Chapter 21: Ailis, Part 1
As their chief, Ailis took very little time to herself for grieving. It wasn't her way. She would rather deal with her sorrow in her tasks, and she took her responsibilities seriously. She took to it naturally, for it was in her blood and training. The people already respected and loved her, and she them. They knew she would do anything to protect the clan until her dying day.
One night, Ailis held a meeting with her clansmen. "Where are we as far as provisions until the soldiers return?" she asked, crouching by the warm fire and flicking away a twig that was stabbing into her foot.
"Where we are is on a spit ready for the fire, my chief." A burly man of thirty quietly grumbled from his perch on an empty cart nearby.
"So there is nothing left?" she asked, trying to hide the tremble in her voice.