Aodhan paused at the opening of the pavilion and took in a deep breath. He walked in through the sitting area and through to the war room. Lara was already sitting at the table by Eion.
“Please sit Aodhan. First things first. I have heard there is something we need to discuss with you my Lady Battle Raven.”
“Please, just Lara, Lord Blaine. “ Lara said.
“As you wish, my Lady. Let us all just dispense with the formalities for now. Lara, what is this I hear about Liam paying you a visit?” Blaine asked.
She leaned back in her chair and thought about where to start and what to omit. Lara wasn’t going to reveal anything too personal.
“There really is not a lot to tell. I will try and remember everything about the conversation. Liam had mentioned seeing Kedryn fighting I am assuming he saw me use confusion too.”
Ruark leaned forward and tapped the rolled up map in his hand. “What did he offer you?”
“He wanted to know what he had to do to convince me to come over to his side.”
She heard Aodhan grumble and glanced his way “I told him that the only thing he would have to offer me, that I would take, is a peace treaty.”
“I take it he did not agree to it.” Eion said.
“No. He is more than convinced that Blaine had his father killed and wants to rule over the three lands. I tried everything I could to convince him otherwise. Kedryn came in while we were ending our conversation. Liam had the nerve to ask Kedryn if he would like to be a true Milesian and that General Kayne would recruit him in a heartbeat.”
Scanlon let out a laugh “What did Kedryn say to that?”
“I don’t remember the exact wording. Kedryn told Liam thanks but he would have to respectfully decline.”
“Ever the tactful one, he is. Was there anything else?” Ruark asked.
“No. I told Liam that it looks like we will meet in battle after all.”
Ruark placed an unrolled map on the table and started to unroll it as he spoke.
“Speaking of battle. Give me a hand with this. Dillon, would you please fill everyone in on the marks on the map.”
Dillon placed a flat square rock on each corner. Lara looked at the placement of the troops and realized she was looking at a strategy that was favored by the Romans. On the side where Liam’s army will be she saw a similar strategy placed out. Odd why would they be the same? She looked up from the map as Dillon tapped the area where their army would form.
“From our discussions I have marked the battle formations on this map. As you can see the troops are in the chessboard formation with each of the four rows separated into six formations with the cavalry flanking each side. The front ranks will be light infantry armed with spears and shields. The heavy infantry will be in formation behind them. Another set of light infantry will follow shortly after with the archers set behind. Once the light infantry move in and the arrows are cast the heavy infantry will draw their weapons and engage the enemy in hand to hand combat. General Ruark would you like to instruct on where the men will be?”
“Thank you Dillon. Scanlon, you will lead the heavy infantry on the left flank near the Mountain terrain.” He looked at Lara “Kedryn has proven himself worthy to fight with our men. He will be under Scanlon’s supervision with Lawler, Doyle and the rest of the company on that side.”
Devlyn interrupted. “Why can’t I have Kedryn?”
Blaine struck his hand on the table. “Enough nonsense, Devlyn! This is a time to be serious. Do not interrupt again unless it is pertinent to the battle plans. Please continue Ruark.”
General Ruark glanced over at Devlyn who had a grimace on his face and had sunk down in his chair a bit. Ruark leaned back in his chair and cleared his throat.
“Are we ready to continue?” he asked and watched as they all shook their heads yes.
“Devlyn, you and Aodhan will take the right flank near the hills that lead to the forest. Laura and I will take the center. Eion, you will be in charge of the archers behind our line.” He stood and stuck his knife in the middle and looked at Lara. “This is where you will meet Liam.”
All except Eion and Lara began talking about strategy, armor and weapons making sure that every man had what they needed. Lara started feeling the butterflies come back and leaned over to Eion.
“Please Pinch me.”
Eion looked at her puzzled and asked. “Why?”
“This is still so hard for me to believe. I’m not sure how I can live with myself going into battle and taking lives. Liam’s an idiot!”
