"Impossible," she said, leaning forward on the Ivy Throne. "They're orcs." The messenger bowed his head, but not without betraying a flicker of discomfort. "They have been... armed, Queen Mother." "Armed? With what? Intelligence?" The jape fell on deaf ears. She'd just returned from successfully routing the orcs on the plains of the Estril via the Archstone and had barely had time to change from her armor into a dress before she'd been forced to call an assembly. The assembled councillors were murmuring amongst themselves in an uncharacteristic state of agitation. "Well, out with it. What secret siege weapon have they brought to bear?" "Urtolothia, My Queen. The Ur stones." The queen rose to her feet, drawing everyone's attention. "That's impossible. The Ur stones have been hidden." Her chief advisor stepped forward, clearing his throat. "It seems our enemies have conspired together to secure these artifacts," he said smoothly. "Kerlok has been treating with the Horned Ones for months now.
