The news of the fall of House Ironvale spread like wildfire across the empire within hours of the day Brandon and Erik found the frozen Ironvale army.
An army of fewer than a hundred thousand Banes had already claimed a major victory in less than a week since the war had begun. No one could underestimate them anymore. Chaos erupted in the meeting halls of every Duchy, as debates raged over whether to attack while the Banes were still exhausted or to reinforce their own defenses now that the Banes possessed the catastrophic weapons of House Ironvale.
In the end, one conclusion was clear. The Banes had to be stopped at all costs.
---
"I'm sorry, Lord Aurelion," said a breathtakingly beautiful woman with light pink hair. Her face was hidden behind a veil, and a pair of butterfly wings radiating a luminous pink fluttered on her back. "I could have healed the Prince's arm if the wound had not already closed. Nothing can be done now."
