Siege on Korce

"Anne? Is that you?" Will asked.

"Will? I forgot this was your territory," Anne lied.

When they first met, Anne was almost about 1.5 meters, with dark blonde hair, and chestnut eyes.

She was bulkier and taller now, almost 1.7 meters. Her long blonde hair was trimmed to a pixie cut. She looked like an actress back on earth, who played a spy along superheroes.

She wore a men's shirt with cut-off sleeves and a vest that could barely contain her large bosom. Her cheerful, soft face was gone. And she had scars on her arms and face.

"How have you been?" Will asked wanting to catch up. He still remembered how badly things ended.

"We can catch up after you pay me," Anne said sticking her hand out to Kurosawa.

Kurosawa paid her 50 gold. With a whistle, 2,000 mercenaries popped their head from the train.

"There's also another 500 soldiers on board. It looks like we missed the fun, eh? What are your plans now?" Anne asked.

"Chase after them," Will said experiencing cognitive dissonance with the new Anne.

"Then let's go?" Anne said hopping back on board.

"How do you know her?" Kurosawa asked.

"We were in Class 1-A together at the Knight Academy, at least I think that was her," Will said unsure of whether that was the Anne he knew or another Anne altogether.

"You best, be off they charge by the day!" Kurosawa advised.

"Watch over my family!" Will asked as he and Nisha made their way to the conductor's room.

As the train drove toward Korce, it only stopped once to pick up Elliot and his men.

Will repaired the damaged train tracks as the train sped to Korce.

When the train pulled into the Korce station outside the city, the city looked empty.

'Had City Lord vont Dervish fled the city?' Will wondered.

Over 5,517 soldiers and mercenaries climbed out of the train.

"Do you think the city's deserted?" Elliot asked.

"I think it's a trap," Anne said.

"I think it's a trap too. But what's the trap? Do they plan to lock us in Korce and set the city on fire? Or do they plan to battle us out in the streets?" Will asked.

"My money's on the latter. That's what I'd do. It forces you to fight on two fronts. You would be responsible for defending the city from reinforcements while clearing the city of insurgents," Anne advised.

"Are you the Anne, I went to the academy with?" Will had to ask.

"Yes! After Vincent burned my family's bakery, you hired my parents. I still go back home and visit the cafe from time to time," Anne said.

"Why hasn't Vanessa ever told me?" Will asked.

"Should we be having this conversation right now? We're about to siege a city?" Elliot asked.

"I told her not to tell you?" Anne said ignoring Elliot.

"Why does Vanessa do what everyone asks her to do," Will asked.

"She does everything you ask, and more! I told her to quit and work for me, but she refused," Anne said sadly.

"You tried to steal Vanessa from me?" Will asked angrily.

"Yes, I did. What are you going to do about it," Anne hit Will in the shoulder as hard as she could?

"I see you advanced to Journeyman, congratulations," Will joked.

"Are you making a joke? I can never tell, because of how bad they are," Anne asked.

"I hate to interrupt, but we needed to focus, create a plan of attack!" yelled Elliot.

"How can we plan? When Anne could simply leave at any time?" Will misspoke. His true feelings leaking through.

"Excuse me? Are we doing this now?" Anne asked angrily.

"I apologize, I didn't mean to say that," Will said.

"No, let's clear the air! After you broke my heart, I ran away back to the Knight Academy. Marshall Rolf saw me trying to run away and recommend I spend time with a friend of his in the Eastern Empire. His friend became my master, she trained me and helped mend my heart. After my indentured servitude was up, I came on board as an official member. I came back during the plague to check on my parents. I want to say thank you for protecting my family, while I was gone," Anne said.

"You were one of my closest friends. When you left, I blamed myself. I considered your mom and dad my aunt and uncle. We always had fun in the cafe together. After you left, I couldn't look your parents in their eyes anymore," Will said.

"How did you not know I had a crush on you? I followed you around like a sick puppy!" Anne said.

"Why didn't you say anything earlier?" Will asked.

"I was waiting for you to make the first move," Anne said.

"Well, I'm sorry," Will apologized again.

"Don't apologize, it was my fault. I should have said something earlier. And I speak my mind now. You helped me become a better person. Because now I always make the first move," Anne said grabbing Elliot's collar and kissing him.

"Alright, enough, that's my Navy Commander!" Will shouted.

"Then call me the Commander's lady. Elliot tonight we sleep together," Anne commanded.

"Let's figure out a plan of attack," Will said.

"I saw them peeking out from behind the door, while you two were arguing, I think they plan to ambush us after we enter the city," Elliot said.

"Good job Sweetie, you are so observant. I can't wait for you to observe all of me tonight," Anne said.

"What should do?" Will asked.

"You should go in alone Will, and clear a path for Sweetie and us," Anne recommended.

"Are you sure not trying to get me killed?" Will asked.

"Why would I kill my piggy bank? I plan to take all your gold and spend it on this hunk," Anne laughed.

Will vomited a little in his mouth.

Will ran inside and caste [Entangle] four times. Only a single guard was killed.

"It's clear, you can come in," Will shouted scanning using [Radar]. Nobody appeared on the radar except the mercenaries and soldiers.

"First, second, and third captains you're on guard duty. Elliot put your men on sentry duty. The rest follow me," Will said.

Slowly they began to clear the city. Will posted guards along the street as he went. Finally, after two hours the entire city was cleared.

