Casper took Rhianna's hand and shook it, his eyes cold, a sly smile playing on his lips.
"Let's see if they can hold off against Mortia and Tarmon's collaboration," he muttered.
"Assemble the strongest men in Tarmon!" Casper bellowed, his voice echoing across the courtyard.
Rhianna's lips twitched at the sudden loudness of his voice.
Within minutes, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the air.
Rhianna turned to see a group of massive soldiers marching toward them with stern expressions. Almost all of them bore scars, silent testaments to battles fought in the past. Their faces were rigid, devoid of emotion—like they hadn't smiled since birth, or perhaps they had sold their smiles to the devil.
She glanced at Casper, whose proud expression suggested he couldn't be more pleased.
Soon, the men stood before them in a straight line, their movements precise, almost mechanical.
