The heavy iron hammers rang loudly across the massive courtyard of Helios as thousands of drafted citizens worked tirelessly to rip the gold from their own sacred temples.
Kai sat comfortably upon his jagged blue ice throne, watching the distant plumes of dark forge smoke rise into the freezing northern sky while he planned the upcoming fortifications.
Yena walked up the frosted dais steps with her spear resting casually on her shoulder, wiping a thick streak of dark soot from her cheek as she approached her king.
"The merchant guilds are dragging their feet on the new decrees, my King," Yena reported, her amber eyes narrowing with deep, seasoned frustration.
"Lord Valerius refused to hand over his private iron reserves, claiming that ancient royal privilege protects his personal storehouses from military seizure."
Kai did not sigh, but he stood up smoothly from the frozen seat and straightened his silver-embroidered black silk robes.
