Chương 304: 3.5

March Lord Sergej was the youngest of Jewel's Vassals. His father had knelt and ratified his fealty upon her assumption of the County of Viznove. And well into her reign that lord had abdicated to his heir when he became unable to stand or ride horse in war. Jewel had accepted the fealty of the young Sergej with no renegotiation of the responsibilities between their lands. As a mercy and acknowledgement of the good service his father and family had given in holding the underway of Juhvizvah.

An indulgence that had seemed earned at the time. Like his northerly neighbor Lord Kird of the Zapadvah Pass, Sergej had earned great wealth via land trade. As did all three of Jewel's Marche lords. But unlike any other of her territories on the Vault border, Lord Sergej owed his power to the nature of the tunnels of Old Cantor.

While Kird's trade route out of Viznove (and the Ridgetails Vault entirely) went by skypass up and over the mountains and as such could only gate or bar passage at great expense in fielding men in biting cold and constant wind. The Vahstrehgin pass in contrast was quite a bit too navigable. The fortress was more of an aspirational keep to guard against invasion from Magarska than a secure gate. The wide canyon while fortified with walls and towers only technically blocked passage.

The way held by Lord Dominik was just too open to properly man without mustering a levy. It was called a skypass only on the technicality the canyon was just a bit too narrow with too low a clearance with the heavens to call it a vault proper. Lord Sergej and his fortress had a far more secure and stable pass than either of his peers. One which his demesne was built directly on top of.

No force of arms or trader which wished to make its way into Viznove by the Juhvizvah tunnel could avoid his walls or the gates he could choose to close. No caravan could avoid paying the toll on his road. Any army that sought entry in Lord Sergej's march would require a route over land from another vault before passing through the deeps, then many days march in darkness with naught food (and sparse water springs in the deep) but what they brought with them.

After such a march all who wished him harm from the underway would then be forced to make a siege with either the mountain roots or the fully fortified gates of Juhvizvah. While trapped in the darkness of the earth. With murder holes and many a cruel defense arrayed against them. It was an incredibly potent defense. No force of arms had ever forced its way out of the Juhvizvah tunnel since the fortress had been built after old Cantor's fall. Not during the Tyrant War.

Not in all the years of war with Magarska since. Only assault and siege from within the Ridgetail's Vault or treachery in the fortress itself had ever seen a breach in its defense. And that was the detail which made this vassal unique among all under Jewel. It set the character of Viznove and the Juhvizvah's tithes and obligations.

When a hundred well armed men and easily maintained fortifications could choke countless tens of thousands in a siege under rock the expected obligation for a March Lord could be very substantial without weakening his position. But likewise was the histories and records in Kaeketeh clear that Viznove had to keep the soft exposed flank of Juhvizvah shielded. A March Lord who felt exposed and betrayed at Juhvizvah could open the gate and let enemy reinforcements or supplies pour into the Ridgetails.

It had happened before, in the time of the Lord Bathory. Grandfather of the Bloody Countess Elizibeth Bathory. When all of southern Viznove had been held in sway to Magarska. So it was not a surprise that given his youth and the history of his family demesne that the young Lord Sergej would be the first to bring Jewel difficulties. At least he had the good sense to wait until they could meet in private.

"Word is that war is coming from Magarska my Countess. And that the Lord General is too infirm to lead the armies of Viznove." Jewel considered the man in his feasting hall. As had been done in Kaeketeh once so was the largest room in his holdings cleared of all but the baron and his liege.

"There are troubling rumors I've come to be aware of, Yes it brings to light risks of Magarska declaring war upon the Realm. And yes Lord Kliatbatrn is yet bedridden, despite what sorcery is mine to command. What is your point Baron Sergej?" He leaned forward at the head of his now cleared feasting table. The candle lights casting deep shadows over his eyes.

"Your husband, the count consort will have to remain behind to assure continuity and governance if we go to war of course." Jewel did not deign to nod, it had been well established that in any fielding of Armies it was the Shining Wyrm of Viznove's place to lead the armies in air. To hold back her power on the field of battle would be dishonorable and cowardly as a vassal of the Realm. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

So of course Paul would remain and take the role normally given the wife of a martial lord.

"Given the circumstances this is not the time to have the young heir of house Kliatbatrn put in charge of the armies of Viznove on land. A more experienced baron should be chosen for General on land." Jewel fixed the man, who despite his years seemed hardly all that much older from the boy who had knelt before her years ago.

"He is not much younger than you Sergej, and neither of you have been bloodied against more than bandits." The Baron and March Lord of Juhvizvah turned his gaze up to meet her gaze. Even Though Jewel suspected the candle light strained his eyes to even find her face in the shadows above him.

