Dawn was approaching. One more day.
A scout appeared in the distance. His mount was panting heavily, its hooves pounding out a rapid rhythm.
He swung down from the saddle, his movements stiff with exhaustion, and hurried toward the tallest peak.
Suleiman was already waiting there.
"Lord Suleiman!!!" The scout dropped to one knee, his voice urgent and furious. "House Legg's soldiers are still occupying the western part of Vicon Gorge. They haven't withdrawn!!"
"And there's word! Word! They!!!! They took Foulkeep yesterday afternoon!! Your lordship's family castle!!"
The air seemed to freeze. Lushen and Roslyn trembled with anger as they looked at Lord Suleiman. Foulkeep might have been an empty castle, with everyone moved to the New Reaches, but it was still a noble family's castle—a place where Lord Suleiman's family had lived for generations!
Suleiman slowly turned around and looked down at the scout, who was still on one knee and just as furious. His face showed no emotion,
neither anger nor surprise, only a fathomless calm.
But inside, he was overjoyed. He hadn't even made a move, and the other side had acted first. What's more, they had directly occupied another noble's castle, one that wasn't even theirs by law. What had been meant to be a limited war had now become an all-out war. They had put themselves in opposition to everyone.
"Understood," Suleiman said, and nothing more.
Then he walked toward the soldier guarding the beacon tower atop the peak.
The soldier nervously tightened his grip on his spear, stood at attention, and watched Lord Suleiman approach.
Suleiman's order was just as brief: "Light it."
The soldier froze for a moment, then straightened and roared, "As you command!!!! My lord!!!!"
The huge pile of straw caught fire from the torch. The grease-soaked straw, mixed with