Icemit

Eisenburg was located in the northernmost part of the Kingdom, bordering the Frozen Forest, being in a great place to defend against the assault of other Kingdoms but open to the onslaught of dangerous beasts coming from the forest. Sure, there could be better locations, but Garret Von Stahl was the one to erect this city, meaning that it held a sturdy place inside the people's heart.

On the other hand, Mirante was strategically placed in the southwest, serving as a fortress that safeguarded the road to the capital and to other villages, which was the vital artery for most of the trading that took place in Stahl. In one way, all the products inside the kingdom had to pass through this city or these roads that ended in the Capital.

Although the main goods that flowed through this road were clothing, food, firewood, and a small amount of cold iron extracted from the western mountains, these trades were critical for the people's survival, even more so in such a cold climate.

During the harsh winter, the snow-covered roads posed a great challenge to the merchants, leading to a significant drop in the trades. The danger of being attacked by beasts and bandits greatly increased and the hazardous paths could make them be buried in the snow at any moment. In sum, these trading routes were vital for the survival of the people, supplying them with all the necessities they needed.

And, because of its strategic importance, Mirante was heavily fortified and guarded by a formidable army, serving to protect the road against dangerous beasts and bandit raids. It played a crucial role in securing the flow of trade and the travel throughout the kingdom. It was the first target that should be recovered if Henry desired to revive and stabilize the Kingdom.

-x-

In order to reconquer Mirante, Icemit must fall first.

Mirante was three days away from the capital by horseback and five days by foot. The long and grueling journey caused merchants to make a pitstop in Icemit, a village located along the way, which served as the only place for rest and resupply.

The existence of Icemit could provide to the merchants the opportunity of greater profits, as they brought only enough food for a two-day journey and then restocked their supplies in Icemit, which resulted in more space to bring the products.

Icemit was essentially a logistics hub, with the economy revolving around restaurants and hotels. Its proximity to both Mirante and the Capital meant that a small trading center had also developed inside the fortified wooden walls, where food and rawhide were the most commercialized products. In sum, Icemit was a crucial stop for the tradesman that travelled between Icemit and Eisenburg, ensuring a safe rest.

The path to Icemit from the Capital was smooth and free of any hindrances, such as dense forests or challenging mountain ranges, making the journey much easier for the team. Of course, the Snowfire Horses were also part of the equation. Their heightened senses allowed the army to sense danger, helping them to predict and avoid all it, staying in the right direction.

It took them three days to reach the city of Icemit.

"The walls seems pretty sturdy" – Henry murmured, observing the sturdy wooden barriers protecting the town, as his enhanced sight enabled him to see across hundreds of meters. – "What do you think we should do?"

Henry had already thought of a solution to the situation, but he still turned to Luther, who was a seasoned warrior and had a deep understanding of the city and its people. He wanted to verify the feasibility of his plan.

"We should start by sending a messenger."- Luther suggested, gazing at the town in the distance - "Icemit is home to around 20,000 residents. It would be best if the city's nobles could be convinced to surrender without a fight, avoiding meaningless deaths. However, they had already betrayed my liege and won't be able to escape death penalty, so I doubt they will oblige. In the end, they will probably resist, even more so the Laner Family."

Luther's words were like those of a seasoned sage, able to see through people's inner desire. The Laner Family were one of the first to abandon the Royal Family and seek refuge inside the walls of Icemit, away from the Frozen Forest. They were the sovereign of Icemist, one of the first families to occupy it.

"I agree." – Henry nodded. – "It's always worth making an effort to resolve things peacefully. We will send a messenger and offer a surrender, with the promise of leniency for their families, but with the understanding that their heads will be displayed in front of the capital as a warning to others for a year."

Under Luther's surprised eyes, Henry handed a rolled parchment to one of the horsemen nearby, who then took it and set off towards Icemit to deliver the message of surrender.

"He knew it would come to this..." - Luther muttered in disbelief, still stunned by how much Henry had changed in just a few months.

"We shall wait…" - Henry said, seeing the silhouette of the messenger running towards the city's walls.

Unfortunately, as Henry and Luther had predicted, their offer of a peaceful solution was met with rejection. Their proposal was answered with a brutal response, as a horse rode towards them carrying a gruesome trophy, the head of their messenger, displayed atop a pike as a warning and a symbol of defiance.

"We can now discuss how to take down those walls."