"[i]I-... I need some air. Excuse me.[/i]" Freda groaned loudly as she chucked the papers into the table and left the Officers to send her scornful glances at her back, leaving them to the paperwork as she waltzed off. None dared say it to her face. She pushed the tent flaps open she was met with a flurry of salutes and bows, the entire army was starting to form up as whole divisions began to move off towards the sight the Northern King had directed, lead by several different officers all staying in communication. The logistical side of all this truly made her want to vomit; it was so damn intricate. "Bloody hell." Boiled out her mouth in a low shout, which oddly enough went utterly unnoticed.

Her sharp, tired eyes spotted the young huntress bobbing around with her dog. It made her smile. She was so very out of place here, that much was clear. A gargle from her left made Freda shoot a glance to Henry who was lurking outside her tent, drunk and asleep. The urge to kick him in the face rose so high that she was forced to march off and intercept the Huntress with a brisk gait; lest she smash his at least one redeeming feature. 

They both met just before the small duo of tents she had set up for them specifically, right next to her own - all be it a small walk away. Her lips went ajar for a moment only to forget what she was going to say. The blonde Princess flicked a piece of hair behind her ear and just smiled awkwardly, which was soon met with a brief smile from the Huntress then the damn dog. It leapt up to give her the best greeting she's had in days. Freda broke out into baby talk for a moment to give the dog it's necessary kisses and praise then let it go back down to its master, which was met with two equal smiles; the awkward silence elevating slowly with Miriam speaking up.
"[i]Been busy, huh?[/i]" She rubbed the back of her neck, throwing sleeves up in the air to give her hands some room.

Freda responded politely. "[i]Quite. There has been so much to do, so many troops to command; move around. I enjoy it, though. Which I suppose is the only saving grace.[/i]" 

"[i]...Yeah. I guess it's okay if you do. It's..." Miriam paused to think of something. "... big, here. Haven't been this far sound before. Well, I have, just... try to avoid it, y'know. Messy place[/i]." She nodded briskly and affirming.

"[i]It is a natural barrier. Alas, I must thank-you sincerely, Miriam. I would of not been able to return here without you. We had... quite the adventure. One that you were unconscious for at least one half. Ellie... for the entirety. I went to check on her last night. She seems to be doing better, all be it her eyes. It's... harrowing to look at.[/i]" 

Miriam gulped, she had forgotten all about that in her own misery. Ellie was doing even worse than her - she was but a fragment of what that poor Walker went through. "[i]Ellie's tough. She has to be, I suppose. Didn't tell you how we met, did I? Eh, another time. Minus nearly dying thrice times, it was... fun? Sure...[/i]" She coughed awkwardly, unable to really say otherwise. Freda guffawed.

"[i]Indeed. I suppose that brings me to what I wanted to ask. Or offer." She paused for a moment, removing a leather-bound purse, jingling as she brought it free from its holster on her belt. "Do not refuse this, for I know it will help you more than it will help anyone here. A thanks in the way Royalty only knows how. Which reminds me, don't... call me Princess. Please. It's starting to drag on in my ears.[/i]" She smiled in what she concluded to seem humble and thrust the pouch at the woman, which Leia barked happily at - probably knowing what that pouch meant. [b]Food![/b]

"[i]I-... well, uh.[/i]" Miriam choked on her words as she had no chance of refusing the woman of stature, nor just giving it back. Her eyes spoke more than her lips did which just seemed to be a thanks. A minor one but it was all she could really do in this situation.

"[i]Don't be sorry. You did a better job than any tracker we have which... leads me to what I wanted to ask. We have many agents all over nations who act independently. Spies, essentially. They keep track of any users of dark magic or assist other agents in special tasks or... just tracking. Wandering. They're under employment, obvious; just loosely. More like Huntsmen, I suppose. So we can broaden our-...[/i]" Freda paused, the look she was getting was enough to make her nod. 

