Epilogue.
Oribe stood looking out over the narrow river that gave the natural border between Arandor and his own nation of Belaria. Indeed, the reports were true, and a quite impressive army was camped on the opposite bank. Yet for all the Arandorians apparent numbers, they had not made any sign to indicate they were so much as even thinking about crossing over into his lands. Had this merely been a ploy to make him turnabout and head back to Caldronia? Or perhaps they were merely there to protect their own borders.
News had reached him the previous day of the Arandorians aiding the Caldronians in recapturing his greatest prize, the city of Surmont. Perhaps this had been their plan all along. Force him out to protect his own lands, so they could sneak in and take back the lands he had conquered. Quite brilliant if it were true. Now though he needed to make a choice, and soon.
Arandor had quite clearly awoken to his threat, and was no longer the sleeping giant he had hoped to avoid until last. Having already sided with the Caldronians, it was evidently clear no deal could be struck with them. With his own numbers diminishing, and those of his enemies growing, he had but a few options left.
He could strike now and hope those at his disposal could deal the Arandorians a great blow, effectively knocking them out of the equation. Even with Bea, his new powerful sorceress at his side, he was unsure whether that was possible. There was though one other possibility, and although it may take a little longer than he hoped, may come to fruition.
His hopes now lay with Farasavia, the very nation he planned on attacking next before Arandor got involved. A deal of sorts already existed between them, as he had allowed them to take some of the lands in northern Caldronia, and although he doubted they would hold them much longer, the fact they had agreed a partnership before, gave him some kind of optimism.
So long as the forces of Arandor stayed on their side of the river, he could afford to wait a little while, at least until he could ally himself with Farasavia. The plan may not even come to fruition, but it was for now the best way forward. Caldronia would be his again, as would the other lands of its neighbours, it was just going to take a little longer than he had first anticipated.
Thankyou for reading.
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The King's Sorcerer (The Caldronian Guild Book 3) Page 23
