[b]Chapter 9: Evacuation[/b]

Leofric stared down somberly at the war table with a large map covering almost its entirety. He had left Lowburg upon receiving concerning news and made his way into the army camp outside the walls. Around the table was a handful of other men, senior knights and army officers. They expectantly looked to their king for answers, yet they were silent and patient. Next to Leofric stood another soldier, a weary and elderly man with a greying beard and a bloodied bandage around his head, a crutch under his right arm to help him stand. Leofric clasped his right hand around his left wrist and twisted slightly on the spot, glancing to the wounded man. "Explain."

The battered man hobbled forth and looked around nervously as if he expected something to leap out at him, but eventually collected himself to speak up. "Erh.. 'twas the dead, my lords -- sirs, ah.. they attacked us in the night, came out of the darkness and stormed the walls, climbing them even. They slaughtered everyone, none was prepared for it, even though we were on alert. But they weren't..." the man trails off into an eerie silence, fearful eyes darting around the gathered, who looked back with anticipation.

"What else?" Leofric concisely inquired, and the wounded looked back, immediately and humbly bowing his head as much as he could muster. "They... they weren't alone, Sire. Someone sent the dead at us, like hounds... they even fired artillery on us - we saw how they ignited their boulders... they destroyed Moat Royal. Now they are marching this way." The elderly man coughs a few too many times, and Leofric nods for a nearby sentry to take him away. He watched them exit the tent before turning back to his officers, giving them all a long stare.

"It seems Raylia has launched their invasion a few days earlier than we expected - and they have found a way to control the undead as well." he eventually speaks up with a bitterness in his tone. The men around the table nodded slowly with evident concern. A knight shifts on the spot and take to words. "It must be magic! They must have signed a pact with that damn rock in the ocean!"

"Aye, we should have razed Valentus to the ground when had the chance." an army officer followed on. The men around the table all nodded in agreement on that. Leofric remained silent, but he had his suspicions. Only the most powerful of necromancy could control the dead, and such power could only be found on the island nation of Valentus - but he dismissed the thought. One problem at a time.

"It is irrelevant as of now.  All that matters is that we have an army marching this way with an unknown number of abominations in tow, and we are the only force that stands between them and Lowburg. Captain Hal, did the surviving soldier tell you how far away the enemy army is?" Leofric then asked one of the officers. The one who was addressed as Hal raised his chin and nodded. "Yes, Sire. He estimated they were one league north of Moat Royal. They are moving slowly, what with having to trudge through the marsh with siege weaponry. They could be here within two to three days with their current speed."

"Make it two leagues by now. Captain Castor, how long would it take you to evacuate Lowburg with assistance from the local guard?" Leofric turned his attention to another officer. "Ah... five to ten hours, Sire, if everyone is to bring with what they need. But the people here are stubborn, I doubt they will all leave their homes willingly, regardless if they're under threat." Castor replied. Leofric scratched his chin in thought, he knew very well what the folks of Lowburg were like, and then nodded in conclusion. "Take a hundred men from the host and get as many as you can to safety. Captain Hal will assist you."

Leofric glanced at each of the officers around the table before nodding somewhat to himself. "That is all. We'll reconvene here once you have completed your tasks. Knights, you are with me."