The northeastern territories of the Kingdom of Aldo bordered the formidable Rocky Mountains, the highest mountain range in the known world. Between these towering mountains and the kingdom's center lay the vast plateau known as the Eastern Highlands. This land was technically part of the kingdom but was home to numerous barbarian tribes—some large, some small—that had never been assimilated into Aldo's culture. A few of these tribes feigned allegiance to the crown, while others were openly rebellious, raiding the borders constantly. The kingdom had never been successful in conquering them, thwarted by the inhospitable landscape, lack of provisions, and the ever-present threat of altitude sickness. Fortunately, the tribes were not organized, frequently warring with one another, which had kept the kingdom safe thus far.
This year, however, was different. When spring arrived and planting season drew near, the tribes, hereditary enemies, united to launch a concerted attack. The kingdom's border garrison was caught off guard, and by the time news arrived at Rollman Fort, events on the highlands had taken a grave turn for the worse.
In an emergency council, the kingdom's high command decided that the eldest princess would lead the army to drive off the invaders. While the generals had a feeling that something was not quite right—having never witnessed such a coalition of the tribes—there was no time to investigate. With spring planting in the balance, haste was critical.
The makeshift tribal alliance, vast though it was, was no equal for Aldo's professional regular army. After more than a month of savage fighting, the barbarians were on the verge of being pushed back onto the plateau when disaster struck—"Greedy Wolf" Giles, a notorious warlord, turned the tables.
In a highly guarded central tent at the kingdom's military camp, the mood was tense as the generals gathered for an emergency meeting.
"Your Highness, generals," began a man with a thin face, hooked nose, and neatly trimmed mustache, "that's all I know. You all have a general idea of the situation in the capital."
There was a thick silence in the tent, broken only by the sound of anxious breaths. Finally, a young general with characteristic brown hair spoke up, his voice cutting through the air. "At least His Majesty has not fallen into the rebels' hands. Is he safe? Where is he?"
"Rest assured, His Majesty is safe. The imperial priest and the court doctor are attending to him," replied Viscount Klein.
The young general nodded but chose not to press on about the implication of the betrayal of the royal guards. Trust between ranks was fragile, and there were accusations of suspected infiltrators among them.
As the silence lingered, the other generals began to vocalize their frustration.
"I want troops now! We must crush these rebels and recapture the capital!" one exclaimed.
"You mustn't act rashly," countered another. "Our war with the barbarians is not over yet. Splitting our forces would be a grave mistake."
"Let those scum run amok? Don't forget the military supplies in the capital—they're ripe for the taking!" another chimed in.
The arguments intensified, voices clashing in discussion until, at last, Princess Catherine Rodney, who shone in sparkling knight armor, silenced them with commanding presence. Golden hair cascaded down her shoulders, and piercing blue eyes were focused on the map spread out before her.
"Enough," she said, her voice commanding, requiring attention. "Before we move, we must know the kingdom's broader reactions. Earl Merlin, what have you discovered?"
Earl Merlin rose upright, nodding his head in acknowledgment. "Aside from those who have joined Giles, no other nobles or factions have openly declared their support for him. It's odd. Despite Giles' apparent strength, despite a surprise attack, our chances of winning are still 50-50. Fortunately, Duke Dodge has pledged allegiance to the crown and will fight against Giles."
There was a communal sigh of relief around the room. The Duke's territories were a valuable buffer between Giles and the capital.
"But with Giles' rebellion, other dark forces have been awakened. Pirates on the northwest coast and bandits from the southern mountains are growing bolder, and anarchy is rampant. Most of the lords are occupied with their own issues and are not in a position to offer their assistance to the crown. Others are waiting to see which way the wind will blow."
"Those traitorous scoundrels must be taught a lesson!" a general slammed his fist onto the table.
"What is our next move?" Princess Catherine asked, her gaze unwavering.
Klein spoke up, "Your Highness, our first priority must be to recapture the capital. If the king remains a captive, it will severely undermine the morale of both the army and the people. Fortunately, Duke Dodge's resistance gives us an opportunity."
Catherine nodded, recognizing the wisdom of his words. She straightened, a determined look on her face as all eyes turned to her.
"Lester, take a day and night ride of a thousand cavalry to Dodgeland. Ensure the old Duke has adequate defenses."
"Yes, Your Highness! We'll keep the king safe!" Lester said, determination in his voice.
"Horman, send your scouts to the capital to gather intelligence on the rebels. Report immediately."
"Understood!" Horman replied.
"Dawn, inform Chief Zherov that he may proceed with his strategy. Should he succeed, he shall be rightfully proclaimed the Earl of the Highlands."
"At once, Your Highness."
"The rest of you, adhere to the plan we have mapped out. We must end this war in ten days."
"By your command," the generals replied.
As the meeting was adjourned and the generals parted ways to fulfill their orders, Earl Merlin remained behind. He knelt before the princess, his face a mask of shame.
"Your Highness, I have failed. I did not anticipate the rebellion in time, and now the capital is lost along with His Majesty. I am worthy of punishment."
"You do bear responsibility," she replied seriously, "but punishment can wait. We must occupy ourselves with the threats ahead of us. Our intelligence network will place top priority from now on in finding out as much as possible about Giles and his insurgents. We can't afford any more lapses."
"I will redeem my mistakes, Your Highness," he vowed.
"And keep a close watch on those lords who are still deciding. I don't want any more surprises behind our lines."
"Yes, and I have a thought regarding the local lords."
"Let's hear it."
"To those who have yet to show their loyalty, we need to employ both open and secret methods. Behind the scenes, I will increase surveillance. Openly, we can send royal commissioners to their territories to publicize Giles' treason while summoning them to rally to the crown."
"That's a sound scheme. We'll turn the exodus of nobles fleeing the capital to our own good. You will be in full charge of this enterprise."
"Understood. I'll get started right away."