Evolution of Time | Maalik's Path

Chapter X | Viana | Part IV

Spain

4,025 years since initial death
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The fastest route to Cesare was through the city of Livorno.

Thanks to Marco's connections with the local Medici family, a rival house against the Borgia, he was able to board a ship headed straight for Barcelona, Spain. He stayed in the city, attempting to gather more information on Cesare's whereabouts by asking the locals. Nobody seemed to know who Cesare was, but they knew King John III of Navarre well. The very king that had met with Cesare.

His next plan was to head north, straight into the Kingdom of Navarre. There were other political issues in the region that Marco attempted to stay out of. He was there for one man, not to become involved in another war. But as he had realized before, war always followed him.

News broke out of an upcoming siege in the town of Viana, which was about to fall under Borgia hands. Sure enough, Cesare was there, already preparing to overtake the town. Its defenses were up, as he already had an army of his own to topple it down. Taking him directly head on could lead to drastic consequences, but Marco couldn't sneak in there without being seen. All he could do was wait until the siege began.

Fortunately, he didn't have to wait long. In early Spring, it began. The count of Lerin and Ferdinand II of Aragon fought back against the ultimate strength of the Borgia. However, casualties were already starting to rise from both sides. By the time Marco arrived, the whole town had turned into a battlefield as craters covered the green fields and smoke polluted the sky.

Cannons fired at the walls, houses were set on fire and civilians were killed as they evacuated. Mortars rained down hell over the fields. Within a few hours after the siege started, there was complete chaos. Marco couldn't find any space to advance and instead was forced to wait for the combat to momentarily end. But that's what his former self would have preferred. This was his only chance, and he had to take action now.

The sky had darkened, and it began to rain. A storm raged over the town, thunder rumbled nearby. However, the real threat wasn't the forces of nature. Several Borgia soldiers were picked from behind, killed by one man that pushed his way through their defenses.

Marco had charged into the warzone alone. His wrath kept him alive, guiding him forward and defeating anyone who tried to stop him. Up ahead were the city castle walls, that's where Cesare should be.

Just as he brutally killed another soldier, he noticed a party of knights rush out of the castle. They belonged to Ferdinand's forces, clearly retreating into the nearby forests. He would have ignored this, if it wasn't for him spotting another man chase after them.

Cesare Borgia couldn't let these knights escape, becoming outraged at the fact they were still alive. Watching the enemy knights ride in full retreat, he made the decision to chase after them. His pride forced him to show off his strength and bravery, to chase an army away single handedly.