La horda del diablo

The third in a five part series, The Devil’s Horde.
“We are going to help start a war.” - Rosellón Corvian wins the favour of a number of nobles and manages to make a third of the army desert. He has, along with Blecsáder, been plotting this revolt for a long time, and at last the moment has come. The plan is brilliant: it consists of kidnapping Patrio, because he thought it would prevent Rolento Véleron from intervening on behalf of the King, but Remo, without knowing it, ruined the plan to then rescue Patria.  Rosellón will make a pact with foreign troops, who will help him take the gateway city of Nurín. The King, surprised and in a state of shock at his personal counsellor’s treachery, reforms the great army to go and take on Rosellón’s troops. This leads to the Battle of Lamonien.  Rosellón, outnumbered, seems like he won’t have a chance against the King’s troops. But, thanks to a masterly strategy, he manages it. The  defeat prompts panic, and the King decides to retreat and reinforce Venteria, forsaking the other cities in Vestigia.