When the King Unleashes His Blade
"Yes… this is Jim. My most loyal blade, sharper than any steel in this kingdom. From this moment forward, he will lead the strike force and activate the traps we have lain in the valley. If Moonstone's army dares to march past our border, they will not march back."
Not once did he pound the table. Not a single yell escaped him. Just words came out - then stillness followed, sharp as a chime.
The chill in his words settled like frost on stone. Absolute. Unchanging.
A silence settled, heavy, uninvited. It stayed like that, filling the space between them. The moment stretched, slow and thick. Judgment wasn't spoken - just felt, nearby, breathing softly at the table.
Clearing his throat, a general stopped himself before words came. Armor brushed faintly when another moved, hinting at restlessness beneath the surface. The gaze fixed on the map grew stiff, avoiding contact now - like those inked shadows began to dig deeper.
