Blood Rider [Alonia's Queenslayer #1]

18

Being a general turned out to be a lot tougher than it seemed.

After Eli's quick pledge, the commander had begrudgingly taken her to the council room. Eli had always imagined that she would simply think of a strategy and fight, but Nicholas, the commander, was quick to put her in her place.

"We already have the basic plan set on track. Once you present the missing pieces of information tomorrow, our plan will shift according to any news," he said, his stern face betraying nothing but hatred and distrust as he paced around the cold room which consisted of a long table, old wooden chairs and a giant map of Alonia stretching nearly from one end of the table to another. "If you happen to earn our queen's trust, your duties will be thorough. The war council meets each day at noon precisely. That is when you will have your little speech. You are in command of nine thousand swordsmen, five hundred archers and five hundred spearmen. Your group is in charge of securing safe passage into the heart of the land. Your group and general Thorn's group would attack Revera from the north while the southerners strike from the south. You will have to protect Thorn's group until he is deep within the land, his group must remain untouched until then. The same will happen in Notrhl."

Eli nodded vigorously, taking in every detail of the plan. Their plan relied on Revera rebelling, but Valda would make sure that doesn't happen.

"Okay. Is there anything more you can tell me? Where do you plan to strike from in Revera?"

"The coastal city of Gian." A smile appeared on Eli's lips – that would've been a bad choice.

"The route you plan on taking is, I assume, straight to the capital? Fight any foe that appears?"

"Precisely, while the southerners wreak havoc from the south."

"And when do we take over the south?" She asked, and the commander grinned.

"That's where Thorn's group comes in. He will continue further south after you join with the southerners and take over while their army is away."

Eli raised an eyebrow curiously – their plan seemed excellent. Quick and straightforward. They certainly had the numbers, especially with the monsters.

"And when do the monsters come in?"

"The queen will send as many as she can to aid you."

Eli nodded, seeing that there was nothing else he would reveal. Her brain was swarming with plans. She had to present a slightly altered version of their strategy, but she couldn't make it perfect, as she would have to defend Revera against the queen sometime in the future, once she had gathered enough information. Or at least provide the king and the commander with a way to defend it, in case she couldn't make it out.

Eli was well aware of the consequences that her bold decision carried. She was essentially on a suicide mission. She would gather information, free Ril, and likely be found out right after. She couldn't delay freeing him forever. There was also an option of escaping along with him once he was free, but would she have enough knowledge by then? She knew of no weaknesses. It was true that she knew their battle plan now, but it was very vague, and it was likely they'd change it as soon as she ran away. But if she were to flee close to their departure time, she would have a better chance...

That night was the first night that Eli couldn't sleep through. She kept tossing and turning, feeling completely exhausted yet unable to fall asleep. The fact that she was on enemy territory wasn't helping her, either. But her thoughts had returned back to her dragon after quite a long time with no thinking of him. The hole in her soul seemed bigger than ever before. She blamed herself for not being there for him. He simply got sick and died. She didn't even know his name yet. She also kept thinking of Ril and whatever torture methods they were using on him. Tanya and Ejder, and how worried they all were. Hatari, and how lifeless she seemed upon Ril's captivity.