They had finally arrived. As the Yarzat banners crested the last hill, the city of Turogontoli emerged from the rolling horizon.
Alpheo reined in his horse for a moment, letting the rest of the column catch up as he took in the sight.
He knew this place well, not by person mind you; this was the first time he set foot on these lands.
His knowledge of the area came from the intel he received from Lucius' agents, who, of course, put down in ink everything that they knew: terrain, castles, and the number of soldiers in the garrison.
But more importantly, Alpheo had studied the relations between the local lords, memorized grudges and alliances.
From those studies, one fact stood out above the rest: the lord of Turogontoli and the crown were not on friendly terms.
Whether it was born from a personal slight, a feud over taxes, or some tangle of bloodlines, Alpheo could not say for certain. But he didn't need to know the cause to exploit it.
