The coalition's next move

As you slowly return to consciousness, you're greeted by the sight of Kara, huddled under the bedsheets, holding you close.

"Mornin'." the princess says, kissing you gently.

"It is." you observe groggily. Between your escapades with Kara and your aunt, you felt exhausted, like you'd been on a long ride.

"I needed that." Kara admits. "Nothin' better than a nice long, night of fuckin' to keep your troubles at bay."

"It's always worked for me." you admit, giving her a little smile.

"An' Spirits, after what you did to me last night, I'm gonna be walkin' funny for a good long while."

"Funny." you tell her. "That's usually my thing."

-

After you and Kara dress, then head back out into the parlour and break your fast on the food your servants have prepared, she broaches the subject of a upcoming meeting with you.

“I know you usually stay out of this sorta thing, but you should come along this morning.” Kara tells you. “Donald's decidin' on our next move, if we should ride to the defence of some of the other towns or make straight for Einar. Plus, we've had reports in, I don't know all the details at the moment, but it's fairly grim stuff.”

“I'll be there.” you promise.

-

A couple of hours later, you've made it to a smaller meeting chamber. Donald is present, along with his queen, his uncle Eoghan and Solla. Also in attendance are Baron Gerhard and the Oro Elide, though their princess is, as of yet, nowhere to be seen. Several of your lords are there, as well as Roland, who now stands emergent as the overall leader of the sell-swords you've brought along on this campaign.

“We need to move on.” Eoghan offers. “We've retaken my lands, aye, but now's the time to push ahead, repel more of the invaders!”

“I'm in agreement with you there, uncle. We can't be waitin' for their armies to seek us out again.” Donald nods.

“Jarl Rolof's been layin' siege to towns and castles on the Dundreggan Plains, according to these reports.” Kara surmises, gesturing to a stack of scout reports on the meeting table. Scanning the map of Beatha and Dean laid out before you, you make out the plains, an expanse of good land due north of Airgid Carran. Dotted with towns, and villages, it was clearly the sort of prize the Deanians would much desire.

“But then the Fresgoe Isles have been set upon by Leif Bloodhound.” Jana adds.

“Ach, that bastard's still kickin'?” Donald spat. Clearly, there was particular animosity there.

“Evidently so.” Kara notes. “We'd be at a disadvantage, going island to island, with them in their boats, but we'll have to deal with them eventually.”

“The Isles are closer.” Donald notes. Sure enough, they're about half the distance away as the Plains, a decently sized archipelago, settlements dotted across a number of islands. “That, and I've always wanted to see the Bloodhound's head on a pike.”

“Why don't we go right for Einar?” Roland suggests. “You want to kill a beast, you go for the head, yeah?”

“Aye, that'd be fine.” Kara responds. “If we could pin him down.”

The princess rifles through a stack of reports.

“Look at these.” she begins. “Apparently his fleet attacked Tomich Sands, far to the north. The Isle of Ramsay, west of the Fregoe Archipelago, the city of Salen on the Great Lake.”

“And?” Roland asks. “You can't figure out where he's headed from all those?”

“It would take a normal fleet the better part of two months to move between all those points.” Gerhard notes.

“That's the thing, all three of these places were attacked in the last week!” Kara says, dropping the reports to the table.

“Hysteria among the survivors, maybe?” Roland asks. “Or the raiders using subterfuge?”

“Einar is a mage.” Seki reminds you all. “Perhaps he's using his powers to cover ground more quickly?”

“Doesn't sound like any magic I ever heard of.” Eoghan remarks.

“All reports mention red sails, the Serpent King's calling card.” Kara says.

“Enough! We make for Fresgoe Isles.” Donald decides. “Einar'll have to wait. Perhaps with another of his lieutenants out of the picture, he'll seek us out, that we may decide the outcome of this war.”

The marshalled group discuss logistics, the timetable of moving on from Airgid Carran for a while, before dispersing, ready to make the preparations necessary for the next leg of the war.