Phoebe's POV
"We can't evacuate that quickly. The people won't abandon their homes. You don't understand these folks—they'd rather stand and fight with us than run. They're warriors at heart."
Abner laid out the reality of the local population. As one of the senior fighters stationed here, he knew what we were dealing with. His bald head gleamed under the lamplight, though he wasn't particularly old. Those dark eyes of his held constant doubt, like he questioned every single thing he witnessed.
"They're loyal to the crown. They'll do anything to protect this land."
"Right, I overlooked that," Joric admitted. He'd only been assigned here recently, while Abner had spent years understanding the locals.
