The sky above the World Tree remained a bruised and violent purple. It had been three days since the Demon Realm invasion began. The protective dome over Oakhaven held firm against the toxic smog. Inside the walls the air was clean and smelled of silver grass. Outside the walls the world was dying.
Valeria stood on the battlements and drank a cup of black tea. She was exhausted. The logistics of feeding five hundred refugees and housing a small army of White Lotus Paladins were stretching her resources to the absolute limit. She watched the King's Road carefully for any sign of new refugees.
She saw movement in the purple fog instead. It was not a chaotic swarm of Shadow Beasts. It was a solid and disciplined block of color moving up the snow-covered path.
It was red. A river of crimson tabards and polished iron armor marched toward the estate.
"Sound the bell," Valeria ordered the Bear guard beside her.
