The enormous doors closed behind the prisoners.
Bobby's character stepped forward while the nobles remained behind him.
"You took the city."
Alexandra looked down from the throne and let him wait.
"I did."
"You call this victory?"
"The gates are open, your banners are gone, and the men who promised I would never cross the river are standing in front of me."
She tilted her head.
"What would you call it?"
"You have the walls. The people still hate you."
"They hated me before I arrived. At least they ate this morning."
The answer came without any effort behind it.
"You said you wanted to rebuild the kingdom."
"I do."
"With its rulers in chains?"
Alexandra looked toward the nobles behind him, and several shifted beneath her attention.
