Judging from the situation, the highland giants had trapped the princess in this valley. They were guarding the mountain ridges on both sides of the valley's entrance. The entrance to the valley should be heavily guarded. The guards on both sides of the mountain ridges were not very tight. Amon and Medanzo easily found their way up and began to analyze the situation in a low voice.
Amon was puzzled, "I found seven or eight giant archers on the mountain ridges near the valley entrance. But they were all asleep. How could they trap the princess?"
Metatro frowned and said, "That's not surprising. Everyone needs to rest. There must be people taking turns to keep watch at the entrance of the valley. Once they see Princess Sissila trying to break out, they'll send a signal or blow a horn. The guards will naturally wake up."
Amon nodded, "Yes, that should be the case. It's not surprising that we could find our way here. After all, it's surrounded by dense forests and cliffs. But the princess and the others are in the middle of the valley. They will be discovered as soon as they make a move. "
Metatro looked at the faint light of the bonfire in the valley and said, "Now that we are familiar with the terrain and the distribution of the guards, we can sneak in and inform them to let Princess Sissila leave the way we came from when the clouds cover the moon and the stars."
Amon frowned, "That may not be safe. Even if we sneak in the dark, we may still be discovered by detection magic. The foot of the mountain is an open field. How do you know that there are no mages among the guards of the giants? I think that Ussir is a mage. "
Medanzo also frowned, "Mage? He's probably a sorcerer too, isn't he? Can the sorcerers in the giants' tribe compare to you? Your magic should be able to hide your presence. I was just thinking of knocking out all the giant guards on this side of the mountain and sneaking over to bring the princess here. That would be a great achievement. "
Amon retorted, "Is there a way out from where we came from?"
Medanzo sighed and said, "That's right, there's no path at all. It's just a huge forest, mountain walls, and cliffs. Even the noble princess can't traverse it. I was wondering if I could carry the princess out, but it was too risky. If those savages chased after us from behind, we wouldn't be able to escape quickly. "
Amon asked, "It might be possible to carry one person on your back, but can you still protect the princess in case of an accident? Can you take all of the princess' guards from here? If not, why would they let someone carry the princess? If that would work, the guard who broke through the siege would have carried the Princess out of the mountain long ago. "
Medanzo smiled embarrassedly. "I was just thinking about it. I'm eager to make a contribution."
Amon pointed to the center of the valley and said, "Our advantage is that we know the distribution of the giant guards on this side of the ridge. I hope Gekait and the others can also find out the situation there. It will be much easier for us if we have to make a move. Don't forget our plan. We'll lay low until noon tomorrow. If we don't act according to plan, the others will not be able to react in time. "
Medanzo nodded, "You're right. My Amun will listen to you. But can we find a way to send a signal to Princess Sissila and the others? Let them know that reinforcements are coming. Then they'll know what's going on. "
Amon thought for a moment and said, "That's possible. Princess Sissila and the others should be able to receive my signal." As he said this, he raised his iron staff and pointed it at the center of the valley. He concentrated all his magic power in one direction, so that even Medanzo could not sense it.
Although Amon was only a fifth-level sorcerer and couldn't practice supreme magic yet, he had mastered and mastered the magic he was good at. He was at the peak of his skill, not to mention that he had the magical staff to help him. Although he didn't know what level Inanna was, he knew that she was proficient in message magic and was quite good at it. When she left with Gilgamesh, she had already disappeared into the distance, but her voice could still reach his ears. Even Amon did not have this ability.
The bonfire in the center of the valley was very far away. Amon activated his detection magic to the maximum to get a general idea of the situation. The guards around Princess Sissila had set up a temporary camp. They built a wall of rocks and tree trunks that was as tall as two people. It could withstand crossbow attacks from all directions. There was a bonfire inside the walls, and there were warriors standing guard. A tent had been set up on one side. As for the situation inside the tent, Amon could not clearly detect it. It was too far away, and there seemed to be a magic barrier blocking prying eyes.
… …
In the tent behind the wall, a man and a woman were talking. Parangons were placed in the corner of the tent to form a magic circle. It isolated the sound from the inside and outside of the tent.
The one sitting in the tent was Princess Sissila. Standing in front of her was a man less than thirty years old. This person should be very handsome, but he made people feel a little uncomfortable. It was not appropriate to describe a man as "coquettish". But this man's skin was too fair and delicate. His lips were red, and his eyes were narrow and long, giving him a coquettish feeling.
As they were talking, the man suddenly raised his head and looked in a direction, as if he had found something. Princess Sissila asked, "Peri, what's the matter?"
Peri narrowed his eyes, "Someone is using message magic to send us a signal. It's very far away, on the ridge over there."
