at least it was quick

[marycatelli]

War as a plot device reared its head in a story.

As part of the backstory, actually. Fortunately I was able to devise a reason why the fighting was over quickly.

Especially since it did not mean that the king's unexpectedly early return was a coincidence. Though, on the other hand, he didn't return to find his mother was trying to throw his wife and two children into a pit filled with venomous creatures, or any other dramatic moment.

At that, I have to figure out how to kill the mother without her having a pit filled with venomous creatures to throw herself into her rage.