1. So, the Alliance army turned tail and ran. Surprising. It looked like they had plenty of fight left in them.
  2. They received some sort of urgent message. I imagine [cdb]that means a crisis has popped up somewhere in the Alliance.
  3. Almyra, probably.
  4. After only two years? The Almyrans have certainly [cdb]grown restless lately.
  5. Maybe they're in the middle of a succession. Been 20 years or so since their current king took [cdb]the throne, after all.
  6. So what are we gonna do? Go after 'em?
  7. No. We'll let them go.
  8. But when the Imperial army tried to withdraw from [cdb]the Alliance, they were hunted down! Destroyed! We should give them a taste of their own medicine!
  9. The enemy's retreat takes them through our [cdb]territory's richest grainfields. If we engage them, [cdb]the Empire's breadbasket will go up in flames.
  10. What's more, they're leaving those fields untouched [cdb]when they could just as easily set them ablaze.
  11. We'll repay their decency in kind.
  12. Well, OK. If that's how you wanna play it.
  13. Minister Bergliez, I must return to the emperor and [cdb]brief her on these latest developments.
  14. Do what you must. But please deliver a message from [cdb]me as well.
  15. About this war with the Alliance...