The answer briefly startled the Night's Cavalry knight. Then he gave Tarnished a long look and nodded. "Thank you. I'll remember this favor."
"You're welcome. I haven't asked your name yet."
"Rudy."
"Mr. Rudy, I hope to arrange a ceasefire with Leyndell. Would you act as my envoy and convey that message?"
Rudy glanced around, saw everyone's grave expressions, and immediately understood.
"Leyndell has mobilized?"
Edgar was about to deny it, but Tarnished had already nodded. "That's right. I hear the Grace-Given King himself will take the field this time."
"So you want to use me to avert this war?" Rudy asked with a trace of sarcasm. "How does that saying go again-you can't only want peace when you can't win."
Tarnished chuckled. "I agree with that more than anyone. Don't forget, both last time and this time, the Royal Capital of Leyndell was the one that started the war."
"We're merely reclaiming lost territory!" Rudy protested. But as a soldier, he wasn't much good at lying through his teeth. After choking on his own words, he decisively abandoned the verbal sparring and approached the matter from his military expertise instead. "If Leyndell's army really is ready to march, it won't withdraw on the word of a mere Night's Cavalry knight."
"Aren't the Night's Cavalry the Grace-Given King's personal troops? Doesn't that count for anything?"
"Precisely because I serve him personally, I must obey his orders, not put private interests above my duty!"
"Admirable. It seems you truly love the Grace-Given King."
"Of course! The Grace-Given King single-handedly fought the allied demigod armies. He's the hero of the Royal Capital of Leyndell!"
"But your hero is sending you to war."
"To die for the Grace-Given King is our honor!"
"Is that so? Forgive me, but I can't agree." Tarnished shook