Chapter 436 — The Magic Barrier of Boulder Fortress
Blade of Dawn · Page 4 of 5
The Cecil assault had ended—so brief in its course, so abrupt in its conclusion, that Viscount Karol, a veteran of the bombardment at Gravel Ridge, could not help but feel a touch of something unnatural. He pondered a moment, then traced several runes in the air and opened the "Mage's Eye" upon himself.
His vision was instantly projected into the distance, and through that slightly warped and quivering sight he beheld the Cecil camp beneath the night sky, running on as usual.
The details the Mage's Eye could discern were limited, but one thing he could affirm: those Cecil soldiers lounging about adjusting their "Skyfire Devices" and chatting and laughing around their campfires as though nothing were amiss harbored not the slightest air of defeat...
Footsteps sounded behind him, and Viscount Karol at once dispelled the Mage's Eye. At the same moment, he heard the somewhat cool voice of Viscountess Lopenny Gran come from behind: "Viscount Karol, what are you doing?"
Karol turned and saw that awe-inspiring lady who had led them all out of hell. He could not help but breathe a sigh of relief—but the next instant his brow furrowed: "Viscountess Gran, I believe something is wrong!"
Lopenny's slender brows rose slightly. "Something is wrong?"
"The Cecil attack cannot possibly have been so trifling... They bombarded Gravel Ridge for a full hour without pause—there is no reason they should be so slack when assaulting Boulder Fortress," Viscount Karol said anxiously, laying out his discovery. "I just looked with the Mage's Eye. Their camp is in perfect order, not a sign that their offensive has met with a setback..."
"Is that so... That is indeed a disturbing state of affairs," Viscountess Lopenny said, her expression turning grave, and she seemed unconsciously to rub a ring upon her finger. "...Most disturbing."
"I must go warn Sir Maki," Viscount Karol said with a frown—but no sooner had he spoken than he regarded Lopenny with some curiosity. "But then again... Viscountess, why have you also left the banquet hall? Have you noticed something too?"
"I have just come from the walls," Lopenny said mildly. "Have you forgotten? Sir Maki assigned us the defense of the second wall and a portion of the mage towers. Unfortunately, nearly everyone is in the banquet hall drinking, so I had no choice but to come out and attend to some real business."
"Thank heaven there are still ladies like you keeping watch," Viscount Karol said in admiration, and he lifted his foot to stride toward the castle district. "We must go to Sir Maki—"
His words broke off.
A soft, faintly chill hand caught him by the arm—a hand upon which a ring glowed with a dim blue light.
Viscount Karol felt a cold numbness spread from his arm through his entire body. With great effort he turned his head slightly and saw the expressionless face of Lopenny Gran. He tried to open his mouth, but not a sound would come.
He heard the still-beautiful lady before him speak to him—she had drawn very close and murmured at his ear: "My lord viscount, do you know? Eleven years ago, when those ruffians stormed my husband's castle, there was only one loyal sentry standing upon the watchtower, trying to stop them with a crossbow..."
Lopenny Gran drew back a little, and beneath Karol's terrified gaze she began, inch by inch, to push his body.
"That sentry was the same age as you when he fell from the watchtower. Your knight, when he returned to report to you, most likely never mentioned this small detail at all..."
Viscount Karol's body tilted to a perilous angle at the edge of the terrace. Rigidly he rolled his eyes, but apart from rolling his eyes there was no part of him that could move in the slightest—a mage, once his spellcasting was first sealed off, could hardly break such bodily restraint by muscle strength alone.
At the final moment, Lopenny gave Viscount Karol a gentle push.