SWORDPOINT DIPLOMACY CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 8

Rose ran a hand down her braid and frowned at the empty paddock. She'd lost her good mood as she ran around unsuccessfully looking for one man in a military camp of hundreds.

'Looks like there's no page training today, and he's not near the officers' area. Is it meal time? Maybe he's in the mess.'

She padded through camp, avoiding eye contact and giving bland smiles to anyone who looked at her directly. She was thrumming with energy but she forced herself to walk. Even at a walk, she was garnering concerned looks from people wondering why leadership was moving around so much. It took about ten minutes to backtrack to where the general soldiers ate.

The sound from inside the tent told her that, yes, people were eating. She'd probably missed the delivery of her own dinner.

Motion caught her eye when the tent flap began to part. A private accidentally made eye contact outside the mess and jumped when he saw her outside. He gave her a sickly looking smile and ducked his head. He scurried off.

Rose hesitated at the entrance.

She felt… oddly nervous.

'It's going to be so busy in there. If I walk in, they're all going to stop and stare.'

That didn't seem like a good environment to have a conversation.

On the other hand, hovering outside the entrance looked ridiculous. People were going to wonder what she was doing.

'Should I just go? I can find him again later. Or.. technically, I could just order anyone to go on this errand. Why didn't I do that?'

"Princess Rose?"

Torn by indecision, Rose jumped when she heard her name.

Miette blinked up at her. "Do you need something?" Rose glanced down at the movement she saw and watched Miette's fingers twist the edge of her apron. It was a little comforting to know that she wasn't the only one feeling out of place.

"Miette," Rose said belatedly. She straightened her back. "Yes, thank you." A little too much relief crept into her voice. "Could you send Kian of Hartsbluff to my tent?"

"Yes, princess." Miette curtsied automatically. "Just a moment." She raised a hand to part the tent open and go back inside.

Rose put a hand up quickly. "Not urgent!" She managed a tight smile. "He can finish his meal. I'll go- I'll wait." She spun on her heel and marched away. Her face was uncomfortably hot.

'That did not go well. When am I going to grow out of the awkward phase? Any day now would be welcome.'

It felt like it took forever to get back to her tent. Rose ducked in gratefully. Her shoulders relaxed. She unhooked her equipment belt and let it drop onto her cot. She breathed in deeply and caught the scent of the dinner she'd missed.

She rubbed at the back of her neck and made her way to the table. She pulled the cover off with a clink and set it to the side as she sat. The smell of roasted game bird wafted up, heavily seasoned and prepared with nuts and berries. It was served with a darker ale than usual, something she didn't recognize.

Rose poured a glass and tilted it, sniffing. It seemed cheap. Nothing she drank back home was that bitter.

Well. They were not exactly near the culinary center of the capital. She made a face when she had her first sip.

'...It's not that bad,' she told herself.

The bird was good, at least, probably local. She was polishing it off when her guard cleared his throat.

"May I enter?" Kian called out.

She sat her glass down with a clink, eyes wide.

'He must have been done eating when Miette passed the message. Ah. I want to finish drinking…'

"Come in," she called, because there wasn't another option. Should she stand? Kian came in, brushing the front of his uniform with one hand.

She offered him a wry smile and a glass.

"Sit with me," she offered impulsively. That was a pretty good apology, right? It was a heinous violation of the rules of society, elevating him far beyond his station. If that didn't convey that she valued his opinion, then nothing would. "Have a glass of dubious ale."

'Maybe I don't actually have to apologize.'

He blinked and swayed for a moment. "Dubious?" He repeated, brow furrowed. "What's wrong with it?"

Rose snorted. "It's just cheap. Have some."

He huffed a laugh. "Only because you make it sound so appealing." They accidentally made eye contact. His eyes were crinkled in amusement.

She avoided the urge to look away. Rose busied herself with her glass. It tasted better the more she drank. He didn't make a face when he lifted the glass for the first time.

"What's the verdict?" Rose prodded.

Kian cut a look at her over his glass. His lips twisted into a smirk that she had to look away from. "It's not the worst I've ever had."

"You were right," Rose said, staring determinedly at the table. She just had to get this over with. "Would you take a message to my brother? I want to coordinate timing to set up my assault into the city."

"Into the city," he echoed. At least his voice wasn't smug. "Not the gates?"

"Celestin and Duke Harrod will be at the gates," Rose said. She pursed her lips. "They'll be doing all manner of dramatic things that everyone can't look away from."

"And so they won't be looking for you," Kian prodded gently.

She couldn't resist a smirk. "When I come in through the river grate," Rose admitted.

Kian let out a whistle. "You must be a very good swimmer."

She huffed. "Barely adequate. You didn't nose around my brother's camp when you had a chance?"

"They're digging holes," Kian said with towering dignity. "Just digging defensive trenches like we're doing here." He gestured at the front line, where he'd surely taken his turn with a shovel digging in.

"They're digging a new river path," Rose corrected. It was hard not to feel smug. "When we need it, they're going to block off the river with stones. It'll redirect off onto the plains."

"The plains." She looked over at Kian. He had his fingers splayed on his jawline. He had nice fingers. She swallowed.

He continued. "As in behind our lines? We aren't going to get flooded, right?"

