The Plan

Ian and Iris mounted their horses and joined the others waiting for them. Ian looked around and noticed that Rom and Edýia were missing, and Maya was holding a ball of fur in her arms. Dakran glared heavily at the thing in her arms.

" Well, well! Ian's rang voice in the air while he approached Dakran's and Maya's horse " What is that, Maya? "he amusedly asked, pointing at the fur ball. Dakran looked up at him and scowled, but he was sure it wasn't directed at him.

" A volsa!" Dakran curtly answered and glared at the furball when it yawned and stretched in Maya's arms, snuggling closer to her for warmth.

" Never seen one! Do you mind if I have a look at it?" he politely asked, and Maya reluctantly nodded and pushed the furball to him.

" You can keep it if you like!" Dakran's soured mood quickly brightened up when Ian took the cub from her hands.

" NO!" Maya shouted and took the cub back, burying it deep into her arms. The furball yelped.

" Calm down!" Ian calmly said, " It's just a dog! It can do what you do!" he smirked. The underlying message was loud and clear to Dakran, who finally relaxed his stiff body and stopped glaring at the volsa.

" I thought we were in a rush! We're Edýia and Rom?" Ian changed the subject and looked around the camp, searching for the two.

" When we got here, Caell said that King Amon sent reinforcements. His calvary, a woman as a commander. Rom said that there are no women in the Vaikas ranks. He went to get more details from Caell! He will be back shortly. " Dakran informed, looking at Iris as she approached them on her horse.

" A pup!" Iris beamed, and Dakran rolled his eyes, a little exasperated at the attention the mutt attracted.

" A volsa! " Dakran bitterly corrected her as Iris began petting the beast in Maya's arms.

" He is not sleeping in the bed with us!" Dakran brooked, resting his head on his knuckles.

" Have you named him?" Iris took no notice of Dakran's remarks, nor did Maya.

Maya nodded " Dak!" she beamed

" The worst name in all of history!" he paused for a moment " I don't know if I should feel flattered or offended that you named a damn dog after me!" he grumbled, looking at the furball.

" I've heard of volsa's. They are rare and timid!" Iris added, still mesmerised by the little beast, shuffled in Maya's arms to look at Iris yawning.

" They also grow to be half the size of a horse!" Dakran grumbled some more and sighed.

" I will let him go when he is healed and can fend for himself!" Maya looked up at Dakran with a pleading look.

" Fine, but he still can't sleep in the same bed with us!" he brooked again, and Maya nodded.

" We have a problem!" Rom's voice echoed in the distance as he approached them along with Edýia.

" What is it?" Dakran straightened himself up, craning his neck to see the problem he was speaking of.

" The witch is here in the North! Caell said she disappeared not long after they arrived. The Vaikas have no memories of how or why they are here and refuse to help! They want to return home !" Rom curtly informed and helped Edýia climb on the horse.

" Maybe the creatures got to her before we did! Finally, something good came out of this!" Ian comically said and looked at Iris, grinning.

" I doubt that! She's been walking on these lands long before our ancestors did!" Athan chimed in and paused for a beat " Her connection with the Ettrick makes her more powerful and not so easily killed!" he added to his initial thoughts.

" Ettrick is in it for himself! I doubt that he gives a toss about the witch!" Ian countered " Ettrick will shake her off before you can say Hollow!" he quipped and followed Dakran through the tents.

" So, you're hoping that Ettrick will back down and claim Arkathira?" Dakran hazarded a guess

" Yes, but I'm not sure at which point. Ettrick still needs the witch to open the portal. If I have to guess, after she opens the portal, Ettrick will finish the witch off since he has no more use for her! After that, Edýia comes into play, and I hope Ruma graces us with her holy presence!" he paused for a moment and looked at Edýia, who seemed as gloomy as the dark clouds hovering over them." I know it's a lot to ask! But we know that Ettrick will vanish when he sees you, and we cannot afford to make mistakes. I have to say. It is very nice that the witch saved us the trouble of finding her and delivered herself to us!" Ian finished speaking and looked at Iris, who seemed to be chewing something.

" This is a good plan, but what will happen if it doesn't go as planned?" she posed an essential question.

" We improvise. Go with it! There is every chance we won't be able to follow it to the letter! We are outnumbered and do not have the upper hand here, so we must let them think that they are winning and wait till the end to land the deadly blow!" Ian answered the question and looked at Iris, who wasn't convinced.

' We need something to fall back on!" she said, looking at Ian, who nodded.

" What do you have in mind? " Ian curiously asked, narrowing his eyes at her.

" Edýia! Keep her hidden until the very end. Ruma already did a number on her last time. Suppose we bring her to the battleground with us. I'm certain that Ruma will show herself earlier, and it will kill Edýia. If we wait till the end, we might be able to save Edýia and win this without any of us losing our lives." Iris shared her thoughts and looked up at him.

Ian nodded " It's a good plan, and I will go with that! It will be unexpected and catch them by surprise. Edýia's absence from the battleground might make Ettrick let his guard down!" he reasoned, smiling at Iris.

" I agree with that plan!" Rom added his thoughts, and everyone followed his lead nodding in agreement.

" It is set then! Maya will stay with Edýia and will bring her out when we give her the signal!" Dakran brooked, and everyone fell silent.

Haren lifted his head " Where are we?" he slurred and collapsed on the horse again, groaning.

" We are going home, beautiful. Hold on tight to your shiny horse!" Dakran quipped.

Chuckles quickly echoed in the dark, and Haren grumbled something between a curse and outrage.

" Shut up!" Dakran barked, " If you don't want to walk to Gaerwen, that is!" he threatened, and Haren fell silent.