Meanwhile, at Second Line, Lyra was conducting her own strategic reassessment and reaching different conclusions.
"Elric's going to shift tactics," she predicted through Seraphina's telepathic network, her mental voice reaching all the command staff simultaneously. "Today's assault was too expensive for him. He won't wait weeks—he can't afford to. His king wants this settlement destroyed quickly, and every day his army sits here is a day he's vulnerable to counter-attack from Loki or other demon lords."
"So what's his move?" Vex asked from the eastern sector where he was overseeing repair of the damaged gate.
