The air in the council hall of Golden Ear City's temporary royal palace hung heavy as lead.
Charles sat on the throne, his usually immaculate hair disheveled, the dark circles beneath his eyes betraying the torment of sleepless nights.
Urgent reports describing lost territory and burned towns stabbed like cold daggers, again and again, into what remained of his pride and reason.
The nobles-especially the great lords from the west and north, whose family estates and fortunes were being trampled and burned by Retalian cavalry-could no longer contain their anger and fear.
"Your Majesty! We must act!"
A count from the northern frontier, whose family fief lay near Blue River Ford, was practically roaring, his voice trembling with rage.
"My lands and my people are being slaughtered! My granaries and workshops have been reduced to ashes! We are not warriors. We are cowards, cowards sitting here watching the kingdom bleed dry!"
"Calm yourself, Count!"
An elderly privy councilor tried to restore order.
"Golden Ear City is now the gateway to the kingdom. If it falls, the Retalians will march straight into Treasure Island!"
"The gateway?"
Another marquis, this one from the west coast, sneered, fury burning in his eyes.
"Look at the map, my lord!
Raitelia's devil cavalry doesn't need Golden Ear City at all! They're swarming through the kingdom's north and west like locusts. Omdur's port has been destroyed. Who will be their next target?
The workshop district outside Suvano's suburbs has already been reduced to ruins.
The Retalians are now circling the foothills of the Naxi Mountains, threatening Treasure Island's northwestern hills! By staying here, we're protecting nothing but an isolated city while they tear the kingdom's body apart piece by piece!
How long will the city's food last?
One month? Two? By then, the enemy won't even