Chapter 9

The 3-day battle had cost hundreds of lives on the Linirean side. Between the losses in repelling the siege and the sabotage operation that the rebels had attempted, the city's Rose Crown Cemetery would welcome a lot of new residents. A day of mourning for the dead was declared 2 days after the battle ended, once they were able to gather the bodies and inform the families of the dead. As the war was ongoing, it wasn't the time for celebration.

As for the losses incurred to the General's force, there were 46 dead and 50 wounded, most of which happened during the defence of the southern gate. The worst losses so far, however it wasn't a cause for concern. Due to the elves joining up with them as well as their presence in the capital, they could easily replenish casualties.

One sad part about the losses was that not of all them came by enemy's hand. When Agate blew up the Bonnie to destroy the Juggernaut, now officially named that, while so many were saved from its rampage, three people directly died because of it. After scattering to avoid the Juggernaut and the explosion, there was confusion afterwards as the explosion obscured the battlefield. Unfortunately for the two archers and a footmen, that was enough to make them fail to notice part of Juggernaut's back armour crashing upon them. They were splatted instantly.

Agate had no idea about that until he recovered from his injuries. After the battle he was placed at the Hero's Shrine. A small shrine under the royal family's control, it had a unique ability to recover person's injuries completely and even potentially restore missing body parts. Of course, it came with limits. Too much time passing and the restoration might have been impossible. Too little healing magic and it would fail, too much and it would overheal someone to death.

As such, there was a limit of one person getting the treatment every day which ended up giving the name to the shrine as the soldiers, mages and anyone else who earned the title of hero ended up getting the priority. Agate received the treatment due to his heroics against the Juggernaut. After being released, he went to check up on his crew. He was led to the barracks temporary assigned to the Blackwood's force where he learned that they, along with many others, were attending the commemoration for the fallen. He also learned about the cost of his action.

Once he reached the commemoration, he was met with the large crowd listening to the priest's sermon as he blessed the dead for their transition to the afterlife. As the crowd started carrying flowers to the dedicated place, Agate had picked up few flowers from those who were willing to offer. Though the tradition wasn't present among the dwarves, he decided to do so to respect those he killed by pure chance. He refused to turn his eyes from his act.

Those who were present were surprised to see the dwarf. They knew that he was sent to the Hero's Shrine for recovery so they knew he would be up and running, well, as much running as the dwarf could do, before long. They were also surprised to see the dwarf placing flowers to commemorate the dead as that was an unexpected sight. Regardless, it was welcomed as a sign of acceptance. There were many dwarfish stereotypes, stubbornness being one of them. So any owning up to bad deeds they did was really surprising.

After the commemoration, Agate had made his way to the dwarven quarters in the southern district where the dwarves and the humans were taking apart the Juggernaut. As soon as he had arrived, he was met with a surprise as everyone had been addressing him as a Captain. "What do you mean, Captain?", he asked, genuinely surprised. One of the humans answered: "You got yourself a promotion after that stunt. You had no idea." One of the dwarfs chimed in. "Yes, after that reckless lunacy, they had to give you something so you wouldn't do it again." Everyone, including Agate, laughed at that.

Once everyone had calmed down, Agate realized something. "Where are the senior officers? I don't see any here." He got the answer from others. They were all at the workshop trying their damn best to figure out the rocket system with the recovered rockets and Juggernaut's targeting system. That became the priority above all else. Agate accepted the answer and went on to inspect the Juggernaut's remains.

Even with it lying down and in pieces, the Juggernaut still looked massive. Most of it was present at that location, aside from its head and the rocket arm. As it was explained to him, after the targeting system was removed from them, those parts were left behind as battlefield trophy to be adorned there. Agate smiled, then asked the obvious. "Anything for me to keep for myself?"

One of the engineers hesitated to answer. "Considering the size of this ripe bastard, anything you get won't be as memorable as its head."

Agate just shook his head. "That's fine. As long as there is something to carry around and pass down to my family. I will check around to see what I will claim."

He started his observation with the leg area. The legs were clearly a mechanical design as it lacked the flexibility and parts like a proper foot. Whoever designed it took the most basic possible way to move around. Rigid movement without any flexibility or a way to absorb the weight.

