Shien's Command

Shien had just finished explaining why the Three Graymist Fiefs could still hold out when the Sacred Flame Echo Console in Grasshawk lit up.

The decoder translated at once and reported urgently, "Emergency report from Grasshawk: a large Grayblood Household Tide has appeared in the Old Contaminated Zone of White Fang Fief. It bypassed the old post road and is circling toward Grasshawk Heights."

Everyone on the platform fell silent and looked at Shien. If Gray Blood broke through Grasshawk, coordination between Blackpine and Ashen would slow, and Blackpine Main Fief would lose its early warning of underground changes on the western front. It would mean far more than losing a third of their territory.

Shien looked at Castian. Castian did not hesitate. "The command is yours."

He had fought wars for decades longer than Shien and seen far more Blood Moon Seasons.

But Shien had turned the Graymist Defense Zone into a war machine Castian no longer understood. Taking over rashly would only throw it into chaos. Besides, he wanted to see what Shien could do.

Shien nodded and gave the order without demurring. "Temporarily assign the Whiteflame Holy Knight Order to the Blackpine Battle Order. Split them into twenty groups of twenty-five to thirty riders and attach each group to a Blackpine Mobile Cavalry unit."

Raymond's expression shifted. The Whiteflame Holy Knights were Castian's handpicked elite. Of their five hundred-odd members, more than half were Third-Tier knights, and some squad leaders were nearing Third-Tier Peak.

They were accustomed to taking orders from the Bishop and the Church and serving as the spearhead of a breakthrough.

Now Shien wanted to split them up and place them under Blackpine knight captains who were weaker than they were.

Below the platform, several Whiteflame knights looked over.

Raymond's face darkened. "You want