In the royal palace of Orcathia, King Gorak held a strategic meeting with Queen Ursa and his advisors. Reports confirmed that the invasion of Aranthor was progressing more swiftly than anticipated, with towns falling rapidly. Prince Thorgar was actively engaged in the invasion, while Princess Vasha was in Drakoria, finalizing discussions about the post-invasion landscape. Gorak understood that once Aranthor's capital was captured, the Empire would inevitably react, and Orcathia alone was not strong enough to withstand the Empire's might. However, with Drakoria's full support, they could negotiate with the Empire on equal footing.

Gorak had ensured Thorgar's involvement in the invasion to prevent the strike team from killing Aranthor's royal family after capturing the capital. He knew that most orcs despised humans, and if the royal family were killed, it would preclude any negotiations with the Empire, leading to a full-scale war that could spell their doom. Queen Ursa suggested they reach out to Elzaran and attempt to repair their fractured relationship.

Five hundred years ago, the previous orc king had been a tyrant who ruled with an iron fist. Obsessed with the beauty of the elves and coveting their long lifespan, he had planned meticulously and initially succeeded in invading Elzaran’s border towns, killing men and taking women as slaves. However, his invasion was thwarted by a group known as 'The Resistance,' which eventually evolved into what is now the 'Council of Elders.' After repelling the invasion, the council gained popular support and ultimately controlled the country from the shadows.

During and after the invasion of Elzaran, nobody cared, but Queen Ursa felt they owed Elzaran an apology. After the war with Aranthor, Vasha would visit Elzaran on a diplomatic mission. Ursa understood it was the fault of the previous king, but someone needed to take responsibility and be accountable.

The king and queen were in a meeting when a messenger hurried in. They expected news of victory and the capture of Aranthor's capital, but instead, the messenger brought dire news: Elzaran was invading.

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"What did you say?" Gorak thundered, rising from his seat. The room fell silent, the air thick with tension.

"Elzaran is invading, Your Majesty," the messenger repeated, his voice trembling. "They have already taken five towns in just three days."

"Impossible," one of the advisors exclaimed, his face pale. "Elzaran is a closed-off and impoverished country. How can they possibly invade us?"

"Most of our military is engaged in Aranthor," another advisor added, his voice edged with panic. "We never considered the elves as enemies or equals."

Queen Ursa's eyes widened in shock. "We must act quickly. Contact Vasha through the communication crystal and request reinforcements from Drakoria. Despite the significant distance, dragons can fly, making the trip in three to four days instead of the seven months it would take by carriage."

The chain of command was in disarray, and Gorak's advisors were shouting over each other, trying to make sense of the situation. Commanders were instructed to retreat from Aranthor with their brigades to defend their homeland, but it was uncertain if they would arrive in time.

"This must be revenge for the invasion many years ago," one advisor speculated, his voice shaking. "The elves have been biding their time."

"Could this be the work of the Witch of Lust, Elmacia Whiteheart?" another advisor suggested, his tone desperate.

"They must have been planning this for years," a third advisor added. "Their strategy is too effective to be a spur-of-the-moment decision."

Gorak slammed his fist on the table, silencing the room. "Enough!" he bellowed. "We need to focus. What is their strategy?"

"They're using a highly effective and sophisticated cavalry strategy," the messenger explained. "Soldiers attack on horseback, moving swiftly and striking hard. These initial attacks are followed by horse-drawn carts carrying additional soldiers and supplies, allowing them to sustain prolonged assaults. The cavalry creates chaos, disrupting our defenses, while the ground forces, arriving shortly after, encircle and crush any remaining resistance."

"What is happening?" Gorak thought, his mind racing. "Who devises these cunning tactics? They should face us man to man."

Orcathia might be as large as Aranthor and Elzaran, but much of it was desert. If things continued like this, the elves would reach their capital in a day or two.

"Vasha, please hurry," Gorak implored, his voice a mixture of anger and desperation.

The room buzzed with frantic energy as advisors rushed to issue orders and commanders scrambled to organize a defense. The reality of their predicament was sinking in: Orcathia was facing a two-front war against formidable enemies. The drama and tension were palpable as the fate of the kingdom hung in the balance.