Chapter 178 - Translation

Chapter 178: Diplomatic Mission Over the next couple of weeks, Leon and Alix were allowed to do their own thing for the most part, which mostly consisted of Leon getting the two to stay in their room and train. They were taken around to meet many of Aquillius’ other subordinate diplomats, but that hardly took much out of their day, so there was plenty of time to also explore the city and the citadel. But, the relatively laidback days quickly came to an end the morning that Aquillius and his team were to depart for the Border Mountains, with Leon and Alix in tow. To that end, the two left their rooms early in the morning, ate a hearty breakfast in the private cafeteria, then made their way over to the neighboring building. They had spent the previous day packing, but since they were only scheduled to be gone for a week at most, their packs were fairly light. However, Leon had also done some work on cleaning and polishing up his armor, so the black Magmic Steel gleamed in the light of the morning sun. He hadn’t gotten around to doing any more enchanting work on the armor, but he’d made the time to inscribe the bow over his shoulder with three runes forming an enchantment that more than doubled his effective range. There was a dedicated room on the ground floor of the diplomatic building for gathering a team together before departing. When Leon and Alix arrived, the entire team save for Lucilius had beaten them there. Aquillius was near the front, chatting with Eleanor, Juliana, and Antonius, while their squires and the one hundred-man company that would act as their guards were sitting on the ground and resting up before the mission got underway. Just behind the soldiers were three wheel-less carts loaded with supplies, including the presents that had been bought for the giant chieftains. “Sir Leon! Miss Alix!” Aquillius called out once he saw the two. Leon walked over and joined the conversing knights, while Alix took a seat next to the other squires. “Ready for your first diplomatic expedition?” Eleanor asked Leon with an encouraging smile. “As I’ll ever be,” Leon answered. “You made it through a Valeman invasion, I think you can handle some reasonably friendly giants,” Antonius said. “We’re going to get moving as soon as Lucilius arrives,” Aquillius said. “I sent him off to finish a few last bits of paperwork to inform Prince Trajan of our departure, and he should be back shortly.” Leon guessed the second part of Aquillius’ statement was for his benefit, as he couldn’t imagine the others didn’t know where Lucilius was. “Is there anything in particular I should be on the watch for in the Border Mountains?” Leon asked. “Hmm,” Antonius said with a thoughtful expression. “There aren’t a lot of predatory creatures up there, but there is the odd mountain lion and a great many griffins. They rarely mess with humans, so no particular need to watch out for them. The real threat in those mountains are the stone giants, and I’m not expecting them to give us too much trouble.” Leon nodded, feeling some slight relief. The Frozen Mountains in the north were exceptionally dangerous, being filled with all manner of monstrous beings, and so Leon had long since come to associate mountains with grave danger. Still, he didn’t imagine he’d be getting too much sleep until they returned to the Horns despite Antonius’ assurances. About fifteen minutes after Leon and Alix arrived, Lucilius returned. As he handed a few papers to Aquillius, all of the resting soldiers and squires got to their feet and started to pick up their packs. Several soldiers tossed their things onto the carts and grabbed a pair of handles on the sides. The giant air runes carved onto the bottom of the carts made them almost trivial to transport, despite their heavy load. However, Leon did note that the soldiers didn’t look too happy to be pushing carts, regardless of how easy it was. After another couple of minutes, Aquillius turned to the entire group and said, “Let’s get moving!” He then led the knights and their squires out the front door while the soldiers and the carts went out the back. “Are we not going as one group?” Leon asked curiously, seeing the soldiers departing through a different door. “The carts won’t fit through the front, and a sixth-tier knight is hardly going to go out the back, is he?” Eleanor whispered. “We’ll meet up again outside the citadel,” Juliana curtly added. “The walls extend from here all the way to the Northern Horn, so we’ll be walking across its battlements to reach the Border Mountains,” Lucilius explained. Leon blinked in confusion and asked, “How big are the walls that they allow for foot traffic?!” “The last wall is the biggest at seventy feet tall and more than forty wide,” Lucilius answered. “More than wide enough for us to walk across.” Leon had to agree, thinking to himself, ‘Forty feet wide might as well be a raised road instead of a wall!’ The group made their way through the streets and open baileys of the citadel until they found themselves at the northern gate. As he did upon arrival at the port of Ariminium, he marveled at the tremendous defenses of the Bull’s Horns. The north side of the hill had been sculpted by earth mages into a mesa-like formation, so the group had to pass through two massive portcullises defended by an equally massive gatehouse, across a drawbridge to a tall tower, then take a hard right and over another drawbridge to reach the top of the wall. They had to pass through two additional portcullises in the tower, and another two portcullises in the gatehouse on the wall. Looking back, Leon could see that there weren’t any other gates on the north side of the citadel, leaving that one deathtrap of a route to get past the citadel’s walls. But, once they were past all those bridges and portcullises, they were on the wall. Unlike the black stone of the palatial keep in the citadel or the whitewashed limestone bricks of the diplomatic building, the