Poe bit down on the dried meat as she and her escort of four made 
their way to the warren.  The road was beginning to look well used, 
as there were daily trips to finish gathering supplies from just 
beyond the warren from the old camp.  She looked to the side, across 
the river there was a dust cloud raising, and from this view it was 
headed right toward her new home.  
"Sergeant, what is that?"  She point out in the distance.
He looked out and grumbled.  "Ride hard to the warren girl, get 
help.  Be quick or they may be nothing to come home to."  He shouted 
a command and the four soldiers turned and rode back to the village.
Poe sat a bit perplexed, and then got her senses.  She heeled her 
horse and the mare started to run.  She would be slick with sweat 
before she made the warren, but she might be able to do it within the 
hour.

The four came riding into the village and galloped past the boarder 
guard, Sergeant Ridcully yelled at the guards to get everyone into 
the camp.  The horses tore up the dirt while the men scurried.
The horses heeled outside the center building and they curtly saluted 
the Captain there.  "Nomads sir headed this way from the north 
west."  He heaved out.  
The sergeant looked up at Lady Amberylle who had stepped out of the 
building having watched their arrival.  Captain Grennel turned to 
look at her.  "You best get inside ma'lady, this is men's work."
"These are my people, and this is my work."  She turned back inside 
and made her way to her office, the Captain close on her heels.
"With all due respect, your Ladyship, but this is war, they are not 
here to talk about trading cloth."  He said almost mockingly.  "And 
if you were to fall, then who would lead these people."
"Do not give me that line of crap Captain and just do as you are 
told."  She snapped back at him, perhaps a bit more than she should 
have, but he was making her mad.  She pulled up the leather armor she 
had made; straps of leather braided together with gold rings, she 
slipped it on.  The leather shielding gave her a bit more 
confidence.  She slipped on the brass bell shaped helm she had 
acquired and turned to him.  "Get everyman with a bow to find a place 
in the tents.  Move all the mounted men just outside the camp to meet 
them and hide the pikes in the village behind them, if we have extra 
weapons, make sure they find hands."
 "We cannot arm the peasants.  They have no military training.  They 
cannot kill a man."  He protested as he followed her out of her 
office.
She strapped on her tassets and smiled looking out the door.  "I want 
them to shoot the horses."  She stepped out the door and the three 
other captains were waiting.  She took a strong stance.  
She told them her plan as they mounted up and men moved about 
securing the women and children in the center building.  They would 
ride out to meet the nomads, if they were hostile, then would make a 
retreat into the camp, the pick men at the edge of camp will hid in 
the tents there and wait for the nomad horde to pass then flank 
them.  The archers would be positioned around the building and wait 
until they had a good shot then kill as many of the horses as they 
could.  With them dismounted they might have an even playing field.  
She finished just as they reached the edge of camp.  The Captains 
began barking orders and moving their men into position just as the 
nomads came into view.  They would be cutting it close.
"When did you get a grip on command, my Lady?"  The Captain looked at 
the slowing horde with unease.
"There is nothing to get, it is common sense."  She feigned coolness 
as she heeled her horse to go and meet these men.
(Tag- Arlene, what will the nomads do?)



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