Lyanna had been preparing for the eastern territories negotiations for a week when Victor burst into the council chamber with urgent news.
"Your Majesties, we have a critical situation."
Azrael immediately stood up.
"What situation?"
"A small farming territory, Millhaven, with approximately two hundred civilians has been occupied by extremist forces who are using it as a shield for a weapons cache."
"What kind of weapons?" Lyanna asked.
"Explosives. Our intelligence suggests they'll be deployed within three to five days."
"Evacuate the civilians and secure the weapons." Azrael said immediately.
"The extremists anticipated that." Victor said. "They've hidden the weapons throughout the village. To extract them we'd need to go door to door. It would take days."
"Then let's negotiate." Lady Morgana suggested. "We'll offer them safe passage in exchange for the weapons."
"They won't take it. They're willing to die to attack at Thornfield. Negotiation will only delay us."