She remembered Ruark saying something about her meeting Liam in the middle somewhere.
“Wait a minute. What did he mean by me getting somewhere during the battle?” Lara asked Eion.
“Our spies have heard the Seer speak again. You must get to Liam before anyone else does during the battle. It seems it will decide the turn of the battle. That is all we know. Of course the Seer did not say if it bodes well for you or not.”
“They are just going to send me in.” she started to play with her necklace.
“Do not fret. I will use all of my ability to protect you if I see it is not going well. And by the way they suit you.” He tapped the raven cuffs that were on her wrist.
“Thanks. Why was it assumed that I knew what Ruark was talking about?” she put an elbows on the table and laid the side of her head on her hand looking at Eion.
“Aodhan was supposed to let you in on it on the way back from the Forge. He did not say anything?” he noticed she got a little flushed.
“No. Must have slipped his mind.” She glanced at Aodhan and turned a bit pink.
Eion knew that Lara had made her choice. He looked at Blaine wondering how complicated this was going to get. He decided to talk some sense into him later.
“What about translocation? Couldn’t Aodhan use it in battle?” Lara asked.
“It only can be used two times before we are drained of energy and cannot fight. He is letting Aodhan use it to his discretion.”
“I have one more question. How is it that Dillon or the rest know what strategy Liam will use?”
“Why would not it be the same or similar?” Asked Eion.
Lara couldn’t hide the disbelief on her face. “To not let the enemy know what you are planning. To out maneuver them.”
“This is just how it is. This strategy for battle has been used for centuries. We meet on equal ground to show respect for the other.” he said.
“Respect for a man waging a war that should not be? Why?”
Eion rubbed his chin. “It was laid out that way long ago. However, if we do go to war with Lord Faolan he I have a feeling that the tradition will not be honored.”
She shook her head disapproving of their plan. Lara supposed that even though she headed archeological expeditions in battle sites, given lectures on Hannibal Barca and other ancient warriors, that it still didn’t make her a real expert. She had to remember that this is their realm. Not hers. They have also been in real battles and she has not.
A chair moved and Lara looked to Lord Blaine who struggled to stand. He put a hand on Aodhan’s shoulder and straightened. “I believe it is time for the mid day meal. Lara, Bevin has set up an area for the women to meet in the healer’s tent. This battle will be what ends it one way or another. Neither side’s soldiers can retreat to a fort to fight the next day. Are you ready?” Blaine said.
“I am as ready as I will be, my Lord.” She replied.
Lara thought to herself, lunch with the women, this should be interesting. Thank God Gobnait will be there and wondered if she should talk to Gobnait about Aodhan. Keeping it in wasn’t helping any.
Slipping out Lara walked back to her pavilion. She didn’t want to deal with Aodhan, Devlyn or anyone else at the moment. There was a woman standing in front of her pavilion with a large bag and an annoyed look on her face. As she saw Lara approaching her face turned into a look of relief.
“Hi. I am Brenna, Bevin’s handmaiden or lady in waiting. Which
ever you prefer to call it. Anyway, Aodhan had asked Bevin if she could find someone to fix your tent.” She held out her hand and Lara shook it. Brenna waited until Lara stepped through and followed.
“I did not wish to enter until you returned.” she said.
“Thank you. I hope you weren’t waiting long. You have more respect for a woman’s privacy than most men here.” Lara said.
Brenna sat the bag she carried on the table and pulled out canvas, thread and large needle. She set them off to the side of the bag and pulled out a roll of black canvas.
“Could you show me where the tear is, my Lady?” Brenna asked.
“Through here. And please, it’s just Lara.” she said and led Brenna through the center flap to her sleeping area to where the overturned table was.
“Thank you so much. The slit is a little drafty.”
“This should only take a few short minutes. After I will show you to the healer’s tent.” Brenna started working on patching and sewing up the slit and paused to look up at Lara.
“Is the rumor around the camp true? Liam was here?” she asked.
