Still holding.

Helena looked over the battlefield and saw the enemy massing on the plain in the valley. She was surprised that the enemy commander was still not deploying his war elephants. She could also see from the dispositions that his archers were in the formation and knew that her troop had little protection from the arrows that would soon rain down. Even amazon warriors would find it hard to hold a shield above their heads and still use their swords and spears. Then something happened as she felt water hitting her skin and realised that it was raining and soon the rain got heavier and she looked at the ground in front of her and saw it was turning to mud. One advantage to this development was that no horses or elephants could be deployed against her troops. She watched as the enemy dispersed back to their temporary camp and Helena summoned Cressida and issued her told her what she wanted if the rain lasted into the night.

In the meantime, the scouts she had sent out had returned and reported that they could find no passage that could surprise them from their rear. However, there was still one who had not yet returned so Helena could breathe any easier. The day for the troops was wet and boring but at least the rain was not cold but warm so they used it to bathe while others watched the enemy. The storm clouds blocked out the sun turning the day into dimness and as Helena walked back to her cave the runner she had sent to Arerto had returned to camp with some orders for Helena. Helena told the runner to go get some food and rest as she might have a dispatch later to send back to Arerto. Helena opened the first scroll breaking the royal seal in the red dried wax and unrolled it so she could read it. The scroll had been carefully written and Helena recognised the writing as that of Julieanna Arerto's chief of staff and knew that the orders had been dictated.

General Helena as per the orders given to you on departure they stand you re to hold for as long as possible. We need at least a week to prepare the defences.

So no new orders and it was plain that she and her Troops would have to hold until they all perished then she opened the second scroll and immediately saw it was in Arerto's neat handwriting.

My love, it was so hard for me to send you to what could be your **** but you are the only one I could trust with this mission. I miss you so much in my arms and in my sight. At least I keep you in my heart and imagine I can feel your beating heart next to mine. I trust your judgement and although I cannot give you written orders. Should you feel the situation becoming untenable then you must save what you can and get back to us. Be safe my darling and your troops too. Your loving princess Arerto.

Helena wiped a tear from her eyes as she put the scroll away and headed back outside and walked around her troops trying to cheer them up as they waited in the rain. This rain was a pain as it lowered an amazon's morale, they would rather be fighting than cowering trying to keep dry. She went to the wall and looked out again over the battlefield wishing the enemy would try an attack but as the skies showed no signs of brightening up as the clouds obscured the setting sun. Soon it would be dark and then Cressida could go to work to improve their chances in the upcoming battle. Helena went back to the cave and tried to rest. It was here that Priscilla found her the last returning scout and she reported that she had found a passage that the enemy could exploit if they found it. Helena ordered her to take the scouts and block the passage and make it impassable then report back to camp. So it was the scouts who gathered ropes and levers and headed off to the passage.

In the darkness, Cressida and her troops were silently digging a trench from one side of the valley to the other. It would not be very deep but just deep enough and wide enough to do the job. Once the one hundred-meter trench had been dug and covered with cloths and then covered in dirt it was almost invisible and they headed back to camp just as a new day started. She reported to Helena and Helena praised her and her troops and told them to rest as they waited for the sun to dry out the ground. It would be another lost day by the look of it but Helena and Cressida had the warriors training to hone their skills.