Raoul and Alanna rode side-by-side at the head of their small column. Their conversations were short and blunt. No one felt much like talking freely or joking on such a grave journey. Dom, scowling, finally coughed and took a breath.
"Sir? Lady Alanna? I do believe that we should conduct some sort of plan. Unless I miss my guess, we aren't far now."
"Far from what?" Faleron snapped. We don't know where she is."
Merric twisted in his saddle to get a better look at his cousin. "Well Fal, we have a pretty good guess. Hamrkeng. Where else? I mean, it's the capital, and Maggot is there," he argued.
"I suppose," Owen piped up. He was standing in his stirrups, straining to hear the thread of conversation in the front of the line.
"Goddess!" Snapped Alanna. She reined her mount to a stop and turned him around. "Use your senses, boys. No, we don't have a solid plan yet, but then again, we don't have any solid information yet. So, if you greenies want something to mull over, then fine. Our intentions are to find out where they're keeping Keladry, sneak in, take her, and sneak out."
Raoul laid a large hand on her shoulder. "Easy, Alanna," he whispered into her ear. "They're just worried, and I think we'll all go crazy if it stays silent like this."
The column of riders broke up as every man tried to voice his opinion.
"Well, I say we need a solid plan now, considering we'll be going to war the moment we have her. Remember the treaty?" Esmond stated.
"How in Mithros's name are we supposed to sneak into a castle?" Mused Seaver.
Raoul raised his hand for silence. It went unnoticed. Taking a breath, he roared "Silence!" over the din. It immediately had an effect. The men quieted and formed a line again.
They rode for another hour or so before camping. Esmond and Seaver went on a scouting detail. When they came back, the were both pale.
"Maggur's whole gods-cursed army," hissed Seaver. "Not more'n two miles away!"
(A/n: I know its been a while, but I had spring break, and now I'm grounded from the computer, so SSSSHHHHH! I have to sneak on to write. That's why theyre all so short)