Dynasty: The Glorious Strategist (Dynasty Saga Book 3) (8 page)

“Oh yeah,” Lymee grumbled to herself. “Let’s invade Russia during the winter. Because that’s always works out. For every, single, person, who’s tried.”

“You are not the only one feeling apprehensive about this,” Alia said. “But sadly I fear that we have little choice in the matter. The Lord of Gon Dynasty feels that we must move before the Empress has time to mobilize her supporters. She has made her decision and we sadly are being swept away with it.”

Lymee frowned as she recalled what Voss had mentioned in the carriage ride over. “If this battle was so close upon us, why have you not started to mobilize your forces yet?” Lymee asked glancing at all of them. “Even if you were still unsure how you were going to respond you had to have known you would need to mobilize your forces regardless.”

“Because,” Alia paused her words dying on her lips. She clinched her fist looking down at her lap. “Because I did not want to make any kind of decisions on such an important matter without consulting with you first.”

Lymee frowned. Where was this coming from? The Alia Lymee knew was deceive, always knowing exactly what to do. She was not the kind of person to hesitate.

Deciding to worry about that later Lymee let out a long sigh focusing her attention instead to formulating some kind of plan. She leaned against the table hanging her head as she thought the situation over. “Sai,” she looked up at the woman. “What progress have we made on the carriages that we talked about?”

“Well, acquiring the carriages was easy,” Sai said with a dismissive shrug. “As I told you before. It is getting enough horses to pull them is where we the trouble starts. Then we have to train them not to mention build extra stables to house them in.”

“Yes but we have at least five hundred horses for the cavalry, right?” Lymee pointed out.

Sai narrowed her gaze as she gave a suspicious nod. “That is correct.”

“Well cavalry isn’t much use in a siege, so won’t those horses be better served pulling carriages?” Lymee asked.

“You can’t use war horses to pull carriages,” Sai gasped. “That would be degrading.”

“They’re horses,” Lymee said. “They won’t care. And if we have the carriages then we can load them up with the extra, food, blankets and other winter gear that our army will need.”

“I concur with Lymee,” Alia stated her voice making it clear to Sai that there would be no further objections on the matter. “The thing we need to focus on the most is making sure our men survive the campaign.” Alia casually stroked Kitsune with her fingertips as she talked in her authoritative voice. “I do not want a single one of our soldiers dying from the elements. Nor do I want to have to explain that the reason they did not have the previsions needed was because a horse's pride would be hurt.”

“As you say, my lord,” Sai sighed bowing her head in capitulation.

“It’s Alia when we are in private like this,” Alia reminded with a bit of a smirk. She looked at Sai out of the corner of her eye her hands never stopping her petting of Kitsune.

Sai closed her eyes taking a quick breath. “As you say, Alia.”

“Good,” Alia smiled turning her attention back to the table. “Now that our course of action is decided, Sai you need to start the mobilization of our forces. Keo you need to start readying our supplies. We are not prepared for a long winter march so you need to start purchasing what we don’t have and I fear you will need to do so quickly.”

“And me?” Lymee asked.

“You will be leading the army,” Alia stated. “So you need to ready yourself for that.”

“Come again,” Lymee cocked her ear to the side like she had not heard correctly. “I thought I heard you say that I would be
leading
the army.”

“This is more than just a battle,” Alia stated. “We are also representing Su Dynasty to all the other lords. Meaning that the Lord of Su Dynasty needs to be in attendance. As I would be unable to go given my current state,” she gestured at her legs. “That leaves me with my little sister.”

Lymee pressed her lips together not liking the idea but also understanding the necessity of it. “You are aware that I have never led, or been trained to lead an army into battle?”

“I am,” Alia nodded. “And this might be the best time to learn. As you previously stated, the other lords will be doing most of the fighting. Meaning you will be more in the background of the battle anyway.”

Lymee nodded agreeing with Alia assessment. This was almost a perfect opportunity for her wet her feet, as it were.

“I will also be sending Sai with you in order to help you in managing the army and putting into action any orders you may have,” Alia continued. That only made sense Lymee supposed. Sai was the commander of the entire military so of course she would come with. “And Keo will advise you in terms of strategy as well as dealings with the other Lords.” Also fair. Keo would be able to work out any logistics that Lymee and Sai were unable to figure out and she was the best person to advise Lymee both politically and militaristically.

Lymee blinked as she realized what Alia was saying moments after Keo and Sai was just behind Lymee.

“No,” Lymee declared. “There is no way that we are leaving you here by yourself.” Lymee froze again as she also realized that they would be gone for months at the very least. To get to the capital and back while marching an army could take the better part of a year. There was no way that Alia would live that long.

“I agree with Lord Lymee,” Keo stated turning to face Alia her hands resting on her hips. “I need to stay here and attend to you. She is a very capable woman as well as a competent strategist as the Battle for Hu Province has shown. And with Sai there to help her she should be fine without me.”

“I also agree,” Sai nodded her words nearly spilling out of her mouth. “Also Keo should remain in order to advise you should another Dynasty decide to attack us. Between myself and Lord Lymee we should be able to handle any situation that may come up.”

“Is that right?” Alia smiled her voice calm and collected. “Then you are fine with Lymee going there alone and dealing with dozens of nobles and other Dynasty Lords?” Her words seemed to hit home with Keo who flinched ever so slightly. “You really think she has not only the political mindset but the necessary information to politically handle them without causing an incident?”

Keo did not say anything as she clinched her fist refusing to make eye contact with Alia. She was right and they all knew it.

Alia opened her mouth to say something more when Kitsune suddenly scurried to her feet and leapt out of Alia’s lap and onto the table. Kitsune looked back at Alia as if she had been surprised or frightened by something Alia had done.

