Her Graceful War Song novel Chapter 1641

At once, the family summoned all the generals to hold council, and scouts were sent out again to gather firmer intelligence. Additionally, a fast rider was dispatched back to the capital to request reinforcements.

Cindy took care to see Carissa settled properly, and the two sat together for a long while, speaking in low voices.

Cindy did her best to comfort her niece, urging her not to dwell in sorrow and to look ahead instead. Yet even as she spoke kindly, she turned her head away more than once to quietly wipe away her tears.

Carissa leaned against her aunt, thinking how fortunate she was to have a second chance. This time, so much might still be saved.

The following morning, Dominic issued new orders. All soldiers were to return to their posts immediately, and training was resumed in full. The walls were to be reinforced, and traps were to be laid within the outer fortress.

Carissa took this chance to speak to her grandfather. She requested permission for both herself and Travis to join the drills.

Dominic refused her outright: "Before you arrived, your mother's letter reached us first. She was most insistent that you are not to set foot on the battlefield."

"I won't. I only wish to train with the others," Carissa replied quickly.

When she saw her grandfather's stern expression, she smiled and tugged lightly at his sleeve. "Grandpa, you know I've studied martial arts. But I've only ever trained in the mountains, never in real combat or with others. Let me learn a little more. It's only training, after all."

Dominic had visited Meadow Ridge during his last trip to the capital. Back then, Adrian had praised Carissa's skill, saying she trained well enough. But whether that was truly so or only said out of kindness, Dominic didn't know. Still, since she had chosen to take this path, she ought to learn all she could.

If all went well, she would never need to use those skills. But life was long and full of trials. And after all, she was now the only daughter of the Marquis of Northwatch's family. The household was filled with widowed women and grieving mothers. If Carissa could become stronger, more capable, more assured in herself, that would not be a bad thing.

And so, Dominic relented. He agreed to let his granddaughter disguise herself as a young man and train alongside Travis in the army camp. Of course, she had to begin as an ordinary foot soldier, and her identity was not to be revealed. Once training ended, she and Travis were to leave immediately.

Their first day of training was led by a general named Otis Lynch. The soldiers gathered that day had only just returned from farming. In times of peace, the men stationed at Victory Pass often worked the land. It was these people who were now recalled for duty. As for the garrison already stationed at the mountain gate, they had never left their posts.

To withstand Westhaven's army of 200,000, every soldier would be needed. Yet even then, the difference in strength between the two sides remained painfully clear.

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