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Chapter 383: A New Plan

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LERRIN

Lerrin began to outline his thoughts, but they were both desperately aware that today was a hugely important day, and Lerrin would be interrupted and called upon any moment something arose that might slow their travel. Lerrin had also agreed to evaluate the soldiers first thing that morning. So, he and Suhle agreed to finish the conversation later, when they could be hidden from others, and got out of bed and dressed for the day, Suhle once again disappearing behind her white hood.

Lerrin took a moment before they left to push it back and hold her face. He sent her his admiration along the link

I will have to treat you as if you are… unimportant when we are in front of others. For your own safety. But speak to me this way and you will hear the truth. Suhle… you are precious to me. Do not ever doubt it.

She gave him a lopsided grin.

I see your heart, Lerrin. I know it. I do not fear. I am accustomed to standing in the background. I prefer it.

He shook his head at her humility. You are an example to me, he sent. Then he kissed her briefly before pulling her hood back up and turning for the tent-flap.

Lerrin hated seeing her hide herself. Hated even more that when they stepped out of the tent and there were witnesses, he had to pretend he was barely aware of her—when every inch of his skin pulled towards her, every sense was heightened to any movement, any sound she made.

She carried his bag—others would believe her joining him to assist as he planned and gathered resources for their trip—following him out of the tent, to the training ground that had been established in the forest where Lerrin was to examine the soldiers and choose his guard for the attack on the city.

When Lerrin caught sight of the clearing, Asta—whom he\'d sent, with some difficulty, a warning that he was approaching—stood at the head of the field, the best fists lined up behind her, each in two lines behind their fist leader.

When Lerrin stepped into the sunlight, the fist leaders all called the command to salute, and the fists, in perfect unison, each took the knee and snapped their fists to their chests. Lerrin was glad to see they\'d found their discipline, but there was no relief for him in it, under the circumstances.

Asta nodded at him when their eyes caught. But then she saw Suhle walking directly behind him and her head tilted. She stared a question at him but he turned and immediately began speaking so she wouldn\'t scratch at his mind. He couldn\'t risk linking any more than absolutely necessary with anyone beyond Suhle today. It was too high a risk that some of his emotions might bleed through and bring suspicion.

"Thank you for your service to the Lupine Tribe, and to your Alpha!" he called across the field so everyone would hear him clearly. "You are the best of our people, the strongest, fastest, and most disciplined, and all of you will be recognized. I am here to tell you that the time has come. You will be part of the troops that bring this fight to the Tree City."

The discipline broke as the soldiers—almost entirely male—lifted their chins and howled their delight to finally be engaging in combat. Lerrin forced himself to smile. He felt Suhle shift her weight behind him.

"When we leave this ground, you prepare your packs for at least two nights on the trail, and combat rations. We leave at sundown. But now I will watch your final training and select from among you the fist that is to be my personal guards. If we are successful in our attack, you will remain as the core of my Guard when I have taken the throne as the true King of WildWood!"

The wolves cheered and he smiled grimly. It was true. Or would be, if he were to step onto the throne.

Then he turned to Asta who called them all to attention again, and they began the exercises that they believed would help him select the best among them for his purpose. But Lerrin could barely concentrate. Most of his mind and senses followed every movement of Suhle, down to the flutter of her hair. But to the others he looked like he examined the soldiers and evaluated their form in the sparring and movements.

He and Asta discussed the individual soldiers, and the fist leaders, Lerrin specifically looking to find those that were the most disciplined, most likely to follow his orders without question.

In the end, with little difference between the groups, he chose the group that had one female among them who seemed very steady, and the males who had looked at Suhle the least.

The fist stood to attention when he informed them, proud and grateful for the chance to follow him into battle.

A battle he no longer believed in, but couldn\'t see a way to avoid. Yet.

Then he farewelled them and started from the field. Asta joined him, walking him to the edge of the forest, with only one glance at Suhle behind him.

"Are you ready?" she asked quietly.

"We are working on it. I have several stops to make this morning," he said, his voice short and abrupt so Asta would think him busy and distracted.

"Will you need me before lunch?"

Lerrin blinked, it was an odd question, but he guessed she only asked because he would be leaving and she wished to be available to him beforehand. "No," he replied. I will need to speak with you before dinner. But in truth, Asta, you already know my wishes for the Lupine. In the event I am delayed, simply make the choices you believe I would make."

She nodded, a guarded edge in her gaze that he didn\'t like, but understood. She always hated emotion, and he suspected that, like him, she was very aware that this was likely the closest he would ever come to walking directly into the face of death.

Strange that he didn\'t feel nervous about that. Yet.

"Very well. I will meet with some friends before lunch, but make sure I am available from the midday meal onwards. Call me when you need me."

Lerrin felt Suhle tense behind him, but he couldn\'t turn. Couldn\'t let Asta know she was anything but a servant to him. But in a rush now to speak with her, he nodded and waved Asta off. "Thank you for bringing the guards together. They\'re looking good. It\'s a relief."

She gave a flat smile then turned away, another glance at Suhle, but without comment, then jogged back into the clearing to release the soldiers.

Suhle\'s tension increased with every step, but they could not afford to risk anyone noticing anything different about them. So Lerrin waited until they had walked much deeper into the forest—away from the encampment, towards a small clearing with a cave that he was aware of and had visited a few times when he needed privacy.

Are you well? he sent as they turned onto a deserted trail.

She opened her mind to him immediately and what he saw there almost made him shift on the spot.

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