Indeed, they had survived, she ought to have been grateful for that, but the damage had been extensive, and the fallout was something that she felt to be far beyond her pay grade.
After all, there was, she felt confident in saying, the most beautiful woman she had ever seen sitting across the room from her. Not only was she beautiful, but she was a woman whose standing could not have gotten any higher. She was gentle and polite – even to her, who she knew to be a peasant, and yet Nila could hardly make eye contact with the woman. She owed Queen Asabel a great debt, but she knew not how to speak with her.
"My General tells me that there are unlikely to be further attacks," the Queen said kindly. "But I shall not hurry our departure until we see your defence in an adequate state, and we see your soldiers properly rested."
