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"The walls of River Keep are much thicker than our test wall, so we will need nearly three times as much black powder to breach it than we used today. Jorveth says he will have it ready in time, so we need to make sure we can transport it all."

Esseff addressed Airy's expanded inner circle while he pointed to a carefully drawn and accurate scale map of the castle hung upon the wall. It was an impressive structure composed of a fifteen hundred foot radius semi-circle with the straight wall built out into the river and the arc wall sweeping gracefully out into a flat, cleared plain. A tower was located at the midpoint of the straight diameter wall. Between the tower and the curved wall was a tidy array of radiating streets separating a great number of low buildings. A single, wide avenue ran along the entire inner length of the wall so that no building except the tower touched the wall.

Esseff's network of spies was expanding, and the results were promising. The best information he had yet acquired came from Vaunortheses' cousin, Criodoples, who had been the General's mole within the AR long before Esseff arrived. The Fox knew better than to rely on only one source, but so far, all the information Criodoples had provided to Esseff had been corroborated by other sources. Esseff was satisfied that everything he was relating to his superiors was accurate.

"The obvious weak point is the gate structure, but it is heavily guarded night and day. To place the explosives there, set and light a fuse, and escape would not be possible. Additionally, the Queen has directed us to keep casualties to a minimum on both sides. Life loss would be heaviest at the gate, and if attempted during daylight hours, would likely kill civilians. Finally, the gate area will be the hardest part of the wall to repair if we later require the castle for defense."

"If?" interrupted Vaunortheses expressing deep concern with just one word. "It seems certain we will. The walls of the keep will be our only hope when Anti Royalists counterattack."

Jak leaned forward placing his paws on the table.

"Do you forget, General, by then, we will have thousands of Wolf warriors at our disposal to match any AR army that comes this way?"

"No offense, your Majesty, but your Wolf warriors will not be any use against the kind of army that we will be facing. Wolves battle as raiders and in cooperative pairs or small groups, not as disciplined units. They aren't trained to fight on an open field of battle. Even with proper weapons, they can't stand up to a Rabbit army. That has been proven over and over again for centuries of our history."

Vaun's condescending attitude became too much for Jak to endure. The fur rose menacingly on the back of the Wolf chief's neck. Fortunately, only Airy was positioned to notice it. She placed a paw on Jak's forearm to forestall an argument.

"You are correct, General, and I am grateful that you raised this issue, because it will be your job to correct our army's deficiencies. Beginning today, you and your officers will train and drill White Paw's warriors in the basics of military discipline, fighting in organized and specialized units, and in the use of steel weapons. They need to be ready in ten days to liberate River Keep."

"What?! That's impossible! There isn't enough time. We have hundreds of Rabbit soldiers here now. More are coming every day as the news of your return spreads. Let me use them instead. It will be easier to incorporate them into an effective army."

Airy shook her head.

"Your forces are top heavy. You managed to skim off the cream of the young Rikifurian officer Corps for your cause. You have disproportionately little in the way of non-officer cavalry and virtually no infantry. Recruiting a few hundred more of the same will not solve that problem.

"Do not shun the gift you have been given, General. As if by divine providence, thousands of Wolf infantry have been provided to you to use as needed. You and your officers will form the Wolves into squads, companies, and battalions with a Rabbit officer at the head of each. Boot camp must begin today."

Vaunortheses began to protest again, but checked himself realizing that what his Queen was proposing, though nearly impossible, made sense. Even partially trained and fractious troops were better than too few. He leaned back into his chair feeling every ounce of the weight of this new burden.

"I shall do my best, but what if they are un-trainable or unwilling to take orders from Rabbits?"

"White Paw is their chief. They will obey him, and he has agreed to undergo the training with them. His warriors will follow and emulate his efforts as a matter of pride, competing with each other to be as much like their chief as they can. Don't worry about them, General. Worry about your own ability to teach them what they need to know. You will shape them into an effective fighting force and have the best of them ready for our attack on River Keep. Am I clear?"

Between her iron demeanor and the unyielding steel in her voice, there was no room for dissent. The General shook his head, not in disagreement but in resignation.

"My duty is clear, my Queen, and after what I have seen today, how can I doubt what is possible? It is evident that we are capable of anything."

"That's the right attitude. Now Esseff, please continue."

The Fox pointed to another location on the map near the river on the west side of the castle.

"This is the location we have chosen to breach the wall. There are two reasons for this site. First, it is a sewage culvert that runs from inside the keep underneath the wall discharging into a ditch that circles the perimeter of the castle ultimately connecting to the river. According to Jorveth, we need the explosives placed in this culvert to, and I quote, '...gain the maximum confinement to allow the expanding gasses to direct the energy of the chemical reaction towards moving rock rather than creating a shock wave through the air.'"

Laughter erupted around the table. Jorveth's technical jargon often did more to confuse than enlighten.

"Thank the Maker we have Camorra to interpret him for us," quipped Rhynnayth.

The blonde furred Major sat to Vaunortheses' immediate left. Though he came from a family that typically eschewed the military in preference for the priesthood, he had defied his father's will by joining Vaun's cult. The imprudent act had led to his estrangement from his family, who placed their support firmly behind the Priests.

"I dare say I would have dismissed him as a crackpot if I hadn't seen with my own eyes his ideas in action. Now I hang on every word he utters even if I don't understand half of them."

Esseff chuckled.

"Well said, Major. Jorveth is idiosyncratic, and that is good. It will take many diverse skills to accomplish our mission. Ways of thinking that seem exotic to us or even reprehensible may be important to our success. As an example, I would like to illustrate the critical information that our spies have provided.

"With the help of General Vaunortheses' pre-existing asset within River Keep and a few recent additions of mine, we have acquired invaluable intelligence. I do not name these people for their safety. The Lady Airiphryone knows, I know, General Vaunortheses knows, but it is best to keep that knowledge to as few people as possible to limit the possibility of accidentally divulging their names to the enemy, and thus putting their lives in danger.

"To continue, the culvert we wish to access is small. Iron grates block each end and are placed periodically along its length. They are firmly embedded into the stone. Our most important spy in the keep is an officer in the AR army. He was instructed to convince his superiors of the poor condition of the grates. Because of his suggestion, a maintenance detail is being organized to fabricate new grates and install them in place of the old, rusting ones. Our agent is in charge of the work detail. Once the old iron bars are removed, but before the new ones have been installed, we will place our explosives beneath the wall and blow it apart.

"The second reason we have chosen this location is because it is the closest section of the wall to the forest where we can conceal our troops. A company of cavalry and a small battalion of foot soldiers and archers led by Major Rhynnayth will be waiting there to race to the breach. They must move out as soon as the blast occurs to take advantage of the resulting confusion and reach the gap, penetrating the interior before the defenders can respond and block our access.

"The cavalry will arrive first, secure the breach, and harass the defenders. The archers will deploy outside to suppress any defenses on the walls that recover in time to target our troops. Once the foot soldiers are inside, they will move through the fort to take the gate and open it for the rest of our hidden army, which will already have begun a slow march toward the gate upon hearing the explosion. Our confederates inside the keep will work with us at the gate to sow confusion and facilitate a swift and hopefully low casualty surrender. That is all I have for the moment."

Finished, Esseff set the wooden rod he had used as a pointer on the table. Ignoring the stick, Airy took his place. She was the smallest person in the room but confidence and pride lent her a presence far beyond her size.

"Once the keep is ours, we will abandon this camp returning the land to the Wolves of Border Pack."

Bear silently nodded his approval.

"River Keep will become the headquarters of our operations until we begin our true offensive. We shall not rest or delay any more than is necessary to ensure that we have the arms, supplies, and troop numbers we need. I intend to immediately launch a campaign to begin conquering territory and acquiring more support with each victory we achieve. I will not stop until the capitol is ours and I sit on the throne as queen."

Having recovered his enthusiasm, Vaunortheses pounded his fist on the table as he stood to speak.

"The long wait is over. Victory will be ours! All hail Queen Airiphryone!"

Everyone stood and shouted her name with enthusiasm including Jak and the other Wolves until Airy was forced to wave her paws to quiet them. Vaunortheses begged permission to say more. Airy agreed.

"Thank you, my Queen. Based on my personal knowledge of the keep and its current defensive strength, we should be able to conquer it easily once we are inside. The AR have never perceived us to be a threat. The bulk of their armies are far to the south. I am still concerned, though, that when word of the loss of this castle reaches them, and it will very quickly, they will deploy a sizable force to reclaim it.

