'The cow's crossed the border. 'Er Pitchers 'ave advanced past Shoulderside Castle and crossed the rivers.' The young and agitated Knight gave an emergency report from a now besieged castle. 'A boat managed to slip down the river from the castle before the siege was under way. The messengers say that the Princess has left 'er Fire Dancers and some Flame Pitchers behind while she moves north. They've got infantry as support.'

The room was silent and rightfully so, it was a dire situation, but this danger could not be allowed to advance. It was affecting the gathered Commanders' morale. Fayyim stepped from the edge of the square room, where other lesser Commanders stood. They had encircled a rectangular table where three High Commanders sat. They gazed over a world map, supposedly strategising. Candles were burnt for light.

She hesitated before she spoke. It was a first for her, as were her two defeats at the hand of Princess Ashara. Some doubt stirred in her, she was unsure whether she was even worthy of speaking now. Then she remembered the words spoken to her before reaching this council.

“The loss of a battle isn't the loss of the war.” It was Hawthorn that guided her, consoled her. Fayyim was being particularly hard on her troops, due to her frustration over her lost battles and Hawthorn saw it. “You don't have to overreact, Commander. We all lose and all learn from it, it's the norm. Take what you can from the defeat and make yourself stronger...” His hand had moved towards her, Fayyim thought maybe to touch her face, but it landed on the shoulder of her new chain mail. “Keep composed and carry on, you'll do fine. You'll do incredibly.” She had looked at his hand, unsure of what to make of the rare physical contact, so just laughed it off in her usual confident tone: “I know that!”

The recent memory of his guidance had helped a great deal, Fayyim's hesitation ceased. 'Can you elaborate on Princess Ashara's support? What are the infantry comprised of?' She addressed the young Knight, going over the heads of those unsure three who sat in the centre. Her investment in the fight against the army of Amaratsu often forced her to undermine her superiors.

The Knight answered. 'This is all the messengers have said, no one knows anything else.'

'Where are the Skimmers? The Long Strides should be here, why aren't they gathering intelligence?' She flashed with a stern kind of anger.

The Knight stuttered. 'No one knows.'

'Do we have no Soldier's ranging in the forests?'

'No one knows.'

'How has Shoulderside Castle not already overcome Amaratsu's siege forces? I thought it was a strong castle? Hurdland's first line of defence?'

'No one knows...' The interrogation unsettled the Knight. Although this was a role-play, there were still consequences in this world.

Of course no one knows... 'Useless...' She stepped up to the table from the shade of the walls and into the candlelight. Both hands leant heavy on the map, her hair fell forward from her shoulders and hung low, gold in the flickering light. 'How have we allowed our defences or our intelligence to suffer like this? Amaratsu has been pushing for well over a month, we all saw it coming, that's why we made our pre-emptive attack.'

One of the three spoke in return. It was Bronze John. 'Fayyim, this is no time for-'

'For complaints?' She interrupted. 'I've never seen such a perfect time for complaining about this. The enemy has stepped over our doorstep and they're certainly not wiping their shoes!' Someone snickered from the shadows, she knew who. I know it was a bad joke, but don't make me laugh now. She continued. 'Where are our defences? Where are our messengers?'

A gruff voice came from in front of her, beyond the table. 'Thorn has been reassigning troops from the south.'

'Where to?'

'Slug Island.'

'Slug Island?' Fayyim peered at where the voice came from, she could not see his face. 'Forgive me, I've been in the field for some time now. News does not spread so well.' Another jab at the lack of communications between the armies. 'Why do we need troops on Slug Island? And why from our first line of defence? That place holds no importance to us.' This was not only an in character concern, Fayyim was personally concerned. She did not enjoy losing in this game, she played to win, it was the only place she ever had.

The bronze Knight spoke. 'Thorn was given leadership over the island, but the Churashi lay claim to it. He's currently fighting them at sea and on the island itself.'

