233: Chapter 123 Unexpected Reinforcements 233: Chapter 123 Unexpected Reinforcements The heavy drawbridge on the eastern side slowly lowered, the thick wooden planks landing with a thud, raising dust as they pressed upon the spiked trench, paving the way for the incoming reinforcements into Longka.
Leading at the front, Azeryan and four other riders guided the army that held high the Thorny Flower battle flag, their steps dense and numerous as they crossed the drawbridge at the eastern gate.
At the tête of the column, naturally, were conscripted soldiers from Selva’s subjects.
Following fifty infantrymen, their chests emblazoned with a quartered coat of arms, were uniformly dressed and fully geared with nasal helmets, showing chain armor under the sleeves of their robes and equipped with complete hand and shin armor; all carried long-handled war sabers or war axes.
Additionally, ten of these men lagged behind, each holding an iron chain, leading massive war dogs.
Although the ten fierce and loyal beasts were all firmly muzzled, the civilians transporting supplies were still trembling with fear, keeping a considerable distance from the terrifying Duwana war dogs.
“…Leon!” Azeryan, along with a few knights and cavalrymen who had come to aid, left the formation, dismounted, and walked toward his companion.
“You’ve worked hard, Azeryan.” Leon stepped forward to embrace his friend, patting each other’s back armor, before turning his head to glance at the four individuals beside him.
The middle-aged man, dressed in lavish plate armor and with a neatly combed slick-back, obviously a noble knight, and the other three, also well-equipped, were likely knight attendants accompanying him.
“May I ask who this gentleman is?” Leon inquired.
Azeryan smiled, raised his hand to introduce: “…..This is Sir Peering, Lady Adelina’s Guardian Knight, who was recently transferred to Selva by the lady.”
“Redo Peering, I am honored to meet you, Lord Pendragon.”
Knight Redo, looking at the young man before him, respectfully bowed with a hand on his chest, expressing his sincere gratitude: “Thank you for saving the lady, I will remember this kindness in my heart.
I am here by the command of Lady Adelina to lead troops in assisting with the defense of your domain, at your disposal.”
The Baroness’ Guardian Knight?
Leon wasn’t quite aware of the concept of this position.
But, Lady Adelina had indeed given him a tremendous surprise.
He really didn’t know where Knight Redo and his troops had been transferred from, their uniforms different from those of Farolis City’s army, but these well-equipped soldiers were obviously not hastily conscripted militia, undoubtedly an elite regular force capable of being the mainstay.
With them stationed in Longka for the long term, the security level of the place had instantly been upgraded.
“Thank you for coming so promptly, ‘commanded’ is too strong a word, we will rely on you from now on,” Leon politely thanked them.
“Rest assured, I will do my utmost,” Redo promised, then turned and introduced another young man behind him: “This brave young man volunteered to come to Longka, and he’s not my attendant.
But with Lord Eriv’s permission, he also wishes to come here to repay your kindness.”
Leon looked at the young attendant with curiosity, and only then did he recall the man’s face.
the knight attendant who was stripped bare by thieves that night and nearly framed for the heinous crime of raping and murdering the Baroness?
“My name is ‘Filipo Anquilla’, Lord Pendragon.”
Filipo pounded his chest armor firmly, swearing with excitement.
“You upheld the honor of myself and my family, and for that, I can only repay you.
In the name of Anquilla and Farolis, I will fight to the death for you and your domain…”
Unexpectedly, this young man from the Anquilla Family had such a disposition.
Leon, grateful, patted the man’s shoulder in encouragement.
At times like these, even one more person meant additional strength, all the more so when that person was a well-trained heavy cavalryman, ready in full armor.
After leading the reinforcements and the supply troops to set up camp in Longka, Leon pulled Azeryan back to the village hall to thoroughly inquire and understand the identity of this unexpectedly powerful aid force.
That Knight Redo, although now loyal to Baron Farolis and granted a fief as a vassal, was not a native of the Gray Pine Valley Domain.
Like the Baroness, he was from “Great Vestra Territory” in the Western Kingdom.
Originally, he was the first son of a Baron under the Rahman Family in Duwana County, and to this day, he still enjoys a sizeable domain there.
But in his youth, because he fell in love with Count Duwana’s daughter—Adelina— he pledged his allegiance to her, becoming an “Oath Guardian Knight” sworn to protect her for life.
When Count Duwana’s daughter married, he indeed did not abandon his oath, forgoing the right to succeed as Baron of his own family, bringing an army and considerable wealth with him.
In a way, as a part of the abundant “dowry” of the Earl’s daughter, he followed Adelina to Farolis, where he swore allegiance to Baron Thorny Flower, Adelina’s husband.
Listening to Azeryan’s explanation, as a traditional Celestial Dynasty person, Leon felt his values severely challenged, his thoughts nearly tangling into knots.
He even wondered if he had misheard something.
The handsome, middle-aged knight, deeply in love with Baroness Eriv…
This wasn’t even a secret to be ashamed of.
It was a publicly known and respected tale that even Baron Eriv admired.
Of course, as far as the oath was concerned, the Guardian Knight had naturally never had any improper physical relationship or intimate contact with Adelina.