Zes, Meria, Artemis, and Tilde were all here in the castle right now.
A few weeks ago, I had originally assigned them to keep watch over the far horizon outside the kingdom. Their task was to monitor the Empire's movements and report any suspicious mobilization before it could become a real threat.
Right now, though, priorities had shifted.
The castle needed protection far more than the open fields and distant borders.
Zes and Meria were more than capable of acting as a defensive wall if something managed to break through. Both of them had the kind of strength that could hold a position even when things got ugly. When those two stood their ground, it felt like watching a pair of living fortresses planted right where they stood.
Artemis and Tilde were a different story entirely.
