Disclaimer: I do not own Solitaire. All ideas are my own, thank you very much.

Okay people! Time for Chapter 3, which is really Chapter 2! Wait. It's time for Chapter 2, which is really Chapter 3. Wait. No never mind. You know what I'm talking about. If you don't, deal with it. Over and out!

chp. 3

Ace blew her whistle. "Okay, soldiers! Today we'll do some actual training!"

Soldier Four called out. "What have we been doing before?!"

Ace yelled back. "We've been training for training! And that's five demerits more under your belt, soldier!"

Soldier Four saluted and continued to listen.

"Soldiers!" Ace called over the field. "Has the Queen told you of the war that is soon at hand?"

There was some muttering, and shakes of heads.

"The Queen has declared that we are to attack the rest of the Territory of Cards! We, if at all possible, are to take over! We are to win over the Territory of Cards! We are to crush the enemy, enslave the royal families, and add their people to our own population! Can I hear a 'huzzah!'?"

The people were silent.

"Come on soldiers! Where's your enthusiasm?"

Soldier Ten, up in the front, spoke. "Ma'am. We don't want to fight our neighbors. Why are we doing this?"

Ace shook her head. "I don't know, darling. But the Queen has decared it. So I will train you all to fight." Ace picked up the ten swords by her feet. "Come form a single-file line in order of rank, and will give you the appropriate sword for your height and strength. Highest rank first!"

Before they all lined up, Ace took her own sword and threw it to the side, in order to keep it from being given away. It stuck in the ground, with the hilt up. Soldier Two came to the front, and Ace looked through the swords for the one marked "2" for him. Two was an old man, but he had experience, so he was given the second-highest rank. Ace took out his sword, a light one that would be easy for him to carry. Three was a 35 year young man. He was the strongest of all, and he got a very heavy and powerful sword. Three walked off with it as if it were nothing.

Four was short, and he was given a sword about two feet long. Five was tall, and she was given a long, thin sword, that cold probably fit in a slit only the tiniest of size. Six was old and weak, and she was given a sword even lighter than her husband's. Seven, the young man, was given a heavy sword, perhaps a bit too heavy, but he went off as if it were the lightest thing ever. Eight and Nine, the twins, were each given identical swords, but of course they bickered about whose was sharper, heavier, longer, and all around better.

Last, Soldier Ten came up and saluted. Ace took the last sword and held it out to Ten. It was only a foot long, and thick but not heavy. It was hardly sharp. Ace had requested this sword specifically. Ten was not ready for a full sized sword. She was hardly ready for this. Ace had argued heavily with Jack. Jack was so stubborn and hard headed. He wanted to make sure this little girl fought like his strongest men. Ace had had to give him money to order this sword, and she had to pay for it out of her own pocket as well.

Ten reached up to take the sword, but Ace pulled it back. The others were all clanging their swords together, and testing out the weight and feel. Ace leaned down to talk to Ten.

"Soldier Ten. I am not saying you are not willing to fight, I'm sure you are. You have a spirit like no other. But I'm not sure you'll fare well in this battle."

Ten looked up at Ace. "I want to fight for my kingdom, ma'am. I want to be one of the few that belongs in the new Kingdom of Spades. I want to rule over the people who we take over."

"Didn't you say earlier that you didn't want to fight our neighbors?"

"I did, ma'am. But if there is war, I do not want to hide in my tent and listen to the battle. If people are threatening our people, I want to defend them."

Ace stood up straight. "You realize you may not survive?"

"I do, ma'am. But if we lose this battle, I will be taken prisoner and possibly killed anyway. I don't want to die knowing I could have helped."

"You are very intelligent for a girl your age, Ten." Ace smiled and gave the sword to Ten, who took it gratefully. "May God be with you."

To be continued...

This story doesn't really have a time setting. Mostly it's got Medieval setting, but there's parts in here that are more modern. Like the military training, and Ace's whistle. But the people dress like Medieval peasants. I know I didn't describe that very well. The women wear brown dresses, the men wear brown shirts and pants. And there's no seasons, I don't think. We'll find out later.

--L.A.!