TIMING

DENTED SHIELD CASTLE

1013 AF LIGHTMONTH

DAY 56

The county of Acro was in disarray and worsening with each passing day

The streets were littered with protestors and riots; the gloomy atmosphere was reflected across the Dukedom.

To think that Aries and his family have this much effect in the Dukedom.

In the balmy summer air, the people should have been relaxing in their thatched cottages and enjoying festivals and fairs, but that wasn't the case in Acro.

The citizens were used to luxurious goods from many continents, fine food and high-quality entertainment, with celebrations that went on for days in the Vermont family's castle.

Summer was usually a time for such celebration and it is kind of tradition for the people of Acro to share this happiness with their lord.

But the traders no longer visited and there was a shortage of goods since the nobles exiled the Vermont family from the Dukedom.

Many of the guilds began experiencing problem because of the shortage of goods.

And the nobles that once make their business there, bought and sold things in the market place of Acro have begun feeling restless.

And finally yesterday the long anticipated riots had finally broken out; the Count's office had been trashed and burned.

The Vermont's dragon banner had been raised once again and waved through the streets of Acro.

Some of them even rid of the Count family from the castle wall of the Vermont's.

The guards had been forced to surrender to common folk armed with pitchforks, hoe and farming tools, dragon emblems stitched into their clothes.

Although, the guard hadn't put up much of a fight—after all they were still loyal to the Vermont's.

Even in exile the influence of the Vermont family is undeniable and it is only now that people finally acknowledge the silent power that the Vermont could exercise all over the Dukedom without even needing to be present at the scene

The atmosphere in Acro right now is full of terror.

Their demand to the nobles are simple. They demand the return of the Vermont Family calling the exile as a conspiracy against the Lord of Acro.

They have taken the castle as their defending grounds.

They got supplies secretly from the Guilds that supported the Vermont's. And they also got some supplies from noble houses, and some from the Low Lords.

Weapons and goods, and water. They had everything they need to make sure they could cripple the Dukedom economy if their demands are not met

The Vermont castle is one of the largest castle in the Dukedom. It can stand siege for up to six months maybe even a year

And with the Keep full, the mob of common folk will not be worried about starving even though Henry Palais come with his army.

Arial before the exile had persuaded Aries to leave their supplies behind, and although he hadn't understood why, he had trusted his son and agreed.

The man sighed as he put down the report he got on Acro situation right now.

Adrian Alan had been thinking carefully about Arial Vermont.

He had never thought of the boy as a schemer, but perhaps he had underestimated him. A knight should be honorable and just.

A knight Arial was, but who was to say he was honorable, Adrian mused. If Arial had orchestrated the chaos, maybe he was even more dangerous than Palais.

Adrian heard heavy coughing.

His father had fallen ill again.

The last time, Aries had summoned a healer from the distant land of Asteros, the Land of the Brave.

luckily Aries friend who called himself Haler is in the Dukedom for he is an adventurer that wishes to sail the whole world.

It was by chance encounter and he heals Adrian father illness but at the time Haler had already said that it is only a stopgap measure.

And now his illness had returned.

"Bring me water, Adrian," his father called.

Adrian had been attending to his father since the illness had taken hold. He jumped up to fetch a jug of water and filled a goblet for his father.

"How is the situation in Acro?" his father asked as he took the goblet.

"Father, you should be resting."

"How is the situation in Acro!" he growled, and was overcome with coughs once again. Adrian relented.

"Worse than ever. Some are even living in the Vermont castle. They're demanding their return."

There is silence in the room for a few second before Adrian father sighed.

"You know," his father sighed, "I have always had an eye for choosing people' And he smiles a bit as he found something very funny with what he had said.

'I chose the Vermont's, thinking they would rise and become wealthy as any lord, but I never thought they would be so influential. Their exile has ruined the Dukedom. And with rumors flying all around the Dukedom, the nobles sit in their house plotting. The common folk sharpened their pitchfork and all the while sellsword came waiting for their chance to be hired. We are crumbling." And he chuckles

"Why did you exile them?" Adrian asked. If his father had foreseen this, then why agree to Henry Palais coercion and exiling them from the Dukedom.

"Did I have a choice? Henry's army is stronger than ours and even though the nobles swear their fealty to us, that doesn't mean they always will. I know all about under the table dealing between Henry and some of our vassal's lord. But I couldn't do anything. We could fight of course. But we will weaken this Dukedom and imagine the many lives that would have to be sacrifice if we have to fight him. I am not even sure we could win if we fight. What if he sent them here? That is the question that haunts me and why I choose to exile the Vermont's" He coughed and spluttered again, doubling over.

"Father…"

"I'm fine," his father said, waving away Adrian's concern.

"This is Henry's doing. And now the ones who supported him are abandoning him. All because he wanted to rule!" Adrian felt a surge of anger, which ebbed away into confusion at the look on his father's face.

His father is smirking

"You think he wanted to rule?" Then he smiles widely and said

"He wants power," his father replied, "and he has it. Rule? He is ruling. But he is afraid of the Vermont's. Probably more than he fears us. He is too cautious for his own good. I have seen the Vermont. They are nice people'

His father pause for a few second before he continued.

'They didn't like the game that the nobles play which is why probably Julia gives Henry tacit support. I don't like that the Vermont is doing nothing to help me but neither can I resent them. They just want to live a peaceful life. But now…. it's different. I have always been wanting to pit these two families together. But I cancel my plot after knowing Aries and Julia. Now, that I didn't try to do anything Henry himself seek to scheme against the Vermont. This is life. Henry has made himself a powerful enemy. A very terrifying enemy at that. With the might of their gold and their influence, how long do you think the House of Palais will stand?"

"So, what do we do now?" asked Adrian after a silence.

"We summon Henry to the castle," his father smiled.

Then he coughed and spoke again staring intently at Adrian.

"Son, remember this lesson that I am imparting toward you. Always wait for the right timing. Surely, time will be your ally if you manage to guide its way. And here right now is the perfect timing"

And Adrian was comforted to see that his old mischievous smile remained the same.

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chapter one of the mass release. Please vote and leave some comments