Waldo’s army reached Kabury County the very next day, and by all reports, they had gone straight into battle outside the city.
“They launched an attack the moment they anived?” Jessica frowned deeply as she listened to the report. It was late on the third evening when the
“Yes, Miss Yates,” Nolan confirmed. “They began fighting at dawn yesterday and have been at it for two full days now. The army has pushed deep into the mountain ravines, pursuing the enemy, if things continue at this pace, they’ll wipe out the remaining rebels within three days.”
Jessica’s frown only deepened. “If I’m not mistaken,” she said slowly, “the rebels were already nearly annihilated a year ago.”
“That’s right,” Nolan said. “You and Garbisch followed Waldo in Kabury County back then, Garbisch destroyed their main stronghold”
+
“Exactly,” Jessica said. “Which means there’s no way the rebels could have comfortably resettled in the wines. Their base shouldn’t be there at all,”
And there was something even more troubling–after entering Kabury County, the so–called ‘rebels” had been killing and burning but had stolen nothing That alone was suspicious
Ordinary bandits lived to rob and plunder. These attackers? Their actions reeked of careful planning
Jessica pulled out a topographic map of Kabury City and studied it carefully. “You’re telling me they arrived and immediately charged into battle? Without taking a moment to rest or reorganize!”
That wasn’t Waldo’s style at all. She had spent years campaigning alongside him and Garbisch; she knew Waldo’s methods as well as her own
Their time together had left an imprint–Jessica’s instincts on the battlefield were almost an extension of his.
Rushing into battle without rest after a forced march? That wasn’t Waldo’s way. He wasn’t a reckless fool. His soldiers must be exhausted–how could he order them to fight under such conditions”
Nolan shifted uneasily. “It wasn’t Waldo leading the charge,” he said. “It was Priscilla”
Jessica’s face turned cold. “What?” Her voice sharpened. “That’s madness.”
Priscilla, spoiled and reckless, raised under the adoring eyes of her father and brother–what did she know of leading troops? And Waldo had entrusted thirty thousand soldiers to her? Had he lost his mind?
Jessica’s gaze grew sharper. “And another th
thing… after two days of forced marching without rest, they’re still able to push the rebels into the ravines with ease? If the enemy was that weak, how did they dare to storm Kabury County in the first place?”
The more she thought about it, the worse the situation felt. Suddenly, her eyes locked onto a band in the ravile on the map and her face changed.
“No,” she breathed. “It’s a trap”
The rebels weren’t being driven into the ravine–they were luring Waldo’s forces into it.
“Waldo, what were you thinking? Jessica straightened up, her voice crisp. “Nolan, go fetch Garbisch, Now”
Nolan didn’t dare waste a second. “Yes, Miss!”
Meanwhile, outside Kabury City, the army was still drunk on their apparent victory
Kabury County wasn’t just a county–it was a fortified city. Despite not being one of the great metropolises, it spanned a vast area.
Beyond the city sprawled an enormous mountain range. Across the mountains lay the border to another kingdom.
Because of the range’s size and complexity, the area had effectively become a no–man’s–land–unclaimed, lawless, wild,
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Chapter 145
Jessica knew exactly why it was Impossible for the rebels to have reestablished a base near Kabury County, Last)
their mountain stronghold had been burned to the ground.
Now, the surrounding hills were barren, desolate, unfit for habitation. A handful of people might hide there temporarily, but building s capable of housing thousand?? Impossible.
But Priscilla didn’t believe it.
She insisted the rebels were holed up in the ravines and she was determined to uproot them in one clean sweep
