holy Empire. The strongest of which was the army of the Babylonian Empire, which was chased into a steep valley in the Sunset Mountains, where the Emperor was killed by Dracule himself. The battle was arguably a great one, after all. It was the first emperor ever to be killed by an enemy emperor himself. Which cause a great boost in the morale of the Assyrian Empire army.

"Lord Duke, if we lured Dracule, while injured, into the valley. We can bombard him with boulders."

Seeing the hope of killing Dracule, Darius's mind quickly changed and he asked, "What are your planning?''

"It's very simple, Lord Duke." Morgan was overjoyed and said smiling, "In a few days, we will take our army to flee Norwich, making it seems like a retreat to the valley toward the sunset mountains. Dracule will surely lead the cavalry to kill us, leading him to our trap. We hoped you will take your army and block the valley exit point. Dracule will be nothing but a rat in a cage.''

Morgan points to the map and explains in detail their plans, starting from which day they will withdraw. Which troops will retreat first, which one will be withdrawn later, when would Darius notifies Dracule, and so on. The whole plan was formulated by the kings and lords of the Hundred Nation League. Simple and thoughtful, taking into account any situation.

Darius nodded. His face blanked, Morgan couldn't possibly guess what's his thought was. Finally, Morgan said, "When this is done, we will hold a sacrificial ceremony in Norwich City to share the power of kings, and then, end this war."

''Interesting, very well. Tell those cowards of the alliance. I, Darius of the house of Fann, will join in their game of chase. Hahahha'' He looked back toward the throne. Eyes of desire.