CHAPTER10: LANCE STRIKES QUICKLY Written by: Yvain Starring:
Lance	Gereint	Coel

--- Sacred King Calendar, Month 9 , Year 216 ---
-- Castle Camelfort --

Lance summons Gerient and Coel into his makeshift war room.

Gereint: (Prince Lance looks worn and tired, so different from the youthful exuberant youth I know...Zemeckis' success must be difficult for him...)

Lance: Gereint, Coel, we must act quickly if we are to survive this turn of events. With Esgares now in control of Iscalio they control nearly half the continent. Given time to consolidate their hold they may well be able to defeat even the combined might of Caerleon and New Almekia, or overcome the mountain monastery fortresses of Leonia.

Gereint: And that fool Vaynard has already forced Leonia's hand by insulting their queen to her face to force Leonia into a two front war. His forces will crash upon the walls of the fortress Lidney at the northern fording and break themselves to pieces while his other great armies do more damage to us and the Leonians.

Coel: Though Dryst is defeated Vaynard has become the new Mad Monarch, making enemies of every nation.

Lance: Yet we can still turn this to our advantage. I have a plan to bring Esgares to it's knees. But we must act quickly, while Esgares is still spread thin. Its forces are depleted, many of its leaders are far to the south in Caelsent ensuring a smooth transition of power and trying to hold against the probings of Caerleon in the west and Leonia in the east.

Gereint: Difficulty has brought out the best in you I see. I stand with you. Where shall we strike?