Albreda stepped out from the cave to see the settlement of Queenston spread before her.
"You"ve been busy," she commented.
"Yes," confirmed Beverly. "Her Highness thought it best we secure a safe place to build up our army."
"How many people are here?" she asked.
"With the refugees coming from Hawksburg? I"m not sure, but I should think we will have over a thousand soon, maybe even double that when the army is in town."
"I don"t see many troops," the witch said, looking around.
"They"re mostly in Kingsford, waiting to march."
Small groups of villagers from Hawksburg filed past them as they stood, observing the town. Revi had been operating the gate for hours, teaching Aubrey as he did so. Almost a quarter of the refugees had arrived, but many more were yet to come.
"I"m surprised w
