September 13th Who | Avalynn Dubhghail, Aneirin Calmcacil, Military Council, and Personal Security. When | September 13th, late afternoon. Where | Military Camp stationed twenty miles south west of the border. What | Putting things into motion.
Since her return from Court, Ava had been ill at ease. Those closest to her were easily able to pick up the subtle changes that accompanied her return. She was short tempered and her thoughts seemed scattered in moments when she had nothing to focus solely on. Her recent decisions weighed heavily upon her and not a word would pass her lips now regarding them. She had done enough damage with her words as it was. For now she would simply follow through on the promises she had made to Chaldean Aranui and proceed as she saw fit. The gifts the woman had given her had allow Avalynn a brief respite from her internal battles. She had not spoken falsely when she had said the gifts would ease her concerns regarding the trouble about the North Eastern border, but she was unable to place her faith completely in such things she had not seen in prior use. She did not underestimate the knowledge of the Chaldean concerning such things, but she sought to better understand their workings prior to using them on a larger scale.
Upon her return to the West, she had called for one of the horses yet broken to saddle. Before she trusted these items to her men, she wanted to ensure she was not sending them into danger with false hopes. The scouts she asked now to proceed were volunteers, but that did not mean she would take less care. The volunteered because she asked it of them and that was not to be forgotten. Removing one of the morphs from it's place among the others, she placed it against a length of thin ribbon. Allowing for the item to take it's new shape, Ava then weaved the small piece into the Horse's mane, securing it tightly to the thick strands of dark hair. No amount of wind would force it from it's place.
It had been two days since she'd released the horse into the mountains. For two days she had watched it's progress on the map depicted on the top of the case that contained the remaining morphs. With no reason to believe the object was malfunctioning, she sent two of her men to retrieve the horse and verify it's location. Upon their return, she was given the proof she needed to proceeded. The location presented by her men was the location the morph had appeared on the map before the journey home. The items would work just as the Chaldean had predicted they would and for that, Ava was relieved.
Now, five days since her talk with Chaldean Aranui, she stood among those she trusted most within her territories. She was not dressed as a Lady of the Court. Gone were the gowns meant for royal halls and in their stead, she wore clothes similar to those worn by her guards; dark riding clothes fitted to her form, boots of soft leather that rose to mid calf, and her hair tied back into a long braid. Having ridden to the military camp established near the border, Brokk had insisted she wear the light armour meant for such things, but she had accepted only the short sword that hung at her side in addition to the bow and quiver she normally carried with her. She had no need for any more protection than that. She stood among her Guard and the generals who oversaw the military function within her own territory. It was a much smaller base than what could be found to the North, but they took no less pride in what they did. It was rare for such meetings, but given the circumstances the necessity for such came as no surprise.
"We have continued to watch the borders closely in your absence, My Lady, but nothing has come back to be considered definitive of what lies outside of our reach. We've found no active camps, only the remains of those long since abandoned."
It was a troubling thing to consider. None of the camps they had found so far spoke of small numbers. The amount each site suggested it had once held was not so easily hidden among the trees. If they were moving it would have been impossible to do so without leaving evidence of their presence. More importantly, what of the scouts? There was no trace of them. The only thing telling of their survival was a lack of evidence to prove otherwise, which in and of itself, wasn't very comforting.
Placing her hands on the edge of the table, she leaned over to stare intently at the maps laid out before her. Each one depicted a different effort being put forth. The empty camps were marked red, their own camps marked in purple, commonly used roads in blue, not to mention the various other landmarks within the Western territory. With her return from Court, their perspective would have to shift accordingly. Not all of her resources could be spared to continue the search for her missing Scouts. "It has been suggested that a call for arms may be extended to each of the four territories in the hopes of bolstering our strength along our borders to the North," she started, her eyes still studying the maps before her and her words drawing the attention of those within the tent. "Should such a request be received, we shall respond accordingly as is our duty to the crown. We shall not, however, send them prematurely. Until such a time as said request is in my hands, we shall remain within our borders."
It was a risk to hesitate, but she would not send her men out blindly. She would fulfill her duties to the crown as was expected of her, but she would also fulfill her duties to those who resided within her territory. Lifting her gaze from the table, she studied the men ahead of her. "You will prepare for a departure, but I urge you to choose wisely who you prepare to send should the order arrive. Should anything slip past the defense building in the North, I do no want our resources to be spread to thin. Circle back at least half of your riders and the vast majority of those ARA trained. Keep them within the West. They are our strengths. Lord Mekhal has enough resources not to be at a disadvantage in their absence."
"And what of the movement on the border, my Lady?"
Ava's eyes then returned to the maps. Reaching out, she trailed a finger over the routes they had taken and secured so far. "I am not necessarily convinced the movement is restricted to the North Eastern border. We've covered those paths we know to lead into the valley from that direction. We've expanded out along the rivers. We've found nothing in doing so." The familiar paths were not hiding what they could not see. Lifting a hand, she touched the mountain range to the west of their main concentration. Beyond the Calmcacil estate lay a far more difficult path into the North. Most avoided such a path as it was dangerous to those who knew the land well, let alone those who forced their way in. The mountain range of Rhuneithel was not forgiving of those who trespassed within it, but it also hide it's secrets well. "Search your ranks for those who have experience in the mountains and send them out."
"But my Lady, surely even the Danaan know the dangers that lurk within Rhuneithel."
"The safest road is the one feared by your enemy," she sighed, straightening up. She did not look forward to a journey into the mountains, but all theories must be investigated and she could not ignore that they had found nothing along the easier routes. Motioning for Aneirin to place the boxes from the Chaldean on the table, she continued, "We do not send them blindly, thanks to the assistance of the Chaldean. Each will have an item bestowed upon them to monitor their location." Moving forward, she placed five leather bracelets on the table. Removing each morph, she placed each one against it's corresponding bracelet. Once the new forms had been taken, she collected them and handed them to the generals. "Give these to the men you choose to send out. Take great care in securing it to them directly. If they loose these bracelets, I will not be able to track their movements."
With a murmur of acceptance from each man before her, Ava dismissed them one by one before stopping at the Head of her Guard. "Brokk, I have something I must ask you to do," she murmured, waiting to speak until only he and Aneirin remained within the tent. Moving to the other box, she lifted the lid and removed the gem from within it. "Oversee the Generals' choices. Gauge each candidates strengths and skills and secure this gem on the person you feel best equipped to the task set out for them. If they ask, only tell them that it is yet another means to secure their safety."
"As you wish, Lady Dubhghail."
A soft smile tugged at her lips. "I've told you time and again, Brokk, you have earned the right to call me Ava. How many more times do I have to insist."
"One more, as always."
The familiar banter lifted her spirits if only a little and she felt lighter sending him on his way. Now with only Nye as familiar company, she sighed. "Sometimes I wonder if it would have been less complicated to simply marry and turn away from the responsibilities I have now." The answer made little difference, but still she spoke of it, turning to find her friend of many years.