"That you might not be here when he returns," Seraphina completed quietly.
"Yes."
Seraphina considered carefully. "What would you want me to tell him?"
Lyra thought for a long moment before answering.
"Tell him the truth. All of it." Her voice steadied. "Tell him Commander Elric arrived with four thousand soldiers and four heroes three days ago—a week ahead of predicted schedule. Tell him we've lost First and Second Lines but are fortifying Third Line. Tell him we've suffered three hundred thirty casualties out of nine hundred seventy-three original defenders."
She continued, her tactical mind organizing information even as emotion threatened to overwhelm her.
"Tell him about the casualties. Name them if you can—he knew many of these fighters personally. Tell him about Grok who held a stairway for five minutes. About Pix who died with sixteen enemy kills from her archery. About all the goblins and orcs and serpentfolk and humans who've died defending what he built."