entire wall had been constructed out of concrete mixed with volcanic ash. This made it extremely strong, as well as resistant to most fire magic, which was the element of choice for most besieging armies when trying to penetrate walls. Leon’s previous thought of the wall almost being a raised road wasn’t too off the mark, as there was a clear path made of light grey stone tiles running down the center of the dark grey ramparts for people to walk along. Taking a glance over the east side of the wall, Leon could see the other two walls that formed the border of the Bull Kingdom. There were only about thirty or forty feet between the walls, and each one was shorter than the one directly to its west, allowing each wall to fire down upon the one to its east if an enemy ever managed to seize one of them. Leon also noted battlements on both sides of the ramparts in case an enemy were to gain access to the area between the walls, as well as small machicolations for archers to shoot anyone at the foot of the wall. “This place really has been fortified…” Leon said. Hearing him, Antonius said, “Of course it has! What you see is the cumulative efforts of more than a thousand years of hard work! I don’t think there’s a Kingdom in Aeterna who could make it past these walls!” “Careful there, buddy,” Lucilius cautioned, “saying such a definitive thing all but guarantees that our defenses will be breached!” “Since when were you so superstitious? Oh, don’t look now, Luc, but I think I see a cracked mirror!” Antonius sarcastically responded. The group continued on, walking the entire five-mile length of the wall in about an hour and a half. They passed through dozens of towers that doubled as gatehouses and Leon saw that there were thousands of men on the wall—the Legion clearly wasn’t understaffing this place as they had at Fort 127. The Northern Horn was much the same as the Southern Horn, only without the city. The main castle was up on a large hill close to the mountains sculpted into a mesa, and within its gigantic walls were more than a dozen baileys forming what might as well have been a small city by itself. From what little he could see of it as Aquillius’ group passed through, the only thing that was missing from the Northern Horn that the Southern Horn had was the titanic palatial keep and the diplomatic building. By noon, the group had made it all the way to the western gates of the Northern Horn. Leaving the northern half of the fortress was just as much of a chore as entering the Southern Horn had been, with multiple portcullises, gatehouses, and drawbridges, as well as a long concrete ramp down to the plain between the Horns, interspersed with yet more gatehouses. But, once they were through, they were finally close enough to the Border Mountains for Leon and Alix to get a good look at them. Immediately, Leon found some of his assumptions being challenged, as the Border Mountains barely resembled the Frozen Mountains that he knew so well. Instead of great boulders, immense lumps of earth, snowy peaks, and the occasional mountain forest, the Border Mountains were comprised of millions of towering hexagonal basalt pillars. Most were fused and twisted together, forming steep cliffs and deep crevices. The group halted near the bottom of the ramp and waited for the supplies and Antonius’ company of soldiers to catch up. Fortunately, they only had to wait for a few minutes before the carts and soldiers appeared on the road heading toward the ramp. “Is everyone here?” Antonius asked the company Centurion, who responded in the affirmative. “Good, then get those supplies off the carts and let’s get into those mountains!” The soldiers grumbled a little about being used as pack mules, but they did as ordered and started to unload the carts and carry everything themselves. The carts were left at a Legion post house near the ramp and the group started walking into the mountains. They barely walked a quarter mile before the dirt and grass beneath Leon’s feet gave way to the hexagonal basalt pillars, which were short enough to almost be steps leading upward. However, there was a large amount of winding the group had to do in order to keep going, as there were many taller pillars forming sheer cliffs that blocked their way. An hour into their trek, they entered the mountains themselves. There was some dirt here and there with weeds and grass, but for the most part, the only thing that could be seen were black pillars. Their path was rough and narrow, only allowing for one person to continue at a time in many places. More often than he cared to count, Leon had to proceed with one shoulder pressed up against a cliff, and the other hanging over the dark abyss of a deep crevice. Eventually, the group arrived at the top of a mountain where the pillars formed a reasonably flat surface and stopped. Leon noticed six particularly large pillars on the rim of the mountaintop that didn’t look natural. Seeing Leon walk up to one for examination, Aquillius said, “This is where we’re meeting the giants. It’s a meeting place they established to be neutral ground and is actually where we met for our first talks.” “I thought these looked a little out of place,” Leon said as he reached out and lightly touched one of the large pillars. Just as his fingers brushed up against the pillar, the group heard a deep rumbling coming from somewhere in the cliffs further down the mountain. For a moment, Leon thought that he had accidentally caused something to happen, especially when, several minutes later, the ground began to shake. He quickly stepped back away from the pillar and started to look around with a not insignificant amount of panic, but he quickly calmed himself when the diplomats seemed completely unfazed. “The stone giants are coming,” Aquillius said, casting his gaze down the mountain at a specific rocky passage between the cliffs. Leon followed his eyes and saw, emerging from the crevice, six stone giants appear. !

