[Durelin]

“Before we do anything we need position archers…”

"Is done."

Sevora let out her breath in a long sigh. Dristi just could not remain respected by Sevora for very long. Just when she gave the girl some credit, Dristi acted the fool. She came out and ask what had happened last night? Did she truly expect to receive a real answer? Sevora's eyes moved around the tent, glancing at each person sitting before her. Besides Ghurdan and Dristi, Jasara, Khashia, and Uri sat off to the side, and Sammael sat near the middle and close to nobody. It was strange how people came to automatically separate themselves. But it was plain and simple how these people came to purposefully and thoughtfully separate themselves. Sevora was interested in seeing if these separations would continue even when they were neck deep in blood. This battle was going to be interesting. The problem was, Sevora was no strategist. Ghurdan was. Or, it was just that he was blessed. The Eye aids a person in many ways. Ghurdan was needed to lead his crew, and he had done most of the strategizing, which, even to Sevora's untrained eyes and ears, actually seemed to be very little. Mainly Ghurdan was certain of victory. No one could resist the Eye. But these elder tribesmen had to the fullest extent, in Sevora's mind. So, it was more proper to say 'no one could resist the Eye and live.' Those words were truth itself.

"Jasara," she said suddenly, turning to the young tribeswoman. All the other conversation that Sevora had not been listening to ceased. "What do you think of this smidgen of strategy that Ghurdan here has…devised?" Sevora smiled at Ghurdan as she gestured to him, but then her eyes went back to Jasara. Still, she smiled. It felt good.

"It will work well. As it is simple, we cannot make a mistake. No one resists the Eye."

"And lives," Sevora finished with a wider grin. "I ask, though, how do we discern the whereabouts of our enemy? We plan to march, but if we do, I do not wish to enter the valley to find them at our rear, already beginning to attack, correct?"

Ghurdan nodded impatiently, like at a pupil who learns all too slowly. "Yes, we have dealt with that. Or, truly, we have decided how to deal with that. We will not be caught unawares, I promise you that."

There was a hint of using her name at the end of his speaking, but Sevora ignored it. "Yes, and how is it to be dealt with? I expect to know this plan. As Jasara said, it is simple, and so we will not have human error. But I must know the plan so that I may not error. And it should be easy to explain, as it is so effortless. Or is it not as effortless as you say?"

Ghurdan was silent for a moment, and Sevora expected he was collecting his thoughts. Yes, he should be circumspect about what he says to me… "It is as effortless as it appears to be. But, there can still be mistakes. There most likely will not be, but I warn you not to be…overly disappointed." He smiled slightly at that, but only for a second, and his face was cold and blank when he continued. "We will send out scouts, as we always do," he said a bit icily, seemingly offended. Perhaps he was sick of scouts, but did he just want to barge in there unawares?

"Good," Sevora said simply. "We move when the sun reaches its height." Let the battle end in darkness!

[ August 21, 2003: Message edited by: Durelin ]