[At the front of the Royal Palace.]
The sound of war horns echoed across the field.
Inara's army began to move.
The front line raised their shields, archers notched their arrows, and the mages began murmuring spells under their breath.
A ripple of energy passed through them as they began to charge in.
From atop the palace wall, Lucien narrowed his eyes as he spotted the red smoke rising behind the walls.
His fingers curled into fists.
"Asher…"
He wasn't sure why he thought it was him, but he couldn't get it out of his mind.
He turned sharply toward his captain. "Tell the second wave to hold the inner gate. Don't let her army inside the palace."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Lucien glared back out at the battlefield, at Inara, standing tall with the wind in her hair as the Sun dipped down completely.
She looked like a queen.
And he hated it.
---
Inara looked at the situation in front of her as her army marched forward.
She was doing everything as it was planned beforehand.
