to make those hard choices. Besides, I told you that I had not talked to anyone about this yet. I will ask Alex and Larastrides what they suggest, but I do think we can save Tice by using the unicorns."
"You are maturing into a king," Alex stated as he silently sat down beside Tanya. "I did not mean to eavesdrop, but I could not help overhearing the conversation."
"I think we need to sew bells on your boots," chided Tanya.
"It is the lessons of the elves that make me move quietly," smiled Alex. "Perhaps one day there will be time for you two to learn the lessons."
"How is your hand, Tanya?" inquired Alex when there was no response to his words..
"My hand?" Tanya smiled. "My hand is just fine. I do know a bit about healing after all."
"And I thought you would not be able to hold a sword again," chuckled Alex. "You would think that being married to a mage would cause me to realize the power you have."
"Am I wrong to think of using the unicorns, Alex?" questioned Arik.
"Not at all," replied Alex. "In fact, I spoke with Larastrides about that possibility last night. The Shamora agrees that with the proper plan we can achieve victory. The hard part will be to come up with a good plan."
"But the goblins are archers," protested Tanya. "Even if we win, many unicorns will die. They cannot carry shields and they cannot fire back."
"Speed and surprise will be the unicorns' strengths," responded Alex. "Tell me what you have planned so far, Arik."
"I haven't planned anything yet," answered Arik. "I sent Midge out to scout on the goblins. I had planned to discuss it with you and Larastrides when he returned. I was hoping that one of you would have a plan. I am not a general and do not have the experience needed to make these decisions."
"It appears to me that you are making decisions rather well," smiled Alex. "It is not an easy task for you to assume the throne of a country you have never known. The situation in Tagaret would be daunting for even an experienced ruler, but you have a wealth of talent at your disposal. You will make both of your fathers proud by the way you have taken up this challenge."
"How can you have surprise on your side when you have to charge across the battlefield to get to your enemy?" inquired Tanya.
"Charging across the battlefield is one tactic that we will not use," replied Alex. "I understand your fears regarding a slaughter of the unicorns, Tanya, but I do not think anyone here would propose that. However we decide to attack, the element of surprise will be used most wisely. The goblins will not be expecting an attack from the rear. Our goal is to save the residents of Tice and preserve it as an outpost. If we can accomplish that in such a manner that we can be sure that the goblins will not attack it again, then we will have accomplished the goal."
"You mean to make them afraid to attack Tice again?" quizzed Tanya.
"That is one option," nodded Alex. "Another is to cause them such grave casualties that they will refuse to attempt the attack again. I do not know what it will take yet. I do suspect that we will need a fair amount of magic on our side though."
"Perhaps we could make them believe the area is haunted?" suggested Tanya as she started warming to the idea of the attack. "Or a dense fog to hide the unicorns until they attacked?"
"Both are excellent ideas," grinned Alex as he watched the sun start to rise over the horizon.
"Wasn't Alexander Tork known as the Goblin Killer?" interjected Arik.
"Yes he was!" exclaimed Tanya. "He is feared and hated by the goblins. I am starting to get some ideas on how we can use that to our advantage."
Alex rose while smiling and shaking his head. "You two keep plotting," Alex chuckled. "I need to get Jenneva up and help her prepare a meal. Let me know when Price Midge returns."
"So if Alex thinks it is a good idea it is alright," frowned Arik after Alex had left, "but if it is my idea then I must be crazy?"
"I am sorry," Tanya responded. "I guess
"You are maturing into a king," Alex stated as he silently sat down beside Tanya. "I did not mean to eavesdrop, but I could not help overhearing the conversation."
"I think we need to sew bells on your boots," chided Tanya.
"It is the lessons of the elves that make me move quietly," smiled Alex. "Perhaps one day there will be time for you two to learn the lessons."
"How is your hand, Tanya?" inquired Alex when there was no response to his words..
"My hand?" Tanya smiled. "My hand is just fine. I do know a bit about healing after all."
"And I thought you would not be able to hold a sword again," chuckled Alex. "You would think that being married to a mage would cause me to realize the power you have."
"Am I wrong to think of using the unicorns, Alex?" questioned Arik.
"Not at all," replied Alex. "In fact, I spoke with Larastrides about that possibility last night. The Shamora agrees that with the proper plan we can achieve victory. The hard part will be to come up with a good plan."
"But the goblins are archers," protested Tanya. "Even if we win, many unicorns will die. They cannot carry shields and they cannot fire back."
"Speed and surprise will be the unicorns' strengths," responded Alex. "Tell me what you have planned so far, Arik."
"I haven't planned anything yet," answered Arik. "I sent Midge out to scout on the goblins. I had planned to discuss it with you and Larastrides when he returned. I was hoping that one of you would have a plan. I am not a general and do not have the experience needed to make these decisions."
"It appears to me that you are making decisions rather well," smiled Alex. "It is not an easy task for you to assume the throne of a country you have never known. The situation in Tagaret would be daunting for even an experienced ruler, but you have a wealth of talent at your disposal. You will make both of your fathers proud by the way you have taken up this challenge."
"How can you have surprise on your side when you have to charge across the battlefield to get to your enemy?" inquired Tanya.
"Charging across the battlefield is one tactic that we will not use," replied Alex. "I understand your fears regarding a slaughter of the unicorns, Tanya, but I do not think anyone here would propose that. However we decide to attack, the element of surprise will be used most wisely. The goblins will not be expecting an attack from the rear. Our goal is to save the residents of Tice and preserve it as an outpost. If we can accomplish that in such a manner that we can be sure that the goblins will not attack it again, then we will have accomplished the goal."
"You mean to make them afraid to attack Tice again?" quizzed Tanya.
"That is one option," nodded Alex. "Another is to cause them such grave casualties that they will refuse to attempt the attack again. I do not know what it will take yet. I do suspect that we will need a fair amount of magic on our side though."
"Perhaps we could make them believe the area is haunted?" suggested Tanya as she started warming to the idea of the attack. "Or a dense fog to hide the unicorns until they attacked?"
"Both are excellent ideas," grinned Alex as he watched the sun start to rise over the horizon.
"Wasn't Alexander Tork known as the Goblin Killer?" interjected Arik.
"Yes he was!" exclaimed Tanya. "He is feared and hated by the goblins. I am starting to get some ideas on how we can use that to our advantage."
Alex rose while smiling and shaking his head. "You two keep plotting," Alex chuckled. "I need to get Jenneva up and help her prepare a meal. Let me know when Price Midge returns."
"So if Alex thinks it is a good idea it is alright," frowned Arik after Alex had left, "but if it is my idea then I must be crazy?"
"I am sorry," Tanya responded. "I guess
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