The ancient city-state of Volantis was shrouded in unprecedented panic.
News of the crushing defeat of the Tiger Cloaks and the Horsemen on the plains outside the city spread through and beyond the Black Wall at the greatest possible speed.
Routed Tiger Cloaks and slave soldiers fled back into the city, wailing and crying out about the terror of the Golden Great Dragon.
The streets of Volantis instantly descended into chaos, with people jostling one another as they tried to get home to hide or pack their belongings to flee.
Inside the Magistrates' Palace, the mood was desperate.
Malaquo Maegor Ya all but stumbled and crawled into the Council Chamber.
When he realized the battle was lost, he had galloped back to Volantis on his warhorse.
His magnificent armor was covered in mud and blood, his helmet had long since been lost somewhere, and his hair was disheveled. Not a trace of the Tiger Party Magistrate's dignity remained on his face, only terror.
Malaquo seized the arms of Nysso and Dofas as they approached him, his voice hoarse. "It's over, it's all over! The entire army of sixty thousand is gone! Quick! Prepare to evacuate! That Easterner will be here any moment! He'll be at our gates any moment!"
Nysso Visama and Dofas Pennymen backed away repeatedly, frightened by his crazed appearance. The fat Nysso's voice trembled. "Evac... evacuate? Malaquo, explain yourself! What about the Scorpions?! Did our hundred-odd Scorpions do nothing at all?!"
"The Scorpions?"
Malaquo gave a bitter laugh. "Those damned giant crossbows couldn't even scratch his scales! That Easterner doesn't just have young dragons. We were too naive! He also has a Golden Great Dragon over two hundred feet long! It swooped out of the clouds, and one breath of Dragonfire... just one breath turned every crossbow