- You're late! - Alistair fired.
- Call me Bree, please! - I answered dry. - We were ambushed when we crossed the northern border.
- Ambush?
- Yeah. There were some mercenaries in the hills.
Alistair sighed towards the small table and took the map.
- I have no idea how these men are getting to the highlands.
He leaned his hands on the map and stared at it for a few seconds.
- It's so soon before that miserable Roy turns himself in. Soon my father decides to get sick and wants me to come home.
Alistair said in a moaning tone and I approached him.
- I'm sorry, Your Highness! - he said. - From what I've heard about the king, he seems to be a strong man. I believe your father has plans that cannot be described in letters.
Taking a break, I took a deep breath.
- Speaking of letters... - said pulling an envelope from inside a small saddlebag. - Commander Sinclair asked me to give you that. He suggests that militias be created to contain the advance of mercenaries.
Alistair lifted his head frowning and took the letter. He read it carefully and then sat down.
- Keilan believes that men allied with Roy are enticing our soldiers to serve as spies. - I've completed.
- That's it! - Alistair sighed and then picked up a piece of paper. He wrote a brief letter, sealed it and delivered it to the man who accompanied him. - Bruce, send a messenger to Keilan. Send more men for him to divide the northern troops into militias. I want the mountains very well guarded.
- Yeah, you got it! - Bruce nodded.
- Wait! - I asked before the man left. - Are you Bruce MacCalister, the Black Knight you talk so much about?
- Yeah. - He said with a sparkle in his eyes. - Why is that?
I smiled at him and then I did something.
- It's an honor to meet you and I'm sorry if I offended you in any way!
- It didn't offend me. - said Bruce. - Actually, I thought it was pretty fun. Who knows, when I get back, don't you show me how sharp your sword is?
Smile settling down.
- It will be a great pleasure!
Bruce left the tent leaving me alone with Alistair.
- I had no idea the borders were wide open. - said Alistair as soon as we were alone.
- They didn't need that much attention until we realized that there were men undercover by Roy. - I sighed. - He's buying a lot of our warriors.
- I have every confidence in Keilan and his strategic judgment. - he said quietly. - You must have learned a lot from him.
- Yes! - - I agreed. - For such a young man, he sweats a lot of wisdom, knowledge and experience.
- Exactly! - he made a gesture with his index finger. - How long have you been recruited?
- Almost a year!
- That's it? What are your skills in the field?
- The main one is the sword! - I said with pride. - I started training when I was ten years old, hidden of course, but don't say anything to Keilan because he thinks it was he who made me skillful in a short time.
Alistair had a laugh.
- And how did you end up in my troops?
I sighed, but I decided to tell the story I had first told Keilan.
- I met Keilan on a rainy night. - he said, pigging. - My father had kicked me out of the house to be sent to a convent, but the carriage left the road and fell off the cliff. I was lucky enough to jump first and I decided to get off the road. I climbed the hill and ended up under a tree where Keilan found me.
Giving of shoulders, I sighed.
- There was nowhere to go, so I chose to stay with the commander and fight for the king.
- Very noble of you!
- I thought it would be more useful in a battlefield than in a praying convent.
Alistair laughed.
- You know, Keilan talked a lot about you, but he never mentioned that you were a woman. - he said. - It always made me understand that I was a man and even though I found the name strange, I never questioned it myself.
- Keilan has always been a good friend and mentor. I'm not surprised he mentioned me in his letters.
- Yes, he did! - Alistair sighed. - At least the ones I got!
I laughed because of the relaxed atmosphere, although that was still a subject that needed to be treated with care. There were groups that should be undone, and I will spare no effort to get that done.
- I heard he was wounded the day before you left.
- Yeah, but he's recovering. It was nothing serious.
- That relieves me!
- When do you intend to leave?
- If it was up to me alone, only when this war was over! - he fired. - As I wish to return as soon as possible, I intend to leave as soon as possible. Maybe in a day or two.
I nodded seriously.
- Well, if you don't mind, I'd like to be introduced to the men.
Alistair nodded by standing up.
- Sure! The
