[h2][color=Maroon]Rodelkog: Ariana Hasikos & Konrad Louffen[/color][/h2]

"I would counsel your Majesty against dividing our forces at this time," Louffen put in, smoothly siding with Szaalm's argument without it sounding quite like he was taking a side, though as he continued it became increasingly clear which side he favoured, "And of the designs advanced by our two noble gentlemen, I would wonder what benefit it would be to us to free the slaves of a mine?  Would they continue to mine silver for us?  I would imagine, once freed, that the good gentlemen forced into such labour might take bearing and set forth elsewhere.  The mines are terrible places where the life of a slave is short."

Ariana nodded, her dark eyes registering the argument put forward by the General, "In that case, I would take the advice offered by the good Colonel, though with all thanks for that which you offered, Sir," she said to Krasimir, with the slightest of smiles to soften the rejection, "Gentlemen!" she declared, her tone ebullient, quite possibly because she had never given a command of this kind before, "We march South!"

There was a cheer from many of the assembled officers.  It was not so much because they believed in the wisdom of marching South, but more a response to the fact that they taking decisive action.  As the applause died down, Ariana added, in a quieter voice that betrayed her shyness, "Colonel Szaalm, would you care to ride with me on the road?  I would be grateful if you would take the time to explain the intricacies of your strategy to me."