Three Must Decide.

Part 23 Hold.

Chapter note. the first 3 chapters have introduced you to the Three. Each faction is controlled, to a degree, by a real life person so decisions have to be made.

Hidden consequences.

All the delays brings a risk of food shortages to all factions.

Decisions.

Terrill had to decide if his his wife would return to him and if he would stand and fight even though he is out numbered.

Read on to see what they have decided.

Fodder, fodder for the horses was the main concern now for Terrill. He had spent weeks preparing for the battle to come, and it would now be soon upon him. The Duchess had returned. As a free citizen she could not be perswaded to wait out the rest of the war on an Iordan estate and so with her came the Iordans and those who had chosen to follow there lead, although the Iordan lord was grim faced with the task that faced him. Nun the less their numbers made up for the losses he had suffered at Perrigrin Run. Ehmet was coming steadily and without diversion and the numbers that faced Terrill were clear to see. More than twice his number were being lead to his home and he had to beat them through speed and arrows. He knew that no other would chose to fight when out numbered more than two to one and he felt the weight of his decision drove down his fear. Replacing it with the surety that he had to face Ehmet and so he would do so on his own ground and with his mounted archers that could devastate their enemies and remain untouchable as they moved to remain just out of reach. No one had ever chosen to mount every warrior. No one had ever conceived it nore had they found a way to over come the seemingly unsurmountable cost of such a force. Terrill and the Duchess had and now all they had built was gathered to face everything that the Crown of Drathan could bring to bear.

He felt the apprehension rise again and then the concern of how to feed such a force of people and beasts filled his mind. He knew why the Crown Prince moved so slowly, it was the same reason why he needed to fight soon. In less than a week Dannamore Hold would be unable to feed the army that stood ready to defend it and that lack of food slowed the advance of Ehmet. Days he thought to himself, in just Days this could all be over for good or Ill.

He turned back to court yard in front of his home which was being prepare for his commanders to arrive. They would feast for the last time before they would all return to their troops. It had been another hot day but the cloud had not broken and a light breeze had held all day making a nice break from the clear skys and heat that had now become the signature of the season. Before his commanders arrived he had time to spend with the Duchess and so he made his way to where he expected to find her. Through a small gate that was just off to the side of the front door to the main house a short set of steps lead done to a short  jetty that served two small rowing boats that could be taken around the moat, their for leisure only. The jetty below the small wall and against the house wall created a place of quite sanctuary and there he found her, the women who had help to craft all they had with her sharpe mind.

Oceana was sitting with her back to the wall looking out over the moat and smiled as she saw her husband, gesturing for him to come and join her there in their beautifully quite and private spot, right in the heart of their home. The sun was still high and the shadow of the main house reached out over the water. Just off to there right on the other side were the houses original stables. Larger than any others in Vasted but now dwarfed by the semi permeant stables that surrounded them, erected to serve the vast numbers of horse that had been close to Dannormore Hold. The rest of their view was filled by the grass lands and the new defences that ringed their home. Terrill felt himself visibly relax as he sat next to Oceana and anyone who saw them together could see they were close, relaxed and confident in each others company.

"Toby will have to go Terrill, he is just not suited to be in the house, the House Keep will not allow him to stay" Oceana said confirming a problem that had been brewing for some weeks.

Terrill nodded in agreement "He may leave or take a position as a watch man, that should keep his father happy enough, as he cant be a gate keeper like him"

"Yes I think we should" replied Oceana, "and we need the black smith to bring his son to the house I need to speak to him about how he is treating one of the kitchen maids"

Terrill nodded and knew that she would make sure the the black Smiths son either looks for another young girl to spend time with or commit to the kitchen maid with a little more meaning than he had been to date.

"I will ask the Warden to announce that anyone who wants to leave before the Crown Prince arrives can do so tomorrow. After that all must stay" Oceana agreed and also already knew who would go and who planned to stay.

These conversations were welcome, everyday matters which reminded them both of the real life that went on around them.

Terrill handed Oceana a letter. She know who it was from in an instant by the seal. "the Gods are stirring?" she asked without reading it.

"yes" Terrill replied "they are not all against us but the weight of their power is with the Crown of Drathen but not enough to declare us without their grace. It seems enough power stays withus to hold faith in Vasted. For now there will be no calls to crusade by any of them"

"so what is changing them"

"The people as always. The people are beginning to suffer because of the drought and the gods cannot stand by"

"How does that change the Awoken Suns support" Oceana asked.

"little for now but their calling will pull on them soon and Ehmet will not be able to rely on their support as he is now"

"not before he brings them hear" Oceana said and stood walking the few paces to the edge of the moat.

"no we must face them here" said Terrill

"How is Alden?" Oceana said with true effection for her son.

Terrill said "well, always frustrated with his riding skill. He will never be as good as our best but he just can not see that he does not have to be. He is more than good enough to ride with them" they exchanged a knowing look about their son. "he has earned his place with them to lead them, scouting, raiding and leading them at Peregrin Run. He is rash, too eager to fight, needs to think more but soldiers follow him"

They were quite for a few moments.

"Give him the best Terrill to ride with him" Oceana said through emotion

"The Very Greatest's" Terrill replied.

"I have sent money and some from the house hold east with horses, if we fail here it will not be the end" Oceana said.

Terrill held her gaze for a few moments but said nothing.

They stayed together for some time talking of little, a few private moments where no one could disturb them.

Just a few Days latter Ehmet arrived.