Plans and preparations

You take your nap without issue, and by lunchtime you’re out and about again. You make the rounds in camp, chatting with the troops. Ferra accompanies you, as always. The camp is neat and orderly, and work on a sturdy palisade is progressing swiftly. Victor trained these people well. Morale is high, despite the word getting out that a fight is coming. The majority of these people are veterans now, after the battle at Hope.

You run into Grant as you walk, and he falls into step alongside you and Ferra. “Good to see you feeling better, sir. Got some rest, I take it?”

You chuckle. “I did. Is everyone here a smart ass, or just the leadership?”

He laughs. “In addition to my skills as a soldier, I’ve always been pretty good at reading people. You don’t strike me as a guy who stands on ceremony, sir.”

You shrug. “Runs in the family, I guess. Fair enough. Speaking of, you can drop the ‘sir’. Just Nicholas is fine.”

Grant nods. “As you say. Banter aside, I think we’re as ready as we can be, here. I’ve got the scouts out looking for our dance partners. We should have plenty of warning.”

You look out past the nearly complete palisades. “I’m assuming you have a battle plan in mind? You’re the expert here, after all.”

He smiles. “I wouldn’t go that far, but yes. We have very little in the way of archers, so waiting behind the barriers is a fool’s errand. Instead, we’ll meet them outside, and retreat if needed, **** them into a **** point.”

He looks at you. “I’d like to have your group in the center. Punch a hole in their lines if you can, go for their commander. You’re by far our strongest asset, and if we can divide their ****, this could be easy.”

You nod. “That was my plan anyway. Most of the girls will stay back, but Ferra, Alex and Sarah will be there. Not much can stop the four of us. The others will remain in the camp, either as medics or providing other support.”

Grant chuckles. “That all sounds good. In the end, though, no plan survives contact with the enemy. We’ll see how it actually goes.”

You grin at him. “Fortunately, I’m a very good improviser. I think we’ll be fine.”

He nods, looking out at the western horizon. “And now the hardest part. The waiting.”

You shake his hand. “I’ll leave you to it, then. Plenty to do.”

He glances at Ferra, standing impassively by your side. “I’m sure. I’ll send someone if anything changes.”