Listen to her, and a Casus bello?

You decide that you can't sacrifice the lives of thousands just for your pride to be the fall of Kalion but you will look for ways to build support among you allies to get them to join in your campaign against Poseidonapolis.

"Alright, alright." You hold up your hands in mock surrender and the sheet that had been covering most of your chest slips to your waist. "I'll hold our position of neutral observers, but I want to use this Games to garner support against Poseidonapolis." As far as you know, there is no faction from that city in the United Armies, the port city refused to join the Helios alliance because of sworn treaties with Athenapolis. However, neither did they come to Athenapolis' aid, and that makes them oath-breakers. A Casus bello perhaps? Would that be enough to justify war against the city of Poseidon ... and you still have to deal with the expanding Tribes to the East.

"Alexia, I know you think it's risky but still look for ways to contact the 100 Tribes. We could at least get them into a nonaggression-pact if not a full Alliance." Your spymaster nods and you can almost see her making a mental note to start that process.

You should get up and go back to your tent, but your head is throbbing and the muscles of your lower abdomen and shoulder ache, besides you're too tired to get up and do the right thing. Instead, you decide to test your rapidly changing relationship with Alexia, the worst she can do is kill you.

"Just so you know. Your bed's too comfy to get up from; I'm going to sleep here for a few hours and before you complain, remember you're the one who brought me here." When she doesn't protest, you add an extra argument to bolster your decidedly flimsy case. "Besides, it would be rude to kick a wounded man out of your tent in the middle of the night." The way Alexia crosses her arms indignantly causes her small breasts to lift slightly under her tunic, but she doesn't seem to notice as she playfully responds.

"It's also ungentlemanly to kick a lady out of her own tent; where do you suppose I should sleep?"

"If I remember correctly," you grin at her wickedly, "you used to sneak into my chambers when we were younger and sleep in my bed claiming you were afraid of the dark and I was always yelled at by my father when the chambermaids found us in the morning. Think of this as payback."

"Fine, just don't blame me in the morning when Galion and your Brothers start asking questions." You know she's right; they're going to be nagging and teasing you throughout the day, but for now you are too tired to care.

"Alexia, before I forget." The vivid memory of Sandrine running at Alexia's side is too strong to forget. "Where is the young lady you were with when I returned?" You ask, "and how did she get out of the city?" Alexia stares at you in confusion, clearly trying to figure out what you're talking about.

"A lady?" She asks, "Here in camp with me?" She smiles gently and pushes you back down onto the pillows. "I think you must have hit your head when you fell, Bruce." She settles down on the narrow bed next to you, her lithe body nestling against yours. "Either that," she whispers "or your ego is beginning to make up beautiful women to tempt you." This is a totally different side of Alexia, and as pleasant as it is, you are finding it difficult to come to grips with how fast things are changing.