The war drums beat steadily faster and faster, seeming to speed up the beat of Susan's heart as she walked through her lines of archers. Very rarely did she take to the battlefield, but Peter was still recovering from his injures obtained from a skirmish on their Southern border, and Edmund had needed her support. Looking below her she could see her younger brother sitting astride Philip, looking much older than his seventeen years. As the drums began to beat at a frenzied pace, her brother let loose a guttural scream and galloped towards the enemy. Susan took a deep breath, calming her runaway heartbeat. She raised her hand, and yelled with authority ringing in her voice,
"Archers! Nock!"
A flurry of sound came behind her as arrows were whipped from their quivers.
"Draw!"
Susan breathed out shakily as the feathers of her arrow touched her cheek.
"Loose!"