[b]"Nothing to report from the picket lines, ma'am!"[/b] Elaeria looked up at the young noble, nodding to signify both her acknowledgement and her dismissal of the man. She was sat alone at a fire nearest the centre of their camp as possible so that she could reach any part of the outer defences without delay. Most of the their bedraggled group were already asleep, exhausted from the day's events. The only ones still awake were the ones on duty, the injured and the restless; the latter being largely those who had not fought that day.

[b]"Elaeria, you should get some rest."[/b] Looking up she saw Queen Louise entering the circle of light emitted by the fire, accompanied by her guards who stayed out of earshot, looking out at the camp for any potential threats.

[b]"I'm alright cousin. Your Lord Henry would normally be doing this but since he's injured I'll take over; perhaps I underestimated his innate skill. This peace has made most of us soft and unprepared."[/b] The Queen took a seat on the log that Elaeria had deemed to be a suitable enough bench and it was only then the Princess noticed Louise had changed into riding leathers from the dress she had been wearing previously.

[b]"I'm afraid you're quite right. Which makes this situation all the more dire."[/b] The Queen sighed, staring into the flames in front of her. [b]"And we suffered great losses today as well. The nobles of the Four Countries will be reckless in their desire for revenge at a time when we need to be as level-headed as possible."[/b]

-----------------------

Henry woke slowly, drowsy from the effects of whatever had been in the wine. He might have been angered by the fact he had been effectively drugged if he didn't acknowledge the necessity of it in his case; he knew more than anyone else of his own obtuseness. The carriage he had been sleeping in had one other occupant who was still asleep, although groaning quietly from whatever wound he was suffering from. Moving slowly, to not wake the slumbering young man but also because his body felt heavy from his efforts that day, Henry climbed out of the carriage and looked around him at the camp.

[b]"We survived but this looks like a defeated retreat..."[/b] He muttered under his breath so that no one else could hear. Granthar was nearby, he could sense, apparently patrolling around the camp's perimeter. Whether that was by suggestion of Elaeria or for Henry's protection of his own volition it was unclear but Henry somewhat suspected the Warrior Princess had roped the familiar into military service by sheer force of will.

Realising that he had not eaten, except briefly in the short respite in the mid-afternoon, Henry wandered off in search of the cooking pits and a half-decent meal.