Xion sat astride his horse, dressed in silver armor that shone under the first rays of sunlight.
He carried the weight of command on his shoulders, though without Berry and Oswin by his side, the soldiers might have questioned his authority.
He had no alternative.
The people demanded to see their lord standing tall, to act as a shield against the storm, clamoring outside the walls of their city.
The guards would refuse to risk their lives for someone who hid behind the walls of the infirmary.
Xion raised his hand. Instantly, a man struck the gongs with all his strength. The heavy thuds rolled through the crowd, rattling inside their chests and quickening hearts.
"I don't care what family you belong to!" Xion's voice rang across the field where hundreds of soldiers stood straight.
