Three Must Decide.

Part 48. Hollow Choices.

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.

Now the storey has evolved. The Threes strategy, manoeuvres, traps and tricks forced the birthing of another faction. Another has taken control of the Rollos.

Hidden consequences.

Decisions can reach much further than you think they will and influence can come from completely unexpected directions.

Decisions.

Beaten back by Terrills house and stopped by the Crown the Grand Duchess must decide to continue to fight them or not and if she should agree to meet with them all through the Rollos.

Read on to see its end

The Grand Dutchess had ridden out to the very edge of the lands under their control.

She had gained so much Caroline reminded herself. Dark Harbour Perigrine Run and all its lands were hers again. But she had lost against Aldens criminal Cader and now she waited to receave the commanders of her force that she had sent out to take Green Peaks and by doing so unite the lands she had in both Vasted and Drathan.

She already knew the lands in Drathan were lost her force sent to take Green Peaks stopped before it reached the city but not broken. A short Battle she had been told. Each side testing the other before pulling apart. Lord Godbolts had been with that force and despite her frustration she could not dought his judgement. She was greatful that he had remained but knew that he would leave on his return to Peregrin Run.

She had left with another 400 soilders the day after Godbolts had left with the main force. All those who left to fight again were Peregin Runs own. The last 500 of the True Order had been in Drathan but now it seemed they were leaving under a negotiated surrender. Weapons and armour left behind, free passage away from Drathan and Vasted on a flotila guarded by the Saxifrage. In one lands, soliders and even the Saxifrage taken away from her, although she knew that mightly ship would surely not stay away for long.

Caroline shifted in her saddle. She was dressed as a warrior from head to toe and on this mid winter day her and the 400 stood guard over a large stone bridge which marked her boarder and was the most direct route to Green Peaks.

There was a small town close by but up on a hill to the east over looking the bridge. The trees were bare, feilds empty of crops and live stock. The morning bitterly cold and the ground hard. She had ridden out at a time that everyone would stay at home because she had known it was not expected and she knew that the seiges in Drathen had to be releaved.

To do so she had stretched the resources of Peregrine Run and Dark Harbour as far as they could be without taking food from the mouths of her people but the decision had been made knowing that although they were luckier than many during this famine with both Harbours bring food and wealth enough to import just enough to stop starvation that now all would be fed hand to mouth. If the sea and trade stopped, starvation across her land would soon follow.

Caroline eased her horse into a slow trot and crossed the bridge, its hooves clattered accross the bridge, the water ran dark and cold under its arch. Her escort and highest ranked commander came with her on to the meadow on its far side. There was little to see, birds flew by and rabbits ran along a hedge row in the near distance.

It was quite and Caroline had time to think while she waited. She smiled to her self as she thought of Jane and Artus. She placed her hand on her sward hilt and Longbane came to mind. In those few seconds her new close council were all there in her minds eye.

Jane and Longbane were at Peregrine Run with a small garrison. Artus was mounted and just a few feet behind her.

There was movment on the road ahead, soon it was clear that, as expected her army returned.