"General! The Nerathis camp is ablaze!"
"What?!" Robert bolted to the battlement. Below, roaring flames painted half the sky crimson, punctuated by piercing screams.
"General, shall we strike? Their forces are in disarray—victory is certain!"
"Hold! Even if this isn't an ambush, our threadbare forces wouldn't survive their first volley!"
"Then what are your orders, General?"
"Full alert! Dispatch scouts and rally every able-bodied man to the walls!" Robert drained his wine cup in one gulp, his whetstone singing against steel. If reinforcements had come, he'd lead the charge himself.
Meanwhile, Elvis and Slayde closed in on Warren. One by one, the prince's guards fell to Slayde's deadly arrows until only their prey remained.
"Warren!" Elvis reined Silverwind across the escape route w
