Outside the central great tent of the Beastmen camp, dozens of wolf Retainers gathered around the tent, watching magical light flash continuously from within.
Among the Retainers, Tata, a Scorch Wolf Retainer, glared furiously at Olmert Chixi from the Royal Court.
His three fellow clansmen were still inside the tent, their lives hanging in the balance, while that beast across from him was actually blaming the Retainers responsible for receiving them for not continuing the attack.
"Lord Olmert, what exactly do you mean? Does this not end until we're all dead?"
Before he had truly watched his brothers get stabbed, Tata had had no concept of war. In his mind, it was merely a more serious sort of internal tribal dispute: two Retainers fought head-on, seeing who could win greater favor and power from the Magic Beast God, while the loser departed the city they had once occupied with dignity.
But as he watched the three big dogs being dragged back, while the big pig beside them ordered his people to keep charging, he finally understood what Old Man Rosef had said. The Royal Court's true target was not Gallop Plains, but Hindukush.
"Chief Tata, listen to yourself," Olmert said without the slightest hint of guilt. "At that moment, the Retainers handling the reception should have continued their charge. Even if only to cover the wounded, they had to keep going. Otherwise, once a Mage came down, your three brothers would never have made it back alive."
"Hmph. You Royal Court folk make it sound nice, but in the end, you're still sending us out to die!"
"Exactly! Why do you get to sit safely in the camp and watch us charge?"
The big dogs swiftly grew indignant. Some of the smaller ones even bared their fangs and snarled at