“I bid the same to you, Noble Lady of the Phantoms,” Dalria responded and nodded after Deawen’s words. She then bowed with respect, first to Deawen, then to Eston who was near. After showing courtesy through such actions, she swiftly took the reins of her steed and settled into the saddle.

With a glance towards Tallain then to Amaran while she dragged the reins against the horse’s neck in order to turn the steed sharply in the direction of their own camp, she gave brief instructions. Her expression seemed entirely at ease, though doubts still remained imbedded in her thoughts. “Tallain, I wish for you to be sure the crates and casks arrive safely to camp… then you, Amaran will begin the hunt for good blooded animals. Tallain shall join you afterwards, and we shall scatter the camp with the crimson stain and burn their flesh and pack their hides so that no evidence remains of our trickery…”

After speaking, she spurred her horse swiftly onwards through and passed the outskirts of Deawen’s eerily silent Phantom camp, leaving a cloudy trail behind her horse’s hooves.

_________________


I am a pro-cycling fan! Congrats to the Young rider of the Tour de France!
~Cyclist in Training~

Deawen bowed in Return but said nothing she only smiled and nodded.
once out of sight Eston wheeled around to face Deawen her grabbed her by the arm and lead her into the tent. " What are you doing!" he asked fearfuly. Deawen stood quietly before answering " I am securing our future.." Eston gapped alittle absorbing the statement " Treason? If the king finds out we are done for!" Eston exclaimed sitting down Deawen remained standing " It has come to me as this Eston, THe Phantoms Outnumber the Kings Army not only that we are the best fighters and the best supplied we pose a threat to the king By sending us to the North to fight the Sae'Athkorbrar...hoping we would kill each other off...I have no physical proof of such But I feel it may be near the mark...." Eston sat silently " he will send troops after us..." Deawen laughed alittle " Eston we are up in the far north it will take months for him to get any troops up here, attacks from orcs in the plains, spiders and pits in mirkwood ect. by the time he realises what has happened we will be gone without a trace " Deawen explained Eston frowned " He will never let us rest " he pointed out " Eston my friend you have grown soft, we are the phantoms Our existance was forged by nomads we were made to wander to fight! Not serve A King with Rebellious subjects!"
Deawen sensed a presence behind her she turned to FInd Lord Ago standing there her face was placid and emotionless
" well this is intresting for you Lady Deawen I knew you had Treason in your blood but who would have ever suspected treason here and Now." he said cooly Deawen laughed alittle " and what are you going to do about it?" she asked with a smirk " I will give you two options Live or die?" he paused Eston looked strickened " if you choose to Die You will be excuted and I will take command of Your beloved phantoms and continue your mission, If you choose to live You will continue your Mission unde my command "
Deawen laughed a cold laugh " You!? youhave what twenty men in your command? I have a thousand! " Lord argo smiled " actualy as of now I have 800 and you have 200 " he stated at first Deawen thought her was bluffing but she did remember a note for her awhile back she oriinaly had only 200 for her travels and the rest had to be recruted Lord Argo's choices they were loyal to him! Fool! why didn't she see it before? Deawen stood motionless weighing her options she could not fight her way out she was sure Argo made sure that her Loyal phantoms were contained.
" Live " Deawen choaked Argo SMiled and took a deep breath his ego was swelling " good, everything will be submitted to me and nothing will be done until I say so"

_________________
Lips, ripe as the berries in June
Red the rose, red the rose
Skin, pale as the light of the moon
Gently as she goes

as always a hero comes home

Dalria had sensed tension among the Phantom camp and it furthered her lack of ease. Returning to the point where the archers were station, she murmured a command to the head archer for them to remain stationed there while she moved on into camp. Immediately she headed over to consult Koltor, her second-in-command and most trusted confidante.

“We are to make it seem as though the Phantoms have slain and burnt the bodies of our men, for they shall set a false raid during the late hours of the night and take me captive.” Before Koltor could protest, she raised a hand. “I told them only fifteen will be present in the camp, and their leader assured me of my release after we have fooled the King’s Emissaries. I wish you to go and enter their camp, staying with the Lady Deawen as my personal assurance that I will not bring the fist of our force down upon them as they ”attack” a barely occupied camp. I sense tension, however, among them, and something that gives me great unease though I know not what it may be…. Listen for as much as possible before the night hours, and if anything seems awry, leave instantly and inform the archers at the perimeter to be at ready. Do you understand this?”

Koltor nodded, though he scowled slightly. “I am not comfortable with this arrangement, Lady Dal, it smells of a trap of some sorts.”

“Then we shall have one set for them if it be so,” she commented thoughtfully, patting her hand against the horn which rests slung by a strap across her chest. “At first warning, our full numbers shall rejoin. Many wait in the trees as planned….”

