[color=f7941d]“That was my point, Queen Adalia. There was no need for siege weapons. All you’d need is your archers filling the watch towards along the city wall and your troops on top of the walls. Orcs do not have usually siege engines to storm fortified cities. All they use is ladders and frankly dealing with them that way is a lot easier as long as you can keep the few battering rams they have at bay or if the city gate is sturdy enough to withstand the punishment.”[/color] Chalsea explained.[color=f7941d]” Maybe year ago, I was forced to split my force due two tasks coming up at the same time. I took 50 men at a small castle. We defeated 250 marauders by fighting them up on the castle walls where they couldn’t form battlelines. Same works for mountain passes. There the width is limited so you can in theory hold times bigger force with much smaller numbers.”[/color]

 [color=f7941d]“The corruption huh?”[/color] Chalsea muttered. Now that was a thing that many underestimated. Mostly because it was not an easy thing to do. Orcs could granted do it to create more orcs, but even they seemed to be losing their ability to do it. It took time and preparation to do it. Shamans knew how to accomplish it, but frankly it simply took time. “[color=f7941d] Well it takes time… days… no even weeks to corrupt someone into an orc.”[/color] Chalsea stated with grim face.[color=f7941d]” The younger the person is, the easier it is… children get turned in a few days, adults can take up to 2 or 3 weeks… unless they have some kind of protection keeping them to their humanity…”[/color] She said, a finger running across the purple ring on her left index finger.

 [color=f7941d]“We will see, hopefully your confidence in your soldiers is indeed spot on. Even some of my troops would crack under what I’m about to put your soldiers through. There is a reason why I will need help from some of my veterans. Beside me, only about 75 others in my warband can steadily pass through the training regiment without breaking at some point. Still consider any of your soldiers who manage to successfully do it, worthy of at least 2 people.”[/color] The nomad woman explained with a smile. Having confidence in one’s soldiers was a good thing and she really hoped all of the city’s soldiers manage to complete the training without problems. That would mean that this city would probably harbor some of the greatest fighting force in this part of the continent.

 [color=f7941d]“Yeah, I know. I’m a nomad, remember? I’m used to the cloudless nights around here.” [/color]She replied, looking out the window.[color=f7941d]” I’ve missed the steppes… the grim and gloomy north gets to you after a while. Hell, there was a period of time when I actually had forgotten what the sun looked and felt like… along with warm weather.”[/color]

 [color=f7941d]“Could be, if nothing else he might actually be tempted to try if nothing else because he’d get to test the Immortal Queen if he wins.”[/color] Chalsea stated and looked at Adalia.[color=f7941d]” Ohh yeah you yourself are quite the famous person to the north. Bards tend to sing ballads about you, though I have the feeling most of them are made up. Because I’m pretty darn sure my tribe never heard any of the stories about how you killed 3 dragons with a dagger, fought an ice giant  bare handed, then saved a princess from an evil wizard and then went to have a drinking contest with a dwarf. Bards like to make up stories as nords tend to be attracted to strong and exceptional individuals. You are pretty strong and exceptional to begin with and as someone who is ageless, some of them consider you to have relation with the divines.” [/color]She added with a shrug. Chalsea herself didn’t actually care why Adalia was immortal. She so far liked the person and was all that mattered.

 [color=f7941d]“Huh..?!”[/color] The mercenary leader made a questioning sound as the queen’s arms found their way around her in what would amount to an embrace. Her mind stopped working for a moment as their foreheads met. She couldn’t believe what was happening and completely lost her ability to think as she felt very warm and happy. Like everything was perfect. She couldn’t believe the sensations she felt, it was unreal unlike anything she had ever felt in the past. It almost felt like a kiss, but in fact maybe somewhat better actually, considering all the other sensation of happiness.

 [color=f7941d]“What… was that…?”[/color] Chalsea asked as the queen had pulled away. While it felt incredibly nice, the mercenary leader never had felt so vulnerable in the past. She was not used to such things happening without her consent. For a few brief moments, her expression was that of a simple young woman who was confused on how to act.” Thank… thank you…” She replied, gathering her fragmented thoughts.

 It took her a little while after Adalia had left before she was finally about to think clearly again. Chalsea felt… strange… she felt weak. She did not dislike what the queen did, but didn’t like how it made her feel either. She slapped her cheeks with her hands a few times to clear her thoughts before finally she dressed into her fur tunic. After that she finally left the mansion and headed back to the housing they were given. She went straight to her room and closed the door behind herself.[color=f7941d]” That… was … unexpected… “[/color]