Elizia's tiding

[Lady Edfeil]

She had received the news near a week ago, and it had worried her since. Of course it was but hear say, but Lady Elizia nae had a reason to lie. And iffen the tiding was true, the news was dire. A plot of the Norse to attack Wessex. And with Windstorm located were it was, it would nae be a far stretch to see them try their hand here again. Iffen they believed they could handle even Wessex' armie, their old defeat at the Windstorm coast would nae stop them.

She had send out word of course. The cliff guards had been warned first and foremost. She needed to write a missive to Queen Caera. Caerfarnon was nae too much further on the coast and mayhap they would be a target rather than Windstorm. And she needed to talk to Kyle. And Dieter. The defenses needed to be inspected, just in case. She hesitated over sending a missive to the Citadel. It would seem foolish. And she nae had a desire to make more of a fool of herself there than she already had.

And then of course she needed to send out a missive to Thorgrimm's father. Mayhap the Old Danish Jarl would know more about this than she did. And iffen he could either confirm or deny the rumours, they would at least know.

[Lady Edfeil]

Letters. Letters were the first thing she wrote as she took council with the men. She was a queen, and nae one born to the throne. She had learned many a thing over the last 6 years of her reign, yet it was nae a secret that she left the defenses in the hands of the men. Her brother lead the lancers, but he had been abroad now for near a year again. And there nae was a Captain to the guards anymore. Dieter took patrolls over the lands of course. There were the guards with the routines in place and she had spoken to Kyle near a month ago about mayhap assuming the Captain's position. But Elizia's words had brought to mind that she needed to get things in order. Master Sergeant Gerben had arranged the cliff guards to be warned, and a swifter rotation of men. And she

But first there had been letters to write. One had already been send off to Lord Halfdane, the old Jarl of Ravensgard. His son had died on Windstorm's lands, after having established trade routes, relationships of the heartiest kind. And he had been mourned here, as a friend and a brother. She knew of course there were differences between the Ravensguard settlement and the Norse, but at least he might... know more.

A second letter had been harder to write. She nae knew iffen the plans were set. She nae knew iffen Windstorm was a target. And she nae knew if what Elizia had heard was but a drunken braggard's tale or more. Yet she could nae take the risk it was more. Enough ships to attack Wessex... it made her head spin to merely think of 't. Yet she had written and send the missive under her own personal seal, making clear 't was nae a certainty, but that the rumour itsself was too disturbing nae to take any risks.

She had spoken to Prince Gregor as well. Iffen the Norse came, Windstorm nae had a commander at sea. But Ulbrecht.. might take up the task. They nae had many a warship, but a good fishing fleet and of course the Pretty Boat. The Gloria itsself, Ulbrecht's own, was more of a ship adapt to every situation than any of Windstorms, save mayhap he small Pretty Boat. Despite it's name that vessel had been build by Captain Tyrun's shipping company to be assured of the Queen's safety when she traveled by sea.

She remembered the attacks of seven years ago. So many they had lost at the time. Even if it was but a rumour.. she needed to make sure that Windstorm was prepared.

[Lady Edfeil]

They had arrived. She had nae expected Caera to take the rumour so seriously. In truth, she had merely written to keep her friend informed. She had merely wished to nae take any chances. It seemed Caera nae wished to either. She had send nae less than 70 men to Windstorm, trained men. 50 Welsh longbow archers and 20 men at arms. Being larger than Windstorm Caerfarnon kept a well trained army on standbye. Aside from the guards and the patrolling rangers, there was but a small regular force in Windstorm. As Gregor had said last eve, few realms could afford too have men standing by through peace time.

What were they to do with 70 men?? Feed them, nae a doubt. Show them Windstorm's hospitality. Take advantage of the opportunity to train men of the near village. It was good they had nae arrived a month earlier before the first crops would have been coming in. On the other hand, they nae could easily ask farmers to abandon their work on the land now. Harvest and planting cycles nae halted for rumours and worries, and it would be foolish to halt castle activities on the worry of one woman with a known hatred for everything Norse.