Princess Variana moved across her tent. She sat down next to Nan. "What did you think of the soldier Wilson?"

Nan continued to knit. "I think he was just that."

"What?"

"A tool in the hands of the king. A tool to be used for the kingdom," Nan stopped knitting. She looked up at Princess Variana. "Nothing more, nothing less."

The Princess didn't know where to look. She was used to outbursts from Nan who in many cases was more her parent than either of hers had ever been. "A tool," she whispered.

"Princess, you have no time and the kingdom cannot afford to have you flouncing after every handsome, rougish soldier that passes through your life," Nan smiled at the Princess. "You have no idea, yet, your Highness. You are still too young. Later in life you will learn that every soldier has a bit of the rogue in them. If you allow your heart to chase after them, even a tiny bit, you are being untrue to your future Prince."

Variana picked up her needlepoint. "Did you ever chase after a rogue?" she asked Nan with just a hint of envy in her voice. For she knew what Nan said was true. It would never be her lot in life to chase after the rogue. Instead, she would be given to the man who presented the most advantageous match for the kingdom. In this case, it seemed her destiny to be wed to the brat of the northern brute who had relentlessly attacked her kingdom for the past twelve years. It bothered her that his son was to be rewarded for his criminal act of attacking her father's kingdom. Not that she valued her own life so highly, she had never assumed that her life was her own to live, anyway; but sometimes, it was fun to dream of chasing away with a handsome rogue. There couldn't be any harm in that, could there? She thought to herself.

"Ah, Princess. No need to dig up the old and cold coals of distant fires," said Nan. She picked up her knitting again. Click, click, click went the needles.

Variana put her needlepoint down. She stared out the small gap at the front of the tent where the darkness of the night seemed to seep into the light of the tent. It couldn't hurt to dream a bit, she thought again to herself

Wilson didn't say a thing. He just moved off in the direction he had indicated. As he crept through the dark, he pulled his small crossbow from where it was strapped to his back and set a bolt. He crept closer to camp. Moving slow so as to not attract attention, he swiveled his head from side to side. Peripheral vision is more accurate at night and he tried to take advantage of this.

There.

Off to his left, near where Ailith was certain to be, he finally caught glimpse of the guard set on this side of the camp. One advantage of attacking a camp you have already been inside is you know the defensive layout. Each side of the compass would have one guard for the first perimeter. The secondary line would be eight guards working in pairs. Each would move from spot to spot, trying to confuse any enemy attack. It required lots of guards, but seemed to provide the best defensive posture. Wilson was certain First Lieutenant was a by the book type commander.

He lifted his crossbow. He acquired his target and pulled the release. A soft hiss and a heavy thump as the guard fell down without a sound, a crossbow bolt sticking through his throat.

Wilson watched for Ailith.

He saw her emerge from the underbrush near where the stricken guard lay unmoving. He lifted his hand with one finger pointing up and then moved his arm flat. She responded with the same signal. They both could see only the one guard and he was down.

Wilson crept in closer.

The second line of defense would be more difficult. With many guards working a moving perimeter, he and Ailith would need to be very careful.

He looked over to where he thought Ailith would be and thought he could just see the top of her head. Then he looked over to his right. There was the next guard. Moving slowly away from him. Unaware that the camp was under attack, the moving guard kept a steady pace. If he had been under Wilson's command, he would have punished him immediately for the lax approach to guard duty. A good guard on the move changed direction and speed frequently. It was never good to let your enemy know your intentions.

The Black Oak Sword

Chapter 1: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3
Chapter 2: Part 1 , Part 2
Chapter 3: Part 1 , Part 2,Part 3
Chapter 4:Part 1,Part 2
Chapter 5: Part 1
Chapter 6: Part 1, Part 2
Chapter 7: Part 1, Part 2
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14:Part 1
Chapter 14:Part 2
Chapter 15:Part 1
Chapter 15:Part 2
Chapter 16:Part 1
Chapter 16:Part 2
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19:Part 1
Chapter 19:Part 2
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22:Part 1
Chapter 22:Part 2
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31

**AUTHOR'S NOTE: You may notice I just substituted Ailith for Aella--I finally made the leap because I think the name fits her background and cultural heritage better.

© 2017, Stone Golem Publishing, All rights reserved--no part of this may be used without express written consent.

**All pictures used are labeled for reuse. They come from Pixabay

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