Koltor nodded, though he was tense still as he took Dalria’s own steed and spurred the mare towards the Phantom camp, bearing the flag of the Sae’Athkorbrar: blood red background with a black silhouette of three dead trees, a white crescent moon streaking over the top of them. A small white cloth was set at the spear end of the bearing poll, to show he came in silence and peace.

_________________


I am a pro-cycling fan! Congrats to the Young rider of the Tour de France!
~Cyclist in Training~

Deawen nodded submissivly but the gleam in her eye was murderous but now was not the right time. Drad Entered the tent he had heard everything from outside her came in red with rage. " ye have no right to take over the phantoms! " he growled Drad was the defender of the phantom laws he knew them by heart. Argo " smiled your Phantom law means little you are all THe Kings soldiers now" with that he left leaving THree stunned phantoms in his wake. Drad looked at Deawen not with rage but concern " ye did it now, ye clean it up " he said
Deawen smiled weakly " don't worry Drad all with be cleansed" she said walking out of her tent, she knew her loyal men from the disloyal but the
Sae'Athkorbrar did not. afew hours later Argo had already formed two parties t go and attack the Sae'Athkorbrar He knew Dalria was there already and was waiting for Deawen. Deawen's horse was Led to Deawen Argo stood smugly " Ride Deawen ride to them or your officers might not breathe" Deawen scowled " Ick aul hal erin dal witche pinson wrat " ( poison him first chance you get) Deawen said irritably to Eston and Drad as she stepped into her stirrupsshe was early very early to meet Dalria. she would suspect a trap, Deawen turned to Drad " If I don't return You know who to fight yes?" Drad bowed in responce. Deawen rode off with the disloyal phantoms.

_________________
Lips, ripe as the berries in June
Red the rose, red the rose
Skin, pale as the light of the moon
Gently as she goes

as always a hero comes home

Koltor, as he rode forth, noticed the preparation of departure from the Phantom camp and his suspicions grew. He lowered the banner and ripped the white cloth from its end, muttering in irritation between his teeth. “Trickery indeed… Fools.” Turning the horse sharply around, he spurred the steed towards the Sae’Athkorbrar camp, barely waiting for the mare to come to a full stop as he leaps to his feet in front of Dalria.

“They’re setting out as we speak, Lady Dal, I thought you said it would be far past nightfall!” He was clearly disturbed and quite sure that his suspicions of treachery were proving true to his previous instincts. “What shall we do?”

“This is insanity…” Dalria’s jaw clenched suddenly and she slammed her palm against the jewel on the pummel of her hilt, fury expressed in her pale amber optics alone, her expression forcibly calm. “Are you certain of what you saw, Koltor? We mustn’t jump at mere-“

“They were preparing, Lady Dal, I am certain.”

She nodded slowly with heightened frustration until finally she gave a wave of her hand. “Inform the archers to stand at ready…. But do not fire a single arrow upon the Lady Deawen… she is mine to deal with. The others….” She paused for a moment then briefly smirked in more so a rueful manner, “Kill them. I want nothing left to chance. As soon as they are beyond the archers, with or without fatalities, and they are coming closer to camp, we shall sound the Black Horn.”

Koltor nodded and swiftly made his way to the archers defense line, barely a mile between them and the Phantom camp.

_________________


I am a pro-cycling fan! Congrats to the Young rider of the Tour de France!
~Cyclist in Training~

the loyal Phantoms watched as their leader went exposed to the enemy without loyal men to protect her. a few stood in a group and began cheering the phantom cry it rippled over the camp a fearsome sound indeed. Deawen rode without looking back the riders that went with Deawen were not phantoms, imposters Kings soldiers in phantom uniform.....they had never heard such a sound before their horses shyied and danced About.
they came close to the mile marker between camps Deawen tensed and made a silent prayer to Orome. she spurred her Stallion into an insane gallop dodgeing trees and fallen logs as if this were a game. the imposters had more hefty horses that could not jump as well as Deawen agile horse. Mile Marker...it had been years since she fought in a forest alone....she scanned the trees but saw nothing, no one. for the first time she showed fear, not of Death she never feared death ha she always said when someone said it was too dangerous. Fear that everything she had worked for would be undone all because she was careless.

_________________
Lips, ripe as the berries in June
Red the rose, red the rose
Skin, pale as the light of the moon
Gently as she goes

as always a hero comes home

The silence and lack of visual appearance of the Sae'Athkorbrar archers was astounding to some, and fearsome to those who were heedless victims of their arrows. To the Phantoms no doubt it would be a given, yet shock and surprise would surely take the imposters...

As the "Phantoms" approached the mile, the archers allowed Deawen to pass forward unharmed, yet behind her, as the remaining riders came forth, a volley of arrows flew from unseen bows, repeated several times, and would continue to do so until the distance was closed and the riders would pass.