Princess Sissila was surprised, "Who is it? What kind of signal is it?"
Peri replied, "I don't know who it is. It's impossible to sense it clearly from this distance. The person is very careful. He can restrain his magic power and direct it in this direction without disturbing the surroundings. The power is not hostile. It's just to inform us that he's coming. "
Princess Sissila frowned, "Is it a rescue mission? Could it be a mistake? "
Peri bowed and said: "My honorable Princess, do you not believe Peri?"
Princess Sissila smiled again, her expression indescribably charming, "My dear mage, how can I not trust you? You've successfully become a seventh-level supreme mage not long ago. Only I know about it. Why don't you announce it? Once the news is made public, your status will be very different. "
Peri also smiled. "To be able to serve you, Princess, is far more desirable than the achievements of a supreme mage. You know my ambition very well. Hiding my strength around you may be more beneficial to our plan. After all, a supreme mage is too eye-catching. There are many supreme mages in the capital, but there is only one princess like you. "
Princess Sissila put her hand on the back of the chair, "Peri, you are a smart person. If I can achieve my goal in the future, your future in the kingdom will be limitless. … What was that just now? Did a mage sneak in to rescue us? Who do you think it was? "
Peri's eyes narrowed even more, "In the Bablon Academy, the one who is most likely to become a seventh-level supreme mage is Gekait. He is Prince Benut's mentor and they are close friends. This time, he followed Prince Benut through the town of Arcade. He should be the one who sent the signal. "
Princess Sissila nodded with satisfaction, "You're really smart. You sent Claus to break out of the encirclement and deliver the message. Prince Benut came with Gekait, bypassing the guards of the giant warriors and sneaking into this place. … You see, when will they lose control of themselves? When the time comes, we will send our guards into the battlefield and lure them into attacking us. Will we be able to completely subdue them? "
Peri stroked the back of his hand, "Prince Benut is really a passionate man. He cares about his young and beautiful aunt. … Rest assured, Your Highness, I know the five of them very well. If we really have to fight, I'm sure we can subdue them. Moreover, those simple-minded highlanders will cause them trouble. There will soon be rumors in the capital that Prince Benut took advantage of the princess's trip to bribe a tribe of highland giants to assassinate you, and that Prince Benut was among them. … Your Highness, you must be magnanimous and explain for him so that everyone will be grateful and respectful to you. "
Princess Sissila said with a faint smile, "I will forgive his crimes, even if they are not crimes he has committed. Although Benut is the youngest of the princes, he is the most threatening one. He is smarter than his brothers and more popular. After this, I think his praiseworthy reputation will be called into question. … Gekait has already sent the signal. We don't need to respond. Let's just wait for the highlanders to attack them. "
Peri's smile was a little mysterious, "Those brutish giants are simple-minded, but they keep their word. They won't let us go until the goods are delivered. And Prince Benut came down so quickly … Your Highness, when do you think the goods will be delivered?"
Princess Sissila answered confidently, "At least ten days. If it's just money, it's easy. But the giants want such a large amount of daily necessities. It's impossible for a small town like Arcade to send them all in three days. … It'll take at least ten days to report to the city-state and send guards to escort the goods. "
Peri said, "Ussir is an interesting highlander. He has already organized the tribes, so they can take the goods and leave at any time. It should be enough for them to build a new home in the faraway fertile land. … You are really far-sighted. You gave Ussir a noble status and allowed him to learn magic, but gave him a noble fief in the Hittite Kingdom. "
Princess Sissila stopped smiling and said indifferently, "That is only the nominal territory of the Hittite Kingdom. Soon, it will become a battleground for all the kingdoms. The highlanders who are good at fighting have arrived in advance and built their homes under my guidance. Ussir has promised to lead his people to build a shrine for Marduc. I think the gods will be grateful, and the kingdom should be even more grateful to have such a chess piece. In the upcoming war between the kingdoms, the kingdom of Bablon will take the initiative, and I will also become an important decision-maker. This is only the first step of the plan. "
If Amon could hear this conversation from afar, how shocked would he be? However, the confident princess and the supreme mage Peri had misjudged two things. First, it was not Gekait who sent the signal, but Amon. Second, it took Mayor Tich only one night and half a day to prepare the goods and deliver them.
… …
Amon put away his staff and stood there for a long time, as if waiting for something. Medanzo asked in confusion, "What are you doing, Amun?"
Amon replied, "I just sent a signal over there with message magic to inform them that help has arrived, but I did not receive a reply."
Medanzo was surprised, "I'm a sorcerer too. Why didn't I notice anything?"
