The Nun and King

Chapter 18

I stare at the large parchment on the wooden table before me and sigh. Jagged trees drawn in black ink surround the expanse of land that stands between our encampment and the Bulgins while hand-carved figurines shaped into archers and cavalry seem to mock me. They have been picked up and placed repetitively for the past two hours in an attempt to figure out the best tactic for battle, but every time an idea is suggested, it's countered by another "what if?"

Glancing to where the Bulgins have been marked on the opposite side of the map, I note for what feels like the hundredth time at the expected size of their army. "I've had enough for tonight," I say, looking up at the faces seated around the table. Among them is Rory, Warren, and Morgan along with the other leaders of each battalion.

Rory offers a nod. "Aye. We still have some time to smooth out the details but I think we gave a solid base for a plan."

"War waits for no one," Morgan interjects before giving his scar a scratch. "They could attack tomorrow and we'd be caught with our pricks in our hands pissing in the wind."

Exhaling slowly, I lean back in the wooden chair, earning a creak. "You aren't wrong my friend. But truthfully we've had a long journey and our minds need to rest for a day before trying dealing with such an important task. Is that okay with you all?" I ask, looking around. I have the final say of course but I would be more comfortable if the others agreed. They each give me a nod though Morgan's is delayed.

"Alright then, let's have dinner and tomorrow afternoon we'll convene," I say.

"Thank the gods, I'm starving," a man named Durza says as he stands up. He leads my archers and is middle aged with long blond hair he keeps in a lose braid.

The mention of a ethereal beings leads my thoughts to Claire and I wonder how she has been doing. Excited to see her, I stand up and duck out of the large tent and look in the direction of laughter. Dinner seems to have already been served and most of the encampment are seated throughout the area—some at the large wooden tables that were hastily built, others lounge around camp fires. Scanning the tables, I see that she sits with Sven, Beth Ann, Max, and Darla. She slowly scoops the contents of her bowl into her mouth and listens to whatever tale Max currently spouts. Noting that she has changed into a fresh dress and pulled her long auburn hair into a lose bun she looks especially beautiful.

"Come," Rory says, clapping me on the back. Together we make our way to the large kettle that hands over a fire.

James—a young man with short ashen hair and brown eyes—greets us with a grin and stirs the kettles contents. "Welcome back," he says with a grin.

"I see you must have never found that tooth, huh?" I tease, noting the dark space where one of his front teeth should be. On the night of our departure back to Paevia, James and another solider got into a fight over a card game when he was accused of cheating. He was—everybody knows it—but it was all good fun. One too many ales resulted in James getting a tooth knocked out in the process and I left with the two of them searching for it with a torch.

James laughs and shakes his head, reaching for a bowl. "No we didn't but it's okay," he answers, dipping the bowl into the concoction and handing it too me. Steam rises from the thick red liquid and I inhale deeply. Tomato soup—my favorite. He then hands me a slice of seasoned bread and shrugs. "No meat tonight, sorry. If I would have known you all were arriving today I would have made sure of it. Tomorrow though."

Taking a quick sip of the soup I wave him off. "Don't worry about it. It's delicious as always James, thank you." He offers me half smile and nods his head before fixing Rory a bowl before we make our way to Claire and Beth Ann. When she sees Rory through the small crowd her face lights up and she runs too him, snaking her arms around his torso. He chuckles and with his free hand he pulls her in.