~ The Platform
Wind came off the ocean and hit the stone platform where Raven stood. His coat was open, flapping against his thighs. His hands were in his pockets. His violet eyes were on the army.
It was huge.
The human army spread across the landscape like a second ground. Tents, campfires, supply wagons, horses, siege equipment. Soldiers sat on crates, sharpened swords, ate bread, drank water, played dice. Knights in full armor stood in formation, their shields locked, their spears vertical. Archers checked bowstrings. Mages reviewed spell circles. Medics packed bandages. The noise was enormous. Metal on metal, voices on voices, horses snorting, wheels creaking. The smell was mud and sweat and iron and leather and manure and sea salt.
Raven looked at all of it and felt nothing.