"General Dypholones commands their armies. He was a good friend of my father's before this war sundered friendships and turned brothers into enemies. I spent a good deal of time under his command before the war. He is not a fool. The strategic importance of this castle and the danger posed by fighting a two front war will be obvious to him. He will not be stingy with the troops he sends against us. I predict he will deploy as many as ten thousand seasoned troops with siege engines within two weeks of the fall of the keep. His intent will be to crush us quickly leaving no trace of resistance behind."

A bitter frown formed on Airy's face at the mention of the AR General's name.

"Dypholones? I remember him with no fondness. He was an arrogant, by-the-book style commander who made no secret of what he thought of me as the first female heir to the throne. I briefly served under him during my years of military training. I learned to hate him in that short time."

Her frown gradually morphed into a cunning grin.

"I do agree with your assessment of his reaction, though. He is terribly predictable. I look forward to proving to that conceited chauvinist that this little female was able to master the concepts of war. Since I want the Anti-Royalists to attack, this is good news.

"Good news? Want them to attack? I don't understand."

"We don't have the strength yet to take on even a quarter of the AR's army, so we need them to send us a manageable force that we can summarily defeat. If we crush the first wave, they will be that much weaker the next time we meet them."

"Yes. That makes sense, but ten thousand?"

"Ten thousand is a sizable host, but White Paw estimates that we will have nearly that many Wolves ourselves by the time we take the castle. We should have more than enough to challenge them in open battle when they finally arrive, and just as important, more Rabbits will come to our side after the news of our first victory spreads accompanied by the undeniable proof of my return."

"But once Dypholones learns our true strength, he will simply send an even greater portion of his army to ensure he overwhelms us. He has the numbers to crush us utterly."

"That is why he will not be allowed to know our full strength until it is too late. By restricting what intelligence reaches his ears, we will control his actions the same way a puppeteer manipulates a marionette. At present, he knows how many troops you have under your command. He is likely unaware and unable to imagine that we will have Wolves fighting with us. After we capture River Keep, he will learn the numbers and kinds of troops we used in our assault. The army he sends against us will be based on what he perceives necessary to take the castle back from that small, and in his mind, pitiful force. Ten thousand will seem adequate to him because the rest of our army will stay hidden on this side of the river until needed. I am setting a trap for dear old predictable Dypholones. I will enjoy his humiliation."

Esseff picked up his pointer again and tapped it on the table to stress the importance of his next point.

"Absolute secrecy of everything we have discussed here must be maintained. None of the details of our plans may leave this room. From this day forward, no one crosses the river into Rikifur without orders approved by the queen. Lower level commanders must be told only what they need to know to train and prepare our troops. As Queen Airiphryone has so succinctly stated, we need the enemy to dance to our tune at least until we are strong enough to withstand whatever surprises they may throw our way in the future."

Theophthus, a forty-year old veteran captain to Rhynnayth's left, who had spent the latter half of his career as an instructor, raised his paw and directed his question to Airy.

"What is the nature of this trap? I presume that I was invited to this meeting because I am to play a part in coordinating the training of this army. If that is true, then I need to know what kind of battle we plan to fight. We can't teach the Wolves everything in less than two weeks. We have to focus on whatever is essential."

"The details of the trap will have to be finalized after we hold River Keep. Jak and I will be looking for input from Rhynnayth, Vaunortheses, White Paw, and Bear as our senior commanders. Until then, I recommend you concentrate on teaching the Wolves how to fight in basic units of pikes, swords, and archers. Emphasize the critical need for them to stay in formation and to protect the bowmen at all costs. I have never seen better archers than these Wolves. Even the hordes of Storfay, who can shoot from a galloping horse can't match them for range and the penetrating power of their arrows. They will be the backbone of our infantry. The swordsmen and pikemen must learn to never break ranks, and if they are broken, to quickly reform. That above all else must become instinct. Drill them relentlessly in that one tactic to the exclusion of all else. I don't want my army being tricked into a melee where the enemy's superior cavalry numbers can tear them apart.

"As to our own cavalry, we need more. A lot more. Wolves have no experience with riding horses, but there must be some who have a natural ability. Find the most promising Wolves and train them to ride and fight while mounted. I know we don't have the arms and armor to equip them all. Use your imagination for training until we can outfit them properly from the armory at River Keep. Are there any other questions?"

"Yes, your Majesty."

Vaunortheses posed the question that was on everyone's mind.

"I know the future beyond what you have outlined is difficult to predict, but is there a long range strategy?"

"There is. My plan is to divide and conquer. I suppose I should elaborate on that, but for White Paw and Bear's benefit, I must first explain the nature of the Rikifurian army. Even though they have both fought against us in the past, I don't think they truly understand our organization and tactics."

On the wall next to the map of River Keep was another map showing the details of the lands claimed by Rikifur including the internal boundaries of the various quasi-independent principalities. Esseff held out his pointer, and this time, Airy took it since she was too short to reach the entire map with just her paw.

"Ostensibly, the army of Rikifur has always been a united force, but practically, it is made up of multiple armies, the largest of which has always been under the direct control of the king. Many smaller armies recruited and commanded by the dukes of the various provinces supplement that army. The king's army was funded through taxes levied on all the provinces and from the sale of steel, which has always been tightly controlled by the royal family. By regulating the distribution of steel for arms and armor, the king has been able to keep rebellious dukes under control by simply denying them the ability to wage war. Historically, the capitol was the only place where steel was manufactured."

She pointed to a star is the approximate center of Rikifur.

"Here. During my father's reign, a new steel mill was opened in the northern part of the country. Several large fires over the last few centuries had nearly destroyed the original mill with the worst occurring when I was ten years old. It seemed wise to have a second plant so there would never be an interruption in steel production. Debate was fierce over where to place this mill. The southern regions were generally more loyal to the crown and farther from our historical enemies, making a location there a safe one. However, iron is found only in the north."

There was a collective gasp from the Rabbits. That she would so openly mention a component of the steel making process, even if it were an obvious one, was a shock.

"I understand your concern, but the secret of steel is already lost. Don't worry about how or when this happened. It is irrelevant now. We have a new and even better secret to protect - gunpowder. Besides, it is to our advantage that my father agreed that locating the new mill in the north made production more efficient and that he ignored those who argued that placing a mill where they did was an invitation to spark rebellion. While it is true that the northern provinces have always been more independent and unruly than the southern ones due to their contact and interaction with Wolves and Foxes, a notable exception is Perseine, where Vaunortheses' family rules."

The end of her stick circled an irregularly shaped region about halfway between the River Muur and the capitol.

"Because of the long standing, loyal support from House Perseine, the new mill was built there. When my father died and the country fell into chaos, the fractious northern provinces became the AR, and the capitol and more conservative and tradition minded southern provinces fell under control of the Priests. Each side thus has the ability to manufacture steel weapons giving neither an advantage.

"Of course, these political inclinations are not universal by region. There are Dukes within the AR controlled north who have remained neutral because they are considered by both sides as too remote or too inconsequential to matter. House Perseine, to whom I owe a debt of gratitude, is a striking exception."

Vaunortheses beamed with pride as Airy mentioned his family. The fond smile she granted him gave him hope that her gratitude might one day extend beyond a kind mention.

"Some dukes have lent troops to the AR but not because they are committed to the cause of overthrowing the rule of my family. They either hate the Priests more than the AR or don't have the strength of arms to resist the pressure to join placed on them by the combined might of their more rebellious neighbors. Vaunortheses' family, to the contrary, has one of the largest armies of any province in the kingdom. Because of that and the ability to produce steel within their borders, they have been able to keep their independence, make peace with the AR, stay neutral, and provide support to keep alive Vaunortheses' small and seemingly doomed vigil for my return.

"The south is more unified and supportive of the Priests, but pockets of neutrality and outright resistance also exists there. We must recruit the non-aligned dukes wherever they are located. They are the most likely to rally to our banner soonest.

"Esseff is attempting to make contact with Socholathetes, the Duke of Perseine, who is Vaunortheses' father. I know we can count on his support. We are sending out other ambassadors now to any neutral nobles we can reach to learn which ones are supportive of our cause. As we conquer AR held territory, we will gradually link up with our supporters, growing in size until we are greater in strength than either of the opposing sides.

"The AR will be caught between us and the armies of the Priests. It is an untenable position in which they cannot survive. Once the AR falls, I will consolidate our gains and move to crush the priests and their armies."