'Let them have it!' She shouted, this was no act. 'We don't need the god damn island!'

'Commander Tallhart, for crying out loud! This isn't helping right now, we don't have the power to change anything from here!' John hammered on the table.

Fayyim shook off her anger. 'You're right.' She stepped back.

'Bring in the messengers from Shoulderside Castle.' Another High Commander ordered. A tall Knight in dim grey plate and chain, handsome but old and greying.

'Yes, Commander Griff.' The young Knight bowed and made to leave. He caught Fayyim's irritated eyes beforehand, then ducked out much more quickly.

'While we wait, does anyone have anything to say on the matter? What are our enemy's plans?' Old Griff asked.

'The City of Rest must be the target.' One voice suggested.

'Agreed.' Another spoke, a woman. 'Princess Ashara has the Forest Temple and the Climbing School to gain if she takes it.'

'She's got a strange way of attacking a city like Rest, though.' A deep male voice came from behind Fayyim. It was he who had laughed at her joke, Hawthorn. 'Rest requires a sizeable force to besiege it, but she has split her army. One half attacks a city while the other attacks a castle, why make such a blunder now?'

'What are you getting at Captain Hawthorn?' Griff asked.

The Captain stepped from the shadows behind Fayyim and approached the table. 'I don't think she would risk dividing her troops and weakening her ability to lay siege, it makes no sense to split forces like that. Ashara is not incompetent, she wouldn't attempt such a weak attack. The City of Rest isn't her target.'

'Then what is?' The bronze Knight asked.

'Who knows?' Hawthorn shrugged with a smile, stepping back into the shade.

'Fayyim, do your troops always talk needlessly like this?' Griff scowled.

No, but it amuses me. She held some contempt for her superiors, having been underestimated many times by them. 'He may not have any answers to the problem, but I believe he's right with his judgement.' Fayyim pointed down on the map, her finger gliding over the paper as she spoke. 'Our armies were pushed from The Sands to Shoulderside by Princess Ashara's army, she then headed north through Hurdland. We know from prior experience that the number of her army is around five-hundred to seven-hundred strong, even after their own losses at The Sands. The City of Rest can hold two thousand fighters and more at any one time. Her entire army isn't enough to conquer it. Splitting her forces is certainly no way to take it.'

'Then what is her goal?' Griff had no clue. No one did.

'Let's figure it out.' Fayyim continued to point on the map. 'The City of Rest is north of Mount Rest. She hasn't travelled the obvious southern route around the mountain to bypass the city. So she's not trying to avoid it. Maybe she is trying to attack it, passing by and trying from the north-east?

'There is a problem with that plan. By heading north through Shoulderside, she will be intercepted by our forces here at Fort Tumblestone. She must know this. If she manages to slip us by, then she'll be crushed by the Silver Rams coming south from Kurknein. Additionally, she can't go too far north without a supply line from Amaratsu. Which she can not have while we are able to disrupt from here. She has no forward base to strike from either. She can't make one in the forests because the Druids and the monsters will undoubtedly harry her. She can only travel so far, as her choices are limited'

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'The only possible target is Fort Tumblestone, on that premise.' Griff stared at the paper map. 'She would be overcome...'

'Maybe.' Said the bronze Knight.

'You have doubts, John?' Griff kept his eyes on the map, the candlelight reflecting in them.

'The Princess has around a hundred Flame Pitchers with her, that's a large number of powerful players... A larger number of regular infantry we can handle, but such a concentrated number of Flame Pitchers could melt Tumblestone. Could burn everyone.'

'Is that so?'

'Griff, you held Tumblestone while I was in The Sands. You didn't see what the Princess was capable of.' John explained. 'Ask Fayyim, her Red Front were on the front lines.'

Griff looked at Fayyim expectantly. She nodded. 'They had less numbers, but more power.'

