“And we don’t have that luxury,” Lathea reminded him. “The soldiers are getting tired. If your and Helmer’s plan fails, we’ll have to retreat.”
Retreat... The Jasper Palace had surely already sent messengers to the armies stationed elsewhere. By tomorrow morning, no later than noon, three hundred thousand soldiers would be here, right at their backs. And no matter how tired they might end up being after their march, they would be able to simply crush them with sheer numbers. What could thirty thousand of their best warriors do while trapped in a vise?
“Where are they, Helmer?” Hadjar asked.
Could it be that, for the first time in his life, his plan was going to turn out to be nothing more than a futile and foolish gamble?
“That’s why we were looking for you,” Helmer said, almost casual
