Steel and Sorrow: Rise of the Mercenary king-Chapter 389: Change of Strategy

The once-perilous routes that that Yarzat’s merchant ships took , filled with supplies for the Romelian Armada, finally found respite with the arrival of the ten ships Lord Caius had dispatched to guard them .

Of course, this newfound security came at a cost, which was bore from them, apart naturally from the lowered price they were forced to sell the grain, there was also the problem of time.

Where once merchants could set out individually as soon as their holds were packed, eager to collect payment and prepare for their next voyage, the protection of the fleet introduced strict schedules. Now, convoys departed only on designated dates, carefully timed to allow the warships to escort the flotilla to the besieged isle and return for the next group. These intervals, spaced by necessity, meant fewer trips and, consequently, reduced profits for the merchants.

Despite this limitation, the trade-off was clear. Though they could no longer dictate their own pace, the guarantee of safety outweighed the loss. No longer did they have to gamble with their livelihoods—or their lives—against the ever-present threat of pirates or enemy ships. Their cargo reached its destination intact, and they returned with their vessels unscathed, as lone pirate ships steered clear from them as soon as they caught sight of Romelian ships.

The grumbling among the merchants was minimal, tempered by the relief of no longer sailing with the specter of destruction looming over them. After all, even reduced profits were far better than facing the potential of losing everything, including their own lives, to the cruel whims of the sea and those that thrived on it.

Of course if such changes were a boon for the merchants they were naturally the opposite for the pirates

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Darron’s boots crunched against the coarse gravel of the secluded isle’s shore as he approached the small command tent, his jacket still damp from the sea spray. His ship had returned from another successful foray, and he had made his way here as instructed, following the discreet directions given to all junior captains under Blake’s personal command. Unlike the rest of the Confederation fleet, gathered at a more distant anchorage to avoid detection, Blake had chosen this remote spot to operate quietly and maintain flexibility over his core force for small-time operations.

The sea near Harmway was dotted with a constellation of islands, ranging from modest specks of land barely large enough to support a few trees to more substantial formations with jagged cliffs and hidden coves. Many of these islands were so small and insignificant that they had never been mapped, let alone named. They simply existed, unbothered and unremarkable,which made them perfect as a place to anchor safely for a few days without attracting attention.

Of course no force could stay here too long , as there were no water sources to drink from, still they were perfect for Blake who was planning attacks over the convoys bringing food to the Romelian invading force.

Pushing aside the tent flap, Darron found Blake bent over a weathered table, scrutinizing the maps that detailed the waters surrounding Harmway, alongside him was a man that he recognised as Blake’s long time friend. The High Admiral looked up briefly, acknowledging his arrival with a nod before turning back to the charts. Blake’s clean-shaven face, now slightly weathered by salt and sun, bore the same calm, calculating expression Darron had come to respect over the years.

"Well, it seems like the feast is over, Cap—er, I mean High Admiral," Darron announced, standing at ease but with a trace of nervous energy in his stance. ’’Good afternoon to you lord Kroll’’ He said with a small bow, to the man who answered with a quick nod as acceptance of the greeting.

Blake glanced up again, this time letting out a dry chuckle as he leaned back from the table. "It was bound to happen," he said, his tone resigned but still laced with confidence. He scratched his chin thoughtfully, the faint sound of stubble betraying his usual meticulous grooming. "Though I’ve told you before, Darron, there’s no need for titles when not in official meetings .We go a long way back, you and I.Still , enough about that.I suppose you bring news?"

"The enemy’s supply ships are no longer running their routes freely," Darron began, his expression turning serious. "They’ve started gathering them into convoys, guarded by a detachment of their fleet. It’s clear they’ve adjusted to our tactics."

Blake nodded, his fingers tracing the coastline on the map before him. "Expected, but unfortunate. That’ll make it harder for our smaller ships to pick them off without significant risk. Anything else?"

’’No, that was all, Captain," Darron said, standing at attention, his tone still excited by his new-given power

Blake nodded, his eyes still fixed on the map sprawled across the weathered table in front of him. The flickering lantern light cast sharp shadows over the parchment, accentuating the intricate detailing of the waters and islands near Harmway. After a moment, he glanced up, his expression softening slightly. freeweɓnovel.cøm

"Very well," Blake replied, his voice steady but carrying an air of finality. "You are relieved, then. Get some rest while you can."

Darron offered a curt nod, his posture relaxing as he turned to leave the tent.

Left alone Kroll turned to Blake. "Our current plan of action is no longer feasible, it seems "

He tapped one of the maps with a calloused finger, pointing to a series of tiny islands scattered across the sea near Harmway. "The raids worked because their convoys were fragmented. Ships moved in twos or threes, making it easy to evade their patrols, hit isolated targets, and retreat before any information could get back to the main fleet. But now..."

He leaned back, exhaling heavily. "They’re grouping their ships into larger convoys, and those patrols are becoming more coordinated. We can’t keep slipping through undetected. If we try the same tactics, it’s only a matter of time before we’re caught out."

Blake listened in silence, his sharp eyes fixed on Kroll as he spoke. When the man finished, Blake shifted his gaze back to the map, his fingers tracing the coastline of Harmway.

"I know very well we can’t win by doing this," he said finally, his tone calm but resolute. "But it served its purpose. We managed to chip away at their naval strength without losing a single one of our ships. Every ship they’ve lost is one less to blockade us or ferry troops to the island."

Inside the tent, Blake leaned back in his chair, the worn wood creaking under his weight as he looked at Kroll. The flicker of the lantern light reflected in his sharp, calculating eyes.

"There’s still a little bit of time before our fleet congregates fully," Blake began, his tone deliberate. He tapped the map with a finger "That means we’ve got a window for one last trick before we have to commit the whole fleet forward."

Kroll crossed his arms, "Whatever trick you’re planning, can’t it wait for the whole fleet to assemble? I think it will have much more success to succeed at full force’’

Blake shook his head firmly. "We can’t do that. As soon as the fleet’s ready, we won’t waste a single day before sailing into battle. That’s why anything we’re going to do, any move we’re going to make, has to happen before we’re at full strength. Once the entire fleet is on the water, we’re committed, and our element of surprise will be gone, plus the small captains won’t have the patience for strategy different , from sailing straight toward the enemy."

Kroll’s brow furrowed, his fingers idly tracing one of the islands marked on the map,. "What kind of move are you talking about?"

Blake leaned forward, his voice lowering as though the very walls of the tent could betray their words. "We know where they’re anchored. We’ve had eyes on their movements for weeks now, and they still don’t know where we’re hiding. That’s an advantage we’ll lose the moment we sail in force. But if we strike now—before they know what’s coming—we could tilt the odds even further in our favor."

Kroll leaned back slightly, his eyes narrowing as he studied Blake. "What sort of plan are you thinking about? One that not only doesn’t need the entire fleet but would somehow be disadvantaged by it? "

Blake smirked, the faintest hint of satisfaction creeping into his expression. "The kind of plan where precision matters more than numbers," he said, his tone deliberate. "You see, everything we’ve done up to now—every raid, every ship we’ve harried —hasn’t just been about trying to starve the Romelians.Since the start I knew it would have been impossible. It’s been about preparation."

Kroll raised an eyebrow. "Preparation? For what?"

Blake leaned forward, the smile he usually has when he thinks of something devious already lying on his lips "For the same thing that two sides do in wars since the dawn of time , killing those on the opponent side.’’