By the next nightfall, the first group of scouts arrived, weary from their journey. The main force had been sent to seek allies among the non-human clans—those who had suffered under Harold’s rule. Their survival depended on uniting them.
Dain, the first in the group of returning scouts, dismounted his horse and strode toward the council tent, his face grim.
Evelynn met him at the entrance. “Tell me.”
“The elves are hesitant,” Dain said without preamble. “They won’t commit to our cause unless we can prove we stand a real chance of winning. They’ve lost too much already.”
Evelynn clenched her jaw. The elves were powerful warriors, but they had suffered greatly at Harold’s hands.
“What about the ogres?” Callum asked.
Dain hesitated. “Divided. Some want to fight. Others fear what will h
