Aly was asleep at her desk when a kiss woke her. She looked up to see Nawat a worried look on his face, behind him stood her mother and Dove.
"Aly, your working too hard, let me do the paperwork," Dove said, "I'm good at it and then you can do everything else you need to do."
Aly started to reply when her mother said, "Don't protest Alianne. Say 'Thank you Dove.'"
"That's what I was going to say Mother. There's just too much work for me to have time to decode everything by myself. Nawat are the crows ready? Do you have enough weapons?"
"Of course, they're ready, my love, though we could do with some more bows. My people will have to leave them behind to get here in time."
"Good. Ask Cheanol for some and make sure to use the gryphon fletched arrows first."
"Yes Duani," he answered playfully.
"What did Jonathan say Mother?"
"His troops will be here in about two weeks. Numair will be here in about a week with Daine since they can fly over. I gave Ochobu the list of everything they're going to need."
"Great. I'll make sure we'll have clothes ready as well. Winnamine's maids are quick seamstresses. Then I need you to finish prepping your knights. "
"Aly," said Dove in a worried voice.
"What's wrong?"
"There's a black blob crawling across the floor."
Aly turned to see where wide eyed Dove was looking. There was Secret crawling over the floor from her bedroll.
"Fun?" he asked.
"Yes Secret fun," she said laughing as she walked over and held out a hand for him to crawl up on.
"What is that?" asked Dove curiously.
"A darking," Alanna and Aly replied together.
"Oh," Dove said relief showing on her face then it was quickly replaced with confusion, "What's a darking."
"Well…." Aly started, she explained how they were made and what they did now, finally she said, "This is Secret. I want you to have him. That way we can communicate when things heat up more. I also have one for you Nawat and then I'll get you one as well Mother."