The sharp clash of iron shields against the stone highway echoed through the cavern like a sudden thunderclap. The orange glare of pitch torches flooded the Outpost of the Seven, cutting through the freezing gloom and sending long, aggressive shadows dancing across the canvas tents.
A wall of heavy silver shields pushed forward in perfect military alignment as the vanguard of the House of Vane poured into the camp. They moved with absolute precision, their iron-shod boots striking the ground in a steady, terrifying rhythm that signaled the arrival of a real army.
The soldiers halted in an instant, their line locking into place with a heavy rattle of plate armor. The front-line torchbearers held their flames high, illuminating the center of the camp.
The first thing the light hit was Elara.
