Cinderella vs. Happily Ever After

Chapter 40

            Valerie glanced around the table at the leaders, all of them watching each other in their plain box of a tent. For a moment she was uncomfortably reminded of council meetings but she quickly brushed that thought off. “So,” she said, standing and instantly silencing them all. “What’s the plan?”

            “We were waiting for your arrival before we made any decision, my lady,” Raeed replied, standing and bowing then sitting down again when he was finished.

            She frowned. “Okay then. First thing, stop bowing to me all the time. It’s ridiculous. I’m not a lady let alone a princess and really, we’re all equals in this aren’t we?”

            “It is a sign of respect, my lady,” Galorn told her stiffly as he rose.

            She sighed and let it go. She was getting used to no one listening to her. “Fine. So what kind of plan did you guys think would be most effective?”

            “We’re waiting on numbers, my lady,” Eneric said, saluting as he stood.

            Beside her, Isaac’s sudden lean forward and faint sigh told her Eneric was his favourite. Apparently Galorn’s evident obsession with proper rules had gotten him cut. She did her best to ignore her friend and his antics. “So we don’t know how many troops we have?”

            Eneric chuckled. “No, my lady. We don’t know how many the enemy has. We number around two and a half thousand.”

            Valerie blinked while Isaac let out a low whistle surprise. “I…that’s wonderful! That’s far more than I thought we had. Now, how are we going to find out the invaders’ numbers?”

             “We had-” Amorrt’s response was lost in the raised voices coming from outside. It sounded like at least four people arguing, their voices getting louder and louder. Everyone one looked at one another for a few moments before Valerie stood and walked over.

            She only got halfway down the table when the tent flap was pushed forward, making almost everyone’s hands drop to their weapons, Raeed and Harmin actually half-drawing their blades. Val stared at the figure in the lead. Grey haired and clothed, he nodded at her before walking right past, arm wide. “Mi,” the magician said.

            The lady rose, grinning and hugged him back. “Enax. It is good to see you.”

            “It’s far better to see you. I was worried about you.”

            Valerie’s attention was claimed by the two men in Armithian green who were glaring and trying to look apologetic at the same time. The combination made her lips twitch. “We are very sorry, my lady,” the shorter of the two said. “We tried to stop them, but he’s…”

            “A wizard,” the second one finished, shaking his head.

            “Them?” she asked.

            The shout of “My lady,” answered her question. She braced herself just in time. Sora threw her arms around her, squeezing her, while Valerie could only stare.

            “Sora! You’re safe. But I thought you would still be in the city…”

            Her maid released her, stepping back, blushing. “My apologies, my lady,” she said curtseying. “I don’t know what came over me.”

            Val rolled her eyes. “You know damn well I don’t care. And I’m glad to see you myself. How are you?”

            “I am well, my lady. I had been in the city but I was discovered in my spying. I became friendly with one of the invading officers to where he invited me back to his rooms. I slipped him some sleeping powder,” Sora said. Valerie torn between shock at the danger the woman had put herself in and amusement over the apparent ease people here at finding things to knock others out with, sighed.

The maid paled slightly but continued, except now she spoke faster. “I slipped him the powder in his drink and was able to steal his papers. I couldn’t understand a lot but I have them here so you can read them. I had to leave the city because his friends found me in his room with him drugged and they chased me so I came here. I’m happy to see you safe my lady.”

That got her attention. “You what?” she whispered, voice gone hard.

Sora flinched. “I’m sorry my lady, I had no idea they were there. I can try to go back in disguise if-”

Valerie cut her off, by stepping forward and grabbing her shoulders. “You will do no such thing! You could have been killed! When I sent you to get information I just meant gossip or rumours. I didn’t mean for you to put yourself in that kind of danger. I would never have been able to forgive myself if something happened to you.”

She smiled. “I am safe, my lady. And I have the papers for you.”

Val sighed. It was clear from the expression on Sora’s face that the maid was proud of herself and nothing she said about dangers was going to register with her. “Thanks Sora. But I think it’d be better to give them to Eneric. I doubt I’ll have any more luck deciphering them than you.”

“Ooh! Can I do it? I think I should make a good impression,” Isaac asked, having followed behind Valerie, his habits as her bodyguard still in full force.

She glared at him. “Will you please knock off the insanity? It’s starting to annoy me.”

He smirked at her, tapping the end of her nose. “You can’t stop me.”

Val’s eyebrows snapped apart as she felt his touch. She grabbed his wrist, pulling his hand where she could see it. Then she looked up at him, face creased with concern. “Isaac,” she whispered. “You’re shaking.”

He pulled his hand back and sighed, dropping the mask for a second as he ran his hand through his hair. His face became pinched and worried, making her wince. “Look Val, you deal with stress your way and I’ll do it mine. Okay?”

She nodded, reaching up to pat his head. “I’m sorry.”

He leaned into her caress for a moment then ducked under to peck her on the cheek. “No worries, sweetie. Part of it is my love of mischief. Now, let’s go show these men how to tumble. And then we’ll teach them how to fight.”

The smile that crossed her lips was half-forced but he accepted it nonetheless.