The war was a storm of shouting, clattering armor, and glowing tactical maps. Lamps casted shadows across the central table where Miguel and Julio were laying out perimeter defense blueprints. Some commanders were nearby as well.
"We funnel their vanguard into the lower ravine!" Julio slammed a fist onto the map. "If we hit them from the high ledges with heavy archers, we cut off their retreat before Alexander’s main force even reaches the gates."
"And what about the southern flank?" Miguel countered, tapping three red markers near the riverbank. "Two hundred mercenary wolves from the Slums are there. They won't give a damn about a choke point. They'll try to scale the rear cliffs."
I stood at the threshold of the doors. I had stripped off my dirt-streaked training clothes, replaced
