The advance has stalled

"It was too much to hope that we would be able to **** the humans from our forest in a single push but they've recovered more quickly than we anticipated." The queen looked at her council for answers as to how that might have occurred.

"Nothing is certain in war my queen. One of the human Generals was a bit more forward-thinking than his peers and set up a sizeable defense behind their main lines. We don't yet know who it was but after we pushed back the Iron Witch and General Falmore we encountered a series of forts that were obviously constructed before our major push. In addition, the emperor has sent reinforcements. According to some prisoners, one of his sons is among them. Unfortunately, that's done much to restore their morale." Silvest informed her.

"Is he a puppet or does he actually have some skill?" Broden asked, leaning in with interest. He was already formulating a plan about what to do with this new development.

"All we know is that he is a good warrior. As for his ability to command that is still undecided." Silvest replied.

"Obviously he's a puppet. You can make a swordsman in just a few years but even for elves, it takes decades to make a general." Elmyra said giving a pointed glance at Broden. "The emperor is probably just expecting us to deal with a potential threat to his favored heir."

"Still this could be a double-edged sword if we go after him. We risk making a martyr if we kill him. We'll need to eliminate his reputation before we can eliminate him." Fenlet pointed out.

"That is true. We can not afford to let this go unchallenged. Perhaps meet we should meet them on equal terms?" Elymyra surprised everyone by agreeing with Fenlet, the two were almost always opposed to each other in debate even for just the sake of opposing one another. The fact that she was agreeing with him even made Silvest raise an eyebrow.

"What do you propose?" Silvest asked, knowing she wouldn't have spoken without having something to in mind.

"We send Lethila to the front. Well guarded but she would be a most tempting bait-"

"No." The Queen's interruption brooked no argument but Silvest still had a thoughtful expression on his face.

"Your Majesty, what if-" Silvest tried

"We are not sending my daughter into harm's way as bait."

"But-"

"My answer is final Taniel do not press this."

"Your Majesty if I may," Everyone turned to Rinlest who had been mostly forgotten in this recent exchange. "You do not truly need to send your daughter. A decoy would more than suffice. I have a ranger under my command who looks much like her. I am sure she would be willing to help in this endeavor. After all, if the humans break through here our homeland is the obvious next target." That ranger had been his most recent bed partner due to that resemblance.

"That could very well work. We'd need to make it convincing. If we used some orcs as part of the escort there would be no question of her identity. While the princess is assuredly loved by the people they have not all seen her. Even any spies the humans might have would not know her from another should they be similar." Silvest said thoughtfully. "What say you Broden?"

The orc was suspicious of the prince's motives but he couldn't argue with the logic. The humans would have to try something if word got out that a member of the royal family was visiting the front. A target a human prince couldn't resist. However, there was one flaw in the plan. "Lethila will have to go into hiding. If she does not any spy who watches the palace will see her. Word can travel faster than a carriage." Broden pointed out, noticing that Rinlest's eyes widened slightly in surprise. Unknown to Broden the elf had thought he would need to make that point himself. Broden figured it must just be shock that an orc had found a hole in his plan.

"Very well. Broden, select a guard as if Lethila were truly moving to the front. She will instead reside in the royal hunting cabin as we enact this strategy. She should be safe there." The queen said sitting back, glad that a decision had been made that could not only strike a decisive blow but also kept her daughter safe.