Miriam didn't need to respond, but she did. "[i]I'll think on it. Thanks... Freda.[/i]" It was all she needed to say before going to stand there awkwardly, Leia staring up at her expectedly. The idea of food stuck in her head. "[i]You should get going, I bet. You look busy. Haven't slept much, huh?[/i]" 

Freda nodded and sighed, pushing her ratty hair aside, it was bundled up in a less-than-neat bun. Her eyes were blood-shot, bags hung under their lids and her cheeks were puffed up from the heat of the fort. She wore a large gambeson jacket with puffed up platoons and riding boots, very casual and comfortable - her shirt was underneath was wide opened, exposing more than was modest for Royalty; the flustered Princess couldn't care less, however. "[i]N-.. No. Not after-... well, you were there. Many people think I am mad; a charlatan with insane ideas and heretical deisgns - to think I spoke with the holy Phoenix. Bah, no matter. I will be off, after seeing Ellie. Coming?[/i]" She smiled and nodded her head, going to spin around and then lead the way without even thinking. 

[b][i]The two guards outside Ellie's modest tent parted the flaps and let her inside - Miriam slowly trailed after her, still thinking deeply on what to do; though it was quickly decided.
[/b][/i]


[u][i][b]Meanwhile, in Monarch's Rise.[/b][/i][/u]


"[[i]My Lord. We have housed the civilians as you requested, they are being watched but seem content with what we have given them. I must ask, though, my King - why do we treat them so? Why no-...[/i]]" Enid snapped his head to look at the man talking to him, his icy stare caused him to cease speaking at once. A smile spread over his lips as he lifted off his helmet to let his long, flowing and crisp white hair settle down over his ears and down to his shoulders. 

"[Because, Ge'es, we are not barbarians. Would you treat our neighbours with such indecency? Such arrogance? No; we are above it. Our people are strengthened by our kindness. Tempered over years of understand and -hardship-. Now if you find any descent about my decisions, bring them before me so I can explain what is to be done. For now, summon the council. We will convene-...]" The King was interrupted as his ear twitched, someone was coming up the stairs, hurriedly.

The King of the Riders had set up his base of operations inside one of the larger Manor's just outside of the inner Castle walls. It gave him an unparalleled vantage of the city and what the defenders were doing. He had the walls guarded by a few hundred men, the streets patrolled by an equal number to make sure no attackers sneaked over the walls, and even then into the city. The breach they made, as the gates, had been sealed with a thick ice no battering ram could dare to penetrate. The only way in and out of the city was through portals - or destructive magic they would be sure to counter.
The doors of his upstairs abode swung open, making the Mage Ge'es spin on his heels to look at the Knight that forced his way through the door. It was one of the men he sent out on a patrol; the officer, in fact. "[[i]My lord.[/i]]" He dropped to his knees to speak, presenting up a dilapidated and frozen head of a Northern Knight - Enid gathered this by his shattered helmet that had just been bludgeoned into his face with magic. "[[i]We were attacked by the Northmen on horse-back. Several riders. We engaged them and suffered minimal casualties, they were outriders at an educated guess. To harry our supposed supply-lines. Most of them escaped once they saw us use magic on this comely fellow.[/i]]" He broke into a grin, huffing out cold air through his face-guard. "[[i]These people are primitive but they fight with the fury of a the Yel-Aen.[/i]]" The Knight rose up, offering the head to the Mage whom held it in two hands, giving it a look over and smirked - Ge'es the Mage was of equal complexion yet had an entirely different face, one of a gruff man; even sporting something akin to a beard. They were whiskers at best but no-one could deny he was not comely. His helmet sat neatly on his outer thigh, strapped too it by the chin-strap.

Enid stood, leaving behind his crowned-helmet. "[[i]I think it's time we showed these so-called Northerners what a true chill is like. Ge'es. Bring me Uslev. We are going to meet this King. Or, rather, I am. You will prepare the portals. My Knight, stand with me and be my brother. It is time we calculated our enemy's moves.[/i]"] The Knight thumped his chest and nodded, going to storm outside with a thunderous echoing of boots and armour. Ge'es, being the lazy mage he was, teleported away using the same icy-portal to go do as his King commanded. This left Enid in the chamber of what he concluded was some aristocrat of these people. A noble born. He snatched his crowned helmet and glanced around; this was not home. But it would be soon. There was no dying that. 

Enid, King of the Riders in Black and Red, donned his crown and slid up the face-guard. "[I wonder what man you are, King. I wonder..."]