Kaeso felt the blood drain from his face as the enormity of the situation hit him. This was no longer a small skirmish, and the full-out war between the two nations was clearly evident. And the thing with Jaegar, Kaeso thought that he needs to tread carefully around him.


    "Silence!" Kyra''smandshed out like a whip-crack. The tent went abruptly still once more, all eyes swivelling back to her.


    "This tant vition of our sovereignty will not go unanswered," she stated, her toneced with steel.


    "Daikirmore''s wretched king has shown his true colours as a snake in the grass. His warmongering and thirst for dominance can no longer be tolerated."


    Then she started assigning the posts they needed to attack, along with the general and Kimon.


    Then her gaze locked onto Kaeso, piercing straight through him. "Lord Kaeso and Lord Drasus, I want yourpany ready to ride at first light. You shall take your men and engage the enemy at the mining fortress. I want my fortress back as soon as possible. Grind them into the dirt until Daikirmore''s king screams for mercy."


    Kaeso gave her a solemn nod. There would be no half-measures here - this was outright war. "It will be done, Your Highness. We will make those Daikirmorecurs choke on every inch of ground we take back from them."


    Lord Drasus nodded solemnly.


    Satisfied, Kyra turned her zing stare across at the assembled lords. "We must meet this aggression with the full, merciless weight of our martial might."


    She rose to her feet, her tall frame almost vibrating with intensity. "Too long have we suffered the trespasses and insults of that vainglorious king. They have awoken a sleeping lion, one they are ill-prepared to face. We will rain such annihting hell upon Daikirmore that their wails of anguish will reach the very gates of the afterlife!"


    The lords erupted in thunderous roars of approval and vows of unwavering fealty. Swords were drawn, the shining des brandished high in salute. Even Prince Tavorn was on his feet, his face twisted into a terrifying mask of eagerness for bloody conquest.


    As Kaeso looked around at the frenzied nobles, thralls to the princess''s rousing call for total war against their hated foes, he knew there would be no turning back. The dance of swords and spears between the two kingdoms had begun anew with a vengeance.


    Daikirmore had struck the first blow in seizing their fortresses. But Kyra''s righteous fury, backed by all the martial forces of Wrescia, would ensure they struck thest, more punishing blow when all was finally settled.


    Kaeso could only pray that Jaegar would abide by his word.


    Outside, the hushed murmurs and motions of the camp were stirring to wakefulness. Soldiers clustered around small fires, sharing a warm drink and having quiet conversations before the march. The clink of armour and stamp of horses'' hooves provided a percussive soundtrack, building in cadence like a drum roll, heralding theing tempest of war.


    Within the council tent, the debriefing had finally drawn to a close. Princess Kyra gave a curt nod of finality, her eyes still flinty as they raked across the assembled lords one final time in silent appraisal. Beside her, Prince Tavorn remained utterly motionless, his expression equally inscrutable.


    The assembled officials rose and began filing out in small clusters, the weight of the grim nsid out still bending their shoulders.


    *


    Done with the meeting, Kaeso turned and began making his way towards the tent''s exit. But a voice stopped him after only a few paces.


    "A word, Lord Kaeso, before you depart." It was Drasus, fixing him with a level stare.


    Kaeso paused, arching an inquisitive brow as the man fell into step beside him. Together, they moved a few paces further away to allow a semnce of privacy.


    "It''s best you keep your ambitions aside during this war," Drasus murmured under his breath. "The princess will not tolerate any disobedience or self-serving agendas from her lords, no matter how valorous their performance."


    For a heartbeat, Kaeso could only blink at the other man in surprise. Then a tight, knowing smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he gave a small dip of acknowledgement.


    "Worry not, my friend. I am a soldier first and foremost. My only ambition is to serve the crown and bleed our foes white upon the field of battle." His smile stretched wider, bearing a hint of teeth.


    "Though I relish even more the prospect of measuring myself against these vaunted Daikirmore warriors, whose reputation precedes them like a shadow cast by the sun," With a firm nod, Kaeso''s eyes glinted with determination. "Rest assured, I will not falter in my duty to uphold the honour of our kingdom and emerge victorious in the face of any challenge."


    With that, he brushed past Drasus and continued on through the tent ps and out into the night shade.


    Drawing his cloak tighter against the chill, Kaeso scanned the soldiers and tents around.


    It was still the dead of night when Kaeso emerged from themand tent. The camp was shrouded in darkness, with only a few small fires providing meagre pools of flickering light. Most soldiers were catching what rest they could before the long march ahead on the morrow.


    Kaeso moved slowly through the maze of pitched tents and pavilions, his boots churning up small puffs of dust. His mind remained preupied, mulling over the enigma that was Jaegar, the diator-turned-mysterious young man.


    The young man''s apparent magical abilities during theirst encounter still confounded Kaeso. There was clearly more to Jaegar than met the eye, and Kaeso wondered just how useful such an asset could prove in theing war. Jaegar had said that he would lend his strength if needed. Kaeso suspected he would soon take the man up on that offer.