Way of Overlord-Chapter 653: Betraying

Shaking his head, Jabali said to Khunbish

"You have done all you could. And you do not know whether the Nergui tribe would send more men here. Karaldyk is not even the largest settlement of the Nergui. There is a high chance that the Nergui tribe could abandoned it and send an order to retreat"

"And I have heard they are assembling many more men and many tribes and clans all over the western region is sending reinforcement"

"Right now, the entire west is gathering. While some of them might want to fish in troubled water, most of them wanted to drive away Brolgadhr tribe away. This is beyond you and me. Now, keep yourself safe and ready to retreat"

Khunbish shook his head

"Yes, if this was any other place, I would believe that the Nergui tribe would abandon it and choose to centralize the forces for a grand decisive battle near the Nergui hills or the valleys around the Nergui settlement"

However, Khunbish sighed

"But.....not this place. This place is special. And the people here are special"

Jabali face hardened.

He understands what Khunbish is trying to say and the only thing he could is sigh

"Here....." he paused for a moment and then added "This is the place of the families of the great nobles of Nergui. They are all related. The moment the chief made such decision, then the tripartite alliance against Brolgadhr could not win."

Khunbish saw things more clearly.

He did not trust the Ultar tribe, nor did he trust the Chagai tribe. But he knew that once either of these two tribes falls, Nergui would also fall.

Of course, this distrust did not come out of nowhere. It is not because of bias or because of some personal hatred.

This is something that both he and his teacher agree on.

Between Ultar and Chagai tribe, his teacher distrusted Ultar the most. Not because the people of Nergui tribe have hatred against them, though that is one of the factors.

The true reason is none other than the fact that the interest of Ultar and Nergui could easily dissolve.

Chagai on the other hand could still be relied upon but Ultar...the chief of Ultar could he have so many ideas and could he have the breadth of vision that the Chagai tribe chief have?

Even the Nergui tribe chief did not have such a breadth of mind.

How could they expect Ultar tribe who is very militaristic and warmongering could hold off their greedy hearts of they see that the Nergui tribe is in a dire strait?

If the three stands, all three of them stands together. If even one of them falls, the balance would tilt heavily to the Brolgadhr tribe

The balance has always been on the Chadha tribe.

Khunbish mind is thinking all of this.

He could see how all of this could affect him, and the tribe but more importantly how it would affect his teacher

His teacher is loyal to the tribe.

And there is nothing more tragic than this.

Belarion could succeed. And if they succeed, then Chagai front would sooner or later fall. This is his conviction.

And then the west would be conquered.

Once the Khan took even one of their regions, the two tribe would be at a disadvantage

And if he took all three of their regions, the west is then basically conquered by him

"Andawan, I could not let you do this" Jabali hold him tight. Khunbish look at his brother and his eyes narrows

"What are you doing?"

Jabali look around and look at Khunbish.

They did not say anything but the fact that Jabali is like this make him feel incredulous. There are some thoughts that he did not think before suddenly flashes in his mind.

But he could not believe it.

Jabali could see that his sworn brother seems to see some clues. Jabali did not care and instead he brought Khunbish away from the stable and went to an empty tent

Outside the battle keep raging on, the screams and shuts echoes in the darkness the night and flames rises up to the sky, the sound of arrows and clashing of armours in the background.

"What are you doing right now?" Khunbish ask. The tone of which he asks this question, clearly shows he is suspecting something.

The tent door is closed by the thick curtain and Jabali look at his brother.

"Some people from the Brolgadhr tribe contacted me before" hearing this Khunbish felt blood drained his face

"Andawan!"

And Khunbish hold Jabali shoulder, his eyes looking at his sworn brother like he could not believe this is his own sworn brother.

Between him and his sworn brother Jabali is even more decorated than him in the matter of battles. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Khunbish is usually entrusted with the raiding party and Jabali his brother is usually entrusted with heavy cavalry.

It wasn’t until last year when his cavalry was decimated in a battle between some minor tribe that his brother was transferred to the light cavalry unit by the Nergui military

"Are you betraying the tribe?"

Jabali look at Khunbish and shook his head

"The world is in a state of change, and the Steppe is yearning for unification. This is what you told me"

"As for me betraying the tribe" he paused for a second and look at Khunbish and there is a sinister smile on his face

"Is it me betraying the tribe, or is it tribe that betrays me? IF the wolf pack attack a wolf cub, do they think the wolf cub would just take it?" Jabali ask and Khunbish only could swallow the spit on his throat. Right now, he feels that everything is wrong. He never thought that such a thing could happen

But such a thing that should not happen, happened. And his mind is drawing a blank for a moment.

Jabali look at Khunbish eyes.

They once discuss about this matter. Khunbish remember it like it was yesterday. This was before the Brolgadhr army reaches the region of the Nergui tribe. They set up a tent in some valley with flowing streams under a tree, and they drink Ayrag while singing

They were resting after patrolling the region and it was then that they talk about the situation of the world

Khunbish told all of the things he thought in his mind and in his heart because he wanted his brother to know the danger

Khunbish learns many of the tactics of the Western Zhou when he follows Saron in past western raiding against the Zhou in the past

But tactics is not the only thing he had learned

He also learned how to use intrigue

And he also learns many other things and see things with a broad view. This is something he learns from Saron himself.

And with his brother he shares his insight

He believes that if the three tribes could hold on and deter the Khan, there is a chance of splitting the regime into two, creating a western and eastern dynasties.

At that time, if they could prove that the might of the tribes of the west could hold the ambition of the Khan any rebellions elements within the Khan kingdom would erupt

There is something that everyone understands.

Victory will cover up all contradictions, but failure and losing will explode all problems.

Khan Aeryon seems to possess great power and influence, his tribe far reaching influence reaches to the east, west and north.

And on the south, his men and tribes allied to him control the gates and walls of Yan that controls the ongoing and outgoing departures and arrivals from the south

Even if they could not stop it, they would be made aware of it.

But for now, most of the clans and tribes that is around the wall are all related somewhat to the Brolgadhr tribe.

What great power, and what great influence!

A chief that has laid waste to one of the most defining cities of Nurshira, a chief that has then taken control of the wall and relinquish it to the tribes and clans there, a chief who has conquered all that stood in his way

An overlord of the Steppe.

And now, he is focused on becoming a Qayan, a chief that has united the region of the ancient Steppe empire, a title that has not been held formally and meaningfully since the fall of the ancient Empire.

But nothing is perfect

Some warriors think too simply of the world. Just because the Khan is that powerful did not mean he did not have anything to worry about

Instead, because of how big his kingdom is right now, there is a lot to worry about when it is about the internal matters

In the end, the Khan is a new force. And while the Khan reaps many benefits because of his lack of connection, there is also disadvantage of having no connection

Connection here refers to the fact that there is not many interest that could control the Khan.

Every chief has some kind of shackle upon them based on blood, clans and tribes.

But Aeryon lack any of these shackles.

..