**Chapitre 178 : Mission diplomatique** Durant les deux semaines qui suivirent, Leon et Alix eurent tout loisir de vaquer à leurs occupations, ce qui se résuma principalement à des séances d'entraînement dans leur chambre, sur l'insistance de Leon. Ils firent la connaissance des autres diplomates subalternes d'Aquillius, mais ces présentations furent expéditives, leur laissant ainsi du temps pour explorer la cité et la citadelle. Cependant, cette période de relative tranquillité prit fin le matin où Aquillius et son équipe durent se rendre aux Montagnes Frontalières, emmenant Leon et Alix avec eux. Tous deux quittèrent leur chambre à l'aube, prirent un copieux petit-déjeuner dans la cafétéria réservée au personnel, puis se dirigèrent vers le bâtiment adjacent. Leurs bagages, préparés la veille, étaient légers, leur absence ne devant excéder une semaine. Leon avait toutefois consacré du temps à lustrer son armure, dont l'acier magmatique noir luisait désormais sous les premiers rayons du soleil. Bien qu'il n'eût pas pu y ajouter d'enchantements supplémentaires, il avait gravé trois runes sur son arc, doublant ainsi sa portée effective. Un local situé au rez-de-chaussée du bâtiment diplomatique servait de point de rassemblement avant les départs. Lorsque Leon et Alix y pénétrèrent, seul Lucilius manquait à l'appel. Aquillius s'entretenait près de l'entrée avec Eleanor, Juliana et Antonius, tandis que leurs écuyers et la centurie chargée de leur sécurité patientaient, assis sur le sol. Derrière les soldats s'alignaient trois chariots dépourvus de roues, chargés de vivres et de présents destinés aux chefs géants. « Sir Leon ! Mademoiselle Alix ! » s'exclama Aquillius en les apercevant. Leon rejoignit les chevaliers tandis qu'Alix prenait place parmi les écuyers. « Prêt pour ta première expédition diplomatique ? » lui demanda Eleanor avec un sourire encourageant. « Aussi prêt qu'on peut l'être », répondit-il. « Après avoir survécu à l'invasion des Hommes des Vallées, quelques géants plutôt pacifiques ne devraient pas t'effrayer », fit remarquer Antonius. « Nous partirons dès l'arrivée de Lucilius, annonça Aquillius. Je l'ai chargé de finaliser les documents informant le Prince Trajan de notre départ. Il ne devrait plus tarder. » Leon comprit que cette précision lui était destinée, les autres étant déjà au courant. « Y a-t-il des dangers spécifiques à redouter dans les Montagnes Frontalières ? » s'enquit Leon. Antonius réfléchit un instant avant de répondre : « Les prédateurs y sont rares – quelques lions des montagnes et des griffons, qui évitent généralement les humains. La vraie menace vient des géants de pierre, mais je doute qu'ils nous causent des ennuis. » Leon hocha la tête, rassuré. Les Montagnes Gelées du nord grouillaient de créatures monstrueuses, et il associait instinctivement les reliefs montagneux au danger. Malgré les assurances d'Antonius, il doutait de pouvoir dormir paisiblement avant leur retour aux Cornes. Une quinzaine de minutes plus tard, Lucilius fit son apparition. Tandis qu'il remettait des documents à Aquillius, soldats et écuyers se levèrent et saisirent leurs bagages. Les chariots, chargés par plusieurs hommes, révélèrent leur particularité : d'immenses runes aériennes gravées sous leur plateforme en facilitaient le transport malgré leur poids. Leon nota cependant que les soldats n'arboraient guère d'enthousiasme à pousser ces véhicules, quelle qu'en fût la facilité. Peu après, Aquillius se tourna vers l'assemblée : « En route ! » Les chevaliers et leurs écuyers empruntèrent l'entrée principale tandis que soldats et chariots sortaient par l'arrière. « Nous ne partons pas ensemble ? » s'étonna Leon en observant la séparation. « Les chariots ne passent pas par l'avant, et un chevalier de sixième niveau ne sortirait pas par les cuisines, n'est-ce pas ? » murmura Eleanor. « Nous nous rejoindrons hors de la citadelle », précisa Juliana d'un ton sec. Lucilius ajouta : « Les murs s'étendent jusqu'à la Corne du Nord. Nous les emprunterons pour gagner les Montagnes Frontalières. » Leon cligna des yeux, interloqué. « Ces murs sont assez larges pour qu'on y marche ?! » « Le dernier atteint soixante-dix pieds de haut et quarante de large, répondit Lucilius. Plus que suffisant pour notre groupe. » Leon admit son étonnement, songeant : *Quarante pieds de large – c'est pratiquement une chaussée surélevée plutôt qu'une muraille !