Chapter 20

The old man, nobody knew his real name, that's what everyone called him so Isanna did too, was the right hand of the king and pretty much handled everything to do with the armies of the kingdoms. He had always been old even twenty years ago when she had first met him. She was fond of him, he never treated her differently for being a woman and was probably the reason she was able to become a commander without any more obstacles than usual. He wasn't likely a typical army commander although he could be stern when he wanted to, he got the difficult things done by using wit and being stubborn. 

"I would have asked for you to handle this situation, but I didn't because I need your attention somewhere, Micheal anyway needed to be North, as you know about the elf who met with the King two days ago, he had a message from the elf council which disturbed him," said the old man.

"What was it?" she asked.

"The elves are having some trouble among themselves, the message wasn't from the whole council but some of the members we have had more contact than others, the ones who think like us and in our favor, anyway the gist of it is, there might be a civil war in the elven kingdom soon, a power struggle," said the old man.

"That could go wrong, but should we intervene, I mean what can we do, they are another kingdom," said Isanna.

"Yes we can't do anything, but that doesn't mean the outcome of this won't affect us, if a house rises to power which isn't suitable for us, we might have to think about that, some of those old elves' families are very radical, you won't believe what kind of notions they hold about us, and besides that, the houses that did send the message have asked for our help to make sure they do not loose, and If they win then we have assured much stronger relations and other benefits," said the old man.

"Sounds like bullshit, typical elf manipulation," said Isanna.

"It is from our point of view, but the King as you know is ambitious, he wants to make sure we don't miss any opportunity that arises, so he wants more forces ready near the North border, that's why I asked Michael to handle this since he will anyways be there, and the next reason why I haven't asked you is that we need you elsewhere, Derek is in the south and he has requested you to bring a small party down south but only your best and fastest," said the old man.

"Don't tell me," Isanna began.

"no, I don't think he wants to attack the half-breeds, but he is up to something and he doesn't want too many eyes on it yet, especially the higher ones, so be discreet," said the old man.

"I'll leave at night, anything else?" she asked.

"Things are happening, here and there, and I don't know if it's a coincidence that they are happening at the same time or not, but keep your mind sharp," said the old man and she left. 

They were just descending the floor when Michael caught up to her.

"How are your kids?" he asked walking beside her.

"They are fine," she said.

"Give Derek my greetings," he said and left. Although he hadn't said anything it still annoyed her and he knew it too, just the way he talked to her, so patronizing, like she was a kid, she thought. If only he wasn't Derek's brother, she would have punched him, how can two brothers be so different she thought? 

"Vanessa I'll leave it you to get everything managed, we'll leave through the south gate at midnight, so complete your sleep, you know who to get, but leave some good ones here just in case," said Isanna to Vanessa and headed back home. She wasn't all too happy to be leaving when Ron had just come home, he seemed to have changed much more this last year, and she had to see what to do about Fiona, Ron had a crush on her, she didn't seem too bad, good looking, hadn't gone completely broke, she seemed like she had worked in her life and not had everything done for her, which was usual for small town girls, Isanna herself was from a small village and her story was kind of like Fiona's. 

She reached home and found the three in the backyard. Ron was teaching Tina how to use a bow, she had been taking lessons and had a talent for it. But she didn't know when Ron became so confident in his skills that he was teaching others. 

She went to Fiona who was sitting under a tree watching the two siblings. 

"Do you have any relatives?" she asked sitting beside her.

"No, only my brother, Ash," she replied.

"Oh, that's good, where is he?" she asked.

"I don't know, Ron said he was out of the kingdom," she replied.

"Ron? How does he know your brother, I thought he met you on the way?" she asked confused.

"No, I mean that's true too I guess, but Ash had sent a letter through him to me since they would be passing by our village, that's when the attack happened, Ron saved me from an Urk, actually two, and then he found out that I was Ash's sister," she replied.

Oh, so he hadn't just met her and decided to bring her here, he was friends with her brother, and he had saved her from Urks, she was proud of her son. 

"Ron!" she called her son and he came over.

"Who is this Ash, and why haven't you told her where he is, she should be with him," she said to her son.

"Ash is Sir Derek's apprentice mom," he whispered " and he is on a secret mission north, you know, and I couldn't just leave her alone, Ash is my best friend, so she is like family," he hissed at her mother.

"Derek took an apprentice, impossible," she said.

"no, he did, why would I lie," he said. 

Isanna wondered who this Ash was, either Derek had just picked a random boy but that was less likely, or he had actually managed to impress Derek and change his mind, Derek was a loner through and through, she looked at Fiona, could she have the same talents like her brother whatever they were. 

"And did you kill Urks, how?" she asked her son. Ron was still thin compared to other men in their field, and to her, he seemed like a little boy still. 

"Yes, two, and one was huge, but Fiona helped with that one, it was her idea, we would have died otherwise," said Ron. 

Isanna looked at them both wide-eyes, so he had killed an Urk, it wasn't easy to do that, they were a respectable kill, many boast of killing a single Urk, and the girl had helped maybe she did have some talents. She wanted to take Ron with her, she would check his progress and train him too if needed, and that way she would get some time to spend with him, and the girl, it would be best If Derek met her, if her brother was gone right now, and if Derek was his guardian, then he has the right to know about her, and they'll figure out the rest later. 

"Ron, pack your bags, we will be leaving for south tonight, and Fiona too, give her some clothes Tina, and Uncle Sedric will look after you while we are away," said Isanna to them.

"Where are we going? Is it good for her to travel, she wanted to go north, Sir Derek would know what to do?" said Ron.

"Derek is in the south, that's where we are going, it would be best for her to meet him," said Isanna.