Chapter 655: Genoese?

In the shadowed halls of power, Elassona basked in what he perceived as the zenith of his life. His ambitions had swiftly materialised into a tangible force; a two thousand strong army stood ready, a mix of eager recruits, seasoned veterans, and conscripts drawn from the breadth of Thessaly. The barracks, once echoing with silence, now thrummed with the lifeblood of an impending campaign. Venetian allies, true to their word, had stealthily delivered the armaments necessary to equip a battalion, their vessels a frequent shadow on the Thessalian shores. All the while, the emperor to the North remained blissfully unaware of the storm brewing at his doorstep.