Though pleased with this plan, a sudden dreadful idea struck Vaunortheses. Until Airy had mentioned the priests, that enemy had been so far away from Vaunortheses' thoughts that he had forgotten that Airy's family was in their custody.

"What if they try to use your mother and siblings as hostages?"

Never far from her deliberations, Airy had given that possibility ample consideration. Already provoked to passion by the act of imagining her future battles, her love of family stoked the fires hotter. As grim as her mood was already, she became truly ominous.

"If our enemies mistreat my family in any way, my vengeance upon them shall be swift and terrible."

For Jak, much of the intervening time before the assault on River Keep was consumed by the demands and filled with the frustrations of training his Wolf warriors to fight in the Rabbit's orderly style. He often despaired of ever achieving success. The barriers were many. Only a few of the Wolves had ever handled a sword or a shield before. None of them had any experience performing maneuvers as a coherent group. His warriors would not stay in their ranks if they thought the other side was wavering. When they sensed victory during practice battles, the Wolves broke formation dissolving into a mob hoping to overwhelm the enemy and prove their bravery. The same behavior applied in reverse if they felt themselves on the verge of defeat. Ignoring orders to stand their ground, they would break and run trying to avoid being killed. In either case, their chaotic reversion to disorganized combat left them vulnerable to a well-disciplined army.

Jak knew that the ability to work together was not beyond them. All Wolves were creatures of the pack by nature and knew how to cooperate for the common good. Lack of potential was not stopping them. The real problem was overcoming the attitudes of mutual distrust and disrespect between the Wolves and Rabbits. Being subordinate to their old enemies galled Jak's warriors. The result was that they behaved like naughty pups, resisting orders and anything new that was taught to them. It didn't help that many of the Rikifur officers reinforced the divide by being openly disdainful and insulting to the Wolves, who they looked down upon as worthless and un-trainable savages.

The tensions resulted in sporadic fights between the Wolf trainees and the Rabbit officers. Vaunortheses and his commanders were outraged whenever their officers were assaulted and demanded that the Wolves be severely punished for their insubordination. Jak and Bear were left puzzled as to why the Rabbits were so upset and how a few brawls fit into their larger problem. It was common enough among Wolves to fight each other for various reasons, mostly for dominance and the right to breed with desirable members of the opposite sex Only the chief was immune to such attacks except under the formal process of the challenge. The system was considered helpful to ensure the strongest males became leaders and sired the fittest pups.

It was not until after a particularly violent fight that left a Rabbit lieutenant badly injured and likely unfit for the upcoming battle at River Keep that Vaunortheses threw his paws up in frustration and lost his temper with Jak.

"Maker damn it! This is hopeless. We've been at this for only two days, and I can see that at this rate, my officers will all be unfit for duty before we ever cross the river, and your troops will still be an uncontrollable rabble. We're our own worst enemy. Can't you manage your warriors at all, Wolf?"

Jak and the general were both on horseback atop of a low rise where they could observe their dysfunctional army. Jak's horse reacted skittishly to Vaun's raised voice forcing Jak to tighten his grip on the reigns to keep it under control.

"I don't understand your problem," Jak responded with equal vehemence. "Your officer started it by hitting her with that little stick he uses to goad his horse. That was insulting. She's not a beast of burden. She's a warrior. She had every right to fight back."

Vaun ground his teeth, and his ears twitched in frustration.

"No. She didn't. He was doing his job. She was deliberately disobeying commands. He's supposed to discipline her for that. Don't you get it? The soldiers must be taught to obey orders and follow them unconditionally no matter what is happening or how unpleasant or dangerous the action. Discipline and respect for the officers keep each unit together and fighting the enemy. They can't decide on their own to ignore an order or to start a fight. In a battle, the side that wins is the side that follows orders and stays together no matter what."

It seemed to Airy's old friend that the Wolf understood nothing of what he said. Sighing with defeat, Vaun sank into his saddle. His long ears twitched uncontrollably.

"Your Wolves just continue to rush forward when they're winning and run away the minute things look bad. I can't work with that."

Jack bristled at the implication his warriors would flee from battle.

"My warriors are brave. They are not afraid to fight."

With a resigned shake of his head, Vaunortheses knew that he was on the edge of failure.

"By the Maker. None of you have any idea how an army works at all do you? I'm a fool. I thought I could start your Wolves the same way I train my own Rabbit recruits. I see my folly now. At least young Rabbit bucks understand the basic principles of discipline and order, but your kind...well, I don't know where to begin."

Puzzled, Jak scratched his chin wondering what he was missing. He and Vaun seemed to be talking and working at cross-purposes. Some kind of common understanding between them was needed. If he didn't bother to learn the Rabbit's rules, then how could he hope that his own troops ever would?

"You say it is bad if the soldiers fight with the leaders. If they can't fight, how do you get better leaders? We always have the strongest and toughest in command. Your officers are not the best fighters. Look how easily one of my lesser female warriors thrashed that one."

"That's not the point. Which individual is strongest is mostly irrelevant. Sure, it helps to have strong soldiers, but the army as a whole is strong because it fights together as one powerful creature that obeys the will of its leader. Every soldier must be an extension of the commander's will. The officers enforce that will, that is why they must be respected as much as the commander. Officers are considered good because they know how to organize, how to lead, how to think and because when they have to, they have the initiative to act on their own. We don't let a one-on-one fight determine who is in charge. We promote based on demonstrated ability to be a good leader. Do you think I could beat you in a fight? I doubt it, but I clearly have the knowledge that you don't to organize, train, deploy, and maneuver thousands of troops in the field to win battles. Tell me, who is better suited to command this army? If you think you need to fight me for that honor, then we are doomed."

There was no lie behind Vaunortheses' words that Jak could detect. The buck's sincerely posed questions made Jak pause to consider his own experience with war. As leader of Blackrock Pack, Jak had seldom fought the Rabbits. A few raids over the pass now and then to test their wall and to acquire obsidian for weapons happened every year, but they never fought any open battles during his lifetime mostly because he knew he couldn't win. It had always been his opinion that the Rabbits were better at war because of their numbers, superior weapons, and armor. It never occurred to him to wonder if the way they organized and trained their army made a difference. The idea seemed so obvious now, especially when he thought of how much better he could manage a battle if he had control over every one of his warriors instead of simply inspiring them to charge the enemy and hoping for the best. It was a revelation that encouraged Jak to listen and learn Vaunortheses' ways in order to gain that control.

"I have no desire to fight you. You are the better general. That is clear to me even if all of your ways and methods are not."

The angry twitching of Vaun's ears stopped, and they swiveled hopefully towards Jak.

"Well thank the Maker for that. If only the rest of your kind agreed with you. Can't you just order them all to understand?"

Jak smiled at the General's ignorance.

"I could, but it wouldn't work. They need a clear example to follow, and that gives me an idea or two that may help us solve this problem."

Vaun's hasty optimism reverted to skepticism.

"Is this another miracle?"

"No. No more miracles, just hard work and cooperation. I want to take five hundred warriors and ten of your officers to train apart from the rest of the army. I'll let you decide which ones; just don't cherry pick them. I don't want the best. I want to prove your point about strength in order versus the strength of individuals."

"How will that help?"

"By itself, it won't. Our problem is you can't train my Wolves exactly like you train your Rabbits, and the same applies in reverse. We need to modify your methods slightly to adapt to the way Wolves are used to working. If we give them something more familiar, they will be more inclined to learn."

"That seems reasonable, but how?"

"Wolves will follow other Wolves and copy whoever is the strongest and the best. We need one group of warriors to learn and adopt your ways so they can be the example that the others will want to copy. The only way that I know to get any of these warriors to obey is to force them to do it myself even if that involves fighting them. I am the strongest and the best. I beat Bear. The Maker guides my paws. No Wolf dares challenge me. That means that I will be the general in charge of your Rabbit officers. My Wolves need to think that the orders that your officers give come ultimately from me. That will make them obey."

Vaun scratched absently at the base of his long ears, lost in thought for a moment.

"I suppose that could work. My officers will obey you as long as they know you and I are working together. They are used to multiple levels of leadership."

"Good, because I want to add another level to enforce discipline in a way that is more familiar to my people. We need a buffer between the officers and the warriors so that when my warriors need to, they can fight. I want to promote the fiercest Wolves to act as leaders. There should be one for every ten warriors. They will be responsible for enforcing the commands of the officers and act as a barrier between the warriors and the officers."

"NCOs! We have them in our army. It's a brilliant idea."

The new word puzzled Jak.

