"What about the fifty-odd beastmen who arrived yesterday? The new members who swore absolute loyalty to you and are currently outside digging defensive trenches for this so-called 'utopia'?"
Kaya winced slightly, rubbing the back of her neck in a rare display of sheepishness. "Right. Well. You could say they... fell for the trap too."
"You accidentally started a cult?" Veer deadpanned.
"It's not a cult!" Kaya protested, though she didn't sound entirely convincing. "Look, I needed the rumors to look authentic, okay? I put out a call for the broken, the exiled, and the ambitious. I figured a few drifters would show up, I'd give them some food, and they'd make the camp look busy enough to convince the spies. I didn't expect them to actually 'believe' in it so hard!"
Veer burst out laughing, the deep sound echoing off the stone. "You tricked dozens of hardened warriors into joining a fake army, and now they're ready to die for a nation that only exists in your head!"
