"They call him The Conqueror. He rules over the vast land called Sasynn from his capital of Lunaynn. His is called The Great Invader Army. They are assembled in large numbers from all over the Roynn Continent, and with many more ships and warriors than ever known of before."

Berrym, the commander of the King's forces, would never break his oath of secrecy, not even to me or the Princess. But I was able to get the happenings of the secret meeting of the War Council, out of Krytas, battlegroup leader of the King's foremost troops. He and Berryn did not stand as tall as I, though few others ever did, but both were true warriors of much experience and mighty renown. Krystas was older, strong, and powerful, and with many more battle scars than just a few upon his body, even more than Berrym. That lovable, coarse, brawling simple fellow, Krytas, was always unable to refuse my requests.

"Until we know what we are facing, we cannot devise the correct strategy to meet it, that is what Berrym told the council. But The Royal Chamberlain argued with Berrym, wanting to let the enemy advance a little and get to know their weakness." Krystas looked a little worried as he faithfully relayed to Princess Kateryna and I the gist of the decisions made.

"The Royal Chamberlain has never forgiven Berrym for his humiliation on the day Berrym was given his command. Nembyt wanted his son in that position, but even the King realized the wisdom of appointing the best of military leaders. The Chamberlain's opposition to Berrym is thus based on emotional principle rather than on any logical reasoning." I answered the Princess' quizzical look.

"Nembyt said we should not yield a single meter of our sacred soil. Even suggesting such a thing is cowardice. The army should meet the enemy and destroy him wherever they find him. That we should not dance and flirt with him like a group of village maidens." Kystas shook his head, "Berrym roared his answer that only a complete fool, and an old fool at that, would make a decision before he knew the facts. He argued that we have absolutely no military intelligence to act upon at all."

Apparently Berrym's words were all in vain. The seniority of the three elders: the King, his wife (and cousin) the Queen, the Royal Chamberlain, and their like were all above Berrym. And so they prevailed in the end.

Berrym was ordered north immediately, to steady and rally the retreating defense forces. He was to hold the frontier, and make his stand on the boundary stones. He was forbidden to make a strategic withdrawal to the row of hills before The Capital, which was the natural defensive barrier, and from which the city outer walls provided a most excellent second line of defense.

He would have most of the entire river fleet, with three hundred flat-bottomed ships, to provide the transport and to control the great salty river. There would be four legions under his direct command. And, soon afterwards, Nembyt would bring in the rest of the army, with even those actiongroups stationed on our southern coasts for protection against sea invaders there.

Our old King announced his intention of taking his rightful place himself at the head of his army. For a thousand years our kings had been present on the field whenever the decisive battles of history had been fought out. Although I had to admire the old ruler's courage, I wished that he had not chosen this moment to demonstrate it. His Majesty was no warrior, and his presence would do little to enhance our chances of victory. There might be some bolstering of morale when the troops saw him there on the frontier, but on balance he and his entourage would be a greater hindrance than assistance to Berrym.

The King would not travel northwards to the battlefront alone. His entire court would attend him, including his wife and his assistants. The Queen had to have her retinue and the King his. As the first scribe on the Royal Staff, I would also be going north to the battlefront. No one knew nor understood this enemy. I felt that the royal family was being placed in unnecessary danger. On the other hand, the safety of a mere scribe was of no account, except to the scribe himself.

I slept little the night before we marched and sailed northwards on the river for the Northern Province and the battlefront.