"Enceeos? What are they?"

"Non-commissioned officers. Oh! You mean the letters. It's not a word, your Majesty. It's a shorthand way of saying it with just the first letter of each word. N - non, C - commissioned, O - officer. I keep forgetting that you don't' read or write."

"Oh, I see, like 'Ayar' for Anti-Royalists. Camorra has been teaching me some reading and writing. I would be...let me remember...'WP' for White Paw."

"Exactly. You'll get the hang of it in no time. You know, I'm embarrassed to say I never thought Wolves could be taught anything. I only saw your warriors as extra bodies to bolster our numbers. Queen Airiphryone warned me to be more understanding and not to let my prejudices muddle my judgment. She is correct, of course, as a queen should be. I apologize, your Majesty, for seeing you and your warriors as less than they are."

"Then you approve of my changes, General?"

"Yes, of course, but can you keep your new sergeants from attacking my officers?"

"Sergeants?"

Jak tested the new word and found it acceptable.

"It's a good title. Don't worry about the sergeants. They will know that the orders come from me even if a Rabbit delivers them. If I have to, I will beat the respect into the sergeants. It will be far easier than trying to beat it into all five hundred warriors or the thousands of others that we have to train."

"What about the rest of the army? Should we organize them along similar lines, your Majesty?"

"Go ahead and try the idea with the sergeants there also, but first, stop calling me 'your Majesty'. I am not a king. I am a chief and a warrior, and my warrior name is White Paw. Call me 'General' if you must use any other title besides 'Chief'."

"If that is what you prefer, then so be it, White Paw. I meant no offense."

"And I took none from it. You and I are soldiers and fellow warriors first, General Vaunortheses."

"In that case, White Paw, you may call me Vaun. It is what all my good friends call me, just not in front of my subordinates, please."

Jak laughed.

"Very well, Vaun. I'll order Bear to make the sergeants end the fighting with Rabbit officers. If anyone can do it, he can. Otherwise, let the rest of our army continue to struggle."

"Why not train them all the same at once under your leadership?"

"There are too many to manage, and a dramatic example will serve far better. Before we take my five hundred across the river, we will have a mock battle to see if discipline is as effective a tool as you claim. I want a clear demonstration of the effectiveness and superiority of your methods."

"You have a fine military mind, White Paw. Your ideas have given me renewed hope. I am eager to implement them. I would ask, though, that you consider a little notion of mine. We are short on metal armor now, but your warriors need to learn to fight with it from the beginning of their training. We have a fair number of leather armor substitutes and are making more, but it will take time to equip all of the warriors. Until we have enough, may I ask that you distribute what we have to the females first?"

Jak's ears twitched in momentary puzzlement, and his tail paused it contented swishing until he remembered the Rabbit's strange discomfort with his female warriors, especially their bare breasts. To Jak, it was a ridiculous obsession, but perhaps he also needed to practice tolerance.

"I see no reason why we can't do that."

Vaun was relieved that Jak was not affronted, but he still felt compelled to explain further.

"Female Rabbits don't fight as soldiers, you see, and they are more modest in their dress. My bucks are not used to the casual nudity that your people practice. My officers are having difficulty taking them seriously. Disguising their...uh...attributes will help my men to accept them as warriors and equal to the males. That's the reason. After all, it's not like Rabbits would see Wolves in...well...that way."

Vaun laughed nervously at the absurd notion. Jak joined him, but his mirth was forced and awkward because of the deeper irony. Jak had come to view a Rabbit 'that way', and Vuan's queen had done the same with a Wolf. Was theirs an aberration, or would there be more such romances now that the two races were no longer trying to destroy each other?

Jak had advocated for his plan with conviction, but even he was skeptical that it would succeed. Though, the stakes were too high and the opportunity to tempting for him not to attempt it. The thousand years of success the Rabbits had achieved with their military model was undeniable. Steel and horses weren't their only advantages. Discipline, organization, and superior tactics gave them an army that even the bravest Wolf warriors couldn't withstand. Armored knights on horseback charging with lances over open terrain could easily route his warriors nearly every time. Only the dense forests where the Wolves were forced to live robbed the cavalry of most of their effectiveness and gave the Wolves a fighting chance. Yet even there, the Rabbits overcame that obstacle by organizing foot soldiers with swords and shields into formations wherein each warrior protected the one next to him. Backing up the swordsmen were archers, typically with crossbows. It was an effective arrangement allowing them to withstand and repel charges by disorganized Wolf warriors, but they still found their offensive initiative stymied when they met the Wolves in the Pack Lands.

The Wolves held the advantage in the woods where rigid battle formations were difficult to maintain except in a defensive position. The guerrilla style war the Wolves preferred often proved more successful. The Rabbits of Rikifur found themselves ambushed by arrows that streaked out from the concealment of the dense understory of the northern forests. Trained from birth to use long bows for hunting, Wolves were natural archers with superior range and accuracy. Their bows were constructed using the heartwood of a rare tree that only grew in the far north near the ice wall. Its strength, flexibility, and lightness made it a formidable weapon that could penetrate armor as easily as a crossbow but at far greater range.

Unwilling to suffer the heavy casualties required to completely wipe out the Wolves, the Rabbits stayed on their side of river where their style of combat, refined over centuries during internal conflicts, reigned supreme. When not fighting off Wolf raids or sending retributive incursions into the Pack Lands, the Rabbit nobles frequently fought among themselves to settle disputes, satisfy grudges, expand their power, or to rebel. Never before had any conflicts erupted into full-scale civil war, so the effect of the in-fighting had been a positive one that kept the Rabbit's armies fresh, well trained, and had allowed them to perfect their military tactics utilizing the technology they possessed.

When warring against each other, the Rabbits added soldiers with long spears, called pikes, to their infantry units. Their function was to repel the same cavalry charges that so easily defeated the Wolves. Horses would charge and trample soldiers, but a bristling porcupine of steel-tipped spikes was a barrier too deadly for the most rigorously trained mount to impale itself upon willingly. Instincts made them shy away or stop completely. Robbed of their intimidating charge, cavalry became easy targets for the archers within the spiky square. To counter that defense, Rabbit knights were lightly armored to make them faster and more mobile so that they could quickly exploit weaknesses within the enemy's lines created by their own infantry and artillery.

In order to create a combined Rabbit and Wolf army that could defeat the Rabbit armies of Rikifur, Vaun and Jak discussed improvements to tactics while weighing the strengths and weaknesses of the troops they possessed. Their largest weakness was a lack of cavalry. Vaun had but a few hundred knights; the enemy had thousands. In addition to their function of charging and breaking up infantry and archers, mounted troops were vastly more mobile than foot soldiers. They could cover greater distances in a day and easily outflank an all foot army. Until the Queen's army could develop or acquire more cavalry, they would be forced to fight defensively. That was not a strategy that appealed to Airy, but they were short on everything they needed to increase their numbers of knights.

Wolves did not use horses at all as a rule, and certainly did not ride them into battle. To teach them to handle horses and fight effectively when mounted required years of practice beginning at a young age similar to how Wolves became such excellent archers. Even if they could train them quickly, they were short on armor, lances, swords, and horses. Capturing River Keep would solve the problem of arms, armor, and mounts but would not solve the problem of training. Recruiting from among the neutral Rabbit nobility was their only hope to increase their cavalry numbers.

Until then, enemy cavalry would be neutralized with tactics that utilized their new army's strengths. Vaun's knights could counter the mobility of their enemies by acting as skirmishers to fend off the opposing knights. When opportunities presented themselves, they could still charge and destroy broken infantry formations, but their main mission would be to protect the rear and the vulnerable flanks of the infantry, who would be grouped into phalanxes of one hundred composed primarily of longbow and spear wielding Wolves since they were already familiar with those two weapons. Those demonstrating great aptitude for a sword were trained in their use.

The range, power, and rate of fire of their archers would be their advantage. Enemy cavalry would come under fire long before they were a threat, and the enemy infantry would be forced to withstand significant losses before they were close enough to bring their own archers to bear. It was the best they could devise in the time they had, and Airy was pleased enough with the idea to let them proceed.

Every minute of Jak's waking hours during the remaining ten days before the assault on River Keep were spent leading, cajoling, berating, encouraging, and fighting with his sergeants to make them accept the new tactics that he and Vaun developed. Instilling within the unruly Wolves under their combined command the ability to fight with discipline and to obey the Rabbit's notion of respect for their superiors was a daily test of strength and will.

