As the Asmorg army arrived at the battlefield, they were greeted by Hilda, who stood waiting for them with a wicked smile on her lips. She had followed Ubel's instructions and divided her own forces, ready to join the fight with Straya. The stage was set for a brutal conflict, one that would determine the fate of these rival nations.

  As Ubel and King Basil led the way to the anticipated battleground, the rest of the army fell into step behind them. Hamza and Beylon followed close behind, with Trevor and Jeffery bringing up the rear. Despite the tense atmosphere, Ubel seemed to be almost grinning with excitement. King Basil couldn't shake the feeling that there was something that Ubel wasn't telling him, but he kept his concerns to himself, not wanting to risk disrupting the delicate balance of their relationship at such a crucial moment. The two men continued on in silence, each lost in their own thoughts as they marched towards the unknown.

  As Beylon scrutinised Hamza's visage, he couldn't help but ponder the man's provenance. He seemed so incongruous in this locality, with his peculiar enunciation and comportment.

  "I observe that your orbicularis muscles seem unable to desist from gazing upon me," Hamza remarked with a hint of mirth. "Is there an issue of which I am unaware?"

  "No, no," Beylon hastily assured him, feeling a twinge of chagrin. "I apologise if it appeared that way. It's just that you seem so dissimilar to the others here. Your accent is quite distinctive."

  Hamza chuckled at this, his oral commissures curving into a small smile. "Ah, I understand now why they selected you as the king's counsellor. You are certainly one who pays attention to minutiae."

  Beylon reddened at the compliment. "So I am correct, then? You are not a native of this area?"

  Hamza's countenance became more sober as he replied, "I am the progeny of this earth. These lands are my patrimony."

  Beylon creased his brow, attempting to decipher the enigmatic statement. "What do you mean by that?"

  Hamza simply shrugged, a hint of vexation creeping into his voice. "You pose a plethora of queries. I do not have the leisure to engage in a dispute with you."

  Beylon held up his hands in surrender. "Ahhh. It's just that, as the king's counsellor, it's important to ask as many questions as possible. And even the manner in which you speak is so dissimilar to ours."

  Hamza regarded Beylon with a wicked smile, but remained silent. Beylon held his gaze for a moment, before finally speaking.

  "Why do you deign to participate in battles that do not concern your nation?" Beylon inquired of Hamza.

  Hamza raised a brow in response. "Allow me to ask in turn, why do you fight for your king?"

  "Loyalty, and also because I am a native of this land," Beylon replied without hesitation.

  Hamza nodded thoughtfully. "And that is all?"

  Beylon shrugged. "What more could there be?"

  Hamza sighed, a look of disappointment crossing his face. "I beg your pardon, dear friend, but with the responses you have just given me, I can tell the type of person with whom I am conversing. And it is not someone with whom I have any desire to engage further."

  Jeffery watched the exchange in silence, but before he could say anything, the army came to a halt. Beylon turned to Hamza in confusion.

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  "Why have we stopped?" he asked.

  Hamza gestured to the surroundings. "We have arrived."

  Upon arriving at the site where the impending conflict was to transpire, King Basil inquired, "Is it here that the battle will be fought?" Ubel replied with a smile and a nod, his gaze fixed upon the army of Hilda, which was already prepared for battle. Hilda, noticing the presence of Ubel and Basil, approached and greeted them with a raised hand. Ubel dismounted from his steed and approached the edge of the cliff, accompanied by Hamza and Trevor, who also dismounted and joined Ubel in silently observing the breathtaking view.

  The view from the cliff was a sight to behold, with the rolling hills stretching out before them and the dark clouds overhead adding a sense of drama to the scene. The rain fell in a steady drizzle, adding a touch of melancholy to the already sombre atmosphere. The croaking of ravens could be heard in the distance, their harsh calls adding to the ominous feeling that hung in the air. Despite the wet and gloomy conditions, the view was breathtaking in its own way, with the rain-soaked landscape seeming to shimmer in the dim light.

  Ubel signalled to King Basil and Jeffery to dispatch their army, the Strayan forces, to join with Hilda's army and organise themselves under her command. Whispering to Hamza and Trevor, he instructed them to ensure that their own army remained unseen, covertly directing them to ascend the second mountain, which loomed nearby and offered a vantage point from which to survey the flat terrain below. Pointing towards the mountain with a deft gesture, Ubel emphasised the importance of secrecy and stealth in their movements.