“He was.” Lara said.
“How does he look? I hear he has hardened so much.” Brenna said.
“I believe I was trying more to convince him to not go to war than I was concentrating on his looks.” Lara said trying not to remember what she did when he was there.
“Apologies. I am certain you were. Sometimes I wish I would have stayed in Milburn in the castle where I could finish my studies. I came here shortly after she left when the war skirmishes started. There it is all finished.”
Lara squatted down and looked at the slit examining Brenna’s work. She was happy to see that Gobnait wasn’t the only woman in the camp who was not afraid to speak her mind and there’s a spark of intelligence to her. Between Gobnait and Brenna Lara thought she could keep sane at lunch with all of the Royals.
“Thank you, I appreciate this. I think we should probably get going.” Lara reached into her pack and grabbed out the last of her hot chocolate and followed Brenna out of the tent.
She looked over at Ruark’s tent and noticed that Blaine and Aodhan were having an argument. Blaine glanced her way clearly upset. Lara stopped and thought about going over there when Brenna took her arm.
“This way my Lady.” she said.
Lord Blaine glanced over to Lara and was stopped by Aodhan again. “Father. Seriously please. Can I have a word?”
Blaine shook his head and crossed his arms. “If it is about you and Bevin. I do not want to hear another word. While you were through the portal her father passed on. She has no family left. Your mother and I decided to take it upon ourselves to make sure she has what is best for her.”
“I am not what is best for her. There is someone else father.” Aodhan said and watched stunned as his father walked away from him.
“I do not wish to hear anymore. You will marry Bevin and I do not care who the other woman is. Get rid of her.” Blaine practically yelled and walked on.
Lara cringed as she overheard those last words. She swore the whole camp probably heard him. It seems that Aodhan wasn’t winning that battle.
Chapter 25
In Laois, Lord Faolan and Lady Paili were having an argument of their own. The council had gathered in the great hall and was making plans on when to attack.
Lady Paili taped her nails on the large black marble table. “We should attack them during the battle from the outside to chip off their numbers.”
“I do not wish to waste good men. We need to prepare for the invasion not send our men on little excursions. They left on enough of those with the plans to frame Blaine.” Lord Faolan said.
Paili’s smoldering eyes met General Daigh’s. She already had her plan in motion and by the Gods she wasn’t going to stop it. She handpicked the four men herself. Since Faolan returned not many remained loyal to her and would go against his wishes. Surprisingly enough General Daigh agreed with her plan. She knew that she still had control over him and used it.
General Daigh looked to Lord Faolan and it was all he took to hide his hatred. His return put a crimp in Daigh’s plan to rule by Lady Paili’s side. Faolan was the true power of Laois now and Daigh knew it would be more of a challenge to keep her. It was good he loved a challenge.
After Lord Faolan had gone missing he saw the kind of power Lady Paili wielded and decided he had to have her. Never in his life did he think she would send him to the altar until Damon failed. For some twisted reason that made him want her even more.
Damon looked over at General Daigh bewildered by him. He wondered why the twisted man still held a place in his sister’s heart. Lord Faolan was pure evil but he at least respected his sister to a certain extent. General Daigh was just plain demented. His thoughts were interrupted by the voices of the council members arguing of what they thought should be done and how to proceed. Even though they all knew that would be Lord Faolan’s ultimate decision.
Lady Paili made her excuses and walked out the door and Damon slid out of his seat and followed her out. She looked at him and let out a sigh as soon as the door to the throne room closed behind them.
“Are you going to prepare?
Damon bowed to her. “Yes sister.”
She brushed her hair behind her shoulder. “Good.”
Chapter 26
As Brenna led her to the healers tent Lara felt her stomach knot. She peeked into the forge and saw Christian at a work table and Gobnait was nowhere she could see. Lara hoped she was already at the healer’s tent.
“Here we are, my Lady. The eating quarters are towards the back so we will have to make our way through a couple of the areas where we practice healing.”