Griff returned his eyes to the map. 'Too far behind enemy lines for resupply, with limited targets... But the ability to give us such issue at Tumblestone? Not attacking the City of Rest?' His eyes widened. 'They will attack Rest, it's obvious now. They're not committing greater numbers, that would just provoke a strong counter from us. Yet if they take Shoulderside Castle and Fort Tumblestone, they have two respawn points to make a continued attack against the city from the north and the east.'

'The city can't respawn troops once under attack, and they'll take away our ability to spawn at Fort Tumblestone and Shoulderside Castle. Our ability to reinforce the city will be gone. If they take both castles and the city, it gives them a strong base to invade Hurdland.' Fayyim agreed. That's almost brilliant.

'Still...' Griff continued. 'Fire Dancers and infantry in the south can be destroyed by deploying troops along the river by boat from Rest. Even if Ashara succeeds at attacking Tumblestone, we can save Shoulderside and she can be countered by the garrisons at the City of Rest. Her plan is good, but not perfect-'

'Sir, the messengers are here.' The young Knight returned with two Soldiers following, men armoured in leather.

'Thank you.' Griff gestured for the Knight to leave.

'Sir!' The young Knight bowed and marched away.

'Now.' Griff started. 'We have had your report and we find it lacking.' The two men looked nervous. 'Do not worry!' Griff gave a soothing smile. 'We are only going to ask you some questions, to see if there is still information to gain from your experience.'

'Missing details.' John added.

'Y-yes Sirs.' One soldier said. The other was silent.

'Come to the table, answer our questions and then you can leave.' Said John.

They approached. Fayyim stepped away, but stayed in the light. Griff seemed at ease with the messengers, but the air was tense. Hardly a breath could be heard.

'It's been nearly two weeks since our armies were pushed back from The Sands, and although men have been pulled from Shoulderside Castle to Slug Island, those remaining have had enough time to adjust, to maintain regular patrols in the forests of Shoulderside. Tell me, how did Princess Ashara manage to travel through your territory undetected?'

'Sir, the patrols were reduced and men were brought back into the castle to man the walls.' The talkative Soldier answered.

'Your patrols are the most affective means of defence, despite the castle's strength. Who ordered the change?'

'It was ordered from the capital, I don't know who.'

'Some politician.' Fayyim interjected. 'Always meddling.'

'Silence.' Griff gave her a mean look. Fayyim did not look pleased, but held her tongue all the same.

'OK. Amaratsu's force managed to march on your castle and now it's under siege, that's just where we are.' Stated John. 'Let's move on. What troops did Ashara have with her?'

'We know for sure that she had Flame Pitcher's with her, we saw them from the boat, marching close to the river edge. How we slipped them by without being seen, I don't know. Just luck I guess... As for the men she left behind, we didn't see. We were preparing to leave by boat for a supply run to Rest and back. We got news of the attack and orders to escape and call for backup. We heard them shouting about Soldiers, Fire Dancers and more, but we didn't catch it all before the current took us and pulled us away on the boat. Our lines snapped and we were gone. The river was running high, you see.'

'And this is everything you know?' Asked Griff.

'Yes Sir.'

'There's nothing else?' Asked John.

'No Sir.'

The room went silent. Fayyim pondered, running the events in her head. There seemed nothing else to it, just that they had to break two sieges, then her trusted second spoke out again.

'The devil is in the details.' Hawthorn stepped into the light.

'Speak.' Griff waved him forward.

'The water was running high, how high?' Hawthorn asked the messenger.

'Higher and faster than usual. Strong enough to break our tether to the docks.'

'Have there been storms enough to swell the water?'

'Not that we know of.'

'Then what could cause the river to run the way it did? It can't be a coincidence that on the arrival of Ashara's forces, the river acts strange.' Hawthorn turned to Fayyim, his eyes were glistening, knowing. 'What do you think?'