There was continued frustration and unrest on both sides, but when the Wolves and Rabbits saw that Vaun and White Paw acted always with common intent and purpose, they fell in line accepting the new rules they knew came from their respective commander. Jak fought and defeated any sergeant who dared touch a Rabbit officer, and Vaun quickly demoted and promoted officers based on their ability to work successfully with the Wolves. Vaun never hesitated to dismiss those who were unable to learn to treat the Wolves with respect or to command it from them.

The Rabbit general and the Wolf chief often observed the progress of their experiment apart from their officers and NCOs. They were never alone, though. Ebusika stayed at Jak's side except when she sensed a shift in her master's mood indicating there was something amiss. She had a knack for knowing when trouble was brewing in the ranks and would charge at anyone who was misbehaving. The snarling, growling, and biting white beast had no trouble restoring order. Rather than resenting the wolf's enforcement of discipline, she became the troops' adored mascot. Her presence among them did as much to lift morale as the personal attention of White Paw.

The relationship between Jak and Vaun grew friendly as they worked together. Jak considered the Rabbit a first rate commander. Despite his youth, he understood how to organize and motivate his warriors. Vaun reciprocated Jak's esteem. The Rabbit found his Wolf comrade to be a paws-on leader who was surprisingly adaptable to new ideas, techniques, and systems of thought. As they came to know each other better, they learned that they shared other things in common besides leadership. They both loved Airy and were extremely protective of her. At first Jak interpreted Vaun's affection toward Airy to be that of a devoted subject, but as the intimacy of his friendship with Vaun deepened, Jak came to realize that the General wanted more than to be just his queen's most zealous subject.

The realization that Vaunortheses wanted to be Airy's husband and king first grew in Jak's mind as the other officers became comfortable with Jak's presence and made the erroneous assumption that a Wolf had no interest in the personal affairs of their Rabbit queen. Not subtly, they gossiped and spread rumors in front of Jak when Vaun was elsewhere. They spoke openly of Vaun's infatuation with Airy implying his emotions burned hotter and with fiercer passion than mere loyalty to her cause. They discussed Vaun's merits as a possible king. When they brazenly speculated on the many healthy and regal heirs Airy and Vaun would produce together, Jak stopped listening and found an excuse to exit their company.

A temporary refuge seemed available for Jak in Vaunortheses' company, but Jak soon discovered that there was no safe haven from this distressing subject. It was a bright summer morning, the day Jak had decided to test his personally trained troops against the rest of their army, when Vaun broached the subject. Airy's one time suitor made the same understandable assumption the other Rabbits had made about Jak. A respectable Wolf like White Paw could not possibly have romantic feelings towards a Rabbit.

Upon the crest of a small hillock surrounded by dozens of acres that had been cleared of all trees and vegetation, the two leaders sat atop their resting mounts observing their army practicing its maneuvers below. They were alone as usual with only Ebusika for company. No words had been exchanged between the two generals for over twenty minutes, but Jak could sense Vaun's nervousness and wondered what was bothering his friend.

"White Paw," he finally began, his voice tentative, unsure how to begin.

Vaun had quickly learned to call Jak by his warrior name instead of "your Highness" or "your Majesty." Jak was grateful and secretly delighted to hear himself called "White Paw" again, especially with the emphasis of respect that went with being chief. It was an intoxicating feeling that made him realize with stunning clarity that White Paw the chief was who he really was; not the forlorn and dying Wolf named Jak that Airy had met. The change within himself was at once both welcome and distressing. He wanted to be Jak for Airy's sake and for the sake of their relationship, but he was no longer a lone Wolf trying to start a new life with a surrogate pack. He was a part of a real pack again, and joining Rikifur now felt like a silly and desperate dream from which he had abruptly awoken.

Jak felt complete and in control again after clinging to Airy for hope and company throughout their journey. The love he found with her had not lessened, but duties associated with his new pack status threatened their relationship. Certain social obligations that came with pack leadership would be sure to displease Airy's jealous nature and monogamous sensibilities. Though he would do everything in his power to prove that his love for her was undiminished, Jak's unexpected rise to power changed the rules and made everything more complicated.

To disrupt his morose train of thought, Jak closed his eyes and howled his frustration silently within his own mind. The mental scream was surprisingly therapeutic, and Jak became aware again that Vaun was speaking to him, a welcome intrusion to divert his troubled mind.

"I'm sorry, General. I was preoccupied with other thoughts for a moment. What were you saying?"

"I was asking if you were aware of the rules of succession in Rikifur."

"Uh...vaguely. The Lady Airiphryone is queen because she is the first born of the previous king. If she were to die, then her brother Andre, whom the priests have placed on the throne, would become the rightful king and so on in progression by age through the rest of her siblings."

With an odd warding gesture of his paw, Vaun superstitiously dismissed the invitation to bad luck he thought discussing Airy's death brought.

"Maker forbid that death should take her anytime soon, but that's not what I'm getting at. Did you know that the Princess is not allowed to rule alone? She must have a King. A female firstborn has never occurred in the royal family before, but the law cleverly covers such eventualities and is quite clear regarding this unusual occurrence."

"Yes. I know that. She spoke of this to me long ago when we first met. Surely, with the current chaos, rules like that don't matter anymore. She is worthy to lead. That will be proven shortly. What need does she have for a king?"

The question was asked aloud, but the answer, "Other than the king of the Wolves," that Jak thought to himself was too scandalous to be given voice. The notion of Airy being his queen and he being her king was an exhilarating idea that gave wings to Jak's mood, lifting him higher with the hope that they could somehow find a way to make their elevated status work for them instead of against them.

Oblivious to Jak and Airy's relationship and the indecent thoughts of the Wolf, Vaun pressed on trying to make his point.

"I agree that she is fully capable to fill the role, but her sex prohibits it. You see, tradition is what gives her the right to rule. Tradition also requires that she must have a husband to rule as king. The two are inseparable. If she tries to use one tradition to justify her cause while ignoring another, she will appear to be a hypocrite and will lose much needed support. She can't have one without the other. Already, there is talk of whom she will choose and when she will make that choice. The decision can be postponed for a while, maybe even until after the war is over, but she will not be able to rule in peace without a king. The people won't stand for it. Her hold on power will be delicate enough as it is. She must choose someone from the nobility...someone like...well...someone."

Like a flash of lightning that banishes the night exposing for an instant everything that had been hidden in the dark, the destination of Vaun's direction of thought was revealed to Jak. Airy's old friend and most ardent supporter was in love with her and wanted her paw in marriage. A black and ominous shadow of doom enveloped Jak's heart. Olivia's prediction was coming true, and the most powerful Wolf in the world felt powerless to stop it.

Overcoming the separation that their duties as rulers of different nations forced upon them was challenging enough, but this obligation for Airy to marry threatened to sunder their affair forever and not because Jak would be adamantly opposed to her having an official husband; he understood the social pressures that required it. Even Jak's people would likely accept it. They would think him odd for taking a Rabbit lover, but a Wolf chief was not required to marry and could mate with whom he pleased. As long as he continued to sow his seed among the highest status females and produce many pups, few would care whom he called his wife.

Rabbits, on the other paw, had a wholly different cultural take on sex, especially when it involved their royalty. Jak remembered Airy telling him how important her virginity was to her becoming queen. How could its loss be kept secret if anyone knew she was in love with Jak? It was manifestly evident that a society that fretted over the sexual activity of its rulers would never accept a Wolf as their king or even as a casual affair. Wolves and Rabbits fighting together as allies was proving to be nearly impossible. Acceptance of inter species marriage was too much too soon.

Vaun remained silent during Jak's brief ruminations, blissfully unaware of the shocking truth that his new friend kept secret. He waited for Jak to respond, to say anything, while he struggled with how to put his own troubled thoughts into words. Receiving no help from Jak, he was compelled to press on as best he could.

"White Paw, I guess what I am getting at here is to have your opinion."

Jak was certain he knew what Vaun wanted but hoped his attempt to feign innocence was convincing.

"Opinion? Of what?"

"Well, of me. What I mean is how the Lady Airiphryone sees me as a...oh...this is harder to explain than I thought. You have been close to her for nearly two years now during a critical period of her development. I doubt any Rabbit knows her mind better than you. She nearly worships you and has endless faith in your abilities. When she speaks of you...well it is obvious that you are her closest mentor. I think that if she were to confide her own feelings to anyone, she would feel safe divulging them to you."

"I suppose that may be true," Jak answered noncommittally.

