Work to Do

"It is a very interesting proposition," Kaarel stroked his chin. His sinister grin was obscured by his roving fingers. "I need a moment to think about it."

"You know it is the best decision. It will be far less bloody than a frontal assault and gain far fewer Lakilian casualties." Borit watched as the other man considered his words.

"I should discuss this with my king. It is a deviation from the original agreement and he will want to have the final say," Kaarel stalled, agitating Borit slightly. The sharp-nosed man could not help but feel the other man was toying with his nerves on purpose.

"There is no time to discuss it with His Majesty. My troops will attack in the morning if you do not overtake them this evening. This choice is up to you how to proceed." Borit was unwilling to beg his case. Either the general would do as he was told or his own men would be fighting on the defensive by morning.

"It seems you have forced my hand. Well, Commander, this better work. If there is one thing that King Willric values above all else, it is results. Be mindful that you do not disappoint him." The general's voice was a mix of a threat and a promise. Both of their reputations--and lives--were on the line.

Borit stood from the table. "I will make sure the men bed down early. You can find us just east of your problematic farmer. I would hate for him to disappear with the rest of the men, especially since he will possibly hear the chaos."

"Understood. I think I heard the man was due for a long vacation anyway. Perhaps a permanent one? I shall help him arrange it. One question, though. How will you make sure that you and your lapdog don't get accidentally caught up in the mayhem?" The General tapped his fingers together as he rested his elbows on the table.

It would be unwise for the curly-haired soldier to kill Borit during the melee. The Commander was Kaarel's ticket into the palace, after all. Borit's vast influence was why Willric had entertained the alliance at all.

Borit tucked his thumbs into his belt. "Oh, funny thing. About an hour after dusk, I will be requested by Sir Nuall to investigate something suspicious he found nearby. When we return, we shall find our soldiers already victorious and the vagrants vanquished."

Kaarel got the message: kill the soldiers quickly and quietly and switch clothing with them before they return.

"And what of the vagrants' belongings?" The General motioned to his traveling wagon.

Borit snorted, "Of course we will take all of the spoils back to the palace, though I doubt the supplies will be needed since we already have army rations. And should there be any armor or weapons that need to be hidden, I'm sure that can be arranged before we reach the palace gate."

Satisfied that his mobile house would be looked after, Kaarel reached out and shook forearms with the other man. They headed out of the wagon, shutting and locking the door behind them.

Silver waited several minutes before climbing out from under the bed. He needed to make sure the men were actually gone and there was a lot to process from what he had just heard.

He heard a shifting in the room as Sage slid out from the wardrobe. How she had fit in the confined space was impressive.

"We need to get out of here," she said quietly. "And soon."

Rather than figure out the door latch, the two Guardians found a secret door where the front wall met the driver's bench and escaped through the hatch.

Once they were back in the woods, the pair returned to their horses and rode a safe distance from both groups of soldiers. They dismounted and took shelter under a shade tree. Taking out water skins from their cloaks, the two drank in silence.

"This changes things," Sage said at last, her face grim.

Silver wiped his mouth with his sleeve. "Indeed it does. I'm going to miss you."

"And what makes you think I am going to leave?" The woman raised one eyebrow in challenge to his words.

"Because if all or most of Willric's soldiers are heading this way, then you need to warn the rebel soldiers to attack. There is no better time for you to take the throne than now." Silver nodded, knowing that she could not deny the truth of his words.

"But what about you? You cannot fight the Lakilian military all by your lonesome." Sage was torn. She did not want to see the opportunity go to waste, nor did she want to leave her beloved to fight—and die— alone.

"Do not worry about me. I will warn the farmer and his family and then tell the soldiers of the imminent attack." He looked up at the sky. The sun was beginning to set.

'How did the day pass so quickly? Did we really waste that much time?'

Sage was having similar thoughts. "I can warn the farmer," she offered. "It will halve your task."

"He may be wary of a strange woman in a cloak. My name should be enough to get him to listen," Silver wasn't sure about the second part, but he was fairly certain of the first.

Since the vagrants had been squatting on his land, he would assume the woman was hired by them to trick him into leaving. But the Guardian Silver telling him to run would have a different effect entirely.

"Then let me warn the soldiers. Please." Sage pressed her hands against his, but still Silver shook his head.

"These are not men from the fort near Rynnlee. If they ask for proof, what will you be able to say? That you overheard Borit talking to the General. That will yield more questions than answers. If they try to stop you then you will not be able to help Lakyle or Birle."

Silver did not like saying the words any more than Sage liked hearing them, but he felt he must continue.

"The best thing you can do is ride like the wind to the rebels and urge them into action. If they attack, perhaps Willric will panic and call back his men from Birle. Or better yet, you can play him at his own game, sweep the castle, and end Willric before he destroys both our countries."

Tears welled up in Sage's eyes. She pushed back her hood and pressed her lips against Silver's with such force that he gasped. Quick to recover, he caught her around the waist and pulled her close to him as he leaned against the tree.

Daisy snorted and hoofed at the ground, but the two ignored her in the passion of their kiss. For a moment, nothing in the world mattered but the two of them.

Finally, Sage pulled away and bit her lip. "I'm going to miss you, my love." Then not to sound too sappy, she added. "Don't you dare die on me. We have forever, remember?"

"I remember," Silver assured her. "I shall do my best to remain intact."

"Good," Sage brushed off her dress as she stood. Walking over to Daisy, the dark-haired woman pressed her forehead up against the mare's. "You're in charge. Don't let him do anything too stupid."

Daisy snorted. She nudged the woman softly,

"Good." Sage stroked the horse once before mounting her own steed. After one last longing look at Silver, she pulled up her hood, turned around, and raced into the distance.

Silver watched her leave only for a moment. He didn't have the luxury to trace her over the horizon.

He had work to do.