I opened the door to the war room, seeing all four of my generals plus the agent from the north and my adviser already there. Maps were tacked onto the walls, with red lines signifying our defenses. There was a big map in the middleall the lands touched by my family's rule. Strewn all over it were little figurines that represented our army. It was General Clayton Craft who greeted me first. He was one of my closest friends and strongest fightershe was brutal and hot tempered, not someone to be taken lightly. He and I had spent many years on this war campaign against the King Beyond the Border. "Joan, what took you so long?" He asked, clapping me at the back. The others looked up and bowed slightly at me, but immediately went back to work. Clayton looked at me expectantly, usually I wou