Lara took a quick glance around the first area of the tent and noticed that there wasn’t a flap covering the entrance. Just a square cut into it for a door for convenience. A faster way to get the sick and wounded through without having to stop and lift up a flap each time. As Lara walked through she looked up and saw that the door flap rolled up from the ground and was gathered at the top. Gobnait was standing on the inside by the door and greeted them.
“I’m glad you made it.” Lara said and the knot in her stomach loosened up a bit.
“I will go ahead and announce you are coming.” Brenna said and hurried ahead of them.
Gobnait looked at Lara. “I was just coming to find you. All of the girly gossip in there was about to drive me insane.”
Lara put her hand up to her head with a dramatic expression on her face and let out a sigh. Gobnait burst out laughing.
“Be warned Doireann is going to bombard you with more questions about your realm. I think she’s obsessed. You look great by the way.”
Lara grinned at her. “I’ll mention it to my seamstress. She’s brilliant.”
Gobnait playfully hit her on the arm. “Thank you.”
“Ouch, Oh no now I can’t fight.” Lara playfully said as they both laughed.
Gobnait led Lara through a large room with many unoccupied cots into a small hallway and through a flap. The next room had tables stacked with aprons, water basins, and marble hand turned mortar and pestle sets. Lara recognized them from some of the digs she had been on. The bowl and stick were used to grind medicine and herbs. There were also small shelving units with doors where Lara supposed that held the medicine. Before she was led through the next small hallway and into the eating area she stopped Gobnait.
“Let me compose myself. I don’t know why I’m seriously nervous.” Lara said.
“Meeting a bunch of women you don’t really know can be nerve wrecking. Not to mention Bevin is a bit catty until you get to know her. She doesn’t like anyone to intrude in her little group.”
“I’m an intruder.” Lara said.
“So am I and I have known Bevin for years. We don’t see eye to eye on many things. This should be interesting.” Gobnait said giving her a sly grin and lifted up a flap that led to the small hallway and lifted up another
flap and were in the healer’s dining room.
A round table was set up beautifully with food on polished silver platters. Bevin, Fand, Doireann, Brenna and another Lara didn’t know were already sitting at the table. All had changed their clothes to simple fitted silken dresses. She looked at Bevin who was talking to Doireann and walked next to Gobnait to the table.
Lara said under her breath. “We must be the only ones who don’t wear a dress to the battle field.”
Gobnait snorted and took a seat and Lara sat beside her.
Bevin took her time looking away from Doireann making a point she was in control and finally looked in Lara’s direction. She swept her long blonde hair over her shoulder.
“Lara, I believe you know everyone here except for Kaylee.”
Kaylee waved at Lara. “Very nice to meet you Lady Battle Raven.”
“Very nice to meet you too Kaylee. Please call me Lara.”
She forced a smile at Bevin and put the pouch she was holding onto a delicate blue rose rimmed china plate.
“I have brought the hot chocolate. Where would you like me to set it up? Do you have any hot water?” Lara asked
Kaylee walked over to her. “I will take care of that. You should not have to serve anyone.”
“We are all equals here. If you show me where the hot water is, I could use some help with the glasses.” Lara said.
Kaylee showed her where the water was and set out some very ornate goblets onto a serving tray.
“Thank you my Lady. I am eager to learn.” Kaylee said.
“I’ve never have had hot chocolate using such extravagant goblets.” Lara said amused and set out the packets and showed Kaylee “There is raspberry and regular, enough for two cups each I believe.”
“Can you show me how to make it?” Kaylee asked.
“Sure.” Lara said as she started to tear top off of one of the packets and stopped.
Lara turned and looked at the group of women around the table and decided to ask the hostess. “Bevin, since you were so kind to set this up you can decide which we have first.”
“You are very sweet Lara.” she looked around at the others “We will start with the regular to go with the meal and the raspberry to go with desert.”
Celtic Rain (The Battle Raven Series) Page 27