"The work of a general is not that of a blade or arrow on the battlefield. It is the seeing to provisions, the mustering of forces, the care of the troops and the making of camp. the elder Lord Kliatbatrn was greatest among your vassals for this task when he was at his prime of health. But his heir has only just begun in his training and experience in managing men on the march." Jewel considered. She thought of the failures of the old counts of Viznove written in stark records.

"The young Kliatbatrn is yet green to such work. But his family are owed the loyalty of the greatest force of cavalry in Viznove. The Knights and Captains of Kliatbatrn ride across their pastures every year and see to the moving of the herds. They will prove well practiced in managing the army under him." Sergej did not bother hiding his scowl. He glared at her nose up in the dark over him. She was certain now he did not actually see her eyes or her expression. But Jewel's cool tone could not be clearer.

"Loyalty that is not yet earned, Loyalty that could be tested to breaking in war. Would you give such a disservice to your vassals? Have all of Viznove witness such a great family broken by the youthful ignorance of one heir?" Jewel considered his words before relenting.

"An advisor to guide his youth will suffice to prevent such a disaster Lord Sergej-" The man slammed his fist onto the table.

"The other lords are all fat, old sycophants to your every word Countess! They will not naysay him because his family is bound by all but blood to Rochford! You've made Viznove rich and safe for your reign! An exemplary task! But tell me to my face who you would put in place to guide the whelp but me?" Jewel felt her flame prickle in her throat at the outburst. But his words continued before she could cut him off.

"Mertod? His people have never felt war in over a century and his family have always paid the knights mark!" She scoffed with him, of course not such a minor baron who had not even had the good sense to come himself in the war with Cantor.

"Petra? She is no martial lady and her husband and sons are hardly much better." He glared at Jewel. But again she could only agree those were poor choices.

"Your father Rochford? Either you or he will be a fine general of the air, but an army needs a head on foot during the march!" Jewel growled but both to her annoyance and also a mild respect for his valor she did not see him even flinch. It was heartening to be challenged, she could smell the fear on him. The same stink that every man who did not spend seasons acclimating to her. But he refused to let fear of her rule him.

"What of your elders among the March Lords? What of the Baron of Vahstrehgin who holds the very pass of Viznove to Magarska?" His rebuttal brought a scoff from the man below her.

"Dominik?! Kird!?" He fell back into his chair and sighed.

"I respect them both as my betters in war. But they are both already old men, experienced and wise but if we do not go to war this year they may not survive the position. The burdens of generalship could see them dead and leave Viznvoe's army beheaded when we cannot suffer it worse." His tone was strained, and the fear in him had grown. But as Jewel watched she realized it was not fear of her that stung sharply in the man's sweat.

"By all means my Countess set them to the task of training the young Lord Kliatbatrn, To prepare him for the role you seek him to fill in years to come." He glared up at her.

"But Magarska has been watching us, watching the realm. While Viznove's strength ebbs as fathers perish and untried youths take their place. Watching the Realm itself turns its attention west to the freemen's lands. Secure in your power to hold this flank." He was afraid of the war too.

"Their preparations could not be better timed. Especially if they have truly found a match for you Lady Jewel. Even just enough to stall you in place. Their armies are led by heirs and youths bloodied from the troubles. Honed by that horror." He took a fortifying breath and again tried to meet her gaze in the dark.

"As you said our lords have had little experience but tournaments and chasing bandits." Jewel felt a coiling dark thing in her belly. Had she hurt Viznove with so much peace? Had her attempts to bridge the space between the Realm and Magarska left her people and armies ill prepared for the war to come? Furthermore was not the entire point of her tour to scout out potential candidates for consolidating the barons into positions beneath her?

This could be a potent opening of an alliance and Juhvizvah a powerful vassal to unite all three of the March Lords and the Mayor Baron Bortond into one unified group.

"I will consider placing you as the general potential of my armies on land. To be counseled by any able bodied of your peers among the march lords." She could taste triumph and relief in equal measure on Sergej's sweat.

"However this is contingent that Viznove's armies must muster, and that the Lord General Kliatbatrn is not recovered by then or his son fully bloodied." Her declaration does not quench the shine of her vassal's triumph. There was fire to him, but she did not smell anything that suggested he had lied. His heart while beating in his fear did not seem to have betrayed a mistruth. She would give the young March lord a chance to prove his loyalty. First in the peace, and if the worst was to come during war.

If he himself was a capable general in war or a patient and obedient vassal in peace she could consider consolidating him as head among barons for the southern border of Viznove. But only If he continued to prove both loyal and shrewd enough to bring such requests and concerns to her with bravery. Only if he was loyal enough to not betray Viznove as his family's predecessors in generations past had. History was very clear on this. The March Lord of Juhvizvah was ever a dangerous enemy and a vital ally.