Chapter XXIV - Caught Off Guard

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Low, angry muttering broke out amongst the councillors, until one of them dared speak up. "Explain, Ragnyr."

I knew not all of them were fond of him and some openly opposed his decision to kneel to the king, but they had no authority to contest it. That responsibility fell with another group of men known as an 'assembly.' They met with him often and argued bitterly, but he had the majority of them on his side and that was all that mattered.

The war council was more affable. They didn't get a say in the politics of the warband, but Temris did rely on their advice when it came to strategy because they were all older and more experienced, so he had to keep them reasonably happy.

"This is the battlefield of my choosing. I would like to eliminate as many Anglian troops as physically possible before I cross the border. And I am still trying to keep up the appearance of hiding my true allegiance," he said. "Now, if you're quite finished questioning my decision, I would like to get on with planning the battle."

"Do you have the full scout reports?" the archer inquired.

I heard the sounds of a chair scraping against the ground, then the light pad of feet. Temris ducked into the bedchamber to fetch one of the scrolls I had been reading the night before. Taking advantage of the momentary solitude, I caught the edge of his shirt and pulled him close enough to whisper, "Behave yourself."

He grinned smugly and replied the same way, "You're one to talk."

"I mean it, Tem. You shouldn't annoy your advisors."

"No, I shouldn't. But it's good fun." He reached behind me to take the parchment, throwing me one last lazy smile before returning to the fray of battle tactics. They had barely begun analysing the composition of the Anglian army when there were the distinct sounds of a scuffle outside.

"You can't just barge in, Anlai," Colloe was saying.

"What are you talking about?" Anlai sounded bemused. "Of course I can. It's a privilege I have worked very hard to attain. It took weeks to teach Fendur why he shouldn't get in the way."

Colloe was unimpressed. "Although it may have escaped your attention, I am not Fendur. I was fighting battles before you were weaned, stripling. I suggest you go quietly."

The advisors in the other half of the tent fell silent as they eavesdropped on their conversation. I found myself moving to join them on the other side of the curtain, in case a brawl did break out. As harsh as it sounded, I would have been interested to watch those two fight. Word around the campfire said they had a long-running rivalry of sorts.

Just as Anlai uttered a foul word and was likely reaching for his sword, his cousin intervened. "Let him in, Colloe," Temris sighed. "Anlai is always welcome in here, as you very well know."

The golden-haired warrior ducked through the entrance. He eyed the councillors with brief disgust before singling out Temris. "I thought you might like to know, Tem. Yarrow's men have just-"

"-arrived," finished a complete stranger. He also stood in the entrance, Colloe hovering uncertainly at his elbow. It was the first time I had seen any doubt in the older Iyrak as to what he should do. And looking at the stranger, I wasn't sure I blamed him. It was glaringly obvious that I was facing the only other warlord, who had submitted to Temris after forfeiting his challenge. Tall and imposing and tawny, Yarrow was not a man to be taken lightly.

There was an abrupt change in the atmosphere. The councillors sat to attention and their eyes flickered between the two warlords. I found myself gravitating in Temris's general direction. For what, though, I wasn't quite sure. Protection seemed a bit farfetched and reassurance was an understatement.

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