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IN LOVE AND WAR
CHAPTER EIGHT: REPORTS
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In the hours that followed the attack on Port Caynn, Shinkokami was restless. She insisted on sitting with Roald as an emergency council meeting was called. Lianokami fussed almost endlessly, the anxiety level of the adults around her taking its toll. Finally Tomo and Princess Lianne took the baby up to the nursery.

Mage-messages from Port Caynn were coming in every few minutes. The city was one of Tortall's strongholds, but it seemed that the Yamani War fleet had launched stones into the walls, breaking the defense lines.

The council decided to launch a counter-attack immediately, hoping that getting reinforcements to Port Caynn would keep the enemy from taking the city.

Roald would not be among the reinforcements, but Sergeant Domitan's squad was on the list, as well as Kel, and so many others.

The meeting adjourned as quickly as it began, with everyone bustling off to their various positions. When Roald stood, he helped Shinko to her feet. He wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her closer. She leaned up and whispered into his ear. She didn't want Kel sent into the heat of battle. She briskly told her husband of Kel's condition.

Roald's eyes widened, then he turned, searching the crowd for jus the right person. Wyldon of Cavall stood nearby, arguing with Lord Raoul. Roald walked up to the two men and cleared his throat.

"Lord Wyldon, please station Keladry of Mindelan here. I want her assigned to head the squad of guards for my wife and child," he said. Wyldon looked confused, but he nodded with a brisk "Majesty" and departed. Lord Raoul looked puzzled.

"Kel's a commander, lad. What's your angle in keeping her here?" he asked Roald. Shinko came to her husband's side and put a hand on his arm, stopping his answer.

"Keladry's reasons are her own, my lord," she said. "Please trust that Roald's decision is for the better." Raoul gave a sigh with a hint of a groan that clearly said 'women.' He gazed up at Shinkokami.

"You have flashes of Thayet in you, Princess. You will be a good queen one day," he said. Shinko looked away, flushing lightly.

"Good luck in battle, Uncle Raoul," Roald said, though Raoul's eyes were now locked with those of a small brown skinned woman across the room. He nodded, mumbling his own good wishes as he headed towards his wife.

Three hours later the first wave of reinforcements was ready to ride out. Third Company of the King's Own was among them. As the warriors mounted their horses, their wives and sweethearts bid them farewell.

Shinko saw Wyldon bidding good bye to his lady, Vivenne, as their daughter kissed her young husband farewell nearby.

A young man dressed in the tunic of the Own pulled a maid into a hidden niche.

Commander Larse of the Queen's Riders shared a look with one of his squad leaders.

Lord Raoul and Lady Buri were riding side-by-side, as close as they could get without their mounts touching.

Kel stood beside Dom's spotted grey gelding as he leaned down to kiss her passionately.

Shinko took Roald's hand, blinking away tears.

"Come on, let's go see the baby," he whispered huskily, turning away. Shinko followed, feeling as if she bore all the sorrow in the world, and yet painfully aware that she didn't.

No one slept soundly that night. The next morning, gathered in a common room, they received no news from mages; a messenger came later that said the city was under siege, and that mages in the ships had powerful dampener spells in place. So far eighteen Tortallans had been killed, including two children who played in the sand when the attack began.

By the time the report was finished, King Jonathan's face was ashen. Silence wrapped itself around the royal family and their advisors.

"Two more days and the enemy will have taken Port Caynn," Sir Gary said at last.

Tomoko stood and ran from the room. Shinko put her baby in Queen Thayet's arms and followed her sister back to her rooms. Tomoko was sprawled across her bed, weeping into a pillow.

"Oh Little Neko, what is it?" Shinkokami asked. She sank down onto the bed, rubbing her sister's back gently. Tomo stopped weeping long enough to get out bitter words.

"The enemy they keep talking about are my blood, Shinko. Our family and friends-"

"They are the very people who murdered our parents. Tomo, they would have killed you too," Shinko said, trying to make her sister listen. Tomo wept still. Shinko fought yawns. Tomo is more exhausted than I am, she thought. Settling down into the bed, Shinko soothingly whispered the words to a Yamani lullaby. At last her sister's breathing slowed into a pattern of deep slumber.

Shinko kept softly singing, pausing to yawn between verses. Her eyes felt heavy and it only took a few moments before she lost herself in sleep.

Nearly an hour later, Roald came in to check on the sisters. He found them curled up under the canopy of the big bed. Quietly he pulled the curtains shut, banishing daylight from the room. Petting one of Miyazaki's kittens, Roald sank into a chair, weariness overcoming him.

It wasn't fair to be a new father and a prince at the same time. It was even worse to throw a war into the mix. He succumbed to sleep almost as soon as he sat.