Vaun paused again briefly dithering over how to ask his question. With paws fidgeting with the reigns of his horse and ears twitching uncontrollably, he steeled himself for the plunge.

"Do you think the queen has feelings for me? Could she love me and consider me a fit husband and king? Oh, Maker," Vaun groaned with distress. "That sounds like I just want her for the title of king. It's not that way at all. Being king is of course on my mind. It has to be since that comes with her paw, but I want her for more than that honor. I loved her before she was lost. I still do now. When we were younger, I always thought she might have loved me back, but it never seemed prudent to ask."

Pausing, a wistful smile came to Vaun's face.

"She used to let me call her Airy, you know. She doesn't let just anyone do that. I like to take hope and courage from her past fondness for me, but now that I am directly under her command, I find it even harder to broach the subject with her. Without some certainty of how she might react, I risk offending her and being sent away. There are many who would leave with me out of personal loyalty to me. I dare not risk harm to our cause because of my youthful infatuation."

Vaun's inability to imagine that Jak and Airy were anything more than good friends was comforting. Their scandalous secret was safe for the moment, but how long could they keep it so? Did Jak and Airy dare continue their affair and risk discovery and ruination? In sullen silence, Jak wondered if he had the resolve to resist Airy if she offered herself to him.

Vaun misinterpreted Jak's lack of response for confusion.

"Perhaps you find it hard to understand my dilemma. You are a Wolf after all and have different...uhm...customs concerning who a chief takes for a mate. It must be so much simpler to have no permanent partner and your pick of any eligible female whenever you want. I envy you in that regard."

Inadvertently, Vaun was finding all the reasons that would push Airy and Jak apart. The full moon was not far off, and numerous female Wolves were waiting for that pale circle of night to fill so they could contend for his attention and the chance to mate with him. Several of the best warriors in the burgeoning army had been signaling their intent to him for days. Other high status females who normally mated with the chiefs of their packs were rumored to be travelling to this odd encampment of Rabbits and Wolves with the goal of catching the chief of all chiefs' eye and favor. Training his army had so far given him the excuse to ignore every preliminary advance, but the moon was waxing nightly. In contradiction to Airy's obligation to remain virginal and marry only one Rabbit buck, Jak was obligated to spread his superior seed among as many Wolf females as possible.

Airy would hate that, but what could he do? Yield his title? Surrender his position in the pack? No. Those were not options now that he was White Paw again. There had to be another way. He desperately wanted to believe that there was still a future for Airy and him even if it had to be a secret affair. As cooperating rulers, they would have plenty of reason to be together, but it would be dangerous and suspicious for them to meet alone. The real peril, though, was that Airy might feel forced to choose between him and another and do something rash and public in response. Jak refused to allow Airy to sacrifice her sovereignty for him. He loved her too much for that, and she was too important to resolving this war and creating a new era of peace between the races.

Jak made a vow to meet alone with Airy soon and advise her to pretend that she was considering suitors and let whoever wanted to waste their time vie for her attention. That would satisfy both the power seekers and the masses. It unfortunately also included Vaunortheses. Deceiving his newly acquired friend was morally repugnant, but Vaun had to be kept from pressing his suit. To mitigate his guilt, Jak would try to be as honest as he could with the General.

"No doubt my world is very different than yours, but even Wolf chiefs can have a preferred mate... a wife, or queen, I suppose you might call her."

"Truly? I have always wondered how different we really were from each other. Is that the case with you? Is there a she-Wolf you prefer above all the others?"

"Yes. Her name is Moon."

"I don't think I've met her. Is she here?"

"No. She is with my son at home...rather what I used to call home before I began this journey with Queen Airiphryone. Many enemies and high mountains separate us now. When I left her, I was certain that I would never see her again. Now, I don't know. It is possible. Based on what your people have told me, the mountains are not the formidable barrier they once were to travel. The volcano split them asunder in its final eruption. If we win this war, I may be able to cross over and see her again."

Moon was another wedge between Jak and Airy. He loved them both. How could he reconcile having the two in his life? He had no answer.

"You can rely on me to help you do that White Paw. Few things would give me greater pleasure than reuniting you with your love and your family."

Despondent, Jak was nonetheless grateful for Vaun's offer.

"Thank you. I fear, though, that before I return, the armies of Storfay may conquer my people. I shall have to fight just to see my family again. There shall be no rest for me at the end of your war."

"Then there shall be no rest for me either. I am grateful to you for saving Airiphryone and to all of your kind for helping us with our troubles. We will fight by your side to the end of our lives if that is what it takes. I only hope that I am lucky enough to win the queen's heart, be close at her side for all time, and share a love with her that transcends distance and time like yours. She is everything that I ever wanted in a mate: beautiful, strong, bold, smart, ambitious, loving, kind, truthful...there is no end to her virtues, so I ask again with desperation and fevered hope, do you think she would be receptive towards me as a mate?"

It was touching to Jak to understand Vaun's sincerity. There was no scent of a lie or deception about him. Yet, it was awkward to have this buck share his heart over the doe he also loved. Jak wanted to scare him away from Airy and disavow him of the notion forever that he had any chance with her, but Jak recognized the truth. If Airy's marriage to a Rabbit buck became necessary, she would likely find no better than this one.

"In addition to those finer qualities," added Jak, "the Queen is determined, stubborn, judgmental, and hardheaded but most of all single minded in her pursuit of her throne. She is not in a mood for romance. All of her will is bent on recovering her birthright and saving her family. She will dismiss without courtesy, or care for the feelings, of any suitors who dare approach her."

Downcast, Vaunortheses hung his head and muttered, "I fear we both must suffer apart from the one we love until the war is over."

"Take heart, friend. Airy has great respect and fondness for you. Beyond owing you much, she admires your skills as a leader and finds your company pleasant at the very least. She has not told me this directly, but I believe that I have come to know her moods. If any Rabbit has a chance of winning her favor, that person is you. I advise you, though, not to rush her. She will choose a mate in her own time when she is less focused on the task of war."

Relief enveloped Vaun and put a smile back on his dour face.

"Thank you for those reassuring words, White Paw. I am encouraged and will give her whatever time she needs. It will be hard holding back and watching others struggle for her paw, but you have made me think it will at least be potentially amusing. I think that you are correct regarding how she will treat unwanted suitors. It will be refreshing to see some arrogant pigs taken down a notch."

Having succeeded in convincing Vaun to wait, Jak's attention returned to the drill field below.

"Nearly as refreshing as watching our army."

Vaun followed Jak's admiring gaze to their personally trained troops, who marched with practiced precision that had seemed an impossible goal just a week ago. Nearing a level equivalent to the most elite Rabbit troops, they moved in unison like the legs of a millipede and stopped with equal synchronicity when a single command was shouted. It was in glaring contrast to the comparatively disorderly remaining bulk of their army.

Two officers on horseback followed by two Wolf sergeants broke away from the resting troops and climbed the hill to present themselves before White Paw and Vaunortheses, saluting smartly. Rhynnayth, the golden furred officer with a bent tip on his right ear spoke for the group.

"Sirs, the Special Reserves are ready."

Understanding that they had been selected for a unique training opportunity, the troops under Jak's direct command had taken pride in their role and had named themselves the Special Reserves. Today was the agreed upon day when they would be allowed to demonstrate their skills and perhaps earn the right to keep that title.

Vaun returned Rhyn's salute.

"We have been observing your handiwork all morning, Major. White Paw, do you agree with the Major's assessment?"

"I do. There is plenty of room for improvement, but we have made sufficient progress."

"My assessment exactly. I was skeptical we could train Wolves to fight in ranks cooperatively in such short time. I was wrong."

Vaun met the eyes of the officers and the Wolf sergeants. He was looking for the shared sense of pride of accomplishment that was essential to high performing units. Finding what he sought, he thanked the Maker for helping achieve this latest miracle.

"The four of you, the other officers, and sergeants have done well. Your leadership accomplished this new miracle that seems to be one in a series of never ending miracles."

The four bowed their heads modestly in response to his praise.

"Now here are your orders. Today you will have the opportunity to prove to the rest of our comrades in arms the merits of a highly disciplined army that actually follows orders. We shall have a mock battle. Bamboo weapons only. I don't want anyone killed.

"Your division shall meet two divisions that Bear may pick from the rest of the army. Do you think you can handle that many?"

