Small Landen Village in Glacia, Late Summer (Thursday Fandom Time)

[glacial_queen]

A little more than a week ago, Karla had sent the vast majority of her Court away from Haven. One could hardly have a proper processional through one's home Territory without people smoothing the way. There were perspective soldiers to assemble, food to purchase, lodgings to prepare, Province Queens to quietly contact...And so Karla had sent her Court to prepare her way, possibly cackling, "Fly, my pretties, fly!" to herself because a girl has to make her own fun sometimes.

A few days later, a 'gift' from Khary and Morghann had come in the shape of a dozen beautiful Scelt-bred horses, led by four kindred Warlord horses. Those four stopped before Karla, Warren, Raven, and Dinah and bowed, giving each a respectful greeting from Lord Khardeen--though from Warren's rueful burst of laughter, it was likely that Khary had included a special message just for him.

The next morning at long-enough-after-dawn-for-coffee-because-we're-not-barbarians-Mother-Night-though-it's-still-a-ridiculous-time-to-leave o'clock, they headed out of Haven and made for Glacia. Though mountain traveling was never comfortable or easy, they made good time; they were too late for shockingly-fast summer storms and too early for the ferocious autumn ones. Though it snowed several times during their crossing, the snow itself was light and did not impede them much. With kindred horses leading the way, they didn't even need to worry about the horses finding proper footing or running the risk of broken ankles.

For a trip through mountains heading to war, it was surprisingly good natured. There was singing and story-telling, conversation and contemplation, bickering and bonding. They made good time and Karla was almost sorry to leave the mountains behind. Because the easy part of the summer was over. Now it was time to get down to work.

The first village they rode into had a surprise for them. There was Julian greeting them on the outskirts of the village wearing an insouciant grin. "My lady," he said with an exaggerated bow. "May I have the honor of giving you a present to celebrate the formation of your Court?"

Karla raised an eyebrow. "I do like presents," she agreed, confused but willing to play along. "Is it my uncle's head on a platter?"

Smirking, Julian shook his head. "No, but possibly better." He led her horse through the village to the open green at the center of it. Though very little of the green could be seen through the mass of men and women standing at strict attention, lined up in orderly, if somewhat ragged lines. "Lady," Julian said, with a bow, "may I present the beginnings of your army."

[For the Glacian contingent! NFB]

Comments

[kindrednotkind.livejournal.com]

Swift leaned into the scritch, almost like a giant cat. *He didn't, Lady. I don't think he knows what to expect.* Scelt was far from Glacia and even more peaceful. *Just that fast hooves and care would be needed. We were to carry you bravely and keep you safe.*

[glacial_queen]

"Which means that you might figuratively be butting heads with a horse soon," Karla said, wandering over to toss Dinah and apple to feed to Swift. "Sorry, Dinah. Males are fussy, whether four legs or two."

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"Don't listen to her," Dinah whispered loudly. "I think you're doing great." She held the apple out to him, and then asked Karla, "Did you expect all of this?"

[glacial_queen]

"Expected? No. Hoped?" She shrugged. "I always knew this was where my main support was. I hadn't figured that it would start off strong, but..."

She looked at the milling people, now released from their formation. "More people to fight...but more people to worry over, too. And more to feed."

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"Did we have something in place for this?" Dinah looked around, and bit her lip. "I feel like we're back at Fandom. Planning for the latest weirdness with whatever we've got on hand. Except this is going to last a lot longer than a weekend."

[glacial_queen]

"Months longer," Karla said with a sigh. "Fortunately it's summer, so we'll be able to buy food as we go, but I can't encourage scavenging, neither here in the north or in the south. Glacian winters can be hard enough without wandering armies acting like locusts."

Mental note: Put Jono's forces in charge of hunting food. That might help them train.

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

Dinah nodded, biting her lip, watching them and thinking. Too many things at once, really: who would keep them under control? Could they all camp out in common spaces? How many of them would stick around past the first engagement? "Holy wow. I so should've read more Revolutionary War stuff. Remind me to track down anything about how General Washington planned for this." She rubbed her knuckles between Swift's ears and said, "First order of business?"

[glacial_queen]

"...Try not to get overwhelmed and cry?"

Okay, unhelpful. Even if accurate.

"Umm, actually I had an idea for you. If you wouldn't mind. It's kinda weird though."

Karla took a deep breath and asked. "How'd you like to be me?"

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"You couldn't pay me enough," Dinah said automatically, then blinked. "Wait, what?"

[glacial_queen]

"HEY!"

They'd get to Karla's point in a second, but hey!

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"Hey, let's face it, I would suck at ruling," Dinah said quickly. "Also, I'd strangle Julian, so... what's your plan, again?" Well, maybe she would, maybe she wouldn't, but wasn't it a good thing they didn't have to find out?

[glacial_queen]

Decent reasons or not, Karla was going to stick her tongue out at Dinah anyway. "I was hoping you'd be my double," she explained. "We're blond and female and, from far away, that's all we'd really need, you know?"

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"Hunh." Dinah blinked, considering that, then nodded, smiling a little. "Not a bad plan. I'm pretty sure politicians back home use them sometimes. Body doubles for security. When were you thinking, what kind of situations, would I be pretending to be you? 'Cause up close, the lack-of-magic *would* be a dead giveaway."

[glacial_queen]

"Mostly when we're marching and especially when I'm off talking to the Province Queens," Karla said. "When we're just moving forward and people are looking, then if doesn't matter if they're waving at you or me. And I'm not going to want my absence noticed if I'm off talking to someone. Make sense?"

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"Yup." Dinah grinned. "Like Queen whatsherface in the Space Battles prequels, and all her clones. Keep your eye on the Queen-- no! She's over here!" She pointed at Karla. Then herself. Then Karla. Then at Swift. "You'll help, right? You'll tell me when I'm not being Queenly enough?" she asked the Warlord. To Karla, she added, "You want me to wear the Sapphire bracelet you gave me? And you're cool with me wearing kevlar, right?"