"Two hours. Is that enough time?" Dom asked.
Kel shrugged, still not looking at him. "It will have to be."
"Why are you on watch?"
Again, Kel shrugged. "The people know what they're doing. They can take care of themselves."
Dom frowned. "That's ridiculous. They need their commander." He disappeared down the stairs and returned a few moments later with a young soldier. "He's got good eyes. He knows what he's looking for." Dom said, pulling Kel away from the wall.
He walked her back to headquarters. "You need to rest, even if you are not going to help the men prepare," he said sharply. "There is no use brooding, it won't do anyone any good."
Kel sighed. "I was only doing my job," she muttered, but she knew he was right. She had been brooding. And that certainly wouldn't help.
She used her last hour to speak to the people. She assured them that Merric and Dom's men knew precisely what they were doing, and promised that while she was going with them, she was certainly going to come back to them.
Dom found her in her office, fifteen minutes before they were to leave. "Why are you coming? You're a commander." He asked.
She looked at him. "Because fighting is what I do best. Why are you coming?"
"Because it's my job. You ordered me to do it. But you're needed here."
Kel frowned. "I'm needed out there a lot more right now." She said. "Please don't try to protect me, Dom. I can take care of myself."
He sighed. "I know, it's just… I worry about you. I can't know you're safe when you're out there."
Kel held him in her arms. "Dom, I need to be there. I belong there. You know that."
He kissed her forehead. "I love you. I don't want to lose you again."
"Do you think this is any easier for me?" She said sharply. "I've already lost one man I love to this war. I couldn't bear to lose another." She hugged him tightly. "And you won't. I promise."
There was a knock on the door. Before Kel even had a chance to react, it swung open. "Sir, there is someone who needs to see you before you leave."
Kel nodded to the soldier. "I'll be right out."
A surprise was waiting for her when she reached the outside. A golden eagle was perched on Neal's shoulder. There was something odd about it, though. It had a humans mouth. Kel smiled. "Good evening, Daine. It's wonderful to see you."
The wild mage smiled. "It's good to see you too, Kel. I was in Steadfast when you sent the message. Raoul couldn't send any men, knowing these Scanrans would go there next, but he thought you might do something rash – which, I hear, you are – so I'm here."
Kel grinned. "Your help is welcomed. We depart in fifteen minutes. Would you like a drink or a bite to eat before we leave?"
Daine nodded. "Thank you." Her mouth changed back into an eagle and she flew over to Kel.
After slipping into a borrowed shirt and breeches, Daine sat across from Kel at Kel's desk. "I didn't get a chance to see this army before I came here. Was it as bad as it sounded?"
Kel nodded. "We didn't lose anyone, but it's only a matter of time. I'm sending men out tonight, that much you know. I don't think we can do very much damage, but there's nothing else to do."
Daine sighed as she sipped a glass of water. "I will send some friends to help them out." She said with a smile. "I can ask their horses to leave their masters. I can't promise they will leave or turn on their masters, but I can try."
Kel smiled. "That would be helpful. I always like to know that my men can get away safely."
"Are there any new animals here?" Daine asked as they walked outside. "Calves or colts or anything? I can speak to them tomorrow, if you feel it necessary."
Kel shook her head. "What they know just from being here is enough. I know you don't like to teach them to think like people if you don't have to. They don't need it. Maybe in a few generations."
"It's a deal," Daine said. "I'll go ahead and scout. Can you take my clothes, in case I need to change back?" She asked before changing into the eagle.
Kel nodded and stuffed the shirt and breeches into her small pack on the back of Hoshi. "Are we ready?" She asked.
Both Merric and Dom nodded. Daine took flight and disappeared over the wall as the large gate opened a crack for the line of horses to fit through. A dozen sparrows followed her.
No one said a word. The horses hooves were covered in cloth to keep them quiet, and every metal piece on their saddles were padded to stop them from jingling. Every man wore a leather jerkin with rings instead of armour to keep themselves quiet. There was not a sound, even though they had not left yet.
Kel's mind was racing. Thirty five men, all of them on horse back, eleven of them members of the Own. It was a good group of men. But thirty five against almost six hundred? It was a suicide mission. Kel knew it was. She was sure her men knew it too. She couldn't force them into this. "This is going to be dangerous, men." She said, loudly enough for the group to hear her. "I am not going to force any of you to do this. Feel free to leave now. There will be no hard feelings, you will not be considered a traitor."
Not a man moved. Kel couldn't help but smile. "Let's move out," she said. They didn't say a word past the fort walls. They were lucky it was a moonlit night, as they could not bring lanterns or torches. After fifteen minutes of riding, Kel heard an eagle cry. She looked up. Daine's silhouette was flying down to her. As it had before, the eagle's mouth changed to resemble a human shape as it landed on Hoshi's mane. The sparrows arranged themselves around her and on Kel.
