As Lucen expected, First Prince Elric was the first member of the royal family to enter the war. Elric demanded several Fenrirs, airships, and the newest rifles produced in Ironhold.
As the heir to the Northern Duke, Lucen possessed enough influence to delay the demand or provide a reasonable excuse for refusing it. The Fenrirs were still experimental, the airships were needed to patrol the North, and Ironhold could only manufacture a limited number of the newer rifles each month.
No one could easily force the Thorneharts to surrender weapons produced within their own territory. However, refusing Elric would create more problems than it solved.
The prince was leading an army against an enemy kingdom. If Lucen refused to provide him with weapons while soldiers were dying along the border, the political enemies of the Thorneharts would accuse the Thorneharts of hoarding their strength and placing their own influence above Norvaegard.
