The battle progressed far faster than expected-so fast that Renato found it almost unreal.
The illustrious Fryce Family, an ancient noble house that had endured for a thousand years, had proved astonishingly vulnerable.
The contrast briefly made him wonder whether everything before him was merely a trap. But the smell of burning in the air and the Drow soldiers routing under heavy casualties reminded him again and again that this was real.
Beside Renato, Tristana held her Holy Symbol and murmured devout prayers to Lolth. Her expression was solemn and fervent, as though the entire battlefield were part of a sacrificial ritual conducted by the priests.
The spider-shaped Holy Symbol shone deep purple in her palm, and Lolth's blessing settled over Renato once more. A savage urge to slaughter surged through his mind like a tide, driving him to charge into the enemy ranks and tear apart every living creature in sight.
Renato took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. Suppressing that bloodthirsty impulse, he questioned the priestess as she cast a divine Shield over him:
"Tristana, as a Ruling Matron Mother, Ginafey Fryce has extensive influence and numerous vassals in the city. With our assault causing such a commotion, won't anyone come to reinforce the Fryce Family?"
A golden Shield enveloped Renato's entire body. Compared with the divine spell the priestess had cast in the Mind Flayer Hive, this Shield was more solid, its golden light even more dazzling.
"Of course they will." Tristana dropped her prayerful pose and turned toward him, a hint of disdain in her voice. "Aside from the first and second families, and those lesser nobles bound by Nine Hells contracts with Ginafey who have no choice but to come and die, the other two ruling families nearby will certainly send troops