The City Lords manor was empty. There were no servants and food.

The guards, Will's soldiers captured, were escaped bandits who ran away earlier and were seeking shelter.

"With the city gates closed and reinforced, Will, Bubba, Elliot, and Anne sat City Administrators off trying to figure out what was happening.

"He fled the city," Anne said that Dung Beetle.

"He must have fled to neighboring fiefs to gather reinforcements, which means we're the invading army. So that was the trap," Will signed in annoyance.

"I don't understand milord," Bubba asked.

"We invaded Albania. If you were king, and your enemy invaded your territory, how would you respond?" Will asked.

"I'd declare and attack them with an overwhelming…, oh, uh, no," Bubba realized it.

"Ah bugger, so, we're stuck here until the Albanian Royal army arrives?" Elliot said.

"We can't fall back to Gadreel, because if we do, that will cause harm to millions. That means we have to defend this position with our lives!" Will said depressed.

"Are you worried?" Elliot asked Anne.

"I've known Will see the academy. He'll Will-something up!" Anne said eating a bag of pecans she found.

"What do you mean?" Will asked.

"You'll find a way to win. You always do. That's who you are Will, you're a meticulous planner. What plan are you working on right now, Plan D or Plan F?" Anne asked.

"I'm still figuring out Plan A," Will said nervously.

"Take your time," Anne said nonchalantly.

Elliot admired her confidence in Will and her laissez-faire attitude. He also found her attractive.

"Let's start with the defensive structure and food. If I were king, I'd siege the castle until we ran out of food. Anne, you're on guard duty. If you see something let me know. Let the soldiers know what to expect.

Elliot, it's your job to clean this city. Burn the dead and clear the debris.

Bubba, you're on clerical duty. You're in charge of the rations, and more solid housing. Make sure the soldiers stay well-rested," Will said.

"What are you going to do?" Anne asked.

"I'm going to raise the battlements another five meters, seal off all the hidden underground escape routes, and built a moat around the city. I'll also ask the king for reinforcements," Will said.

After everyone had their orders, Will opened a spatial gate to the capital.

"Bryson? Excuse me do you know where Bryson is?" Will asked each passing staff member until a steward found him.

"When the king heard Gadreel was under attack, he rushed there with Marshall vont Smith. Their gathering an army as they travel," the steward bowed then left.

Will was ecstatic, King Roland is reinforcements too! 'There was a glimmer of hope,' Will thought to himself.

Will set to work repairing the city walls, as well increasing its height and width. He used the nearby Friendship River to fill moat around the city.

I'm five days, the stench of death and decay were gone. The city was repaired and updated. Will had also found Korce protection array, City Lord vont Dervish must have deactivated. He imprinted his mana on it and switched it on.

Moreover, thanks to the rations Kurosawa loaded onto the train, they had a three-month supply of food.

Will knew the impending attack was going to be much more than raiding bandits. They were trapped. But if the city walls were not breached, then they stood a chance.

Will looked at the Fermion flag flying above Korce, he'd teleported to pick one up from Kurosawa. The flag fluttered in the wind. Will knew all the soldiers and mercenaries

were united under this flag to defend this territory.

On the tenth day of their occupation, a sentry sounded the alarm. Everyone knew that the Albanian army was coming.

The Albanian army appeared on the southern plains. When they were 3 kilometers away from the city, they stopped and started to set up camp.

According to the guards, they looked at between 8,000 to 10,000 soldiers.

"Lord vont Dervish you fool, you can see for yourself that this town is not simple. Not only do they have high walls, but they even dug a city protection river," Lord vont Heinrich sneered.

"That damn man keeps besting me, first my bandits, then my siege, and now this! I wish I had been born a mage. I'd smite him," Lord vont Dervish said.

"I suggest we attack from the east. That way we can scout the Fermion army, as well as attack the city. As for the other directions, the river blocks the west, and the Fermion army shall approach from the north, which leaves us only the south and west. To reclaim the city smoothly will be very difficult," Lord vont Heinrich said.

"General, give the order to assemble siege weapons, and take a portion of the men to the city's moat to start building a floating bridge," Lord vont Dervish commanded.

"Lord vont Dervish to accomplish those things, you have to send your men into the forest you consider that wise, what if the ambush your men?" Lord vont Heinrich asked.

"I'll tell my soldiers to run if the city gates open?" Lord vont Dervish said.

Outside, the Albanian soldiers began to chop trees to saw timber. They started to assemble ladders, catapults, and battering rams.

"Boss, what's the plan?" Elliott asked.

"Bubba, I want five groups of twenty archers. I'll take the first group out in five minutes.

Five minutes later, Will teleported the archers to the burn-down village. From there they ran to where the Albanian soldiers were chopping down trees.

Will cast [Entangle] and shouted "fire!"

The Albanian lumberjacks ran for cover.

"Quick Will yelled, and the archers grabbed the siege ladders and fled. The plant destroyed the catapult which was being assembled.

After ruining their progress, the archers and Will fled back inside Korce.

Back inside, Will looked at the ladders they were building. They were not simple wooden ladders. Instead, these ladders had wheels and could be pushed. The ladder also had shields and crane hooks. Unfortunately, Will didn't get a close look at the catapults.

And thus, the war began, the Albanian soldiers preparing to attack, and Will trying his best, to slow down their siege construction progress.