As the showdown with Alda's faction loomed, awareness of the impending war extended beyond Vandalieu’s Vidal Empire and the duchies bordering the Fazon Duchy, such as the Birgit and Hartner Duchies. It reached even the people of Morksi, a trading city in the Duchy of Alcrem.

"Do you think war is really coming? Michael... I mean, Miles, hasn’t been around much lately."

"Yeah, Vandalieu Street’s been eerily quiet."

In Morksi, a city distant from the Fazon Duchy, only a thousand elite troops, including the Alcrem Five Knights, had been dispatched. The rest of the Duchy's contribution was limited to supplies …