"They are a kilometre down the road," Daine whispered. "5 scouts watching from the trees. Your sparrows can point them out." The head sparrow, White, peeped in agreement. "I have spoken to their horses. They agreed to help. They say their masters use the spur on them and don't feed them well. They are ready to buck and bite and run on my command."
Kel nodded. "I will send men to get rid of their scouts. When do they change?"
"Twice between lights. The horses don't know times, they just know there are two shifts. I think it's very soon, though, since they only have two a night."
Kel nodded again. "I will give you the signal. Goddess bless."
With that, Daine flew away. Kel signalled to the men what was happening. She could see them straining to see her signals. They rode a bit further. Dom sent five of his men, those trained best at being quiet, with the sparrows. Half an hour later, they came back.
"They changed the guard at midnight. We watched it. We killed the scouts as soon as the old ones were out of range. There won't be new ones until daybreak."
Kel nodded. "Let's begin," she said. "there could still be men awake. Be silent. White, tell Daine we're ready when she is."
Fifteen minutes later, hidden half a kilometre away from the camp enemy camp in a small glen that she was sure the enemy knew nothing about (otherwise they would have camped there), Kel heard galloping hooves. She held Hoshi's reigns tightly and patted her neck, not allowing her to call out to her cousins.
"Bloody horses!" A voice roared. "Get them back!"
Kel heard men running. This wasn't going the right way – they weren't supposed to run! They weren't supposed to know the horses were gone, they weren't supposed to go after them. She looked at Dom and Merric, frightened. "We can do this!" She hissed, not knowing if she believed herself. "White, tell Daine to lead the horses back to New Hope. Don't let them get captured back, but don't let them outrun us." White peeped and flew off again.
Kel signalled for them to gallop back to camp. "We're going to pick them off as they chase their horses," she said to Dom as the others began to gallop. "Prepare weapons!" Silence was no longer important. They just needed to get to some of the men.
Knowing they were now ahead of the horses on the road, Kel pulled Hoshi to a stop. The men followed. She could see the horses coming towards her. She readied her bow, and as soon as about two hundred horses passed her, she shot. A man in the coming crowd fell. Another tripped over him. She watched men fall as she reloaded her bow. There were about a hundred and fifty of them running down the road. She shot another arrow. The men were about two hundred yards away, and beginning to realize that they had to run. They started to disperse into the woods. Kel loosed one more arrow, then called a retreat. She didn't want to risk her men.
They galloped back to New Hope. Daine beat them back and had the doors open for them and the horses. "Get men on the walls!" Kel cried. "Archers, ready!"
She ran up to the top of the wall with her own bow. There were still men running through the woods and down the road. They were just across the river, and few of them were actually realizing not to keep running. "Idiots," Kel muttered under her breath, loosing an arrow. By the time all of the archers, the men were all either killed or had run back to camp.
Slowly and weakly, Kel stumbled back down the steps. "One hundred," she said. "At the most."
Fanche was standing in front of her, leaning on her bow. She had gotten there too late to do any fighting. "And we have two hundred more horses. They can help, I guess. We can always use them for fighting and working. But we might not have enough food or space for them."
Kel nodded grimly. "Daine has spoken to them, they won't run. Get them some water and a bit of oats, and we will see about them in the morning." She smiled. "For now, I need some sleep."
There was a knock on her door a few moments after she arrived back in her rooms. "Come in," she said with a sigh. "It's unlocked."
"How are you doing?" Dom asked, closing the door behind him. "A little tired?"
Kel smiled weakly and kissed him. "I've been better. But I've certainly been worse." He wrapped his arms around her. "A lot worse," she said.
Dum da dum!
Atlanta Enchanted: well, the army had already retreated. They hadn't planned an attack, they had just stumbled on the camp, so they retreated. Kel had her meeting afterwards. I could see how it would get confusing.
Lady-kitty: but it was a pretty shitty battle. Of course, it's not quite over yet. We'll see. Meh.
FanFictionFantom: thanks! And I guess you can talk about Dom… if you're really nice.
Lady of Masbolle: aww, feel better! Yeah, I always break up their 'snog sessions' (I love that word – snog) with battles and such. I'm mean that way.
Knight Queen: thanks!
Caremel: yay! That's what I like to hear!
Janayi: wow, that really sucks. That would just drive me completely insane. But thanks anyway!
Wake-Robin: you make it sound like candy.
Parody Queen Rora: dude, it's alright. I was writing it instead of doing homework.
NarwhalGirl: thanks!
DOM LUVR4EVER: doesn't it say KD at the beginning?
Annmarie Aspasia: frustration can be a good thing! And I'm glad you liked it. And dude, I would never forgive myself if Dom died. No worries.
LolA JuNe: thank you!
Mage Light: woot woot.
Alenor: thanks!
"Whether they find a life there or not, I think Jupiter should be called an enemy planet."
-unolimbo