Lymee and Sai both moved in trying to figure out what was wrong but Keo glared at both of them warning them to stay back. The look in Keo’s eyes was enough to turn Lymee’s blood to ice, so Lymee simply held out her hand to Kitsune and the fox obediently ran up Lymee’s arm and laid down across her shoulders. Lymee noticed that her fur seemed damp and there was a very distinct odor emanating from fox now.

Lymee did her best to hide her shock as she realized what had happened. Lymee closed her eyes as she scratched her forehead then taking a deep breath she turned to Sai. “General, it is getting late and I have not yet eaten. I think that we should take a break for now and return at a later time.”

Having at this point probably figured out what had happened herself Sai nodded. “Agreed Lord Lymee. I am sure after your long travels you could use some rest as well. We should pick this up at a later time.”

They both gave each other a nod and started walking out of the room neither of them bothering to ask for Alia’s permission first. As Lymee turned around to close the door she made eye contact with Keo.

Keo did not say anything as she started making her way around the table towards Alia but the look in her eyes said that she was thankful for their discretion. 

Once the door was closed Lymee let out a sigh, her head rested against the door frame. Sai was standing a few feet away gazing out at a window along the hallway as if trying to find the answer to some question in the clouds. Lymee moved her head away from the door and started walking towards Sai but her attention was distracted by Kitsune’s new odor.

“Why don’t you go and wash your hair,” Lymee suggested as she scratched the fox behind the ear. Kitsune pawed at Lymee’s shoulder and Lymee crouched down sticking out her arm so the fox could get off. Kitsune darted off down the hall, and Lymee doubted she would see her again for the remainder of the day.

Standing back up Lymee moved behind Sai glancing at the guard still standing in front of the door. “Let’s take a walk,” Lymee suggested gesturing with her head. “I have never actually gotten the chance to walk in the palace gardens.”

Sai only nodded as she started making her way down the hall, Lymee keeping pace beside her.

“How long has that been going on?” Lymee asked once she was sure she was out of earshot of the guard.

“It started a few weeks back,” Sai stated. “Keo and Alia have been trying to keep it secret but like tonight there would be times that it…” Sai trailed off clenching her fist unable to finish the sentence. “It only happens when she is stressed, otherwise she is fine. But we both know that it is only a matter of time before she loses all self-control.”

The words hit Lymee hard. She had accepted the fact that this sickness, whatever it was, would slowly kill Alia by shutting down her organs, but she had not prepared herself for what the gradual shutdown of her organs truly meant. And it would seem that her bladder was the first thing to go.

“It’s just so frustrating,” Sai growled raising a fist like she wanted to punch something but could not find an adequate target. So her fist just lingered there for a moment before dropping to her side again. “The simple fact that there is nothing that I can do for her is the worst part. I can only stand by and watch as the woman I love more than life itself…” Sai’s words trailed off in frustration.

“I don’t envy Keo,” Lymee said looking behind her back down the hall where they had come from. “She might have it the worst of all of us.”

“At least Keo is still useful to, Alia,” Sai grumbled. “At least she is not worthless like I am.”

“Alia would probably be heartbroken to hear you say such things about yourself,” Lymee stated as they continued to walk.

“I know,” Sai took a deep breath centering herself. “And as much as I am against it, I fear she is right about sending the three of us with the army.”

“Me too,” Lymee nodded reluctantly.

As much as Lymee may personally hate the idea, strategically speaking this was the best option. Lymee was simply too green to be trusted with such a thing alone. If Alia was the one going then she could probably handle things without Sai and Keo like she had when they marched on Hu, but Lymee was simply not ready for that.

“As you will be leading,” Sai glanced over her shoulder at Lymee, “are there any generals you wish to bring?”

“I think that is more your call, not mine,” Lymee said. “However Generals Chee and Gea would be my obvious picks.”

“Agreed,” Sai nodded. “General Chee is most useful when she is on the frontlines of a battle. And General Gea is a very competent General. Considering the small size of our force I do not see a reason to bring any Generals other than them.” Sai placed her hands on her hips as they stopped at the edge of the Palace Garden. The way the sunlight hit the ponds and reflected off sand was actually quite striking.

“So how much does Alia hate me for leaving her?” Lymee asked looking down at the feet. She had been dreading this conversation since she had learned that Alia was still alright.

“You wished to spend time with Rin. Alia understands that,” Sai assured.

“That was a lie and everyone knew it,” Lymee said leaning her back against a support pillar of the Palace.

“Alia could never hate you,” Sai stated, kicking a rock at her feet. “However, I think she believes you still have not forgiven her for her handling of Bengui. Nor has she forgiven herself.”

“And what do you think of what Alia did?” Lymee asked crossing her arms as she looked out at the garden. “I don’t think I have ever actually gotten your opinion on what happened.”

“The only thing I was not in agreement with was that Alia wished to not inform you about her plan. Her reasoning being that she did not wish to burden you and cause you to in some way reveal what we intended to do.”

“That was a lie. You know that right?” Lymee looked over at the woman her arms still crossed. “She did not want me to come up with another plan that would spare their lives.”

“Hence why I disagreed with her,” Sai nodded. “She knowingly refused to hear your council because of her desire for revenge against the Dynasty that she blamed for her father’s death and her mother’s ensuing madness. Now tell me honestly,” Sai turned and looked Lymee square in the eye. “You have had two years now. Have you managed to come up with a better solution? Do not say you have never thought about it.”

Lymee chewed on her lip as she looked out at the garden. “I haven’t come up with a better option, no,” Lymee admitted. “I would have probably done a few things different, like find out what Cia and,” Lymee paused. She had honestly forgotten what Voss’ name was before. “Her brother,” Lymee snapped her fingers trying to remember.