"You went too far!" A strong voice thundered, followed by the heavy thud of a fist striking the wooden table. "Just too far this time, General..."
The man leaned heavily over the council table as he sought to steady his breathing. In the hall commanders and regional lords waited in tense silence. He saw satisfaction on some faces and outrage on others—many wanted blood, and part of him understood them. But an escalation of this magnitude was something they couldn't afford.
"Defending our border was a righteous act, General, don't get me wrong—But hounding fleeing men and reducing an entire city of families to ash? That is not defense—that is butchery."
Tired, Solveig Vane, ruler of the nation of Talamor, sat back in his chair, looking across the long council table.
"Now, General Cormac Bran," Solveig continued, his gaze locking onto the stoic commander. "Give me an explanation for your actions. What made you think you needed to go to such lengths?"
General Cormac stood up and walked with a firm gait toward the map in the center of the room. A veteran military officer who commanded the respect of the entire nation, he showed no hesitation in confronting the ruler of Talamor.
"They dared to butcher our people in Loamore! I burned Valenridge to teach those dogs that Talamor blood is paid in cinders and tears of blood!" General Cormac said, after a shot pause pointing to the borders on the map. "However, their ranks included soldiers from Ironwatch and Aethergard. A decisive show of force was the only way to prove Talamor is not an easy target."
He gestured toward the neighboring frontier posts.
"Moreover, the attackers did not merely steal. Refugees in my domain report slaughter. Food was stolen, women were assaulted, and our land was desecrated by those who have forgotten how to treat the earth. Leaving these brutes unchecked in Talamor would only invite further tragedy for our people."
Solveig let out a low sigh. Cormac's arguments were solid, and the anger was justified. But the scale? That depended on who you asked. To the orphans and grieving families of Loamore, no retaliation would ever feel like enough.
"Look at these numbers," Solveig said, pointing to the map markers. "It was an opportunistic border raid, not a grand invasion. But now that Valenridge is ash, this will not go unanswered."
Solveig addressed the quiet hall with authority .
"I require immediate tallies from every regional circle—grain, souls, and spears alike. We fortify our boundaries, and we evacuate our border communities to safety at once."
"Retreat? You order a fall-back?" Cormac snapped, his jaw tight. "That is pure cowardice! We should be crushing their forward garrisons before they draw another breath!"
Solveig rose slowly from his chair, staring Cormac down until the room fell dead silent. "I gave you my orders, General. Prepare the reports. Now leave."
Cormac grimaced with open dissatisfaction, turning abruptly on his heel. The military officers and regional governors filed out behind him in heavy silence, leaving the council hall quiet as the heavy doors clacked shut.
Only then did the only woman still in the room step forward. Her poised, athletic frame carried an aura of quiet authority as she approached the desk and placed a warm hand on Solveig's tense back.
"I know it's hard, but you cannot solve everything tonight, my dear," she murmured. "Once those reports arrive tomorrow, we will handle them together."
Solveig let out a long breath, turning to pull his wife into a quiet embrace. "Evelyn... if not for you, Cormac would have pushed this council into a reckless counterattack."
"He's a fool who mistakes violence for strength," Evelyn murmured, leaning into his touch. "Force is a shield, not a weapon to make people suffer. Let him think what he wants—it won't make him any closer to a decent man in my eyes."
Solveig kissed his wife gently. "You're right, my love. Let's head to our quarters and get some sleep. Tomorrow brings a mountain of work."
Hand in hand, they left the empty council chamber behind, walking down the corridor toward their private room as the night settled over Talamor.