A/N: "I was bound to rebel at some point. Forty is leaving it a little late, but...Consider this a gentle-nudge-from the Minister for Magic."

AER: Welcome back :)

Raider: Haha...not quite that much. You need to read it!

TheRanger'sDaughter: Of course the youngest/only girl (at least, only girl when they were actually growing up) knows how to play her older brothers. It's her job :)

Disclaimer: Not John Flanagan.

Reese looked over the small army that had gathered to stage the attack on Marquesa Carlota. Caroline moved through them as though she were one of them, earning her several side glances and whispers. The old timers in Araluen still protested females being trained as warriors, but Iberion still seemed to have the traditional standard.

"She is something," Russ said as he joined him.

Reese glanced to his friend. "Robin figure out her voyage home?"

"Your mother allotted her an Iberion ship to finish her tour with. She's working out which ports to cut with her sailors. Consuelo will join her and meet us all back in Araluen…your mother wanted to spare her seeing her homeland being taken over and Robin sets sail at first light."

"I'm sure Robin will look after her."

Russ laughed. "Yeah…and if they beat us home she can take her to our parents and explain everything. She's better at keeping a story straight when Mum starts asking questions."

Reese smirked, but didn't argue. He was glad Robin would be far away by the time fighting started. If Consuelo was with her, even better. "I should go find my mother and let her know we'll be leaving soon."

Russ nodded. "I can keep an eye on things here."

Reese picked his way back to his mother's room and let himself in. She sat at a vanity he assumed was common in Iberion, considering how seriously everyone took their appearance. He half-expected to come in on her washing her face or combing her thick dark hair before bed, as he had so many times as a child. Instead, he came in on her resting her forehead in her hands. He noticed her dark hair now had stray bits of gray, something he realized he'd never truly noticed before. She was still beautiful, still every bit royal and exotic, but she was aging.

"Mother," he whispered as he shut the door behind him. She sat up straighter, noticing his presence, and gave him a smile.

"Reese. Is everything ready?"

He nodded and crossed the room to kneel next to her chair. "You're tired," he said simply.

She reached up and stroked the stray bit of hair back into place. "I am sorry, son."

Reese raised his eyebrows. "Sorry? For what?"

"I did not teach you everything you need to know. I want so much for you to be happy…I forget to teach you how to be a king. It is my fault you are not ready for what you have to do now."

Reese frowned. He'd never seen his mother like this before. His father, yes…usually mid-argument. He'd always written it off as a way to manipulate him into doing whatever it was they were fighting over. His mother? She'd always been quiet, clearly supporting his father but not wanting to destroy him.

Anamaria sighed and looked out towards the wide open balcony, enjoying the warm breeze drifting in. "I only want to love you, Reese. I forget to teach you. I am sorry."

Reese shook his head. "Mum…you took me in when you didn't have to. You could have put me in a Ward or…given me to a maid, or…anything. But you kept me. You and Father…you've given me more than I deserve."

She shut her eyes, a tear managing to escape out the corner of one. "You are not ready for this battle. Russ is…Holt is…Caroline is. You…"

"I'm ready," he tried to assure her, though he wasn't sure himself.

She gave him a weak smile and opened her eyes. "Please come back to us, Reese. I can't lose you."

So that's what this was. His first true battle, leading an army with peers rather than his father's advisors at his side. His safety couldn't be guaranteed, and his mother feared losing him. Suddenly, he worried about his own life a little more. Not that he didn't have a healthy sense of self-preservation before…but this time for his mother's sake. She wouldn't do well if she lost him. Araluen would have to turn to Iris for leadership, a little girl with no sense of responsibility beyond parties and looking pretty.

"You won't lose me," he assured her. "You've done so much, Mum. I think…I think you should join Robin and Consuelo."

Anamaria tilted her head. "What?"

"I want you to join Robin and Consuelo. This is your childhood home. I don't think you should be around when everything happens, no matter the outcome."

Anamaria sighed and gave him another tired smile. "You grew up. When did that happen?"

Reese shrugged. "Recently, I assure you." He wrapped her in a hug, knowing how much affections he required from her family. "I love you, Mother."

Anamaria laughed and tightened her arms around him. He'd never realized how small she was. "I love you too, my son. How will you overcome the marquesa?"

Reese stared out the open window several moments. "With help from my friends." He leaned out of the embrace and stood, turning for the door. Marquesa Carlota was powerful, but she was Iberion. Clearly, to rise to power in Iberion one must fit into Iberion beliefs. Beliefs he'd spent his entire life listening to his mother point out, some for the better, others for worse. Beliefs that made it perfectly acceptable to party throughout the night with no real structure and then ride at first light. They would be stopping before a full day's travel, because they'd never travel a full day. The warm air and lack of true forests enabled them to travel after dark most nights, so long as enough of the moon was lit. "Goodbye, Mother. Please…travel back on Robin's ship."

He left and made a direct path for Russ. Caroline stood with him, as did Holt.

"Good," Holt said as he joined them. "The officers want to go over strategy with you."

"I have a strategy," Reese answered. "I need you to present it to them."

"Me? Why me?" Holt asked in surprise. Russ and Caroline both raised their eyebrows as well.

"Because you're a knight, Sir Holt. Iberions don't understand Battalion ladies, they don't understand Rangers. I'm clearly a joke. I need you to present this."

"You're a knight?" Caroline asked in Holt's direction. He shook his head.

"No, I'm just…"

"Promoted," Reese cut him off. "On my authority. Now, here is what we are going to do…"

Reese explained the scope of his plan. Russ approved and offered to train the first line of attack in silent movement and disguise along the way. He'd be their lead. Caroline begrudgingly accepted her role. Reese would have to think of a way to make it up to her later, but only she could provide what they desperately needed. Araluen soldiers were stationed throughout the company, led by Holt whom they knew and trusted. Holt agreed to take the plan to the officers as his own…after Reese recruited Russ and Caroline to talk him into it. Nothing Reese said would be taken seriously by people who still saw him as a spoiled prince with no leadership skills. If it came from Holt, however…the plan had a chance.

"You are sure this is how you want to do this?" Caroline asked. The two walked together around the officer's tent, the O'Carrick brothers having gone inside.

"I'm sure." He glanced to her. "Why? Do you think I'm a coward for not going in and presenting it myself?"

Caroline stared at him for several moments, then broke into a grin. "No. I think you are wise to consult with us first and allow the career warriors to present it."

That took him off guard. "Wise?" he repeated.

She nodded. "We are not so different, Your Highness. We are both capable of more than those inside that tent think."

"You're saying the officers are foolish enough to doubt you?"

"Yes. Queen Cassandra, Lady Lina…so many strong women and the men inside that tent still believe my gender is less than their own."

Reese stared at the ground. He knew such discrimination still existed, but these were officers his father himself promoted. He'd thought for sure they accepted the Battalion by now.

"They only like us to handle covert work," Caroline explained, reading his thoughts on his face. "Making decisions, partaking in strategy…they'd sooner listen to the inexperienced prince than me."

Reese nodded slowly as they walked. This would be another mountain to climb once he was king.