Below Jared, on Plison City's walls, the soldiers murmur among themselves.
Two young infantrymen stand guard beside a ballista, both watching the monstrous camp spreading across the plains.
One soldier squints. "Why are we waiting for them to attack? We should hit them first." He gestures with his spear. "Just look at their equipment. Half of those things don't even have proper armor."
The other soldier sighs, gripping the battlement. "It's the general's orders."
"And?" the first soldier scoffs. "We've got seventy thousand men! They're monsters. We should rush them before they settle!"
The second soldier turns his head sharply. "Do you want to challenge the general's command?"
The first soldier opens his mouth… then closes it.
Everyone knows what defying a General means.
He mutters instead, "I'm just saying… they look weak. Ragged. If we charged right now—"
