A few minutes later:
Alessa rides her borrowed horse next to Anguis', admiring the view of the plains and forests surrounding them in silence before stopping on a height overlooking the river and Kalur on the other side.
Anguis:
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"Soon armies of dwarves and men may be clashing there," she nods towards the river. "The pure, clear waters tainted with the blood of countless soldiers. River-crossings are never easy when there's hostile troops on the other side. If war is unavoidable then perhaps our armies should secure the crossings before the enemy can mobilise to defend them..." She sighs.
"But can we even be certain Kalur is our true enemy? Perhaps it is Taurus who is leading us to war, with falsified evidence against an innocent people? A war would unite the nation behind them, the fruits of the revolution would wither and die in nationalist fervour and the power of our houses would decline, unless we can seize the initiative. Either way, there will be much suffering in the times ahead. A Catharsis, consuming some and purifying others..." She speaks wistfully, before growing silent once again.
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