Spring 965 MC
Hayley crouched by the edge of the forest, peering at the distant town of Beaconsgate.
"Not the prettiest of places," offered Gorath. "It"s missing the symmetry of a Mercerian town."
"Symmetry?" replied the High Ranger.
"Yes. This is far more spread out and lacks a sense of organization."
"That"s because Mercerian towns were founded in a time of war. The buildings are close together to help in defence."
"And yet these Norlanders are descended from your people, are they not?"
"They are," said Hayley. "Why?"
"Would they not adopt the same customs?"
"You must remember a Mercerian army has never set foot in Norland before. They"ve had little reason for such precautions."
"And yet they fight amongst themselves. That is the definition of a civil war, is it not?"
"It is,"
