"The situation has changed. Anjie, you are the only one with the authority and the speed to handle this. You must head through the gates immediately. Scour your kingdom's lands. Bring every master, every soldier, and every drop of medicine you can find. We need an avalanche of reinforcements."
Anjie didn't refute the command. She knew Fang was right—her kingdom remained the most stable territory in their alliance, a reservoir of untapped strength.
Yet, her feet remained rooted to the blood-stained stones. "And what about the fight here? If I leave, who coordinates the defence? Who holds this line while William is out there in the dark?"
She looked at Fang, her meaning clear. If the plan was simply for a half-dead old man to lead a desperate stand, she would rather stay and send a messenger. A kingdom's worth of help wouldn't matter if the heart of the city was carved out before they arrived.
"She can help," Fang said, gesturing with a trembling hand toward Becky.
