Seeing present, facing the past (double chapter)

"…"

Isera sat down on her knees and watched how her world crumbled in the reflection of reality within the inner picture of her pendant. 

She saw Banjay go from one bed to the other, exchanging a few words with his soldiers in a desperate attempt to somehow raise their morale. 

The worst part about it was that she knew when exactly commanders would resort to this method. 

The only time when they could bother trying to raise the morale of those already heavily injured, was when even they had to go back to fight in the last ditch effort. 

Soon enough, Banjay walked out of the infirmary and moved back to where the history was being written with the blood of those who fought to decide its course. 

The first embankment of the fortress fell, allowing the imperials full access to the first, main wall. 

A reasonable obstacle, as opposed to both the second wall and then the monolith of the third.