Derrick Heller's War Horse kicked up a cloud of dust in front of the Lord's Manor. When he swung down from the saddle, his cloak was still covered in bits of grass stirred up along the way, and sweat slid down his tense face from his brow.
"General! Count!" He strode into the Council Hall, his voice slightly hoarse from his hurried breathing. "Wind's Breath Keep is likely to descend into chaos!"
Harrison Abbott was studying a map of the eastern section of the Rocky Mountains. The tactical pointer in his hand fell with a snap onto the sand table, while Duke Bradley abruptly rose from his seat, his right hand instinctively pressing against the hilt of his sword.
"Has Alba returned?" Harrison asked in a deep voice, his gaze swiftly sweeping toward the city walls.
"No, it happened inside the city." Derrick shook his head and quickly recounted his encounter with the mysterious Spellcaster on the road. "That person mentioned that a riot was brewing inside Wind's Breath Keep."
Harrison's knuckles tapped dully against the Sword Sheath. "Could it be the remnants of the Bradley Family who haven't been captured yet?"
A cold glint flashed through Duke Bradley's eyes. "It could also be those beastman bastards who only pretended to surrender."
Harrison was already walking toward the city-defense map on the wall. "We need to immediately reinforce the guards at all four city gates, and—" His fingers passed one by one over the granary, armory, and other important positions.
Duke Bradley suggested, "Send people to monitor the beastman settlement. Kill them without exception at the first sign of trouble!"
Just as Harrison's finger was marking several key defensive points on the map, a burst of light footsteps came from the corridor.
An aide to Prince Yuriko entered the Council