She rolled her eyes and stood. She pulled out the topographic map from her chest and unrolled it in front of him. Kian lifted his glass to accommodate. "Here," she gestured, running a finger along the projected path. "A few leagues behind our position. We can't control it exactly, but we know it won't move uphill."

"This is not going to be good for the local economy," Kian said dryly. It was less bleak than acknowledging the true horror that it was probably going to drown locals. People who had nothing to do with the conflict.

A muscle clenched in her jaw. "Not good at all," she agreed. "I need to know the timing- how fast the river runs. So that I'm ready to break the bars of that grate and head in as soon as the river runs out."

Kian let out a long, soft whoosh of air. "No one is going to be watching the back to notice the river level when they're getting bombarded." He shook his head slowly, but it wasn't a rejection. "How do we check how fast the river water is?"

She stood again and leaned over to the still open chest. With one hand, she dug around her clothes for the brightest piece of fabric she owned. She pulled it out with a flourish.

Kian stared at the red silk scarf uncomprehendingly.

"Drop this in the water, at 9 exactly. I'll wait near the gate to see how long it takes to come down." She waved the scarf. "I will see this in the water even at night. I'll write the time."

A red flush rose on his face that nearly rivaled the scarf. "I-" He looked between her and the scarf. He blinked rapidly. "I see. That will work." Kian cleared his throat and flipped his hair. "Yes. 9, you said?"

"If that's possible." Rose passed him the scarf and leaned back to check the time. "If you leave soon it is," she decided. "But let's say 10, and give time for things to go badly."

"That'll be a late night," he observed.

"You can stay the night at my brother's camp. I-" she cut off mid syllable.

"Princess?"

She raised a hand, asking for silence. "Metal," she said quietly. "Jangling, don't you think?"

Kian frowned and tilted his head. "Someone is running in armor," he agreed in an undertone. "Coming closer."

When she stood, he rose and followed. Rose flicked the tent flap aside and strode out into the night. The wind whipped at her face. She gestured to her guard. "Something is wrong," Rose said quietly. "Be alert."

"Princess?" The guardman asked.

Hmm. First time she'd heard that voice. It was higher and raspier than she'd have expected. "I think we'll have a visitor in a minute." The sounds of running were getting very close. She could hear panting as well.

"Halt!" Her guard turned in the direction she was looking. She heard a sword pulling smoothly out of a sheath. "What is the meaning of this?"

Rose relaxed, letting some of the tension in her back ease. The man was wearing royal livery.

He ignored the threat of the sword and sketched a deep bow in her direction. "I have an urgent notice for the Princess's ears only."

Rose glanced between the messenger and Kian and her guard. The latter were tense.

"Come in," she said simply. Then, to Kian and her guard- "Wait here, please."

She used the back of her hand to push the tent open and strode inside. The messenger followed on her heels.

"Speak," Rose commanded. "Who sent you?"

"The Duke of Hawksbreath sends word. An army marches on your rear lines."

Her heart thudded in her chest. "From where do they march?" Her voice came out steadily. It sounded like someone else's voice.

"The castle of Whitfoot." Sweat ran down into his eyes. "Your cousin estimated 30 hours of marching when he sent me to you."

"And when was that?" She stood and began pacing, full of nervous energy. "You came from his camp?"

"Yes, I came directly. I was not delayed." He watched her pacing. "He estimates their number at 2000."

Rose ran her tongue along the back of her teeth. "Thank you," she said belatedly. "Is there anything else?"

He bowed. "That's all."

She nodded. "You may go." Rose took a deep breath. "I'll handle it."

The messenger escaped gratefully.

Rose took a few moments to herself, mind racing.

30 hours of marching. Would they do a hard march? Would conditions allow?

'If they pin us between the wall and a force at our rear, we are in serious trouble.'

Oh. She swayed, hit by a wave of stress.

'They could just as easily come to Etienne's camp first. He's slightly closer. If they go a little East, they'll wipe through his camp.'

She made a fist and hit it against her thigh. 'I need to focus. I can't panic.' Rose gritted her teeth.

Etienne needed to be alerted. She needed to call for a meeting with leadership, immediately, and begin planning and delegating.

"Come in," Rose shouted, "Both of you."

As soon as she had eyes on the men, she was talking. "Tell Celestin to call for a council immediately," she ordered. "If he isn't in his tent, inform Duke Harrod. Go."

The guard hesitated.

"Go!" Rose barked out. She wasn't in the mood to humor the notion that she needed a bodyguard. The man fled. She wheeled on Kian. "I need you to go to my brother." His face was as serious as she felt. "Enemy forces are incoming from our rear, approximately 2000 strong. Less than 4 hours ago they were estimated to be 30 hours of marching away from our position. I'll send more information as soon as our council concludes, but I want him to know the basics immediately."

"Princess," Kian agreed, bowing. "Shall I still put the scarf in the water at 10?"

"Yes," she decided on impulse. "If I can finish up in time I'll be by the river to check."

"I will do as you say." He lowered his head on the way out. Rose was on his heels. They walked together for a few moments before their path split.

"Travel safely," she offered under her breath.

He glanced back at her as he began to turn away. "I trust that you will solve this," he said, instead of good luck.

She blinked, but his back was already moving away from her at a fast clip.

"I hope you're right," Rose said under her breath. She could see that someone with a light was approaching the tent where leadership met. "I don't have much time to find a solution."