Amon smiled like a child, "You're still too young. This magic is very difficult. It's not a high level magic, but it's very clever. I have to use my staff to do it."
Medanzo praised in admiration, "You're really clever. You're always a miracle in my eyes. But can they reply to you? Even if they have mages, they may not be as clever as you. "
Amon frowned, "There's a sixth-level mage with Princess Sissila. Even if his message magic is not as good as mine, he should be able to receive the signal. I know Princess Sissila. She also knows magic. I don't know much about other things, but message magic is definitely better than mine. Maybe they don't know who we are. I don't have the ability to speak directly in their ears. Maybe they don't want to expose our location. In that case, let's move to another place. "
Amon led Medanzo to a place closer to the mouth of the valley, not far from the archers of the giant tribe. If they were to attack at noon the next day, they could eliminate the archers first and eliminate the biggest threat. Hopefully, Gekait and the others were doing the same thing on the opposite peak. They could attack from both sides and occupy the mouth of the valley. Then they could cover the princess's escape.
… …
While Amon was lurking quietly in the mountains, the inventory of the supplies on the plateau was still going on, and the powerful giants were sweating profusely. They could carry a carriage on their shoulders, but they were not good at counting and sorting. Fortunately, Ussir was there to give them orders. Otherwise, it would have been a mess.
Mayor Tich was chatting with Ussir, trying to get some information out of him. He was very curious about him, so he asked with a concerned look, "Ussir, are you also a giant? You don't look like one, but they all listen to you. "
Ussir looked a little embarrassed. He answered grumpily, "Why do you always ask me this question? I'm really a member of this tribe, except that I'm a little short. I was laughed at when I was a child, so I decided to leave the mountain and learn magic before returning to my tribe. " Then he changed his tone and said proudly, "Now my people worship me very much. They elected me as the leader of the united tribe. They think I'm the smartest and the most capable of them all."
Tich hurriedly said, "I see. My apologies for not recognizing you. You even dared to kidnap the princess of the kingdom. Let me ask you one more thing. Are you a sorcerer?"
Ussir shook his round head and said, "No, you misunderstand. I am a real second-level mage. I have received the permission of the shrine. In the main shrine of Marduc in the capital of Bablon, there is a record of me receiving the power awakening ritual."
This time it was Tich's turn to be shocked. He was tongue-tied for a long time before he asked, "Really? You … you're a respected mage? That's unbelievable! "
Ussir turned his head and stared at Tich with his round eyes, "What's so unbelievable about that? Mayor, if you don't believe me, you can go to the main shrine of Marduc in Bablon City and check their records to see if my name is there. "
Tich was just the mayor of a small town. He didn't have the authority to go to the main shrine of Marduc in the capital to check the records. Whether Ussir's words were true or not, it would only annoy him. Tich replied with a sullen face, "I'm talking about what you're doing now. Since you're a respected mage, you must have a hereditary title. Why would you kidnap the princess of the kingdom? This is betrayal. Even if you want to do something for your people, you can't do it like this. They are stupid. Are you stupid? It will only lead to disastrous consequences for the tribes. "
Ussir puffed out his chest and said, "Of course I have a reason. It's actually … I can't tell you. It's a secret." Suddenly, he seemed to realize that he had said too much. If he continued, he would spill the beans, so he stopped talking. No matter what Tich said, Ussir would always change the topic and not talk about the topic anymore.
… …
At dawn, Gekait, Uledo, and the other four mages finally climbed to the ridge on the other side of the valley. They hid in the dense forest to rest. There was a trace of tiredness in Gekait's eyes. He sat there quietly without saying a word. Looking at the others, they were all in a sorry state. There were small cuts on their clothes made by tree branches and rocks. Especially Peili, Gekait's student. His pants were torn and his ankle was sprained. He even licked a wound on his leg. Fortunately, he used magic in time to heal himself.
They were all pampered nobles in the capital. This was the first time they had to travel through dangerous mountains at night. Compared to Amon and Medanzo, who were used to doing this, it was already admirable that they were willing to endure such hardship.
After a short rest, Uledo said to Gekait, "The guards here are not strict. There are no giant warriors nearby."
Gekait pointed to the surrounding terrain and said, "The giants can't guard every corner of this vast forest. There is no other way out. You can't get out of here if you're not familiar with the terrain. Hide yourselves and don't move. I'll check the surroundings. It's almost dawn. Be careful. "
Gekait quietly searched along the ridge with his staff in hand. The situation here was similar to the one on the other side. On the ridge near the mouth of the valley, there were about a dozen archers of the barbarian tribe. Gekait didn't dare to go too close. He quietly retreated and discussed with Uledo for a long time. Their conclusion was similar to that of Amon and Medanzo.
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