Orders followed.

The next day arerto was alone in Melusa's former office looking at a map and trying to find areas of natural bottlenecks. She knew that if you could choose your battlefield then that was a third of the battle won. Valleys and dead-end canyons were good for a defender because they provided high ground for ambushes. Open flat lands favoured the attacker as they allowed for an attack on a broader front and cavalry the freedom to roam into rear areas. Rivers were also good and bad depending on which side of the river you were standing on, you could either have the river in front as a natural defence or trapped with the river at your back. At the moment for Freya, this was not a problem as any attack would have to come overland from Talia but if she had to retreat then she would have to cross the river. Arerto had faith in her general and knew she would surmount this problem somehow. She took some cheese and wine and continued to study the map until she knew all the terrain.

Freya had travelled overnight to the river Junice and rode into camp to cheers from the troops and was met by Jasmine" General Jasmine Queen Arerto is safe and she has asked to assume command again but I will share command with you." announced Freya. Jasmine looked up at Freya who had not dismounted and replied:" General Freya an army can only follow one leader and I am happy to turn over command to you and will support you to the end." Freya smiled then dismounted and headed into the field headquarters and was surprised to see Thaden there but greeted him. "It is good for that you are here Thaden someone was sent to have you meet Queen Arerto in HeaHel. Secondly, the Queen has agreed to honour our agreement that the lands across the Junice are now yours. Thirdly I have a request when the battle is joined I may need to retreat back across the river and use it as a defence do I have your permission?" Thaden smiled and said he would read to HeaHel and yes he had her permission to cross the river if needed

Katherine was at that moment along with Shazia organising ships and crews from pirates mostly who had run-ins with Arerto's nation. She had been authorised to offer amnesty to any ship and crew that joined and of course pay when the battles had finished. Katherine grinned as she formed her navy and on the first day recruited two ships. She sat with the two captains and drank wine and one told her of an old horse carrier which may be of use to move cavalry or troops by sea. Katherine was interested and said she would look at it tomorrow but now she had to go and do some more recruiting and get more ships. The two ships she had already secured were medium-sized with room for around fifty troops who would fight and another thirty crew to move the ship. After a long day, she had only secured one more ship which was a smaller one but had the advantage of sails which made her fast and the new Admiral made her flagship. As night fell Katherine knew that tomorrow would be another day of recruiting.