Dalria held a line with ten others in secrecy, half way between the Sae’Athkorbrar camp and the archers’ defense, waiting for the moment when the remaining riders would come into view, and only then would she sound the horn and gather her command to confront this… enemy.

_________________


I am a pro-cycling fan! Congrats to the Young rider of the Tour de France!
~Cyclist in Training~

shouts...was the first wave that brought Deawen to turn and look...the next was screams and yells as arrows sprouted from the soldiers. they all rushed forward with drawn swords or arrows ready...Deawen stayed still... out of the corner of her eyes she saw a lad that could not have been over 13 summers something inside Deawen stirred she charged over to the boy...her was not wounded just frightened..not on Deawen's life was a young boy going to die for a unjust cause. back into the fray, arrows whinned past her. one struck her arm she clenched her teeth but made no noise she pulled the arrow from her arm and reached for the boy he grasped her hand and she hauled him on back of her stallion. and away the flew back towards the riders, out of thirty twenty remained...they rode with fury and fright no knowing what to expect.

_________________
Lips, ripe as the berries in June
Red the rose, red the rose
Skin, pale as the light of the moon
Gently as she goes

as always a hero comes home

As swiftly as they had begun, the arrows ceased, an uneasy silence settling on the air, tension distributed through the entire forest as the archers in secrecy remained, not a single bow string plucked, merely fitted with an arrow. They kept them selves unseen and unheard, allowing the riders to settle into an unsure calm.

Dalria listened silently to the screams and cries, her features unstirred by any emotion what so ever, besides the angered fire which dwelt in the depths of her pale amber eyes.
Koltor himself had remained with the archers, and he watched with easy calm, though his tension had briefly risen when he noticed a stray arrow hit the leader of the Phantoms. Dalria wanted her unharmed… Why not slay them all, was the continuing question on his mind, though he dare not go against the orders given to him by his head-strong commander.

_________________


I am a pro-cycling fan! Congrats to the Young rider of the Tour de France!
~Cyclist in Training~

Deawen knew she was bleeding heavely but stubborness had the upper hand she rode her stallions neck arched and ready to bite and kick anything that dared come close to a trained war horse.
she bit her lip as they came to a jump there was too much wieght in the back Bredol would not make the jump or so Deawen thought but her strong Stallion leaped over the log as if playing in the pastures. the riders tore off in a mad run with swords drawn Deawen saw what met them and stopped her horse.for a split second she wanted yell and warn them of the danger ahead...but then she remembered these were not her men...if one knew the phantoms well enough they could see the hints the imposters move slower the formation was scattered and thin... she couldn't go back , her only option was to ride forward. slowly she walked the horse forward each nerve screamed in her ears ready to react ready to die if nessesary.

back at the phantom camp was choas...the True Phantoms rose up and began killing the imposters they knew who was reall and who was a fake. Argo was siezed and each limb was tied to a horse. the Phantoms rallied together close to Drad and Eston Many were already mounted and ready for the order to ride. sixty Black Banners the size of Horses fluttered in the Midst the Phantoms were ready for war. each was didvided into three parts Calvary, Phalanx and infantry....Calvary split and rode on either side of the Phanlanx infantry followed behind. the Phanlax consisted of spears and lances all facing forward or up in a stair step formation all in tight ranks with shields protecting the soldier next to the other. Drad and Eston led the forces towards the mile marker. They were not sure what to find they knew Deawen was sent to force the enemy to them but this was unclear. Deawen could have been killed by the imposters or sent to fight...niether one was favorable.
soon they found the fallen or wounded imposters which they killed if found alive. Deawen was not to be seen...Drad looked over at Eston " think they would capture her?" he asked his voice rough Eston shrugged " If She is alive she will send the signal" he said. Drad signaled the Phanlanx to move forward. the Phanlanx formed a tight circle and positioned their shields in a dome formation, called the turtle. they moved quickly chanting as they went, they planted themselves in the break of the trees just at the mile marker.

_________________
Lips, ripe as the berries in June
Red the rose, red the rose
Skin, pale as the light of the moon
Gently as she goes

as always a hero comes home

Tallain crouched beside Dalria, his face a carefully impassive mask. His knuckles whitened, though, as he clenched his sword hilt- an indicator of his true emotions.

<i>Filthy traitors! We trusted them and they attack as soon as our backs are turned.</i> He didn't flinch as he heard the Sae'Athkorbrar arrows fly, then the volley stopped. He waited for Dalria's next move.

The Kings Men stopped short and turned towards Deawen, rage and murder was the only emotion Deawen saw from them. she knew they blamed her for the attack they expected to come upon an unprepared camp... Deawen drew her curved blade even though it pained her to do so. an Arrow flew from the kings soldiers but missed it's mark, one of the soldiers charged his steeds to her sword bandished high Deawen sat unmoving till the last second when the blade came close to spliting her skull, deftly she parried the blow and sent a powerful thrust into the mans heart. he fell from his horse with a thud, Deawen glanced at the others " Your fate " she said coldly, her arm felt like it was on fire her sword wobbled and shook. she swallowed all her fear and took up her commanding dark appearance.

