From Deep Within Ty's Tale

by Enne

Tyelle is a girl much unlike others who wishes to be a knight, but has to plans to be bullied as Kel was. She is taking the Alanna approach and hiding herself away. Yet when the bullying in the Palace-which Ty is trying to abolish-hits on her pack, Ty des

34. Lineup

In twenty minutes, a grand crowd stood, silently assembled in the courtyard. In front of them stood their army general, dressed once more in shirt and breeches, her breath coming harshly. In front of her, a bit jittery, stood her five members of the pack, by order of roll call.

"Fighters, step forward!" Ty called into the crowd. Terry and his group stepped forward and formed five straight lines behind their leader. Ty's eyebrows rose slightly. Most of the members looked nine-ish. Terry winked. Ty rolled her eyes.

"Weapons team, forward!" she called once more. Mel's group stepped forward. Most looked like ragamuffins and carried scars, though rather young. Mel grinned and nodded to Ty, then did a small bow. Ty cursed the presence of all the children—had they not been there, she would have made a few gestures. The did make a few words with the sign language they had, so much that Mel's ears glowed red. He licked a finger and put it in the center of his palm, acting as though it sizzled. She stuck her tongue out at him and looked for Kehel.

"Workers, to the front!" she called. From behind her came the elephantine footsteps of mounds of belongings on the move. She spun around. There came Kehel and his lot, carrying what looked like half the castle. They carried bundles of clothes, blankets and provisions to feed an army. But then, weren't they a small child army?

"Kehel, damn you to hell can't you tell me when you go off to ransack half the palace?" she asked.

"You said fifteen minutes and disappeared with Galatry," he retorted. "I didn't have time."

Growling, she looked forward once more. "Runners, step to me!"

Leej and his group stepped forward. He nodded to Ty, grinning broadly, before turning around and speaking quickly to his youngsters. Ty sighed.

"Otian and his group, forward!" she called. An odd assortment of children came forward as Otian emerged from the crowd. Otian saluted, then stepped forward more and whispered in Ty's ear.

"We still have a few napping in the caravans, but this is the lot. Ready for the road?"

"Caravans?" Ty shouted in his ear, spinning around to glare at Kehel. "Where in god's destroyed universe did you get caravans?"

"Stefan owes me a favor," he said.