The four surveyed briefly, but with enormous satisfaction, their own troops, who remained at attention in perfect formation while the rest of the army struggled to emulate their success. The contrast was striking. Where the Special Reserves kept their lines straight whether they marched forward or turned, the other divisions were reasonably straight when marching forward, but dissolved into chaos whenever they attempted to pivot. One phalanx was attempting such a maneuver as they watched. The inside corner marched faster than the outside. In the confusion, the pikemen and swordsmen became unevenly distributed leaving weak points where cavalry could penetrate.

Frustrated, the division's commanding officer led twenty cavalry charging into the disorganized formation, scattering the frightened swordsmen, and only stopping once they were inside the square with their swords pointing at the vulnerable archers. The abuse the major heaped upon his troops for their incompetence was loud enough to carry up the hill, but rather than subdue the Wolves, yelling and fighting broke out within their ranks forcing the sergeants to step in to protect the officers and quell the violence.

Despite their obvious deficiencies, they were doing better than the total chaos of a week ago, but Rhynnayth knew that his troops were far superior. He smiled smugly before answering Vaun's question

"Yes, sir. I believe we can prove your point."

"Excellent. I want Captain Theophthus and Long Fang to return to your troops and array them for battle in the open on level ground. No one gets a terrain advantage. Major Rhynnayth and Thorn, tell Bear to pick two of his best divisions and set them up one hundred yards in front of the Special Reserves."

"Yes, sir," replied four in unison before executing their orders.

Not wanting to prejudice the outcome, the generals remained atop the hill as observers. An important lesson needed to be learned today. It had to be clear to everyone that superior discipline, training, and tactics were what won the day, not the presence of a leader like White Paw or Vaunortheses.

Word of the impending mock battle spread quickly. Most of the camp's civilians came to observe from the sidelines along with the soldiers who weren't participating in the event.

The rules of the battle were simple. Each side had a solid colored flag. The Special Reserves were designated as Red team. Bear's chosen troops were designated Green. Whichever side took the other's flag was the winner. Their weapons were made of flexible bamboo. They were free to hit each other as hard as they wanted. Anyone who was dealt a mortal blow or grievous injury was to fall down and exit the battlefield as quickly and as he or she safely could. Referees were selected from among the idle soldiers and officers to make sure that those that were struck retired from battle. If they cheated, the referees had the authority to grab five other soldiers from the offending team and declare them dead. Death was automatic for anyone hit by a cloth tipped arrow even if it struck a helmet or armor. Swords and pikes had to strike a vulnerable spot without armor unless the blow came from a cavalry charge or struck charging cavalry.

First to set up his army was Bear, not because it was an honor, but because it would save the Special Reserves from having to move twice to ensure the two armies were parallel to each other and at the proper distance. Green chose to deploy as three phalanxes. Their flag was in the middle unit. Two groups of cavalry were positioned so that there was one on each flank. It was a simple but effective arrangement.

After his army was organized as well as possible, Bear joined Jak and Vaun at their vantage point. The huge Wolf was learning to ride a horse, and it was a comical sight. While the standard cavalry mount was bred for strength, endurance, and the ability to carry a male Rabbit in light armor, it also had to be fast and agile. Thus, a breed on the slightly large side of medium was used by most knights. Bear, on the other paw, was too heavy even for the stoutest customary mount to carry.

The only breed sturdy enough to bear him into battle was the draft variety the Rabbit peasants used for pulling a plow or hauling heavy carts and wagons. The beast chosen for Bear was unstoppable once it got going, but it was a placid creature by nature that preferred to munch quietly on grass whenever it was allowed to rest.

"You have left the Red flaggers hopelessly outnumbered," said Bear with unrepressed glee. "They will be slaughtered by my greens."

Before responding, Jak shared a sly glance with Vaun.

"You think so? Aren't you impressed by the neat lines and precise movements of Red as they position themselves so smartly in front of your army?"

In response to Bear's troop deployment, Major Rhynnayth broke his smaller force into two phalanxes with the flag in the rightmost unit as viewed facing the enemy and put all of his smaller cavalry detachment on the left. Rhynnayth rode with the cavalry and put Captain Theophthus in charge of the flag unit and Captain Sunorthoses in charge of the other.

Sunorthoses was a young buck from a wild and remote coastal province. His fur was reddish brown with curiously long, curly auburn hair that spilled over his shoulders and continued down his spine like a mane. The backs of his calves and forearms had similarly long fur similar to the feathers on a horse. Little of this was visible beneath his armor and surcoat, but Rabbit does found his wild exoticness attractive, and he flaunted his attributes in front of them whenever he could. Despite his proclivity to philander, he was a competent officer who had an excellent rapport with the Wolves under his command.

"Their marching's real pretty, just like that tail chasing, red furred Sunorthoses, but fancy marching can't save them any more than fancy fur can. You've been wasting your time. It's numbers and ferocity that wins."

Bear's perspective wasn't a solitary opinion. Red was badly outnumbered by an army that for all appearances was equally equipped and similarly ordered. Wagers began to spread through the crowd like the flies that buzzed about everywhere on this warm summer day. The odds placed against Red were long. A brief cheer for Red made some reconsider their bets when Red raised their flag and it was seen that someone had hastily sewn on a life sized, white silhouette of a wolf clearly intended to be their mascot, Ebusika. Belief that something was exceptional about the Special Reserves was buoyed, but contempt for the stupidity of Red's decision to deploy their flag so vulnerably on their weak right side smothered it like a choking smog in the warm, humid air. For Jak, that was the perfect atmosphere within which to propose a wager of his own with Bear.

"If Red wins, will you help me train the rest of the army the same way?"

Frowning as he always did when forced to think, Bear pondered the question before answering.

"I will do whatever you command, White Paw, but if this is a bet, then I would like to know what I get when I win."

"It is a bet. What do you wish if Green wins? Name your desire."

"Ha! To be chief of all chiefs of course, but only the Maker can give me that, so how about that sword you say the Rabbit queen stole from Olivia?"

It was a bold request. Not only was Jak's sword better than anything even Rikifur could produce, It was a gift from Airy. That gave it more value to Jak than the excellence of its manufacture. Still, the benefit of victory was worth the risk.

"Agreed. Pay close attention. You might learn something."

A huge grin was deforming Bear's typically stony face. Already, he was imagining how high his status would rise when he wore the goddess' blade on his hip.

"Don't worry. I'll be paying very close attention."

The signal for the battle to begin was given as Bear licked his lips in anticipation of a quick victory. Both sides loosed a volley of arrows. As soon as the fusillade was launched, Rhynnayth ordered his army to march, pausing only a few seconds before the Green barrage struck. With incredible precision, the swordsmen raised their large, rectangular shields over their heads protecting the pikemen and archers. Most of the bolts impacted to little effect on the flawlessly executed, temporary roof or hit the ground behind them. A few found their marks. The unlucky Red soldiers dropped to the ground feigning death, but more troops fell out of Green's ranks where large gaps in their shield barrier from sloppy and badly coordinated shield placement left them exposed. Red loosed another volley and advanced again.

Attacking when outnumbered seemed a reckless Red team maneuver to many. The odds against them climbed in the betting pools. Green team commanders seemed equally baffled by the unexpected attack. Their troops began to move forward on their own without orders to engage the charging enemy. Green's lines became uneven and thinner in some areas than others. In the confusion that ensued, officers tried to restore order to prepare an orderly charge of their own, but the initiative to do so was lost.

Instead of concentrating their fire on the infantry, Red team archers aimed their attack on Green's right flank cavalry, who had no protection and, like the rest of their force, had yet to move. Two more volleys were released before Red's infantry clashed with Green's. Green failed to respond in kind, managing only one more volley that did no more harm than the first.

Green's delay was what Rhynnayth had desired. He drew his sword and swung it over his head as he spurred his mount forward. The rest of the Red cavalry charged behind him timed so that they struck Green's immobile right flank knights at the same moment their infantry met the enemy.

Shrugging off their initial paralysis, Green's cavalry moved out to harass Red's right, flag-wielding phalanx, while their left two infantry units put all of their ferocity into attacking that same formation in a logical attempt to take the game winning prize.

Despite the near decimation of Green's right cavalry unit, the situation still appeared hopeless for Red. Their flag was under savage assault, and they were suffering a steady stream of casualties. It was common knowledge that when Wolves fought each other with such disproportionate odds, the side with fewer warriors broke and ran under the pressure. Red was defying that common wisdom by neatly reorganizing itself into a smaller but still impregnable formation as its numbers steadily shrank.

