Steel and Sorrow: Rise of the Mercenary king

Chapter 242: Parlay

Chapter 242: Parlay

The sun hung high in a clear, cloudless sky, its golden rays casting sharp shadows across the southern camp. The usual hum of activity that often filled such encampments was conspicuously absent. Instead, a heavy, disciplined silence hung over the air as five hundred soldiers stood in formation, their rows precise and unyielding.

Each man stood at attention, armor gleaming under the relentless sunlight. Shields rested firmly in hand or strapped to their backs, while the points of weapons glinted under the sun. There were no idle conversations, no laughter from dice games, nor the clatter of mess kits. Even the horses tethered nearby seemed subdued.

A strict command had been issued: no leisure, no distractions. The men were to remain ready, their stance embodying the readiness of a force prepared to move or fight at a moment's notice. The camp itself mirrored their tension—no laundry fluttered on lines, no fires burned for cooking, and even the usual bustling quartermasters moved with hushed efficiency.

The sound of boots crunching against the dirt and the clinking of polished armor pulled attention to the gates. Soon, the reason for the unusual silence became apparent. Through the gate walked a man clad in gleaming plate armor.

Behind him, two men marched, each gripping a tall staff that bore the banner of the besieged city. The sight of the heraldry—the intricate crest of their enemy—immediately caught the eyes of the soldiers revealing who the man was .