Page 99 of The Royal Throne
They made their way through the camp, passing tents and soldiers—some eating, others training, and a few standing on guard. At the large tent, Cutler went in first to make sure the area was secure. Once he deemed it was, he held the flap open for her.
“Lieutenant Aaren,” Cutler said. “May I present Queen Sabine Manfred.”
She stepped into the room, Drew behind her.
“Her Majesty has been appointed as our commander,” Cutler added.
A man in his late twenties with dark hair and eyes stood. “My queen and commander.” He bowed. “Welcome. We weren’t expecting the king or officers until tomorrow.”
Thankfully they’d maintained a one day advantage. She stepped farther into the room. A large table took up most of the space. Maps were strewn over it along with a few knives and daggers.
“There have been a handful of assassinations at the palace,” she said. “Have there been any incidents here at camp?”
“Not in the past week,” Aaren answered. “However, before that, there were several.”
Dogs barked, reminding Sabine of Harta and the other dogs from the kennels. She would have to seek them out when she was done here.
She went around to Aaren’s side of the table, observing the map stretched out before him. “What instructions did the king give you?”
“We were told to prepare to invade Carlon and Nisk.”
She loosed a breath.
“In three days.”
She peered up at him. “So soon?”
He nodded.
“Well,” she said, tapping her finger on the map. “There has been a change of plans. Please gather the lieutenants. I wish to speak with them so that I can explain everything.” She would tell them to pack up and go home. There was no need to have an army sitting here, especially with the wall guarding Lynk. And she would have to find a way to inform the other kingdoms that Lynk would not be attacking. The League also needed to know that Lynk would continue to abide by the laws they’d set forth.
“Consider it done.” Aaren bowed then left.
Alone with Drew and Cutler, Sabine let her shoulders droop. “We have to assume Rainer will be here tomorrow,” she said, still looking at the map as if it held all the answers. “That means we need to get this army packed up and on the move today.”
Cutler clasped his hands behind his back, shifting his weight from foot to foot. “May I speak freely?”
“Don’t you always?”
He came forward and looked at the map. “Even if we get this camp packed and on the move today, as we head north, we can only move so fast. The king will find us.”
“I agree,” Drew said. “We have to figure out how to deal with opposition.”
“Can the king strip me of my title as commander?” She assumed he could.
Cutler nodded. “We could start destroying weapons,” he offered. “Ruin supplies. Make it difficult for the king to continue with his plans.”
“I like that idea,” Sabine said. “We can send the soldiers home. Scatter them. Make it hard for the army to be gathered.” The more she thought about it, the more she liked this plan.
Aaren ducked inside the test. “Queen Commander Sabine, are you ready for everyone?”
“I am.” She tried not to laugh at her mouthful of a title.
Aaren held the tent flap open, and about two dozen soldiers strolled in. They stood shoulder to shoulder taking up most of the space in the tent. Sabine glanced at their faces. Three were women and the rest were men. Most looked to be in their late twenties or early thirties.
Holding her head high, she said, “Thank you all for coming to speak with me. I assume Lieutenant Aaren has told you I am not only your queen but your commander. We’ve had some unexpected events and there has been a change of plans.”
One of the men raised his hand.
