Old Friends Reunited

Victor led his army north, trying all the while to contact the Northern Frontier Chamber of Commerce's local branch. He hoped to use its intelligence network to send Alex a detailed report of his campaign in the Southern Region, so Northern Alliance Command could assess the situation in time.

Unfortunately, war had left the chamber's branch in Ironvine Territory with only a handful of people. They could barely deliver his report, and the reports they provided were sketchy.

It was only when Victor was about to leave Ironvine Territory that he finally found the head of the chamber's Southern Region branch. To his surprise, they already knew each other.

"Manager Salos? It's you?"

Victor stared at the newcomer in delight. It was Salos, the chamber manager he had worked with years ago in York County.

Salos was just as excited to see him. He bowed deeply. "Viscount Victor, I'm so glad you're safe and well!"

Victor caught Salos before he could kneel. "What are you doing here?

I remember someone else was in charge of this branch."

Salos hurried to explain. "When the fighting began in Ironvine Territory, the previous branch head fled. He ran into a band of the duchy's mutinous troops along the way and disappeared. We only confirmed last month that he had died on the road. I was sent to take over afterward."

"No wonder. I couldn't find the branch head when I first arrived in Ironvine Territory.

Still, this is good news. I'm sure you'll do a better job than he did.

It's a shame you didn't take over sooner. I could have used more help from the chamber."

When Victor marched south into Ironvine Territory, the southern branch had given him some help, but not much. Its intelligence was outdated, and it had few