Poretani was behind us and so were the hosts of Sheol. We'd reached the Kingdom of Ephanum with not a moment to spare.
The caravan was already pressing northward toward the Kingdom of Toll. The Kingdom of Toll was largely friendly to us and I expected to meet with no resistance to us passing through their lands to the Wastelands beyond.
The King of Ephanum was drawn off to the side of the caravan's passage surrounded by a group of his military commanders. When we had reached the border it was to be greeted by most of the Kingdom of Ephanum's army.
I drew up beside the King, who looked me over somewhat coldly before saying, "Glad to see you made it through Poretani."
Sure, he was, I thought to myself sarcastically. The kings of Smirnaz and Ephanum had never been on the friendliest of terms and I now filled that role.
It was hard to think of myself as a king and yet the fact remained. The fact also remained that the King of Ephanum had known that I had to make my way through Poretani. He had been at war with Poretani and it would've been a thing of ease for him to keep a force on the border so that Poretani could not have mustered a second force to come against us without exposing themselves to an invasion from behind.
Instead the King had waited within his own borders and held back his troops from the border. Such actions were not the act of a friend.
"Are you ready to evacuate your kingdom sire? The enemy's outlying scouts aren't but a few hours back of us."
"We're not leaving. The Wastelands hold no refuge for us or for you, but go if you must. We will cover your retreat from the field of battle," the King said dismissively.
His response was not surprising, but I felt that I had to try anyway, "How do you hope to stand, sire, where five other kingdoms have failed to do so?"
"Ephanum has always been alone in our fight for independence with the other kingdoms so far removed from us and Smirnaz, cursed with perpetual witness to the north, being of no help to us."
It was a direct insult and one I would not let pass, "Who has done more for Ephanum then Smirnaz of late? We rid your northern border of giants, but go ahead and sit on your border and wait for certain destruction even as you doom your people to the monstrous appetites of the host that approaches! You will have your wish in being alone as I will not allow one resident of Smirnaz, who believes in the new covenant, to remain within the reach of the evil that is coming!"