Green's left cavalry unit tried to harass and pull Red's right unit apart by charging and veering away, but they found themselves the losers with each encounter. Red's infantry on the exposed flanks, dropped to their knees with their shields and pikes out, so the archers could fire at will over their heads at the mounted knights. The horses avoided the infantry, unable to tell the difference between a pike and blunted bamboo poles.

Bear had been growling in frustration at the obstinacy of the Red flag unit. Fur stood up on the back of his neck and shoulders. Jak worried for a moment that the giant Wolf would charge down the hill to break their lines himself, but Red's besieged right square chose that moment to begin a slow retreat. Bear howled for joy.

"Ha! Now comes the end. They are about to run. They put up a good fight, but they never had a chance."

Jak and Vaun continued to watch silently with stoic expressions. Betting increased furiously as the odds against Red rose higher. Where could Red hope to go? Green pressed its advantage harder and put all of their effort against Red's right even attempting to turn their own left most unit to flank them. That proved to be a mistake.

The Red retreat was not straight backwards, and Green was forced to turn beyond their ability in an attempt to maintain their engagement. On Green's neglected right, Rhynnayths' cavalry had routed all of Green's knights and now roamed freely to sweep behind Green's vulnerable rear. Harassing the Green infantry without making contact, they taunted and hurled insults at the sword and pikemen. It had the desired effect of drawing warriors out from their undisciplined squares. Holes began to form in their hedge of pikes. A lucky Green archer would occasionally score a hit at the constantly moving and thus hard to target cavalry, but Red's intent to annoy worked. The rightmost Green square began to fray at the edges as Wolves broke out to try to catch their tormentors. The sergeants yelled at and physically restrained them as best they could, but it was futile.

Meanwhile, Red's left unit managed to drive a hole in Green's disintegrating right phalanx by pivoting in perfect synchronicity with their own retreating right square. Red's front line never wavered. The less disciplined Green units could not maintain their formation while executing such a complex turn. Gaps opened up and Red's left phalanx advanced relentlessly into their opponent from Green's front with the cavalry charging into the ragged gaps from behind. In minutes, the entire phalanx was in retreat or destroyed. Red's right continued its shrinking but orderly retreat, pivoting away from Green while keeping its meticulous cohesion. If too many swordsmen were killed, pikemen dropped their weapons and took up shields. The reverse occurred wherever too many pikemen were killed.

The same could not be said for Green. Though they still had numbers, their lines became disproportionally manned leaving regions where there were either only pikemen or only swordsmen. Gaps without protection of any kind formed as they failed to turn together.

The key moment of Red's plan had finally come. Red's cavalry engaged the remaining Green cavalry to neutralize them as the pivoting Red right infantry stopped, hunkering down with shields forward and pikes out letting the archers once again have the freedom to shoot over their heads. Like a wrecking ball swinging on a chain, Red's left continued to sweep into what had once been Green's middle unit pushing through the gaps and uneven defenses with a pent up explosion of ferocity. Green's flag was their goal.

Too late, Green realized what was happening and was powerless to stop it. Red's flag square was small, but impregnable, and Green's middle phalanx was dissolving. Before the audience could properly register what was happening, Green's flag bearing phalanx broke, and their banner fell. The referees called the battle over.

Airy had watched from a distance, pleased with the performance. When it was over, she led her horse from her observation post at the edge of the woods to congratulate Jak and Vaun. Thayir ran easily at her side. Six mounted guards also accompanied her. At the crest of the General's hill, she found Bear, Rhynnayth, Theophthus, Sunorthoses, Long Fang and Thorn already discussing the results of their battle. They fell silent at her approach and saluted.

"Well done, all of you," she exclaimed as she reined her mount to a stop. "That includes you, too, Bear. The Green army fought better than I thought possible, but the Red...if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would not have believed it. Vaun, is this a fluke? Can we train the rest of the army to fight like this?"

"It seems so your highness, but you should really ask White Paw and Bear. They know their own kind best."

Airy looked expectantly at Jak, who deferred to Bear. The giant Wolf seemed surprised at the attention but was not shy about giving his answer.

"Of course, your Majesty. If one Wolf can do it, then so can the others. They'll all want to fight that way now because they want to be just as good."

"Excellent. I want Green and the rest of our army at Red's level in less than ten days."

Bear's tail wagged unconsciously at the prospect of his own troops being as competent as the Special Reserves.

"With White Paw leading the way, it can be done."

It pleased Airy to see that Bear was enthusiastically committed to this endeavor. Hope that her hybrid army would be effective was renewed. More pleasing, though, was how Jak had become a leader again. When she had first met him, he had been so vulnerable, so alone, so grim, and so miserable. His new vitality and proud bearing made him every inch a king. They were truly equals now. She clung to that connection. A bridge of some kind between their species was needed to keep their love together. Could being co-monarchs of a new nation that united their people make their forbidden relationship acceptable? Such thoughts were crucial to her happiness and kept her spirits up against the boundless series of inauspicious hurdles before her. If only she had more time to brood over Jak, she would, but there were innumerable other responsibilities to occupy her thoughts and time.

Addressing her guards, Airy ordered them to retreat halfway down the hill.

"We need privacy."

They tried to protest, citing Esseff's orders never to leave her side, but she silenced them with an intimidating glare.

"I am among the most trusted people I know, more so than you six. Make a circle around the hill. No one can get near me without passing you. The enemy can't fly any more than we can. I shall be quite safe."

Dissatisfied but unwilling to defy their feisty queen, the guards obeyed. Once they were out of hearing range, Airy moved to the center of the group that remained. The after battle smells of male sweat and adrenaline were an intoxicating assaulted upon her senses like the strong liquor she had imbibed in Storfay. She was in a position of power over them all, and yet her own body commanded her to submit to theirs. Sunorthoses appeared especially attractive having removed his helmet to let his rust colored hair cascade over his shoulders. Perhaps having does be subservient to bucks was the Maker's will, but her will was stronger than her lust. Composing herself, she betrayed no outward sign of her inner turmoil and spoke with calm authority.

"Everything that I have to say is secret and goes no farther than this circle. We are ready to move against the AR. Your orders are these: ensure the Special Reserves get plenty of rest tonight. There will be no parties, celebrations, and especially no alcohol to commemorate their victory today. You may tell them their reward will come soon enough, but reveal nothing of our plans. Wake them before dawn so they are ready to travel at first light. Burden them with weapons, armor, food for a few days and nothing else except the barrels of Jorveth's magic powder. I want to be able to move fast through rough terrain. We will cross the river fifteen miles to the west of Chroesphan and march to a position within striking distance of the castle but well hidden within the forests until the next morning. I will provide further orders tomorrow at dusk.

"Major Rhynnayth."

The bent eared Rabbit sat taller in his saddle at the mention of his name.

"You will be in overall command of our troops tomorrow and will leady the cavalry when we attack."

"Yes, your majesty!"

"Captain, Sunorthoses." The long furred officer came to greater attention, if that was possible.

"I understand that you have commanded scouting units before."

"Yes, your Majesty. I have, from here to the sea and through all manner of wilderness."

"Good. You shall command a force of thirty of our best Rabbit scouts to screen ahead and behind our force to ensure we are not discovered. This part is critical. You will use whatever means you have to guarantee no reports of our movements reach the castle. Take as many Wolves as you need. They are remarkably good runners and can keep up with horses in the woods where we will be traveling."

Though he sported a cocky and smug grin that never seemed to leave his face, his voice conveyed absolute respect.

"Yes, your majesty."

"Cat will assist you. I would put her under your command if I could. I suggest you trust her to do what is right and tolerate her impudence."

For a moment, the vain buck lost his composure, but it quickly returned as he nodded his agreement. He enjoyed a challenge, and Cat was a challenge, indeed.

"Sergeant Long Fang will lead the infantry and Sergeant Thorn will lead the archers, both under your command, Captain Theophthus."

The older captain nodded his head slightly in acknowledgement while the two Wolves dropped to one knee in a salute that was considered formal on the battlefield even to someone of her lofty rank. Airy was impressed by their training and took fresh hope from it.

"Rhynnayth, you will answer directly to me. White Paw and General Vaunortheses are more urgently needed here."

"You will be there? But, your Majesty, what if something goes wrong. The risk of losing you..."

"...is death to our cause. I know, but our cause is dead weather we fail tomorrow or in two weeks. I have agreed to stay safely out of the action, but I must enter River Keep after it is taken. That is not negotiable."

"As you wish, your Majesty. I shall pray for your safety and keep you safe."

"Pray instead for the souls of the Rabbits and the Wolves who will die in this battle. I plan not to be among them."