The Queen's Gambit: Book One of Imirillia (The Books of Imirillia 1) by Beth Brower Page A

Aedon to sit. “She realizes what, perhaps, you do not see. In war, you must balance what will be of greater service, even if that means apparent compromise.”
    “Clearly we are much smaller than the Imirillian army,” Eleanor continued. “So, their knowledge of our numbers is a price worth paying if it means we can increase our ability to fight. Six months’ time is not much, but it is enough to improve our chances,” she said. “We won’t know until after the battle run, but, if we decide to fight, his training may prove to be our only recourse for survival as an independent nation.”
    Crispin nodded and thumped the table with his hands.
    “I ask for a vote of confidence in my decision,” Eleanor said as she sat down.
    “Aye,” Gaulter Alden said.
    “Aye,” Crispin echoed.
    “Aye,” Sean and Doughlas said at once. But Aedon sat stubbornly, then he looked directly at Eleanor. She raised an eyebrow, waiting for his answer.
    “I will support you until the end, Eleanor,” he said. “But, I do not cast my confidence behind this decision.”
    She studied Aedon’s expression.
    “I trust that, although you don’t agree, you will back my decision?”
    “If it is what you decide,” he replied. “Yes.”
    “Well,” Eleanor said, looking at the men around the table. “I can’t understand a way through this. Yet, I feel it can’t be impossible, despite our fears. We’ll prepare for the battle run and, if Wil Traveler accepts, initiate him into our councils and gain whatever we can from his experience. If he will not offer his assistance,” she added, “we will ask him to leave Aemogen, or we will finally make use of the dungeon. It has not seen a political prisoner in all the years I can remember.”
    Briant, the arms expert, was the only person who seemed pleased with this notion.
    Then the council broke, the voices of the men engaged in immediate conversation as they rose from the table. Eleanor watched them as she deliberately kept her own thoughts from her face. Crispin approached.
    “You’ve made the right decision, Eleanor,” he said.
    “I’ve seen him fight, Crispin,” Eleanor said sharply. “And so, I want to know where he is at all times while in Aemogen. You will see that he is watched.”
    Crispin nodded. “He will be,” he promised. “Should I ask if he will join us?”
    Eleanor pursed her lips. “I will extend the invitation myself,” she said.
    “Certainly,” Crispin replied, turning to leave.
    “Crispin?”
    “Yes?”
    “We need to be ready for anything—” Eleanor began.
    Crispin waited for Eleanor to finish her thought. It took almost a full minute, for Eleanor was unaccustomed to these words in her mouth.
    “That means,” she said, “you need to be ready to eliminate him if things go badly.”

Chapter Five
     
    “What is the battle run?” Wil asked, not looking at Eleanor, who stood outside the stall where he worked. He had spent the last hour in the stable, brushing Hegleh’s coat and seeing to her care. Waiting at a distance, by the door, were his guards.
    “The tradition of our people is for the reigning monarch and the war council to ride out to all the fens. A call to arms is made, a count of soldiers is taken, and training begins. It is an old tradition,” Eleanor said and paused. “After the battle run, when we know our numbers and skill, we convene for a war council here, in Ainsley, with the fen lords, to decide if we surrender or prepare for battle.”
    Wil did not respond immediately, but he knelt down, moving his fingers gently along Hegleh’s swollen fetlock. When he did answer her, he spoke from the ground, where Eleanor could not see his face. “It’s lucky that you’ve such advance warning. You wouldn’t have been ready for an immediate attack of any kind.” Wil then pretended to be busier than he was, waiting for the queen to speak.
    “We value deliberation here in Aemogen,” she replied. “War is certainly nothing to rush into,