[A/N] I love writing author notes, I've no idea why it's just fun to talk nonsense and fangirl over my own story. We have reached the point now where things are going to take some turrrrns. The latest chapters have been hinting at something going deeper and here's where it's all going down from now. Expect twists, turns and crazy things so let's hope my writing holds up well.
Additionally, from here a few things will be opting out of first person and into third mostly because the first large chunk of this story has been very much personal hence my choice to go first but now things are switching broader and everyone is involved so third it is.
Eight days had gone since the incident and not a soul had been informed, nor did anyone question the thick bandage that froze Sam's hand in place. All were preoccupied with the upcoming storm, the final council meeting before the full mobilisation of all available troops.
Through the narrow windows of the council chamber, the light of day clawed across the room, laying stripes of colour on the bare walls. The large glossy table that once lay bare was now piled with endless sheets of paper of all shapes and sizes, yet they sat still, ignored.
Members of the council sat high upon their seats looking hellishly uncomfortable. The affairs would grow harder by the hour, by the end of it exhaustion would finish them off.
"You are quite certain they've split?" Helisa asked softly from the seat closest to the Lady Essylt.
"Split, my Lady?" Sir Kiner's voice dripped with impatience. "One scout reports one thing and another reports the opposite, we've been told they split into two, then three, and reformed back to a whole."
Unease swept through the hall, and the nobles and knights alike strained to listen. Reports of the enemy's movement had been far and few between. They knew that they had moved their force past the outer boundary and blood was ever so close to being spilled, but no one knew where.
Stone-faced Sir Cecilia Brook gestured to the two scouts who kneeled in front of her. "These are all that remain of the scouts we sent, the rest are dead, or we presume captured."
"What of their forces then?" Helisa asked.
"Considering their lack of agreement we have assumed that they're splitting their army and then reforming it in a pattern, that way we can never be certain where their true numbers lie we could face the entire thing or we could face half and be ambushed by the rest when our guard is down," Brook answered stiffly.
"Clever," Eynal spoke up from opposite his mother. "But nothing is without rhythm, if we can find out when and how many times and in what magnitude they've split I can put a pattern together and form a prediction."
"Tell the prince what happened," Cecilia said to the thin, quivering lad in frayed clothing.
The boy nodded and stood up. "If, if it pleases you, m'lord. They went into two at first, then those ones went into twos themselves. Then a few days later they all went back together, then into three and back into one and then two again."
"Wonderful," Eynal said. "Thank you, I can work with that."
"If we could proceed to a matter of strategy." Essylt cut in with a firm grip on her seat.
"They'll be wary of open battle now." Said Faelon. "After Prince Rob and Lord Samuel's victory, Belric will be cautious."
Rob craned his head up to meet Faelon's. "No, if we came out and challenged him, he wouldn't resist he's nothing but bloodthirsty."
"He's the head," Rapul said. "Cut it off and the rest fails, they follow him out of fear and the oaths they swore there's no respect or love there, kill him and we win."
YOU ARE READING
Cross the stars with me
Romance"In a word I was too cowardly to do what I knew to be right, as I had been too cowardly to avoid doing what I knew to be wrong" Charles Dickens, Great Expectations. I'm a textbook pessimist and I like it just the way it is. Eynal is a highborn boy...
