| A | B |
| urgent | adj. Needing immediate attention. |
| muskets | n. Old-fashioned kinds of guns, used before the modern rifle. |
| dispatches | n. Messages. |
| altered | v. Changed; made different. |
| fates | n. The powers that are believed to cause events to happen as they do. |
| contemporaries | n. People who live in the same time period as others. |
| realm | n. A kingdom; all the area controlled by one ruler. |
| efficient | adj. Skillful=l; effective; capable. |
| provinces | n. Divisions of a country; specific regions. |
| efficiency | n. Ability; skill; effectiveness. |
| couriers | n. Messengers; people who carry messages. |
| façade | n. The face or front of a building. |
| officials | n. People who work for the government. |
| reliable | adj. Dependable; trustworthy. |
| determination | n. Strong willpower; strength of will. |
| bureaucrats | n. Government officials; people who work for the government. |
| phenomenally | adv. Remarkably; by a miracle. |
| commemorating | v. Honoring by remembering. |