Victory in the battle at the village of Omsford is the success. But if Gellian expected to solve the problem with one "strike" - then it was in vain.

So, the troops of the young prince Gellian won the battle.

The army of the people turned out to be more resilient and was able to take advantage of the enemy's inclination to unrestrained pillaging and looting.

However, the losses among the human warriors were significant.

Out of thousands of warriors, about eight hundred survived.

And there were many wounded ...

The village of Omsford was almost completely destroyed during the battle.

Burning ruins of houses ...

Many corpses emitting stench on the ground ...

Most of the local inhabitants died: among the peasants, only a couple of dozen of people survived (most of them hid in the basements during the battle).

While giving orders regarding the organization of the camp, the Prince noticed someone familiar...

Thomas...

A former traveling mercenary, formerly a pleb...

And now (thanks to the incredible generosity of Prince Gellian) a nobleman and the Baron of Ravenswood.

Thomas is dressed in leather armor and wipes goblin blood from his scimitar with a rag.

There are several shallow scars on his face.

Next to him sits his beloved girl named Mara. She treats his wounds with healing salve.

At the sight of the prince, they both rise and bow respectfully.

"I have decided that it is my duty as your loyal vassal to participate in the battle, Your Highness..." Thomas says.

Well, these two feel the utmost gratitude towards the prince for the fact that in a fit of emotion he granted them noble status and even a feudal title with a land estate.

Gellian smiles favorably, looking at the girl (recently - the Baroness) with a seductive and somewhat provocative look: "I am always glad to see you nearby..."

Mara's cheeks flush with embarrassment...

Obviously, the memories of the recent night of debauchery remained with the girl forever...

Thomas frowns, but does not dare to say anything.

The prince comes to his luxury tent and listens to reports on the situations.

Towards the evening, when most of the routine affairs are finished, one of the noble advisers from the prince's retinue tells him unpleasant news.

"Your Highness... I ask you to forgive my insolence... But I am **** to inform you that our army has now lost about a hundred experienced warriors..." - the bald dignitary with a small black mustache hunched slightly, as if he was hiding from the prince's wrath.

"What?! Why did this happen?" - Gellian asked anxiously.

"Baron Kleid led his warriors away after the battle... He said that he fulfilled his vassal duty - after all, the goblin army was routed... And he also said something... inappropriate... I cannot dare to utter this phrase to the ear..." - the dignitary mumbles.

"Are you kidding me?! Tell me, finally, what is the matter! I order you!" - the prince exclaims.

"Baron Kleid said that if the prince considers it acceptable to hand out noble titles and fiefs to all sorts of stinking plebs, then the prince does not require the presence of truly noble persons..." - the dignitary says timidly.

Arthur Kleid.

"Hard Arm" - that is his nickname.

A man known for his rude, irritable and obstinate character, but, at the same time, distinguished by his military skill and ability to train his warriors well.

A baron who has a small castle in the central region of the kingdom.

The prince recalls that the Ravenswood estate adjoins the land holdings of Arthur Kleid.

Ravenswood was an escheated land plot that was transferred to the royal domain.

Probably, Baron Kleid expected that, as a reward for his military vassal service, the Ravenswood land plot would be granted to him.

However, Prince Gellian decided otherwise...

A sudden inspiration prompted him to grant the title of baron to some pleb Thomas...

This inspiration had unforeseen consequences...

One of the vassals was insulted and led his detachment away from the army...

Formally, Baron Kleid had such a right. After all, the battle ended in victory...

However, the actual weakening of the prince's army could lead to very bad results in the future.

"Your Highness... With all due respect, I cannot hide from you the fact that rumors are circulating among the vassals that you have shown a little... inappropriate generosity..." - the bald dignitary timidly pronounces the phrase.

"Enough! I understand the situation! I have many important things to do - you can go!" - Gellian barely refrained from bursting into a stream of curses.

So, now there were even fewer warriors in his army.

First the losses in the battle with the goblins...

Now this...

The prince now commands only about seven hundred warriors...

Falling asleep at night in his luxurious tent, Gellian reflects on the fact that he may have made a rash move.

Now his reputation among the nobility, who value their status and privileges, has been lowered.

However, demonstratively abandoning his own decision will only make the situation worse. The vassals will perceive this as a manifestation of spinelessness and weakness.

The next morning, Gellian again begins to command the troops and plan further actions.

During a meeting with noble dignitaries, the prince listens to one of the reports, which contains some disturbing information.

A few surviving peasants are brought in for questioning.

The information received proves that the victory in yesterday's battle did not completely eliminate the problem.

"The vile goblins... There were a lot of them... More than usual... Usually their small troops plunder and quickly retreat. But now they came through a network of underground caves... I saw among the green-skinned goblins and others... Scums with light gray skin..." - the explanations of the frightened peasant are very confusing.

However, after additional questions, the prince understands something.

Large troops of green-skinned goblins came through a network of underground caves, using the corridors of old underground dilapidated mines.

Green-skinned goblins are probably inhabitants of the northern vast forests. These forests are located north of the impassable Mountain Range "Cyclops' Teeth". Therefore, the path through the underground caves is more convenient and faster.

However, such a path requires guides.

Judging by the peasant's words, the attack of large forces of green-skinned goblins occurred because several of their tribes came to an agreement with a strong tribe of underground goblins that live in deep caves under the Mountain Range "Cyclops' Teeth".

These gray-skinned bastards themselves are also lovers of robbery and looting.

However, before, coordination between the various goblin tribes was low.

They were at odds with each other.

Therefore, in the past only a few goblin squads reached the settlements of humans.

But now...

Now something has changed...

The prince's anxious thoughts were interrupted - suddenly a tired warrior in studded leather armor entered his luxurious tent.

The warrior looked extremely tired and was breathing heavily.

He handed the prince an envelope sealed with wax. The symbol on the wax seal was familiar to the prince.

A black wyvern on a white background...

The heraldic symbol of the noble Glanef family.

This is the family of the prince's mother, who died suddenly many years ago.

Now the vast lands of this family in the northwest of the Kingdom Eborvair are ruled by thane Natemir Glanef.

Uncle of the prince Gellian.

Thane of «Grim Peaks».

Having opened the envelope and read the text on the parchment, the prince gives orders to his advisers: «Prepare our army for the march. We need to move along the mountain paths further west. My uncle's detachment will be waiting for us near the small village of Hermit's Brook... In a couple of days we should reach...»

The letter did not provide any details...

But, obviously, in order to clarify the situation and plan further actions, the prince's army would be better off joining up with the detachment of thane of «Grim Peaks».