  As the armies were divided and organised below, Ubel remained perched atop the cliff, his gaze fixed upon the activity below. After a brief interval, King Basil approached, leaving his son Jeffery and Beylon in the care of Hilda as he sought out Ubel's counsel. Standing beside Ubel, the two men gazed out at the rain-soaked landscape, listening in silence to the rumble of thunder and the pitter-patter of raindrops.

  At length, King Basil spoke, his voice filled with sincerity. "I must confess, Ubel, you have chosen an excellent location for our endeavours. The vantage point from this cliff is unparalleled."

  "In order to emerge victorious in a conflict, it is crucial to choose the most advantageous location," Ubel remarked.

  King Basil inquired, "But how can you be certain that our foes will converge upon this spot?"

  Ubel replied with a hint of irony, "I possess certain knowledge that you do not. I am quite confident that they will be directed to this location."

  King Basil regarded Ubel with a mixture of envy and frustration at the latter's exaggerated self-assurance. "Have you prepared a contingency plan in the event that the army of Ugor fails to rendezvous with us here?"

  "No, for I am certain that they will arrive here as planned," Ubel replied with unwavering conviction.

  King Basil gazed upon Ubel in silence, his thoughts unspoken.

  Hilda stood before the army, her eyes fixed upon the opposing side where the enemy forces were expected to arrive. Beylon and Jeffery were busy organising the ranks, with Beylon casting a glance in Hilda's direction before turning to Jeffrey and posing a question. "Why do you believe Ubel selected Hilda to command this conflict?"

  Jeffery replied, "I have given the matter much thought, and I can discern only one reason. Ubel appointed Hilda to this role in order to prevent her from turning the Asmorg army against us. They are still unaware of Ajeer's demise, and granting Hilda this position will bolster her ego sufficiently to keep this secret and refrain from divulging it."

  Beylon nodded in agreement. "I concur. Your reasoning is sound."

  Beylon glanced at the ranks of soldiers once more before turning to Jeffrey and querying, "Why is it that our army is not bearing any flags?"

  Jeffery replied, "I too have noticed that our forces are not carrying any banners. I surmise that Ubel has given them that instruction in order to conceal our involvement in this conflict from the Ugor army."

  Beylon responded with a questioning tone, "But why would Ubel be concerned with such a detail? It seems a trivial matter." Jeffery simply looked at Beylon with a shrug, his expression conveying a lack of understanding.

  As the rain continued to fall, King Basil's doubts about the arrival of the Ugor army grew stronger with each passing minute. He glanced at Ubel, who wore a strange smile of excitement as he waited patiently. Shaking his head in disbelief, King Basil turned to leave, convinced that the Ugor forces would not be appearing. However, as he took a few steps, the sound of approaching hoofbeats and marching soldiers reached his ears. He spun around to see the vanguard of the Ugor army emerge into view.

  Upon seeing the approaching army, King Basil turned to Ubel, who was now laughing with glee. Ubel met the king's gaze and nodded his head, gesturing for them to descend and join the forces below.

  Prior to departing Osna, Hamza had left a detachment of one hundred men behind, instructing them to follow One's lead. However, unbeknownst to these soldiers, Hamza had secretly ordered them to begin stealthily separating from the army as they marched, one by one, without drawing attention to themselves. As fate would have it, Hamza was able to observe the forces from a different vantage point, allowing him to spot his separated men and signal for them to rejoin him on the mountain.

  Astrid and King Ulf led the vanguard of their army, their eyes fixed upon the opposing forces arrayed before them. As she marched, Astrid found her thoughts drifting to Hamza and his mysterious disappearance. Upon catching sight of the enemy army, Astrid approached King Ulf with a sense of unease, prompting the king to halt their advance and approach her in turn.

  Astrid declared, "Their numbers are formidable."

  King Ulf replied with reassuring confidence, "Our own forces are more than capable of standing against them. Our men are well-trained and disciplined. I do not believe we should fear them, for even if we fall in this conflict, it would be an honour to perish by your side."

  Astrid nodded, "I do not fear death. I look forward to feasting with Oden in the halls of Valhalla. However, I cannot shake the feeling that something is amiss."