Of Whispers and Daggers ✓ [TLRQ #2]

Chapter 24.2 - Aster

She seems surprised for me to have spoken but says, "Let the Table hear Crown Prince Aster."

Nerves jitter in my veins the way they do before casting a hard spell. "I have listened intently to the Table Arbitrate and am impressed with the zeal for which you, as we all do, seek a quick end to this war." My voice carries easily over the room, and I thank Jacqueline that it doesn't shake. "However, the quickest end might not be the end most likely to lead to our victory."

Some of the Table members murmur at the implication in my words. Aselle appears to be watching me respectfully, but her eyes tear away at the thin facade of confidence I wear. I pan over the other women and catch Solitaena's steady, serious gaze. She nods almost imperceptibly.

I continue. "They easily outnumber us. For every barbarian we knock down, ten more climb up. They tower over us, a head and a half above. But on the wall, we have the advantage. All ten can't come up at the same time, so they can't surround us. Before they even get to the wall, our archers are picking them off. They lose men, every time they decide to rush us. And as long as they're climbing up our wall, we stand head and shoulders above them. We can protect this castle, but not if we throw away our every advantage by meeting them on the ground.

"As for your other suggestions, we need our pitch for lighting torches and arrows. We only have so much at the castle, and pouring what little is left down the wall only works once. Some illusionists are at the wall, casting on individual barbarians, but the type of large, realistic distractions you're suggesting, affecting an army of Kadranians, is no parlor trick. It would likely kill our casters. And as for sending anyone sneaking into their camp—" Heart pounding, I spread my arms and meet the Table's eyes one by one. "Are we a people of bloodied daggers skulking in the shadows? In the daylight, we protect our home from barbarians, but on that night, we would become the barbarians." Certainty settles over me, as real as the cloak on my shoulders. Agraund may have taught me how to carry that dagger in the shadows, but I will not be the one to bloody it. "The favor of Jacqueline will never shine on a people who resort to the tricks of the Shadesnare.

"Let us take heart in the courage and purity of our men. The army and wizard corps are developing new strategies every day. We're getting better at killing barbarians, every day. We even have a new caster placement strategy to present to the Table this morning. But we need to hold fast and hold hope until reinforcements arrive."

"What's the new strategy?" Lady Solitaena asks.

Grateful for the opening, I launch into the tactic Reyan and I hammered out this morning. The women of the Table nod thoughtfully and murmur among themselves. Afterward, Selenia calls three votes: one for the relocation of the telekinetics, one for the Table's list of offensive measures, and one for my proposal to wait on reinforcements.

The first passes with no complaints.

Aselle's measures receive an equal six to six votes: Reyan, Emmavinne, Misanette, Solitaena, Valaecití, and me against; and Aselle, Riletta, Naminia of Laq'tarra, Isaeda of Noirbré, Mallaví of Muer, and J'lisnia of Barriaen for.