* Leur progression à travers les cours de la citadelle les mena à la porte nord. Comme lors de son arrivée à Ariminium, Leon contempla, médusé, les défenses colossales des Cornes du Taureau. Le flanc nord de la colline, sculpté en mesa par des mages de la terre, imposait un parcours complexe : deux herses massives protégées par un châtelet, un pont-levis menant à une tour imposante, puis un virage abrupt avant un second pont-levis accédant au sommet du mur. Deux herses supplémentaires dans la tour et deux autres dans le châtelet complétaient ce dédale défensif. En se retournant, Leon constata l'absence de tout autre accès nord, transformant ce passage en piège mortel pour d'éventuels assaillants. Une fois les obstacles franchis, ils foulèrent enfin le mur. Contrairement à la pierre noire du donjon palatial ou aux briques calcaires du bâtiment diplomatique, la muraille était constituée de béton mélangé à de la cendre volcanique, le rendant particulièrement résistant – notamment à la magie pyrique, souvent employée par les assiégeants. L'image d'un mur-rue se confirma : une allée de dalles claires serpentait au centre des remparts sombres, facilitant la marche. Vers l'est, Leon distingua deux autres murs marquant la frontière du Royaume, chacun plus bas que son voisin occidental pour permettre des tirs croisés. Créneaux et mâchicoulis complétaient ce dispositif. « Ces fortifications sont impressionnantes... », murmura Leon. Antonius l'entendit. « Évidemment ! Ce que tu vois est le fruit de mille ans d'efforts. Aucun royaume d'Aeterna ne pourrait les franchir ! » « Méfie-toi des affirmations absolues, avertit Lucilius. Elles portent malheur ! » « Depuis quand es-tu superstitieux ? Tiens, ne te retourne pas, mais je crois apercevoir un miroir brisé ! » riposta Antonius, sarcastique. Le groupe parcourut les cinq milles de muraille en une heure et demie, traversant des dizaines de tours-châtelets où stationnaient des milliers d'hommes – preuve que la Légion prenait ces défenses bien plus au sérieux que le Fort 127. La Corne du Nord ressemblait à sa jumelle méridionale, sans la ville. Le château principal dominait une colline transformée en mesa, ses immenses murs abritant une douzaine de cours formant presque une cité miniature. Leon nota surtout l'absence de donjon palatial et de bâtiment diplomatique. À midi, ils atteignirent les portes ouest de la Corne du Nord. Leur sortie fut aussi laborieuse que leur entrée dans la Corne du Sud : herses, châtelets, ponts-levis et une longue rampe de béton ponctuée de postes de garde. Enfin libres, ils purent apercevoir les Montagnes Frontalières. Leon dut revoir ses préjugés : contrairement aux Montagnes Gelées qu'il connaissait – avec leurs pics enneigés et forêts clairsemées –, celles-ci se composaient de millions de colonnes basaltiques hexagonales, entrelacées en falaises abruptes et crevasses profondes. Le groupe fit halte près de la rampe pour attendre les provisions et les soldats. Les chariots apparurent rapidement, et Antonius ordonna : « Déchargez les chariots et en route ! » Malgré les grognements des soldats jouant les bêtes de somme, les provisions furent réparties et les chariots confiés à un poste de la Légion. La progression dans les montagnes débuta. Dès le premier quart de mille, l'herbe céda la place aux colonnes basaltiques, assez basses pour servir de marches. Leur avancée devint sinueuse, les falaises obstruant souvent le passage. Après une heure de marche, ils pénétrèrent le cœur des montagnes. Quelques touffes d'herbe persistaient, mais le paysage n'était plus qu'un enchevêtrement de colonnes noires. Les sentiers étroits obligeaient parfois à progresser en frôlant les précipices. Enfin, ils atteignirent un plateau où six piliers artificiels bordaient une surface plane. « C'est ici que nous rencontrerons les géants, annonça Aquillius. Un lieu neutre pour les négociations. » « Je me doutais que ces piliers n'étaient pas naturels », commenta Leon en effleurant l'un d'eux. Au contact de la pierre, un grondement sourd ébranla les falaises. Le sol trembla quelques instants plus tard, faisant sursauter Leon qui s'écarta vivement – avant de se calmer en voyant l'impassibilité des diplomates. « Les géants de pierre arrivent », déclara Aquillius, fixant une crevasse. Leon suivit son regard et vit six silhouettes colossales émerger des profondeurs.