However—
That was a lie.
The real reason there were so few people left in Highmount Fortress was because most of those willing to leave had already been evacuated into Thune Territory.
This was a classic "invite the enemy into the trap" scheme.
"You're telling me," Thomas Nightingale said, biting off each word as his eyes nearly bulged from rage, "that damned brat Romon actually rode right over you and stole my military funds?!"
He'd endured the pain all the way here, riding on horseback to keep up appearances for the ceremonial escort. His thighs were already raw from the journey, and after all this suffering, he was met with this disaster.
Seeing the Lord on the verge of exploding, Mangton immediately dropped to his knees and pleaded, "My Lord, Romon is simply too cunning! Just look at the damage he and his people have done to my town. That's all from his mage's spells."
