We held a meeting of family members to discuss the state of the palace observed in the scrying crystal. I invited myself and since no one threw me out, I stayed. We discussed Griselda and Keleher. The meeting was in the family dining room with me, Cat, Willam, Uncle Sven, Father Garshom, Duchess Dora, and Duke Valgard.

“I must question the wisdom of including Lady Zenobia in the scrying this morning,” Duke Valgard confronted Cat.

The Duchess came to his defense, “then blame me because I suggested it. The Countess de Teep is Zenobia’s aunt and one of the few people who pays any attention to that poor girl.”

“Oh,” Valgard frowned and stared at the table for a moment, “but now, she has been sucked into this business whether she wanted to be or not.”

“She would be anyway, you old fool," Dora snapped, "because this little non-war isn't about the succession or even about the Regent. It's really about Osterius wanting to swallow Nordweg. This is every noble's business and every land owner's business and every merchant's business. It did us no harm for Zenobia to join the scrying. It's not like she's going to write King Sigurd Oster to warn him that his sister is the weak link in his plan to steal our kingdom. And she's not likely to blab. Who is she going to blab to? She has no social circle outside of her family."

“Alright, Dora, I get the picture,” the old Duke grumbled. “Your Highness,” the duke looked at Andray, “I’m in, Dora’s in, we’re all in. I have already given orders to initiate the rain shower maneuver with the troops under my command. Do you know what that is?”

“I do not,” Andray replied.

“I do," Willam said to my boy since they were sitting together. "Cat, I have my copy of the maneuver book with me. I'll lend it to you."

“Great. Thanks, Willam.”

The old duke smiled watching the two brothers get along so well considering the circumstances.

“The rain shower maneuver moves thousands of troops over a defined period to a pre-picked location --- done in such a way that your opponent doesn't notice until it's too late," the duke explained. "Sven and I worked this up after Stephano took ill. Fortunately, we're going into summer because you can't use this plan in a winter campaign.

“The Count de Welk built two warehouses on farmland he owns a few miles outside of Tammerhof. He uses those warehouses for market crop storage to run into the city. The walls and cellars of these warehouses contain the means to equip 2,000 pikemen, 500 longbow archers, 1,000 light cavalry, and 400 shield wall troops for mage defense.

"A few hours ago, certain soldiers received orders to visit granny or to go home for their sister's wedding or whatever. Others on horses were sent out to carry messages like they always do, but they won't be coming home without a detour to Tammerhof. These soldiers travel alone and in pairs only. Tomorrow, some more orders will go out. This will happen every day for the next ten days. In two weeks, they will be at the warehouses and ready to march anywhere you want.”

“So, you came up with this three years ago?” my boy lifted his one visible red eyebrow. “Wow. We need to get word of this to our three allied groups. Father Garshom, have you had the opportunity to brief my great uncle on the other aspects of our plan?”

“Yes, he knows,” Garshom nodded.

"Then we should inform the others right away," my boy reached into the pouch he dedicated to the crystal ball and pulled the silk-wrapped ball of clear quartz out. He placed it on the table, closed his eyes, and entered his scrying trance. I dropped into my trance as soon as I felt the crystal come alive. Father Garshom cast the group version of the mind-talking spell. Cat was seeking the trace of the crystal ball that Zimlakan court mage Rumpal used.

* Highness! Good to hear from you. Sorry for the delay. I had to find where I put my ball. * Rumpal was the same short mage that flew Blue Fox home after his ordeal. He was also our Mage General for coordinating mage activity. Overall, I found him to be a pleasant and reasonable soul, except when he was helping my misguided friends engaged in torturing me with bath water.

“Lord Rumpal, will you please convey to my father, Queen Margo, and Sahkuhl Hasma’ad that Duke Valgard and his troops are at our disposal. The duke has a maneuver to muster undetected 2,000 pike, 500 archers, 1,000 lite calvary, and 400 mage shields in the environs of Tammerhof. They will be assembled in two weeks. They are not traveling en mass. As for...”

* Hold up, prince! I’m still writing. *

“Do I need to repeat anything?”

* No, no, I'm good. There, I'm done. Pray, continue. *

“The Regent continues to fray but she is not yet broken. The haunting spells and the personal storm are effective. The queen only had three to attend her personally this morning. Many palace staff employees are deserting their posts. In one regard, the spells are too effective since they have disturbed both my father and my sister. The king's mental state continues to improve, and he is now apprised that help is on the way. We discovered King Sigurd's long-term plans to discard the Regent and the king as soon as Aricia is crowned queen. That's everything I have for now. Can you please update me on what is happening outside of Nordweg?"

* The mounted troops are on the river in barges. They left yesterday. The elves are still mustering. Sahkeena Aisha says hello, and please scratch the cat for her. Your mother arrived today. She says that if you don't pick up a crate of Valltol wine, don't bother coming home."