He then moved on to the chest area and that was where he realized something. There was an open hatch near the area so he asked the engineer that was nearby about that. "Oh, that? That was the cockpit for the dwarven pilot who piloted the Juggernaut."

"Oh? What happened to them?" Agate asked curiously.

"Cooked alive when you destroyed the bombard."

"Oof." Agate recoiled a bit. It didn't matter that was their enemy. That was a horrible way to go.

"I hate to admit it, but it smelled like a barbecue in there once we opened up. It didn't matter we were disgusted. Our stomachs felt hungry. As pilot himself, unfortunately we had to bury him without finding out his identity. Maybe we could get an answer out of the prisoners."

"Yes, please." Agate answered wholeheartedly. "It doesn't matter that he was a traitor. This mechanical achievement should be praised. Passed down generations. Maybe even refine it one day, who knows. Regardless, he shouldn't be forgotten just because he sided with the enemy."

After getting a nod of approval from the engineer, he continued walking. As there was no rocket arm nor the head, he went to the other side where the remaining arm was, the one that launched small golems. It was clear to everyone that it wasn't a priority to investigate. In fact, by the time Agate had arrived to the scene, the analysis was already done.

Internal magical generator would provide power to the so-called golem heads, small machines looking like miniature Juggernaut's head. After the cylinder holding them was launched and then landed, a spark would trigger them to life, unleash them from the cylinder and try to wreak havoc with its horns, however ineffective they really were. While it was clear that no one saw any worth in them, Agate saw something he wanted. Indeed, as soon as he asked, one of the dwarfs removed a horn from one of the inactive ones and gave it to him for remembrance.

Agate continued to talk with the others until the evening when he was called away. His crew had requested his presence at the dwarven barracks where they would be assigned to the new bombard. Of course, he was excited as he wanted to see what he would receive, expecting the same bronze type as Big Bonnie. And yet, he was met with surprise.

The only artillery present there were the Howitzers, both the Type 1 which introduced the standard ammunition in shape of a missile and the Type 2, the 500 mm heavy ordnance type considered as one of the two pinnacles of the dwarven engineering. As a young dwarf artilleryman, this was meant to be the goal Agate would aspire to, to gain command of one someday. He didn't expect that he would receive one already.

One of the elders stepped forward and explained the situation. "Well, we cannot have the artillery commander running around with a starter pack." After getting a surprised look from Agate, the elder continued. "No, we will not allow anyone else here to take your command. You might not have the experience like many of us here, but you have built up the rapport and the respect with General Blackwood. It is only fair that you remain in charge and that you continue to lead with Big Bertha here."

"Wait, what?" Agate was shocked to hear that. The howitzer known as the Big Bertha was the very first Type 2 ever built. A cooperation between dwarven engineers and the Royal Musketeer Corps, it stood as a showcase of alliance between the two races and a menace for any enemy that had the misfortune to encounter. He was on cloud nine when the elder confirmed it. "Lead us well, Captain." Everyone present there saluted him and Agate saluted back.

Afterwards, the elder had more to say. "Of course, this does come with one demand." Agate knew immediately what he was talking about. "Yes, I promise not to repeat that with Bertha here. I don't want everyone here being pissed at me."

"Good. Very good." The elder chuckled. "Gotta admit, I didn't expect being so late would come in so handy for you, whippersnapper." Everyone had a nice laugh. Indeed, before they were mobilized by the General, Agate and his crew were in Southport, meant to be on their way to the capital to report for their duty. Unfortunately, the storm in the Crystal Sea had delayed their trip by several days. Who knew that one thing would be a catalyst to Agate's destiny.

In the end, Agate was assigned to command over nine artillery pieces. One bombard, four Type 1 howitzers and four Type 2 ones. That wouldn't be the end, however. Indeed, because he was at the capital, he was able to be reinforced by human artillery too. Five human Falconet cannons and their crews would be assigned to him from the Royal Musketeer Corps. Designed with the opposite to the dwarven bombards in mind, the Falconet cannons were light, easy to set up and put back together and they were designed for direct engagement as opposed to indirect.

