"Let me get this straight, Captain Xertris," Zoglon said to the captain kneeling before him. "We have the human mages huddled in a tiny little corner, bordering on collapse. Brannath slew the Head Mage, the most powerful magician in the kingdom. A hundred or so loyal soldiers have sacrificed their lives to exhaust those mages' magical and physical energies. Now you tell me that they are still fighting back just as hard as before? How is that possible?" With each word the captain's head grew damper with spittle. Captain Xertris nodded and stood up, coming to his full height of seven feet - over a foot taller than the king. Despite the disparity, his body quivered. As he opened his mouth to speak, Zolgon reached up and pressed a claw against his lips. "Think carefully before speaking your next words Xertis. They may be your last."