Raelis stood there, fists clenched so tightly around the hilt of his sword that his knuckles turned white. His eyes narrowed at the walls of Eldoria, now hidden behind a thick haze of dust and smoke kicked up by the volley of arrows. His chest heaved with each breath, a mix of disbelief and boiling rage coursing through him. He was supposed to be walking into a kingdom ready to surrender, a city crumbling under the weight of defeat. And yet, here he stood, watching his carefully laid plans fall apart as his men collapsed in waves.
"Halward, retreat!" Raelis shouted, though his voice barely carried over the chaos. Halward, still clutching his bloodied stump where his arm had once been, was already being dragged back by two of the knights. His pale face and unfocused eyes told Raelis that Halward was of no use now. Another man lost.
