"You need three fortresses to summon thirty thousand men," Sapphira said quietly, her voice soft but probing, confirming if Asher had what it truly took to call forth the Bladebreakers.
Asher turned to her, eyes gleaming with purpose. "We have taken one," he replied. "I left one of my generals behind to bring down the other two. The United North Alliance will use this moment to try and silence me forever."
He stepped down from the throne, his voice low but seething with resolve.
"So will I."
"When this is over," Asher continued, "this Dukedom will no longer bow. We will raise our own banner. Ashbourne shall become a kingdom, independent and sovereign. We will close our borders, tighten our ranks, and focus on internal development: military reforms, institutional restructuring, and the construction of the Great Ashbourne Wall, a bastion that will encircle our entire domain."
His golden gaze flicked across the chamber, his next words heavy with the weight of foresight.
