The flames of war in the Northern Frontier finally subsided a little amid the autumn winds.
As the Empire's army advanced steadily, Duke Edmund had achieved the strategic objectives he had set.
Clear out the remnants of the Snow Oath within imperial territory, secure the northern defensive line, and gradually drive the enemy into Ice Sea Commandery and Snowfall Commandery.
Those two commanderies would become the main battlegrounds for next year's decisive campaign.
Now, however, it was time to review their victories and reward merit.
All the dukes, generals, and landed nobles gathered in Frost Glaive City to mark the end of this stage of a war that had lasted two or three months.
Louis arrived in Frost Glaive City a day ahead of schedule.
The moment he entered the city, he was summoned directly to the conference hall in the main keep.
This was his second meeting with Duke Edmund.
The last had been six months earlier, when he had come to register his territory and gone through the formalities.
Back then, Edmund had received him with little interest.
His opinion of the young noble had amounted to little more than an ambitious lad, slightly better than those useless scions down south.
This time, however, the atmosphere was entirely different.
The boy before him looked no different, and his cultivation remained low.
Yet when he stepped into the hall, Edmund smiled with genuine approval. "Well done at Clearfeather Ridge."
He personally approached Louis and gave him a rare pat on the shoulder.
Ordinarily, he reserved that gesture for legion commanders or trusted advisers.
"With just over a hundred knights, you raided a vital pass at night and wiped out eight hundred wolf cavalry. Every one of them was an elite of the Snow Oath.
"Luring the enemy in, laying