The council chamber was silent after the messenger's words.
They're coming. Within days.
The weight of those words pressed down on everyone in the room. Elara sat frozen, her hand pressed to her heart, feeling it pound against her ribs. The young messenger's face was still pale, his hands still trembling. He had risked everything to bring them this warning.
Beside her, Caleb was already on his feet, his warrior's mind racing through strategies and defenses. His eyes scanned the map on the table, calculating distances, estimating forces, planning.
Across the table, Damon's face had gone pale, his jaw tight with the weight of leadership. He looked older suddenly, the lines on his face deeper, the shadows under his eyes darker.
"How many?" Damon's voice was steady, though Elara could see
