The collapse of the Empire began to spread from the moment the report of Kaelin's death arrived.
At first, this piece of news only circulated in low voices among the senior officers, all of them somewhat unable to believe it.
Soon a second message followed. Duke Remont had defected to the Jade Federation.
This time, the order within the barracks disintegrated within a few breaths, and the front line that had barely been held together lost its framework as if its bones had been pulled out.
Kaelin still had an heir, but to continue holding out seemed to have lost all meaning.
By the night of the third day, the first fully formed unit abandoned its position without orders and defected toward the Jade Federation.
That was like a signal, and what followed was rout turning into a flood.
The Knights no longer marched in formation, but scattered in twos and threes, running back along any road they could remember, or simply turning toward the Southeast.
