Chapter 187: Who Said We Were Dead?

Free Will’s leaders were furious.

They ordered Coldridge to send troops and take possession of Riftward. They did not believe the Black Banner would dare fight them over it.

Now the two armies faced one another outside the Marches, weapons ready.

As for the Crown?

Defeated and out of the contest. Neither side cared what its Lords thought.

Outside Riftward Marches, Austin and Galen Tervain faced one another across a kilometer of open ground.

Austin had lost his usual composure.

"Without Free Will helping you force that declaration out of the Jade Court, would your veterans have dared descend? Now Riftward has fallen, and you intend to break our agreement?"

Galen looked almost hurt.

"Lord Austin, please be careful with your accusations. Free Will is our friend. Isn’t helping one another what friends do?"

He continued in the same earnest tone.

"And as thanks for your assistance, I’ve already transferred ten billion Aether to your account."

Austin had never met anyone so shameless.

Ten billion?

Over time, Riftward would be worth trillions.

"Doesn’t the Black Banner worry that Coldridge might support the Crown in the contest for the Governorship?"

"You must be joking. All the Crown Lords left in Tidecrown probably don’t equal the population of your Marches."

Galen paused, then smiled.

"Besides, our veterans are here. I’m sure they can deal with any trouble."

"Are you threatening me? Do you think Free Will has no Lords in older sectors?"

"Please think carefully. If Free Will breaks the rules, the consequences could be terrible."

Austin ground his teeth. He could do nothing.

The Black Banner had dared send veterans because the Crown had lost its support from the older sectors. If Free Will did the same now, it would mean open war between their powers.

Whether that war suited the Consortium was another question. It was certainly not a decision he could make.

"I hope the Black Banner doesn’t come to regret this."

Galen felt thoroughly pleased with himself. Free Will’s anger was a problem for his superiors.

Once they held Riftward, enough Fortune Duel Writs would let them consolidate its Fortune into several Regions with a thousand points each—or one with several thousand.

A Region with Fortune like that would be a paradise. Even in sectors opened decades earlier, such places were exceedingly rare.

The other Black Banner Commanders were just as excited. Their families would all receive a share.

"I envy Kelshore and Veylan. They’ve been in there so long. How much have they taken already?"

"The advantage of being next door."

"Still, it’s strange. Almost ten days, and not one of their Lords has come out."

"Riftward has some very fine-looking prisoners. Especially that House Frost heir. Perhaps they’re still taking turns."

"Damn. I forgot to ask Kelshore for pictures."

"Knowing him, he’ll bring back every angle."

"Merwick, you know him well!"

Coarse laughter passed through the gathering.

Then Galen happened to glance at the Province Channel.

[Nessa Fenwick: The Spatial Lock is finally gone! Even the air outside the Marches feels better. I’m so happy!]

He froze.

"That irritating Fenwick girl? How is she still alive?"

The other Commanders noticed her message. Their surprise quickly turned to delight.

"One slipped through!"

"Catch her. We can share."

"I thought there’d be nothing left for us."

"Whoever catches her gets the first turn!"

"Let’s see how proud she is as a Black Banner slave."

Their delight lasted less than a minute.

More messages appeared.

[Tobias: Nessa, that was quick. Were you watching the clock with your Gate ready?]

[Seraphine Valcrest: That felt good! I nearly died, but these past two weeks have been worth it. What a hunt!]

[Elara Vayne: I came out for some air too. Half a month without being able to chat was more than enough. A few groups from Veylan have gathered northwest of the Marches. Who can come help?]

[Seraphine Valcrest: Me.]

[Lyra Valcrest: I’ll come too!]

Cassian had used his Communication Seal Scroll after the enemy sealed space. Spatial passage worked again, but communications inside Riftward remained blocked. To speak in the Channel, its Lords first had to Gate beyond the Marches’ border.

The Black Banner Commanders stared as the messages kept appearing.

"Something... Something is wrong."

Then Darian joined in, brimming with confidence.

[Darian Frost: To all our friends in the Crown—we won!]

"Impossible!" Galen shouted. "It’s a lie!"

He could not accept it.

"One newcomer Marches can’t defeat veteran Lords! They’re bluffing. My brother must be hunting them down. That has to be it!"

The other Commanders looked at one another. A sickening suspicion was taking shape.

A little distance away, the Coldridge Lords who had yet to withdraw were exchanging the same bewildered looks.

What was happening?

——

Lords from the other Crown Marches began to post.

[Corin: You’re alive? All of you? We heard you were dead!]

[Lydia Venn: I already packed everything to leave. Anyone else preparing to relocate, wait! Something’s changed!]

Only a few hundred thousand Crown Lords remained in Tidecrown. If Riftward had fallen, staying would have served no purpose.

Many had accepted the risk of waiting this long only because they wanted to see the bitter result for themselves. They would remember it for the rest of their lives and use it to drive themselves forward.

Now Colonel Mercer could hardly contain his joy.

[Colonel Mercer: Wonderful! You’re safe! What about Cassian? Is Cassian all right?]

His questions arrived one after another.

The Riftward Lords who had come out to talk were as confused as their friends.

[Rowan Ashford: What bastard spread a rumor that we were dead?]

[Elara Vayne: Cassian is still chasing the Lords from Kelshore, I think. You have no idea how many he’s been killing.]

For more than ten minutes, the Riftward Lords answered questions and described what had happened.

At last, the Crown believed them.

Riftward had won.

Cheers filled the Channel.

[They’re safe!]

[Riftward is still here. Cassian is still here. I can’t stop crying...]

[You cried when we thought Cassian was dead. That made sense. Why are you crying now?]

[Because I can’t help it!]

Then Corin asked the question everyone wanted answered.

[Corin: Can you tell us how you defeated the veterans?]