Chapter 28

The great trees of The City of the Rising Star loomed before them, their ancient branches reaching protectively over the city walls. Under their uneven shadows Arlena's hands trembled as she stacked stones that would become trebuchet ammunition. Each piece felt like a betrayal, not just to the city, but to everything her people held sacred.

Not far from her, from his elevated platform, General Boon calmly surveyed the siege preparations, marking positions on maps while issuing commands to his officers. When, below, Captain Bortrand managed the enslaved Florishside elves with military precision.

"The foundation for the siege tower needs to be wider," Bortrand called out, his voice carrying across the churned earth. "Move those support beams. The angle must be exact."