Examining the Maps

The maps that she had gleaned were a valuable resource, and Alice knew that she had to make sense of them, which is what she opted to focus on next.

"Kathy, help me clear my desk, and tell everyone else in the palace that I am not to be disturbed for the next two hours or so," Alice commanded as she pulled out the various parchments of scribbled notes and documentation, as well as her own copies of the various war maps that were in Kurtis' strategy room. She had no idea if these held any value, but there wasn't anything wrong with investigating them in depth. Even if the information contained within was irrelevant to her, she could always sell it off if need be. Hell, if worst comes to worst, she knows some foreign spies who would be willing to buy military information at a premium. Of course, selling her own country out for emergency funds is something she wants to avoid, seeing as she wants to lead the kingdom one day. A temporary benefit now might very well backfire on her in the future.

Katherine dutifully obeys her friend, helping her organize everything she needed as well as providing blank stacks of paper, ink, and the princess' favorite quill, made from the tailfeather of a Saragonian Eagle. Then, she headed out, informing the steward of the palace that the princess is not to be disturbed. Such announcements come frequently, and the steward knows better than to inquire. Only Katherine herself was allowed to breach this command, though she did so sparingly, only coming every half an hour to replenish the tea.

Alice was in full concentration mode, trying to decipher the data that seemingly lacked legends and other important symbols. By cross referencing her own map of the kingdom as well as the information that Katherine had provided, she managed to get a clearer picture of the situation. The map provides detailed information on certain bandit encampments along the southern border of the kingdom, next to the kingdom of Sareth. It's a dry, arid place, almost a desert in certain areas, and the armies of Gardius are not well equipped to fend off bandits in that region. While Alice was no general, she can ascertain that the homefield advantage, combined with the hit-and-run tactics of these nomadic bandits have been making mincemeat of the army, hence why Kurtis is no longer supplying troops there, leaving the south to fend for themselves.

Still, Alice wonders if it's purely incompetence that's resulting in what's happening down south, or is it perhaps part of a larger conspiracy? After all, Sareth is an ally of Gardius, and trade between the two kingdoms flourished under Cassian's rule. The coastal goods such as fish and pearls are invaluable to their southern neighbors, and in turn, they can provide Gardius with gemstones mined from the earth. With the merchants guild growing massively wealthy off of the trade, perhaps this is a way for Jamis to retaliate against Del, by using the bandits as a way to strike against the merchants. It honestly wouldn't surprise her. Jamis always believed in self sufficiency, and leaving the people of the south to suffer was perfectly in line with his thought process.

Still, the merchants had a private army of their own at their disposal. Professional blades for hire, otherwise known as mercenaries. Pound for pound, they were probably more capable than the average conscript in Gardius' armies, but lacked the cohesion of a genuine unit. If this information was to fall into the guild's hands, then they would definitely deal with the issue themselves, rather than waiting for Kurtis...