'Aye. The young vixen is everywhere and nowhere, all at the same time. She's planning something. Like as not she'll take on more than she can chew.'
'She seems a very competent young woman.'
'She has the confidence of youth, Sky Warrior. I pray that the Holy Mother will teach my foolish daughter to control her headstrong ways before it is too late.'
Tom decided it was time to remind her of the purpose of his visit. 'You asked me to report on my special force, Majesty.'
'Aye,' she looked up. 'My council gave you permission to recruit warriors from the tribes defeated by Morgon and use the mountain men. I do not have to tell you that there were many dissenting voices. I had to use my powers of persuasion. I trust that it was worthwhile.'
'The new force is proceeding admirably, Majesty. My men have nothing to lose. Their goal is revenge. They'll not go back to their farms at planting and harvest time. Their farms have been destroyed. All they want is to wipe Morgon and his men from the face of the land.'
'The Augury Master foretells that Morgon is preparing to attack us. Some of my clan chieftains urge me to attack first. What say you, Sky Warrior?
'I believe we should let Morgon make the first move, Majesty. His men will retreat to fortified positions if we commence hostilities. They can withstand lengthy sieges. Our forces will tire and our warriors will return to their farms as they have in the past. When that happens, Morgon's troops will break out and cause death and destruction to your people.'
'You have learnt a lot about us in the short while you have been here, Sky Warrior.'
'Aye, Majesty. Your Chariot Master, Griffin son of Dragon, has been of great assistance and so has Thunder son of Lightning. I also have the advantage of coming from a realm that was once very much like yours. The people of the north were invaded by southerners and defeated by them. Many generations passed and the northern tribes learnt to fight in the ways of the south. When that happened, the southern empire fell and the northerners became its new rulers.'
'We cannot wait generations, Sky Warrior.'
'No, Majesty. But we can speed things up.'
'There's not much time for that.'
'I believe we have sufficient time to create a force that will match the southerners and disrupt their formations. Your warriors will then be able to go in amongst them with their swords and secure victory.'