Regardless, the new reinforcements were welcomed by everyone as any additional help was always welcomed. There was even hope that the other pinnacle of the dwarven engineering might become available soon enough. Unfortunately, at the present time, they were all assigned to other units outside the capital so hope was all they had. In any case, the siege line was heavily reinforced and ready for more action.

Meanwhile, the frontline troops had finished cleaning up the battlefield at the southern gate. The final casualty score for the enemy side was: 26 brigands, 24 bandits, 50 knights, 94 goblins, 58 orcs, 22 orc shamans, 64 gargoyles, 10 marauders, 46 archers, 12 worgs, 20 wulfs, 8 ogres and 42 golem heads. The count ended up surprising everyone. Those were causalities on a single section of the wall caused by the weakest attack out of the 3 and it didn't account for prisoners at all. That was truly the largest assault at the capital in decades.

The true extent of it would continue to increase over the days as Clancy and Gerald could attest to that. They were standing at the central gate as the prisoners captured in the battle were being escorted into the city. The Silveroak Alliance, the name given to the rebels, was crushed and its leadership dead or captured. The survivors that eluded the capture ran north towards the mountains and would probably be hunted down soon enough.

It was clear to Clancy that Gerald was sad as he watched over the prisoners marching into the city. His curiosity ended up trumping over his reservation so he asked. Gerald hesitated to answer, but in the end chose to. "I know some of the rebels. I knew some of the rebels that perished in the battle. I still cannot believe that they chose this."

Clancy kept silent as Gerald continued to speak. "Many knights from my order gladly worked with the Dragon Fang knights. To see them betray their vows like this just pisses me off. Damn you, Shanna!" He slammed his fist on the rampart's railing, cracking it in the process.

The Order of the Dragon Fang, more commonly known as the Dark Knights due to their armour, was an order of knights created for the protection of the realm against the threats of the destroyed realm of Valardrul. Their strong armour made them nearly impervious to physical damage, making them a perfect army for such a task. Now they served against the kingdom.

It was problematic already that they chose to betray the kingdom. A much bigger problem was that Dragon Fang knights were the largest knight order of the kingdom by far. In fact, they had the same numbers as the rest of the knights combined. So Linirea and her allies faced an uphill battle against them alone, and that was even before allies of the Dark Knights would come into play.

Clancy wanted to distract Gerald. "So who do you think is leading this war? I know that disgraced noble was in the charge of the rebels. But what about goblins? Orcs? Spiders?"

"Well, I know that 3rd Battalion just destroyed a goblinoid force under chieftain Gul'Thak so that's probably where the greenskins came from. As for who is behind everything, well..."

Clancy realized Gerald's hesitation. "What?"

"Well, no one wants to say his name outright because they still believe that he might still be loyal. Unfortunately, with each passing day, more people that he might be involved or worse, be behind this."

"I assume it's the old Royal Mage?"

Gerald nodded. "Vez'nan. He should be at the Rift of Cinders in his tower. Unfortunately, it has been awhile since he last sent a message. So, if either he is dead or colluding with the enemy, we just don't know and we won't until we try to reach the place."

"At least some good news right there." Clancy pointed at a certain troop coming into sight. Gerald smiled. "Yes. Let us meet our helper, shall we?" With that, they climbed down and met up with the commander of the force.

3rd Linirean Battalion under Royal General Celica Grants was sent to investigate the reports of goblin gatherings at the ruins of Acaroth. They ended up encountering and then destroying the gathering horde. Afterwards, on their way back, they were able to slam into the back of the besieging forces, breaking them apart much faster than expected and leading into the siege's end. With now two battalions available as well as other forces in the area, a reorganization would soon happen to take the fight to the enemy themselves.

As for the 6th Battalion and the Southport Company, they would be reorganized into the 1st Royal Regiment with Captain Dowding as its head. In remembrance of the battalion's previous captain, it was confirmed that the southern city gate would bear the name Hawes' Gate from now on. As for Gerald, the knights would be reorganized into its own battalion with him as its commander.

While the siege line and the frontline were taken care of, it would be another story with Alleria and her skirmishers.