Page 180 of The Fae Girl 1

“If we move the Uldis Guards and the Second Legion to bolster the Northern Garrison we can defend this whole region…” He said pointing to the figures in front of him.

“Then you leave this whole part of Eastern Peninsula unprotected.” Fain replied pointing to the area just beyond it that seemed to jut out into what I assumed was the sea.

“True but I think the likelihood of an attack from there is low. And even if there is one, I think we can respond quickly enough to make the risk worth it.”

Fain tilted his head staring at the pieces in front of him. “We could open the dam up and isolate the whole area.”

“I didn’t think about using the dam.” Ridley said.

“Will it work?” Fain asked him.

“If we can keep the First and Third Battalions where they are I think it will.”

“Good.” Fain replied. “Let’s also evacuate all the farmsteads by the dam. If we do need to flood it, I don’t want to be drowning any of our people.”

“I’ll add them to the list.” Ridley said.

I couldn’t tell if that was a flippant remark but Fain winced. A tiny micro-expression I almost didn’t see.

“Let’s leave it there.” Fain said. “It’s a start at least. I’ll discuss it with the High King tomorrow.”

Ridley bowed. “As you like. I’ll leave you to your evening then.” He looked across at me, inclined his head a little stiffly and then saw himself out.

“I didn’t mean to create a situation.” I said as soon as he was gone.

“You haven’t.” Fain replied.

“He seemed pretty pissed off.”

Fain smirked. “You don’t know Ridley that well. He likes to pout. Under that armour he’s a pampered Lord though he pretends otherwise.”

I frowned thinking of Mira. It sounded like he was spoilt. Like he liked to have his cake and eat it and that did not bode well for her future.

“I could order him to leave her alone if you’d like.” He said.

I shook my head. “No. I know I could do the same with her, order her to stay away, but I don’t want to interfere. It’s her business. Even if I do think it’ll end in tears.”

“He’s not intentionally cruel. He won’t mean to hurt her.”

“But he will.” I stated.

Fain frowned but I could see in his eyes he believed it too.

I took another sip of my wine.

“Have you eaten?” He asked.

“A little.” I lied. I’d had a full meal with the others at least an hour ago. It was well past dinnertime now. How had he not been able to stop and eat?

“I’ll get some food brought up from the kitchens.” He murmured. “Anything in particular you fancy?”

I shrugged. Beyond him I guess I wasn’t all that hungry for anything.

He grinned at that. As if I’d said it out loud. And then walked off no doubt to speak to the guards while I took the opportunity to study the map more.

From what I could tell the area we were in was more mountainous. To the north of Montefore seemed to be a whole range of hills that steadily grew as if it were a great wall of earth. I scanned across the map trying to figure out what forest I was in, where I was when I magically appeared in this world, but there were too many possibilities and in truth, I hadn’t been paying enough attention to try to decipher it now.

Besides it didn’t really matter where I had entered this world, I couldn’t leave, I could never leave.

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