Receiving the new

The despot's eyes widened in shock, his initial response a vehement denial. In a tone laden with disbelief, he uttered, "This cannot be! Arta is an impregnable city, a fortress that could withstand any siege. This must be a ploy, a falsehood meant to sow discord among us."

His mind grappled with the inconceivability of the news. Arta, a bastion that had withstood the test of time, now seemed vulnerable to an unforeseen calamity. The despot's conviction in the city's invincibility clashed with the stark reality presented by the messenger. The notion that Arta could fall appeared antithetical to the despot's understanding of the city's strength.