Day 8 13349 not to bad if a bit low. computer was acting up.

Robert shook his head. “As you say General, but I don’t know that they were thinking of the Fey just then. That is a whole different ballgame. Then again the dehigh are more here than there, liking our land better.”

Henry said. “The fey are our neighbors as well, and we need to respect them. I do hope that they will find this fitting. Do you have a lot of contact with them?”

I said. “We have an open border with them as long they mean no harm they are free to travel our land and we are likewise welcome in theirs. It is a strange land, but worth seeing. Not a place I would want to stay, but some find they fit there. Just as some fey find they fit here. They will be fine, this is far better than was expected. I was not sure how close it would be to the trees, just that there was a forest near and told them that.”

He looked at me and nodded a bit. “There was a bit of debate about it but as we have more dragons here we have noticed they like the trees so were hoping it was same, for all there are many different types. Then we just need to head back and show you the outdoor work out area. Lunch should be waiting when we get there, if I didn’t walk to fast.”

Steven said. “I think we are good this time. However there is one more thing, you have forgotten the games field.”

Henry laughed. “So I have and that was the whole point. I am just think of the smoked ribs, that should be waiting, with grilled peppers. Come on before I have you all as eager as I am.” He lead them over to the field smiling. “Now this is where the games will be and as you see there is room here to drill, but they are welcome to use the more established grounds at the house as well. This is just meant to give them a feel for the ground, it is not set good for a real work out. We are expecting a lot to come from the towns so spent most on seeing there were seats. Attendance is always larger at the six year games, and this one being the Treaty anniversary, we are expecting it to triple, even before we had a complete list of who was coming. It is going to be a good year.”

Jeffry nodded. “There are a large number planning to come from my lands as well, looking forward to the stalls as much as the games. I am sure there are going to be a lot. I just fear the goods will run out, even with the gates bringing in more.”

Stewart nodded. “Not to worry we have planned for the gates that are going to running at the stalls. We have a filter over the area already, know that there are going to be a lot of spells being cast. No need to worry about that, or setting of alarms. They have all been tested to see that gates or weapon summoning wouldn’t set them off. The young ones have really had fun with testing that. There has been no more than five pies found floating.” That got a few chuckles and I was able to fade out of the conversation and relax for a bit.

 It was interesting to see what had changed and how much was the same. They had added on to the train grounds a good deal. That is a relief as is the clear evidence that they are putting more work on air combat. It would help if we were on more of an even footing from the start. Everything we had found was pointing at a larger force on their side, and that last war had been closer than I want to think about. This says they do see it coming and are worried as well. That might make them more accepting of what we have learned. It is not going to be easy, more so when we are going to be point at some they know better than us. I have to get them to see that we don’t like it. That we have tried hard to find other explanations, but can’t. I do hope they can find what we missed. I do not like Flint, but I don’t want to believe those reports. Just because I find them deceitful does not mean I think they would side with Darkness. Yet it is there that they have entertained parties from them. I just don’t see an innocent reason for it. I need to remember that as we go into talks. I cannot rush, more so as I have to show it is not the pain in my past that is behind my words. I do not know what he heard, but I am sure it was enough for him to find reasons to discredit anything I say. I looked at the tables but moved on, Oliver would get me a plate and I would be better of with some space just now. I am not ready to share a table with Ken yet, it is hitting hard seeing him there. Jeffery’s poke was bad. I still wonder if they don’t know who I am, for all they have never given any indication. Never even brought it up in the objections to my being crowned. I need to see what is here anyway, a lot are walking and eating. Ryder nodded and I could feel his agreement.

I slowly walked the gourds and it wasn’t long until Oliver handed me a plate Then went to move back. “Now I know it is out of place, but see that you eat more than the samples you test. Here it you look you will it is the custom here for servants to take their meal at the event when they are outdoors like this. There is no reason for you to taste the spicy foods when Shelly is happy to, so remember that when the peppers come out.”

Oliver bowed. “Yes Ma’am, Shelly has already told me that she would see you got some spicy dishes. The others told, but it felt off. I will get a plate now, if you are sure?”

I had to shake my head a bit, for it was so him. “Yes I am sure go on, you need to eat as well.” He bowed again but frowned as he left. At least telling him that I was fine with Shelly bring me food would see he did let her help keep my plate full and that should see he did in fact take time to eat. Just what did Robert and Max tell him before sending him to me?

I heard a laugh and looked to see Daven there. “I thought mine was a bit over board, as they were upset that none had walked the grounds with, but that. Just why is he worried that you won’t eat, General?”

I smiled. “Please call me Anna, I am going to hear enough titles to drive me crazy as it is. I do wish that Roland could have left a few them off, but he loves to remind me of them. It is not so much that I won’t eat as it is that I am still a bit underweight do to the injuries I took a couple of months ago and the orders they were all given before we left.”

He said. “So it was more than scratches? I didn’t think that Glacer had many encounters with any of the demons, yet that made it sound as though it was normal.”

I shrugged. “I wasn’t near death at any time, but one did get a hold of my left led and did a good bit of damage, nothing that couldn’t be fixed, but it did lay me up for a bit. Any time they get a hold of you it messes up your appetite for a bit. The docs are trying to find out why, and why there were no reports of it do so during the war. There has been a lot more attacks by them for the past eight years. Just small numbers, but they are starting to happen more often what we can tell. Our sources are limited by our isolation, we believe that is the case in most of the old allied lands.”

Steven said. “Indeed, and it is odd that we all had an attack on that same day eight years ago, testing day. I never stopped to think why test were held that day until then, but that had me look into it, only to find out that the first treaty we all made set it. That still doesn’t say why it was important.”