That was why Kaan skipped over the other kingdoms, even though it would have been far more strategic to deal with the nearest ones first. Despite the untouched realms surrounding him, he set his sights directly on Eira.
King Valentin was one of the few rulers who didn't exactly roll out the red carpet when Asvaldur came knocking with his generous offer of unification. Of course, Eira wasn't the only kingdom that conveniently 'forgot' to respond until the empire started applying pressure.
But Valentin wasn't just dragging his feet—he was practically digging a trench. The man was known for being ridiculously stubborn about his independence, and the odds of him suddenly deciding to pledge loyalty to Asvaldur were about as high as a bat deciding to sunbathe.
See, unlike some of his more naive peers, King Valentin actually knew how to run a self-sufficient kingdom. He had the strength to stand firm against Asvaldur, and he understood the cost of war.
