The grand hall had turned into a crowded refuge. Nobles in embroidered coats sat shoulder to shoulder with kitchen hands, scribes, and stable boys.
Children whimpered quietly in their mothers' arms. The only light came from the line of floating artifact orbs above the hall, their glow wavering each time the walls rumbled outside.
Two of Eric's elites guarded the barricaded doors with their spears crossed.
"Lord Garrett will return soon," Baron Mallor said while wringing his hands but forcing a grin. "He's never lost a defensive battle. The old man might not be at the very peak, but he is near and also very experienced."
"He has a very good head on his shoulders! A calm and collected mind matters more than a couple of levels extra!"
"Aye," another noble added. "And with how loud the invaders were, the soldiers from the nearby barracks must've heard by now. Reinforcements will be here any moment. They will be able to keep the invaders at bay until the Greenvale forces arrive."
