Morning light pierced the clouds and spilled across the earth.
Frost Glaive City receded into the distance as the carriages slowly left the valley, surrounded by ranks of knightly escorts.
Inside the lead carriage, all was warm and quiet.
Emily rested against the cushions, one hand laid lightly over her lower abdomen, her eyes closed.
Louis sat beside Emily, gently holding her hand. His eyes were closed, his expression peaceful, as though he, too, were resting.
In truth, his mind had never settled. He was sorting through everything he had gained from this war.
Louis was not a narcissist, but he had to admit that coming to Frostspear's aid had earned him far more leverage than he had expected.
Duke Edmund had not only publicly entrusted him with the Northern Frontier's future, but also given him free rein to lead the reconstruction meetings, whether on disease prevention or the allocation of provisions.
On top of that, he had acquired the Broken Blade Knights.
They were Frost Glaive City's elite trump card, more than a thousand knights moving like a current of iron. Now they marched behind his carriage, their boots striking the earth as they escorted him and Emily back to Red Tide.
The Duke had also promised to transfer the Cold Iron and Silver Fang regiments, more than three thousand men in total.
Together with the knights Louis already commanded, that would give him five thousand knights.
No one else in the entire Northern Frontier possessed that kind of military strength.
There were also the rewards from the Imperial Capital, though those would have to wait until the political situation stabilized. With both House Edmund and the Calvin Family working on his behalf, Louis was certain his reward would be substantial.
Of course, power and authority were not all