Hawthorn was smart, but he always made sure to cast that light on to his Commander. She loved him for it. Fayyim faced the messengers. 'Was there anything else that stood out to you? Some other detail?' The two stood, thinking. The silent one more than the other. Fayyim was impatient. 'Well? Speak up!'

The talkative man opened his mouth, but it was the silent one that spoke, interrupting his partner. 'Ice! There was ice in the water. Only small amounts...'

'Ice?'

'We see ice sometimes in the lake and rivers, it comes from Gamorak, the mountain. It sheds snow and ice and it runs in the wa-'

'Enough!' Fayyim cut him off. 'Diamond Dancers, they've brought Diamond Dancers!' The room filled with whispers. Diamond Dancers were the opposite if Flame Pitchers, manipulating water and ice instead of fire. They were the highest level of the Swimmer Job Class.

'That's a big assumption, but I think so too. Look.' Griff stood from the table, pointing down at the map with a heavy finger. 'If they take Shoulderside Castle and freeze the rivers, they control our ability to take the castle back. The bastards!' He turned to Fayyim. 'You have the largest cavalry units here, how fast are your horses?'

'Fast.' Answered Fayyim.

'Can your Red Front defeat these elementals?' Griff was hurried in his voice.

Can they? Fayyim thought back to her death by fire, giving Hawthorn the opportunity to speak out first. 'If Commander Tallhart orders it, we will defeat them.'

Fayyim bowed from the waist. 'They have split their forces. They will die.'

'Then we will hold Tumblestone for as long as we can.'

I'm not so sure. Fayyim stopped before leaving, turning to face the High Commanders. One of them still sat in silence. 'Send word north, we need aid. The Order of the Silver Ram should answer.' She then left.

Outside was noise and talk and activity, as troops wearing the blue of Hurdland hurried to organise themselves for a battle with Princess Ashara.

Fort Tumblestone was a mess of giant rocks linked with stone walls, a wooden building at its centre. It was built from the aftermath of an ancient rock slide from Mount Rest, but named for the northerly mountains called The Tumbles. It guarded the passages into Hurdland on both the east and west side of Mount Rest.

Fayyim and Hawthorn headed for the stables that lay close to the fort gates. Huge wooden doors between two towering stones.

'Gather our heavy cavalry, I want you to take them on the south-west route around Mount Rest.' Fayyim ordered Hawthorn. Her silver blonde hair, almost white, blowing in to her focused eyes. 'Have our infantry mount up on whatever horses are available and meet outside the gates, the fort won't need the beasts. I'll take them east and break the siege from the north.'

'As you wish!' Hawthorn bowed and gave a sly wink.

You make me want to laugh, sometimes, but I won't break character. Her eyes said it all, though her mouth may have betrayed them with a smirk. 'You must be fast. Your road is longer than mine.'

'I'll make it before you, no problem. It'll take you at least five days to reach Shoulderside Castle without being able to use boats on the river, can you make it in time?'

Fayyim brushed her hair from her face and then tied it back with a red ribbon. 'Yes.'

'How?'

You're not the only one with good ideas, that's why I'm the boss. 'Do you really think the rivers are of no use to us?'

'Yeah?' Hawthorn both agreed and questioned.

Fayyim gave a meaningful smirk. Come on, you can get it.

Hawthorn gazed at her momentarily, then understanding came. 'I better ride fast indeed.' He laughed while leaving her side.

Fayyim walked calmly after him. She eyed local Soldiers who feared to meet her gaze. Her stern and often times aggressive reputation proceeding her. Those of her own men, Red Front men, were much more confident with her. The fact was, they were more than happy to follow her, despite her strictness in the field. All because she gave them what they wanted, the joy of battle, and for the most part, the joy of winning. This was evident when she gave the signal to move out, as they did without hesitation for what may come. Even after losing twice, they'll follow me... I won't let their trust go unrewarded.

It was with the blow of a horn and the banging of a drum that a single line of red and white exited the gates of Fort Tumblestone.