The seer's sudden appearance and its possible implications had dampened their spirit. Juliane, especially, seemed to be contemplative and withdrawn. In an effort to make sense of what was happening and what was about to come, Peredhil knew he needed to show her one more thing. He led her through the palace until the reached the eastern watchtower. Climbing up the spiraling stairway, they finally stepped out into the open.
Thick tufts of black smoke clouded the horizon, and wide swathes of the lush forests had been cleared. Peredhil's face grew grim as he pointed out the Dark One's armies on the far side of the Mi'cila River. Even from this distance, the sheer size of the camp was overwhelming. "A month ago, they were at the gates of the city. With a bit of outside help, we were able to push them back to the river," Peredhil said, his facial expression suggesting that he was clearly not pleased with whoever had provided this 'outside help'.
"The fact that they remain in Elessari territory, free to harass and destroy our peoples and land, sickens me." His eyes flared with anger. "But soon... soon we will not only drive them off of this land but deep into the dark caves they emerged from."
If it were truly to be the final campaign, then they must be left no option to regroup, not in two months or two decades. It was the only way that Peredhil could step aside, if he could be confident that he was not leaving a major crisis in the hands of his successor. The new republic would face enough birthing challenges without an existential threat hovering over it.
Juliane moved to the wall, her hands going out to grip the frigid stone, cold from the winds whipping about them at such an elevation. Somehow the contact with the rough surface was a comfort and she pressed against it with all her force.
"Have all tha' could make it ta th' safety of th' city been brought here?" Her voice was captured by the wind and swirled about them.
His grey eyes slowly drifted from the enemy's camp to Juliane. She seemed reed-thin, so vulnerable to the wind, that he felt a paternalistic urge to wrap her in his arms, protect her from harm. But when he caught sight of her face, all he saw was firm resolve. "Aye, Juliane, they are either here or farther west, where the Dark One's armies have not yet reached." Those that were still alive, that was.
"And what lies farther west of tha', yeah? Could they be sent for aid ta th' neighbors there?" Her eyes were still firmly locked to the sight before her, but her mind was whirling a mile a minute.
"Darkness. Everything west of Elessar's borders lies under the Dark One's authority." He shook his head. "We tried to form an alliance with some of our neighbors, but politics got in the way. While they dallied, the Dark One struck, plundering some and turning others with the promise of wealth and protection." His face darkened. "Elessar is the only one not still under her control."
"Then Elessar will be th' example of strength against th' lies. Those in th' west need ta be brought ta th' city."
"What do you have in mind?" That, after all, was the purpose of the campaign and the recruitment drive. Yet Peredhil felt that Juliane was getting at something. He waited patiently for her to continue.
"Have ya ever seen a cattle drive, Peredhil? Or a flock per'aps? Seen 'em corralled away from where they want ta go and ta th' pen ya want 'em in?" She waited, her sight line following the horizon and terrain before them.
Nodding, he followed her gaze. "That might work for the advance army, but the brunt of her forces are gathered farther back, where the land is flatter and more open. But go on." He was intrigued.
"Well, ya give a flock of animals somethin' ta follow an' then ya have somethin' runnin' around behind ta shove 'em inta th' pen while th' leader climbs over th' fence." Her mind was pulling up images of Hope, driving wild horses into the corral.
"I get the analogy, Juliane. But what exactly do you suggest?" The hint of a knowing smile formed, almost as if he'd expected this conversation when he'd brought her here.
Thick tufts of black smoke clouded the horizon, and wide swathes of the lush forests had been cleared. Peredhil's face grew grim as he pointed out the Dark One's armies on the far side of the Mi'cila River. Even from this distance, the sheer size of the camp was overwhelming. "A month ago, they were at the gates of the city. With a bit of outside help, we were able to push them back to the river," Peredhil said, his facial expression suggesting that he was clearly not pleased with whoever had provided this 'outside help'.
"The fact that they remain in Elessari territory, free to harass and destroy our peoples and land, sickens me." His eyes flared with anger. "But soon... soon we will not only drive them off of this land but deep into the dark caves they emerged from."
If it were truly to be the final campaign, then they must be left no option to regroup, not in two months or two decades. It was the only way that Peredhil could step aside, if he could be confident that he was not leaving a major crisis in the hands of his successor. The new republic would face enough birthing challenges without an existential threat hovering over it.
Juliane moved to the wall, her hands going out to grip the frigid stone, cold from the winds whipping about them at such an elevation. Somehow the contact with the rough surface was a comfort and she pressed against it with all her force.
"Have all tha' could make it ta th' safety of th' city been brought here?" Her voice was captured by the wind and swirled about them.
His grey eyes slowly drifted from the enemy's camp to Juliane. She seemed reed-thin, so vulnerable to the wind, that he felt a paternalistic urge to wrap her in his arms, protect her from harm. But when he caught sight of her face, all he saw was firm resolve. "Aye, Juliane, they are either here or farther west, where the Dark One's armies have not yet reached." Those that were still alive, that was.
"And what lies farther west of tha', yeah? Could they be sent for aid ta th' neighbors there?" Her eyes were still firmly locked to the sight before her, but her mind was whirling a mile a minute.
"Darkness. Everything west of Elessar's borders lies under the Dark One's authority." He shook his head. "We tried to form an alliance with some of our neighbors, but politics got in the way. While they dallied, the Dark One struck, plundering some and turning others with the promise of wealth and protection." His face darkened. "Elessar is the only one not still under her control."
"Then Elessar will be th' example of strength against th' lies. Those in th' west need ta be brought ta th' city."
"What do you have in mind?" That, after all, was the purpose of the campaign and the recruitment drive. Yet Peredhil felt that Juliane was getting at something. He waited patiently for her to continue.
"Have ya ever seen a cattle drive, Peredhil? Or a flock per'aps? Seen 'em corralled away from where they want ta go and ta th' pen ya want 'em in?" She waited, her sight line following the horizon and terrain before them.
Nodding, he followed her gaze. "That might work for the advance army, but the brunt of her forces are gathered farther back, where the land is flatter and more open. But go on." He was intrigued.
"Well, ya give a flock of animals somethin' ta follow an' then ya have somethin' runnin' around behind ta shove 'em inta th' pen while th' leader climbs over th' fence." Her mind was pulling up images of Hope, driving wild horses into the corral.
"I get the analogy, Juliane. But what exactly do you suggest?" The hint of a knowing smile formed, almost as if he'd expected this conversation when he'd brought her here.