The kingdom could not survive on fear alone.
Every day brought another report of a village attacked, a road abandoned, or another family forced to flee.
The Royal Army was exhausted.
The council was divided.
And the enemy seemed to know their every move.
Kaelira stood on the palace walls as dawn painted the mountains gold.
She watched soldiers drilling in the courtyard below.
There were too few of them.
Far too few.
“If this war continues,” she murmured, “there won’t be a kingdom left to save.”
Ronan joined her, resting his forearms on the stone battlements.
“What are you thinking?”
Kaelira’s eyes remained fixed on the horizon.
“I’m thinking…”
“…it’s time to stop waiting for someone else to protect my people.”
That afternoon, Kaelira summoned the remaining generals, captains
