Chapter 431

Trollclaw Ford lay in the heart of western Faerûn, on the western side of the Trollclaw Hills, along the eastern bank of the Winding Water, near Boareskyr Bridge.

It was a shallow stretch of river with a small town nearby, serving mainly merchants and travelers passing through.

Upstream stood the famous Boareskyr Bridge, which had long been a vital passage for north-south trade. It was also the site where Bhaal, the evil god, had fallen.

After Bhaal’s death, his divine blood contaminated the river, turning the middle and lower reaches of the Winding Water filthy and black. The water was undrinkable, and no one dared swim across.

As a result, Boareskyr Bridge and Trollclaw Ford had become even more important.

“How do people usually travel from Paros to Waterdeep?” Anser asked, giving Adrie’s waist a gentle squeeze.

“There are generally two routes, by sea or by land. The overland route mainly passes through Boareskyr Bridge and the ruins of Dragonspear Castle, then follows the Trade Way to Daggerford and Waterdeep,” Adrie answered immediately.

She knew the Sword Coast extremely well and didn’t need to think about it.

“What would happen if the Underdark creatures took control of Boareskyr Bridge?” Anser continued.

Adrie paused, then said thoughtfully, “Boareskyr Bridge is a crucial link between northern and southern Faerûn. If the Underdark creatures controlled it, trade along the Sword Coast would suffer a devastating blow, and all of Faerûn would be thrown into turmoil.”

The Sword Coast was vast, but there was only one relatively safe trade route running through it.

Other routes existed, but most passed through one dangerous region after another, making the risks far too high.

“What if they also controlled the River Chionthar?” Anser asked with a soft sigh.

“Then most east-west trade would be crippled too. Merchants would have to take the southern route through the Sea of Fallen Stars, Turmish, and Amn. It’s a much longer and more dangerous journey,” Adrie replied after some consideration.

Since the fall of Baldur’s Gate, river trade along the Chionthar had declined by ninety percent. However, the kuo-toa had not ventured into its middle and upper reaches, so communication between north and south had remained relatively unobstructed.

“In other words, the Lords’ Alliance would be isolated in the northern Sword Coast, losing most of its trade connections with southern and eastern Faerûn.” Anser closed his eyes, recalling the geography of Faerûn.

“More or less.” Adrie nodded slightly.

In fact, one could travel east from Daggerford along the Delimbiyr River, cross the Anauroch Desert, and reach Cormanthor and the Moonsea. From there, heading south through the Dragon Reach would lead to the Sea of Fallen Stars.

But that route was long, dangerous, and far too unpredictable.

“I understand now.” Anser released Adrie, stood up, and began pacing back and forth.

Adrie followed him with her eyes. “Those drow are planning to blockade Boareskyr Bridge?”

“Most likely,” Anser said with a sigh. “The Underdark creatures aren’t here just to fight a war. They may already have joined forces with the orcs, preparing to swallow the entire northern Sword Coast in one fell swoop!”

And almost all of that territory belonged to the Lords’ Alliance.

Originally, the settlements along the Sword Coast could maintain contact with the city-states of the Claw and Amn by sea. But the southern waters stretching from Baldur’s Gate to the Moonshae Isles had undergone a planar convergence with Abeir, cutting off the sea routes long ago.

When Anser had fled the region, he had also been forced to sail through dense dinosaur-infested forests to reach Cliff Fort in Claw Bay, eventually abandoning his ship and continuing on foot.

“They’re incredibly ambitious.” After thinking it over, Adrie couldn’t help feeling a chill of alarm.

“No. This is actually the cautious approach.” Anser shook his head slightly.

If the orc coalition had openly declared its intention to conquer all of Faerûn, or even Toril itself, the various powers would quickly have united to oppose it. Even the Shou Lung Empire in the distant east might have paid attention and offered some assistance.

Instead, the orcs were being remarkably pragmatic, focusing directly on the northern Sword Coast and imposing a blockade.

That way, other powers might see the war as none of their concern and choose not to intervene. Some might even welcome the prospect of the orc coalition and the Lords’ Alliance exhausting each other in battle.

“They’re underestimating the Lords’ Alliance.” Adrie’s voice had returned to its usual calm.

In her memories, the Lords’ Alliance had been prosperous and powerful. Waterdeep alone had commanded such authority over the Sword Coast that no one dared challenge it.

Nor was this the first time the orcs of the Spine of the World had marched south. They had never managed to threaten the Lords’ Alliance’s rule.

“Times have changed.” Anser wagged a finger. “If the orc coalition dares to do this, they must have assessed the strength of both sides. We can’t underestimate them.”

“I hate those brainless brutes, but I’ve never underestimated them.” Adrie rose and wrapped her arms around him from behind. “Do you regret it?”

For the orcs and Underdark creatures, the greatest obstacles were Waterdeep, Neverwinter, and the Silver Marches. Now Paros, which had become part of the Holrewen Federation, had joined that list.

Durlag lay south of the River Chionthar. Anser had never needed to get involved in this mess in the first place.

“If I did regret it, would you let me leave?” Anser teased.

“Too late!” Adrie tightened her embrace, her attitude resolute.

“Haha…” Anser smiled. He knew Adrie wasn’t joking. She would do anything for Paros. “Even if the orcs don’t come looking for me, I’ll go looking for them.”

“Why?” Confusion showed on Adrie’s beautiful face.

“Because the orcs must die!” Anser turned his head to look at her, his expression completely serious.

“Very convincing.” Surprisingly, Adrie found nothing strange about his answer. “What are you planning to do?”

“Recruit and train soldiers, purchase supplies, and prepare for battle.”

“Is that all?”

“Those are the things you’ll need to coordinate with the federal military. As for me, I’ll personally head to the front lines and see just how formidable the orcs of the Spine of the World and the Kingdom of Many-Arrows really are.”

After Paros joined the federation, it would no longer maintain its own military forces. Even the soon-to-be-reorganized Dawn Legion would fall under the federal navy’s command structure.

Adrie’s authority had diminished, but so had her responsibilities. Her duty was simply to govern Paros properly and pay its taxes to the federation on time.

“You’re going alone?” Adrie felt a pang of concern and suddenly remembered her father.

He had been the same. Back when Paros was still weak, he had shouldered all the pressure alone.

Anser knew she had misunderstood his intentions, but he couldn’t very well explain.

In truth, establishing the federation hadn’t interfered with his freedom to roam wherever he pleased. On the contrary, it had helped him gather a large number of capable and promising subordinates.

More soldiers, more money, higher status, and greater influence—these weren’t things a lone adventurer could casually acquire.

“I have some friends in the Silver Marches and Waterdeep. I can’t just stand by and do nothing.” He patted the back of Adrie’s hand. “Go get some rest. I still need to record a few instructional videos.”

Adrie’s Constitution was fairly ordinary, and after a whole day of “exertion,” she was already exhausted, both physically and mentally.

“Instructional videos? On the Spirit Net?” Adrie didn’t quite understand.

“That’s right. I’ll demonstrate the techniques, the Spirit Net will record them, and then the recordings will be used to teach other Spirit Net members through mental projections,” Anser explained.

“That’s awfully generous of you.”

“They won’t be free. I’ll charge a little.”

“Spirit Coins?” Adrie knew a thing or two about the Spirit Net.

“Exactly. You should join too. It’ll make it easier for us to stay in touch,” Anser suggested.

“Sure.” This time, Adrie didn’t refuse.