The Courtesan

Chapter 113

KRON

“Your formation today is a bit strange, son.”

“It was impromptu but I did my best with such arrangements, father.” 

I could see he wasn’t pleased with my arrangement of putting my soldiers in the front with inferior weapons and single use guns. I don’t know why he had been trying to pull the rug from under me but I would not give up my chance for glory and recognition in the war. If I did well enough, even if he wanted to remove me from being crown prince, the people would oppose. 

“Those weapons aren’t exactly the best of the stock.”

“They were the ones left over. My troops haven’t been getting the best of resources. I think I need to call the Duchy to provide since I can’t do much with the war funds given to me.”

“The duchy is sponsoring you?”

“Yes.”

Now that, was a complete lie. It was a risky decision to tell that lie since it could stop or shorten my war funds but I just wanted the upper hand over my father. If the worst happened, I would find my way around it.

“Some decisions of yours are disappointing and questionable but I see you’re learning.”

Learning what?

“What do you mean by that, father?”

The war horns sounded, signalling the enemies were close. He didn’t respond and trotted off. Reid rode to my side, his expression a bit grim. 

“We are facing a war general for the first time in our lives. I’m nervous. You were barely able to beat the commander from last one.”

“Well, we don’t have to take the front. Father would deal with him. We just have to focus on cutting their troops off.”

Camilla trotted up to our side and bowed. Her politeness was kind sometimes and other times, it felt distant. 

“I have bad news, your highness.”

“Oh great! Not this again!”

“Reid, remind me again, when you became a prince?”

“Shut your face, Camilla.”

“You two stop arguing. Camilla, what’s the bad news?”

“I have received news that there are two war generals guarding Fort Turia as of now. General Boyle and General Irina, who is famously known as the beastmaster”. 

“Beastmaster? Like he’s more of a beast?”

“Thankfully, you’re handsome, Reid. If not…”

“Thank you… wait a minute!”

“Reid, beastmaster as in she controls beasts. I’ve heard of her herding wild beasts to battle. She decimates her enemies in minutes without having to fight but those who have gotten to fight her know her as the Queen of beasts,”  I intervened before the battle started in the camp. I couldn’t really understand why Reid and Camilla went at each other’s throats. 

“Then… can we even win?”

“We’ll have to count on father. I don’t think our troop would be able to survive. Make plans to conscript, Reid. We are going to stay at the back in this battle.”

“What if she has beasts that come out of the ground, targeting everyone including people at the back?”

Both I and Camilla stared at him like he had zero brains. I could understand why Camilla was always throwing jabs. 

“Things like those don’t exist.”

“But your highness, it could be possible! All I’m saying is that we should be careful!”

“... Right.”

The three of us felt the tremors that wracked the grounds. My father raised his sword and the battle horns sounded. Beside them were the flag bearers. 

“MEN, READY YOUR WEAPONS! ATTACK AND ANNIHILATE THEM ALL. FOR CASELLA!” He yelled at the top of his voice.

“FOR CASELLA!” A thunderous roar followed. 

The army took the first advance. I and Reid stared, confused. 

“Does he do that for every battle?”

“Ever since you left, he did. Everyone quite likes it.”

“Why does it sound so sinister?”

Camilla shrugged. She was about to leave but I stopped her. 

“Is your fiance present in the battle?”

“... I don’t know, your highness.”

“I hope he is. I am waiting on a rematch ”

“Then, I wish you are successful, your highness.” 

She trotted away without looking back. Camilla was hard to trust, especially since she was a spy with deep connections. Reid was confused with our interaction but I explained nothing. The battle was already going on. From the rear end, seeing the c*****e was….revolting, if I was true with myself. 

Is the war really worth it? They’re just dying for the greed of my father. 

I had the guts to admit that my father was the villain and his greed was why men were dropping like flies. Since I couldn’t do anything about it, I decided to profit off it, making sure I became King at all costs. 

When I looked on, I saw a new type of enemy entering the battle. They created most of the quake that the battlefield experienced. A herd of hyenas charged into the fray, tearing into the ill equipped soldiers. They tore a clean path, forsaking the ones that died to lucky strikes from the dying soldiers. Another herd followed after, leaving nothing alive in their path. 

The enemy soldiers stared clear of their path of attack so they weren’t caught in it. At the back of the second herd, I saw the figure of a woman atop a beast I assumed was a hyena. It was more than six times bigger than the other hyenas and a lot more bloodthirsty. The woman made sounds with her mouth, loud enough to reach the ends of the battlefield and whenever she did, the path of the herd shifted. She really was the beastmaster. 

I was thankful that we were not at the front; I don’t think anyone could survive the scourge of the hyenas. They were animals that always travelled in a large pack and were always hungry. How she tamed two entire herds was beyond me but I wasn’t interested in knowing. 

GRRR… GRRR… GRRR…

“Your highness, did you hear that?”

“Hear what?” 

“I just heard something growling! I was right, she did have beasts that could go underground. Be at alert everyone!” 

The rearguard looked at him like he was crazy but still heeded his command. It turned out to be the right choice because not a moment after, a hyena jumped at us out of nowhere.