Three Must Decide.

Part 35 Oceana Winters.

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.

When your time is consumed by others you can be taken advantage of.

Decisions..

Oceana stays in the hold ready to fight to the last forcing the Iordans to do the same.

They leave with a small group and go west in to grass lands to be ready to build up again.

They leave and head to the Iordan estate. They retain their rights as a citizen and the supporting politics which go with it. 

Or something other from the mind of the real life faction leader.

Read on to see what they have decided.

She watched from the same window that her husband had stood at as Ehmets army had approached. When Terrill had left and she had pulled away from his lingering touch she had not been still. The few house members with her had been put back to tasks they had completed and already double checked. The commander of the horse archers who's station it was to defend the Hold to the last received orders from her to report 'all was well' every hour on the hour. The house remained busy on any task no matter how small that remained and out side its walls Ehmet had advanced.

Once the battle had joined she had hardly taken her eyes from the feild, moving from place to place to see what she felt had to be observed no matter the sickening sights that they found before them. The horses, arrows, sheilds, Swards, lines of advancing soldiers, waves of circling horses and riders and fire. She watched it all and from the highest windows of the keep she could see through the smoke filled sky that Ehmet was surrounded but also not broken and that despite the horrific slaughter and terrifying traps they had faced they were still holding and more than that, they were still strong. Terrill had played all their cards, his army was still intact  but the day had not been won and Oceana knew several thousand stood on a hill to the north west under their enemies banners of the Grand Buchess and Awoken Sun.

Her mind was working, moving all the peaces that could not be seen on that terrible field. Today would not be the end. Win or lose the Crown of Drathan would not be defeated, even if thier army was smashed any peace would come finally not at the point of a sward but by words spoken across a table.

She ran to the windows that over looked the field where the riders who now waited for the fires to die stood with her Terrill . Even from that distance she could make him out, an unmistakable leader surrounded by his most loyal, he was like an island in the chaos. The battle had raged on for hours already although it seems less than half that time . Now the sun was high and still the day was undecided. She had tried to plan as she always had for every event and now she knew the best course to take for her family although it made her sick with regret and fear of a perceived betrayal but as she turned away holding her hand over her belly she was sure of her purpose.

She moved back through the hold being seen by many, finally she went out to the gate house. Ordering it opened she went with the Cadar guard to the stables. They objected but could do nothing but comply. They reached the vast stables moving quickly, all conscious that although the battle was beyond the hold it could change in a moment. For now the stables were a quite sanctuary with young stable hands nervously going about their business watch over by the older members of the staff who's duty did not lay with a sward, lance or bow. Horses were saddled and she lead her small company to the west end where they waited for a while. It began to feel to long and she thought of returning, when the riders finally came. The Cadar guard formed up ready but soon the banner was recognised. Terrills brother had come and while there was still time and space she would leave to go with him to his ships which lay waiting. Despite her command the commander of the Cadar guard would not leave but the greater part of his command would return to the hold with another women disguised as the Duchess. No one could know of her leaving, not even Terrill, she had left a letter for him and her beloved son .

They rode hard away from the Hold, Drathan could not be defeated this day but now neither could her house be extinguished.