_________________
Lips, ripe as the berries in June
Red the rose, red the rose
Skin, pale as the light of the moon
Gently as she goes

as always a hero comes home

Witnessing this display against Deawen, Dalria sensed something had happened prior which was beyond the Phantom leader’s control, but her plans remained unaltered for the moment. Swiftly she stood from her cover, placing the ebony horn to her lips and blowing a long shrill note which resounded through the forest. It was soon answered by two other horns, one to the west, the other to the east, the distance quite reachable in a relatively short amount of time.

Meanwhile, a group of archers, numbering tenfold, stepped between Deawen and those who followed behind her, acting as a barrier, their string drawn taught, their aim accurate as they waited for one single movement to dare them to release their arrows.

“Lady Deawen! Those accompanying you are obviously not under your command as we speak. If once they were, I know not, yet either way, be sure they hear me clearly. None shall advance, and none shall retreat, for either way they shall be slaughtered like the animals they are, for this treachery.” Her amber eyes were narrowed in pure undeniable anger.

“You have mere minutes to explain your actions, Lady Deawen, before the first half of my command arrives. What say you?”

_________________


I am a pro-cycling fan! Congrats to the Young rider of the Tour de France!
~Cyclist in Training~

Deawen sat for moment still she could lfeel the boy behind her begin to tremble again she placed a hand on his arm before Dismounting showing she had no fear of the Archers, she sheathed her sword slowly.
" I remind you Lady Dalria, If you kill me you won't stop the Phantoms I am but a mere small piece of the puzzle" she said softly but she knew Dalria would hear " My actions? which ones me being here early or my slaying of a supposed comrade? I assure I can explain both, But I will not explain as if to beg for forgivness or my life " she said with clear tone of defiance. " let the Boy go, this isn't his war"
Deawen spotted her Phantoms lined and ready for battle but they didn't seem to be advancing Phantom Arrows whistled and hit the remaining Imposters. the arrows hit their marks in the arm or leg but Phantom arrows were notoriously poisoned. Deawen prayed they would do nothing else but the phantoms stood still like statues. SHe took a deep breath to steady her nerves
" my command was taken from me for a brief time but it seems to be back in order, Imposters took the place of my loyal men but now that is taken care of, we dont' have to worry about the Emiesaries I am sure my men have taken care of that....I will make it clear to this king that I work without nobles cluttering up my camp and mettling with my affiars.." it was almost like a challenge to dare anyone that would disagree.

_________________
Lips, ripe as the berries in June
Red the rose, red the rose
Skin, pale as the light of the moon
Gently as she goes

as always a hero comes home

Dalria nodded once with surprising calm, surprising to Koltor at least, as he came to stand beside her. She briefly waved to the archers to allow the boy to pass, her amber eyes watching him for a moment. “Shameful how the old send the young to do the work they themselves are afraid of doing…”

After Deawen’s words she signaled for her archers to stand down then waited a moment before speaking “Is this then the explanation in its entirety? There shall be no harm done to your loyal men, if they do no harm to my men. I have to the west and the east two separate forces awaiting my command. Can I rely on you keeping this peaceful, then, so that I may have no need to sound the call of defense? There will be rivers of blood upon the ground if you go against this, even if it be my own and yours alike, for my trust has been worn thin and surely you understand this…”

Waiting for the response, she stood with her palm covering the jewel of her hilt, while over her shoulder rested her bow, showing she wanted to express no threat. Her second-in-command held the Sae’Athkorbrar banner firmly in one hand, remaining silent, the blood red background gleaming in the last rays of the day, contrasting drastically with the symbol of the black trees and crescent moon.

_________________


I am a pro-cycling fan! Congrats to the Young rider of the Tour de France!
~Cyclist in Training~

Deawen looked blank for awhile as if she had to weigh the options in reality she had her mind made up.
" It has been long since I have met anyone who could possibly pose a threat to me and my reputation of Immortality..." she laughed slightly
"It will take months for the Kings soldiers to learn of my treachery, and when this happens like you an army will be sent out to destroy all that I have made and built! My main host is waiting for orders to join us, " Deawen said " I have no time for rivers of blood"
" By destroying you I gainwhat the kings pardon? " Deawen snorted with dislike " I bow to no one, I don't need a king to fund me, I put alot of trust in people what they do with that is their own choice. Perhaps we will fight another day but not now" she finished extending her hand out to Dalria her hand shook considerbly but she didn't look weak or distant her gaze was as cold and stern as it could be.

_________________
Lips, ripe as the berries in June
Red the rose, red the rose
Skin, pale as the light of the moon
Gently as she goes

as always a hero comes home