The air inside the Council Hall seemed to have frozen solid.
Leimuster unconsciously rubbed the carvings on the armrest, his knuckles paling from the force.
Aguirre's envoy's proposal coiled around his heart like a venomous snake—going to the grasslands might mean a slow death, while staying meant immediate destruction.
In the suffocating silence, a jumble of footsteps suddenly came from the corridor.
Leimuster sprang to his feet. His first thought was that the Kingdom Army had attacked, throwing the city into chaos—their terrifying soldiers might be approaching with bayoneted rifles in hand, marching in perfect formation.
"Bang!"
The doors to the Council Hall were brutally kicked open, and the panels slammed heavily against the wall.
Five orc warriors swaggered inside, their bodies reeking of sweat.
Apparently, the guards had failed to stop them. Leimuster was instead relieved. Whatever the case, this was better than Greiman's soldiers barging in.
The lead orc stood a head taller than the others. His dark skin was covered in savage scars, and a necklace of bones hung around his neck. He was Yulgar, the chieftain of the Wugu Tribe, and Leimuster recognized him.
"Greetings, Your Grace!"
Yulgar grinned, exposing a row of crooked yellow teeth. "I figured you could use some warriors right now!"
Leimuster's heart leaped. Forcing himself to remain calm, he straightened his collar. "Chieftain, what are you..."
"I'll skip the pleasantries!" Grom strode to the long table. Aguirre's envoy tried to stop him, but Grom shoved him aside.
The Orcish Chieftain slammed his heavy battle-axe against the floor with a thud. "I can gather more than ten thousand warriors. We can stay and help you defend this city."
His beady eyes gleamed cunningly. "As long as the price is right!"
Horne, who was in charge of the treasury, glanced at Leimuster and