[quote=@TokyoPewPew]
...

"Oh—I doubt that very much at all, if aught, has eluded Your Majesty," he said, the hand with the hat pressed to his laced-plumped bosom. "But shouldst thou wish to make certain, t'would honor me aplenty to illume what I can. Shall one find thee riding at the fore, as ever?"
[/quote]

Ariana gave Vicquerno a small smile, though some uncertainty did show upon her face. It was not a strange thing; the young lady, who stood as the figure of their cause, was scarce more than a girl and was oft unsure of herself, being cast into a perilous world of which she knew but little, “I shall, sir,” she said.

[hr]

[h2]The Following Day[/h2]

The wagon wheels creaked, the horses whinnied, soldiers muttered one to another or raised their voices in song, and all about was the steady thudding of countless feet. The morning was fair — the sun had not yet drawn up its full strength to burden the march, though nary a cloud hung in the heavens, and by midday the heat would no doubt come down hard upon them.

Ariana rode near the fore of the column, mounted upon a comely chestnut mare, encircled by a small train of ladies-in-waiting. The young pretender, did most usually ride side-saddle, but this day’s journey would be long, and today she wore a fine blue devantiere, cunningly parted at the back to ease her seat in the saddle. Her whispering courtiers, ever given to plots and quiet counsel, had left her be for the present, lingering further down the line where they might speak freely, and later bring their schemes to her as though all were settled and naught left but her assent.

Many there were who held Ariana to be a gentle, unknowing figurehead, soft of will and lacking cunning — but in this, they mistook her sorely. For at heart, Ariana was of the house of Hasikos, and if her notorious sister had taught the world aught, it was that the daughters of Hasikos were well-schooled in the cunning arts. She turned in her saddle as Vicquerno came near, offering him a bright smile and a small wave, and spoke in light tones as if they rode through a garden rather than a host of marching men.

"Good morrow, sir! I trust you slept soundly and broke your fast with some content?"