Chapter Thirteen; Delays of war.
See Lady Arianna I haven't deserted you!!!
Alanna was the only lady to eat at the tables with the squires and knights at lunch. The rest ate earlier, and at the far end of the room, where they discussed the merits of each man.
Suddenly, as she sat down next to Thom at the table, King Roald burst in through the double doors at the side of the hall. He was flanked by Duke Roger and Duke Gareth of Naxen. The entire hall fell into silence as he raised the King arms to catch their attention.
"Tusaine are trying to invade the Drell valley." He began speaking without any greeting once he was assured that everyone was listening to him. "We will go to the valley tonight and defend it only. All knights and squires will come. Duke Gareth is in charge, with Duke Roger as his second in command." With a nod of his head Roald swept away, the high ranking nobles of his council following from the hall.
When the doors swung shut behind them, the room erupted into noise as the men cleared their food away. Thom shrugged at his sister, understanding what he meant she said.
"I'll go with George." He face twisted with displeasure. "Thom! You know as well as anyone that I can defend myself if need be. I will be fine with George."
"Well..." Alanna sighed in exasperation.
"Go okay. They are waiting for you. I'll meet you in your rooms later." Thom nodded and hurried to join his friends, after a few hurried words, they separated. Jonathon to go to his father's council and the others to prepare for war. Thom packed quickly and went to see what his Knight master needed.
Alanna made a few last minute adjustments to her own packing, and talked to Beth for a little while, giving her at least a week's holiday to see her family. She then crossed the hallway to her twin's room. She had only been there for a few minutes, running her hands lightly over Thom's weapons, when the door was flung open and smacked against the wall.
"We're only allowed to defend the left bank." Alanna turned at the Prince's harsh tone. He spoke bitterly, hands clenched into fists as he paced the small room. She opened her mouth to speak when she realised that, in her breeches and shirt with her hair tied back, he had mistaken her for Thom. "Our forces have been placed right under the falls. How can I be expected to know how to wage a war when I am stuck in the safest place?"
"Safest is sometimes better, my Prince, although I'm probably not the best person to talk about staying safe with."
"Alanna!" He looked closely at her for the first time since entering the room. "I thought you were Thom."
"I know. But do continue. I'm not as good a listener as Thom is, but I'll do/"
"No. I wont burden you with my problems."
"Why not? Because I am a girl?"
"No!" Alanna stared him down for a while, one eyebrow raised. "Well, maybe a little." Jonathon admitted.
"You're honest. She said. "That's something. Try me. I think you will find I know more about warfare than Thom does."
"It's not hard." He observed wryly.
"True." Alanna sat down on the bed and gestured for him to join her. He did so, bringing with him a rolled map of the Drell valley. He unfurled it and laid it out on the bed, each corner weighed down with a book. Jon pointed out the rough markings he has made on it during the meeting he had just attended.
"We think this is where the troops are." He pointed out the enemy camps grouped around the valley. We think there are about two thousand five hundred men in total, most of them are foot soldiers. My father sounded the muster this morning. We should have four thousand men here or riding towards Fief Drell by mid afternoon tomorrow."
"For a 'peaceful, unprepared country' we seem to get our army moving fast." Jon laughed at her comment.
"So you have heard about the Tusaine Delegation then."
"Thom told me in one of his letters. Thank the Great Goddess that you beat Dain, otherwise we would have been at war before now."
"Well, we are at war now."
"I am going to visit Sir Gregory, so I will be riding with you as far as I can. Then; good luck to you all. I wish I could come with you."
Jon looked at her seriously
"Alanna, you've proved yourself against one opponent, or perhaps two at once, but against a whole army? You cannot come with us."
"I fight better than Thom." She protested. "And I hate staying behind the lines while everyone else fights."
"And possibly dies." He pointed out.
"Maybe." Alanna conceded. "But it is better to die like that, as a hero, than staying here and being murdered if you lose, or dying uselessly of old age if you win."
"Alanna." He took her hand and forced her to look up at him. "None of us want you to get hurt. Stay here and we will come back soon. All of us." She gently withdrew her hand from his grip and stood from the bed and walked to the window, staring out at the forges as men rushed around preparing for the upcoming influx of men.
"I hate doing nothing. But I will go to Sir Gregory's in the morning like a good girl." Unbeknownst to the Prince, who nodded, thinking that he had persuaded the stubborn girl to stay safe, a plan was already forming in her mind.
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