Alas, they are

The three armies had settled nicely into the city of Emti, resting and having luncheon as the wounded were sent to medical facilities for healing. Strategists and quartermasters were hard at work documenting the number of dead and updating army records, leaving the generals to have their staff draft letters to the families of the deceased.

Though many celebrated their victory, some greenhorns in the Ebonfists boasting about it, Briolforn was very quiet in thought, absentmindedly sipping on a cup of wine.

This battle was far too easy, He thought, The last time I sieged Emti decades ago, it was such a terrible fortress that even with a company's worth of war machines battering its walls, I suffered a horrendously costly defeat. This time it's so fast it's laughable.

Atop a gatehouse overlooking the rest of the city, as Hoteac studied the city with his keen eyes, his countenance quickly became grim.

"I see..."

And in his mind, he could hear Chancellor Griselda Lothar's grand strategy crumbling to pieces.

It was at night, within the main keep of the city, that Generals Briolforn and Claudia were gathered with their subordinates overlooking a map of the surrounding regions.

"Hoteac's vanished without a trace, and all he said was 'Hold position until further notice.'" Said Claudia, "Why do we have to suffer this when the rest of Yanikara is ripe for the taking?"

"Because of the city's glaring weaknesses," Said Briolforn.

"You're serious?" Said Claudia.

"I bet my life on this," Said Briolforn, his face turning dark, "The last time I sieged Emti was never so easy as today. And the reason for that is because this city was purposely constructed in a way that makes it difficult to defend."

"What in the name of-! What kind of garbage is this!?" Said Claudia, "Why make one of their most strategically important Fortress-Cities so difficult to defend!?"

"To make it easier to reclaim," Said Briolforn, "An army as massive as ours necessitates a secure supply chain to keep it fed, and if we were to advance deeper, our supply chain will be cut off. It's almost as if they're deliberately using their capital region as bait to annihilate our forces."

Claudia grit her teeth, clenching her knuckles white.

"Now that you mention it... the walls' awkward height, the messed-up pathways, all of it just doesn't suit a city of Emti's importance," Said Claudia, "And if that's the case... only the Three Lions could come up with such a stratagem so removed from common sense!"

Briolforn nodded, saying, "And this means that Chancellor Griselda's strategy has now fallen apart."

"Damnit! Now we've only two options - don't you dare suggest that retreat is one!" Said Claudia, "Either we leave behind more troops than planned and continue on to Sorik in tandem with the invading armies at Sekiler, or we spend more time to build up Emti to the fortress it's supposed to be, and both involve huge risks we absolutely cannot take!"

Claudia smashed her fist on the table in frustration, though she soon heard Briolforn laughing to himself.

"What's so funny, Briolforn?" Asked Claudia, "Don't you realise the gravity of the situation?"

"You kind of remind me of how young you are, you know," Said Briolforn, "There is one more option, though I admit it's equally as risky as your suggested options."

"And what would that be, Briolforn?" Asked Claudia.

"To abandon Emti completely and come crashing down on Sorik before our supplies run out," Said Briolforn.

"What!? But that's-!" Said Claudia.

"That's why I called you young, Claudia," Said Briolforn, "The reason why Hoteac rushed out in such a hurry was undoubtedly to confirm if such a plan was possible."

And Claudia was left utterly speechless.

It took Hoteac two days to travel from Emti to Sorik, bringing with him only a squadron of elite guards and his most talented generals to avoid detection by patrols.

And at the very outskirts, hidden within a forest, Hoteac's group bore witness to a terrifying sight.

Huge walls and watchtowers tall as hills, a moat stretching as wide as a highway, and troops and mangonels manning its ramparts. All across the city's skies, eagle riders danced like a swarm of vultures, ready to pounce on their prey.

"What in the Goddess's name...?"

"Are those walls really that big...?"

"Even in a fool's eyes, that city is no easy quarry."

Hucimri Chofesh, a Dark Elven general that has long since served as Hoteac's right-hand woman and chief of all his generals, looked menacingly at the walls of Sorik, her gauntleted hand tightly gripping her two-handed battleaxe.

"It's perfect..."

"What?"

"It's the perfect city," Said Hoteac, "It will never fall to martial might."

"!?"

Shock and surprise were written all over his guards' faces.

"Does that mean it's impossible to take Sorik, My Lord?" Asked Hucimri.

"..."

Hoteac merely stared silently at Sorik's walls, like an intricate puzzle whose answer eluded him.