Raven stood in front of the long line of soldiers, the frost-covered ground crunching quietly under their boots.
The right-side unit stretched far behind him, fifteen captains, each with more than a thousand men under their command.
Twenty thousand soldiers in total, all waiting for his words.
Their breaths rose in thin white clouds.
Armor clinked faintly as they shifted, tightening straps, gripping weapons, trying to hold back the tension that always settled before a battle.
Raven scanned their faces. Most were serious, focused.
A few looked pale. Then he spotted Manoj near the front, grinning like this was some festival and not the start of a war.
Raven let out a small sigh.
Somehow, that ridiculous grin eased his own nerves more than any deep breath ever could.
He straightened his back and filled his lungs.
"Soldiers!" Raven shouted.
His voice cut through the cold air like a blade.
