The Countess was coming for revenge!?
Noisy discussion erupted in the Holy Hall:
"Teoro County... That's almost to the Northern Frontier! What were the City-States along the way doing?"
"I'm in Teoro County. This is tru... false information... Ratfolk... Ratfolk Thing... haven't come! Teoro... safe..."
"Repeat after me: the Great Horned Rat is a bastard—"
"Silence."
"What are the Southlands lords doing? How did they let a Ratfolk Clan reach the north?"
"The Foreign Races Edict killed my brothel's business. The Ratfolk couldn't have come at a better time..."
"If I kill all my subjects, the Ratfolk can't turn my land into Purgatory!"
"Silence!"
"The Ratfolk clan heading north is the McKennan Clan... Leaders of the north, prepare yourselves..."
The Holy Hall's council ended as the resounding warning echoed through it.
Annan woke in his bedroom at the Lord's Manor, deep in the night.
Star-Moon Bay lay silent beyond the window. As Annan opened it, the sound of dark waves poured into the room. He sent an Ogre to the Olmedo Family and recalled the experience while it was still fresh in his mind.
"I dreamed of the Holy Hall again. They said a Ratfolk clan called McKennan is heading north." After opening another Portal of Teleportation, Annan told Olmedo, whose face was weary.
"Where are they coming from?"
"Teoro County."
"Teoro County... Tina, bring me a Map of the Allen Continent."
A damp handkerchief arrived with the Map. Olmedo wiped her face, pushed aside a wet strand of golden hair, and studied the Map.
Teoro County was in the Gulo Kingdom, a landlocked country in the north-central Allen Continent, about a third the size of the Rikaner Kingdom...
"You heard them say the Ratfolk broke through there?"
"Yes."
The Rikaner Kingdom and the Gulo Kingdom shared no border. The