Navihm and Kaia met with the others a good while later at Mistress Bo’s inn. Her only customers were the higher ranking soldiers. Most of the rank and file soldiers were camped in their typical style on the edges of the city. There was simply too many of them to house in the city proper. As more soldiers arrived, they would start evacuating the common people and house soldiers in their abandoned homes and businesses. As it was, outside trading was to a minimum and tourists and travelers were turned away. This meant that Mistress Bo had plenty of room to house Navihm and his guests.

“How did your meeting with the Rei of the Tenth go?” asked the Professor when Navihm and Kaia joined them in the main room. The others had already eaten but Navihm called for a late dinner for himself and his beloved.

“You should know by now that everything always goes perfectly for Navihm,” said Kaia, pouring them tea. “He has got the best luck on the continent.”

“Hardly,” Navihm scoffed. “If I was really so lucky I doubt my home country would be being invaded right now.” Kaia tilted her head in thought.

“That's fair,” she conceded. “My point is; the meeting went great. Rei Levi is a bit of a spineless idiot to be honest.”

“Kaia!” Navihm chastised.

“It’s true.” She shrugged. “He practically came out and said that you could do whatever you wanted.”

“He gave me the authority to appoint a commander for our army. That isn't the same thing.”

“You convinced him to allow this commander to have ultimate authority. What other Rei would build an army and give away all control?” Their food arrived but that didn't slow Kaia down. “It certainly explains why there is so much corruption in the Tenth, at least compared to other Tribes. I always assumed it was because of the high population of merchants and constant stream of travellers. I now know it’s because the Rei is old, ineffectual and lily-livered!”

Navihm erupted into laughter.

“You’ve been spending too much time around sailors, my dear.” He kissed her forehead.

“Who are you going to get to lead the army?” asked Rose. She was sure that Navihm would just take on the responsibility himself. That's all he ever did, thought Rose. She was still a little resentful about being paired with ugly, unsocial Aalto. Navihm had paired the Professor with Mishka, whom he trusted his own mother’s life with. Rose got stuck with Aalto; the big, dumb brute who had yet to speak a word to her.

“Kaia and I are going tomorrow to visit a local who might suit the position,” said Navihm vaguely.

“Yes, but who is he?” Rose prodded.

“He’s an Enfeitar,” Navihm said. When that answer failed to satisfy Rose, he continued. “He was a renown warrior and war maker about twenty years ago before he met his wife and settled down the in Tenth.”

“Is Kaia coming with you when you convince this Enfeitar to lead our army?” Rose asked.

“Of course,” said Kaia. Now that she was back with her best friend, she was going to spend as much time with him as possible. The plan was for Navihm to talk to the Enfeitar and Kaia to talk with his wife. There is no way a Genti husband would go to war without the support of his wife and family.

“Maybe I could come to,” suggested Rose. “I could show them that this army has the support of the Lowlands too.” Her suggestion was met with silence. Kaia looked directly at Navihm. It was his decision to make.

“Okay,” said Navihm. He was willing to give Rose a chance to prove her worth in this mission.

“Okay then,” said Kaia, smiling at Rose. “We are leaving tomorrow morning.”

Bonus:

Kaia has been trained to defend herself which is why she is able to take the dagger off the assassin that sneaks into her room. If you read closely, you may have noticed that I included that she wears plain steel rings. These rings are the same spiked rings that Navihm uses to defeat the bullies back at the Ianterran school.

In Genticus, spiked rings are traditionally a female weapon and that is why Kaia was trained with them from a young age. Navihm noticed how useful they were and decided to learn to use them. He wears them constantly, even though men aren't generally seen wearing rings.

Bonus bonus:

Jia (Mistress Bo's daughter who works at the inn) is in love with Navihm.

I wonder why? All he did was save her life ;)