Languidly - open -

[allison]

Aly's unprofessional sitting arrangement emitted almost palpable waves of laziness and severe boredom. She was sitting languidly in one of the castles large windows. It was more of a gaping hole in the side of the building rather then an actual glass frame, the sill itself a good two feet wide. Aly, however, was perched on the very edge, one foot pressed against the opposite wall, knee bent in the middle. The other was tucked under the other leg, half cross legged. She'd nicked a fairly fancy dress from some noble, of whom she couldn't recall the name, and was currently using it as a pillow. After all, walls could get hard and uncomfortable after a couple of hours of doing absolutely nothing. True, she could have scanning reports or gathering messages or perhaps killing some poor bloke in the name of the king, but they would require energy, thus ending her lethargy.

After all, it would only be three more days before she made the 'diplomatic' ride to the Saxon encampment, offering peace offers or something of the like. Her actual purpose was more sinister. Spy, aquire information, perhaps turn some influential Saxon's against each other. Not to kill. Assassining was a skillful art. To soon could be more dangerous then leaving the person alive, to late and it might not make a difference. Regardless of the purpose of her mission, she had decided to take a couple of days off to prepare for the big ride. She was not entirely lazy, however. In her hand she had a small but complex bronze puzzle; made of interlocking rings and curved spirals. The gaol was to separate the rings and spirals and random metal shapes from each other.

A daunting task for most people, Aly only found it mediocrely challenging. She deftly twisted one piece around another, using each clever finger to keep, move, or separate a piece. She whistled tunelessly under her breath as she did so, blue eyes fixed on the puzzle. Every couple of minutes she would pluck a ring or spiral away and drop it in a ever growing pile by her side. A few servants or nobles walked past, even fewer alert enough to notice the young women sitting in the window sill; dressed in emerald green trousers and a dark blue, sleeveless blouse. Those who did either looked on with curiosity or distain, the latter of the two soon moved on when Aly looked up to give them a murderous stare coupled with lips curled up in a warm smile. The combination of the smile and unfriendly eyes usually was enough to send most scudding away, thinking something wicked must be on her mind. Truthfully, she found it humorous to watch them run away.

[kajouka]

Guinevere walked softly along the castle corridors. She had changed out of the gowns and shoes and jewels that marked her as Queen of Britain, trading the formalwear for her trousers and leather top. Her position was Queen, but her heart was still a Woad, and she was determined never to lose her past. Guinevere's passion for battle had not waned, even if the birth of her daughter and her role as a mother forced her to make wiser choices about her activities. With the exception of the last trimester of her pregnancy and the first few months of Helena's life, Guinevere had made archery practice a regular part of her weekly regiment.

As so, with her bow and quiver secured to her back, she made her way through the castle, intent on visiting the practice fields for the first time that week. Her skills were still sharp, even if unnecessary. Guinevere imagined that Arthur would balk against any proposal of hers to return to the battlefront, especially now that they had a child. Guinevere found shooting a unmoving target to be on the boring side, but firing her bow at something was enjoyable and relaxing enough for peacetime Britain.

As she turned the corner, she noticed someone sitting on the windowsill in what most nobles would consider an awkward position. Guinevere, on the other hand, found the strange style of propping ones legs up reminded her of perching in a forest tree balancing precariously between branch and trunk. Her own memories of a time when the trees were like a home to her flashed through her mind. As she approached the other woman, Guinevere recognized the face as one of Arthur's spies.

"Interesting position you've taken up," the queen called out, stopping a few yards from where Aly was sitting. "Lady-like to be sure."

[allison]

"Your sarcasm is hurtful, I am deeply wounded." Aly retorted in a dry voice, face full of faked woe, without looking up. After a couple of seconds and the removal of another ring, she looked up at the speaker, face still full of sorrow. It dissolved as she recognized the women who had remarked upon her posture. Aly was no fool. She'd seen the Queen several times, though hadn't had an actually conversation. Mouthing off to a powerful individual when she didn't the know the temperment of that individual was an idiotic thing to do. Like poking reaching side of a mother grizzly bears, unsure of whether it is there or not.

"My apologies," She edited quickly, although she not look apologetic in the slightest. "I hadn't realized who I'd spoken to, Queen Guinevere." Her voice, while still retaining the distinctive dry quality, had the note of someone forcing formalness. Surely Aly could act like the perfect diplomat or elegant noble, but doing so without cause got rather dull, especially when most nobles were such air heads. She shifted her position slightly so she sitting rather then half laying. Although her fingers still were playing with the puzzle, her blue eyes were on the Queen, quickly examining her before returning to Guinevere's eyes. She found it particular the Queen was not wearing an elegant dress, but a leather top and trousers.

Aly rose a delicate eyebrow. "Not off to a ball, I assume?" She asked, though her voice was not as dry as before. A particularly painful hook was stabbing Aly in the shoulder blade. No doubt shifting her position had twisted the catches on the dress she was currently using a cushion. Leaning forwards and holding the puzzle in one hand, she ripped the hook off of the dress. Settling back against her now pain free seat, she dropped the hook in the pile of metal rings. Normally she would have flicked it at someone, though the nearby presence of the Queen caused her not to.

[kajouka]

Guinevere raised an eyebrow at Aly's icy retort, even as the woman realized she was speaking to the Queen. Guinevere was not one to tout her position as better than anyone else's - she was Queen because Arthur chose her as his bride and not because she was born deserving of such esteem. Even so, the woman's dryness was unwelcome. Guinevere had spoken in jest and would not let Aly ruin her pleasant mood.

She opted instead to simply answer Aly's final question. "If I had my way, we would all wear pants to the ball and have a bonfire with our dresses." Guinevere adjusted the quiver on her back, making a half-hearted move to indicate the weapon and arrow holder strapped behind her. "I've decided that the weather is too beautiful to stay cooped up indoors and I plan to practice shooting arrows at dull unmoving targets." Without a wave, Guinevere continued past the window in the direction she had been heading. A sudden thought occurred to her and she paused mid-step. "You wouldn't care to join me, would you? I would like to hear of your assignment to the East."

[allison]

Aly's lips quirked up in a half smile. It seemed the Queen shared her distain of fancy dresses and gowns. Unlike when she had been trying to scare people before, her expression was pleasant. Quite a change from the previous dryness. Even when she wasn't on a mission or acting, she still continually severed her emotions and actions. The emotions she pushed away into the farthest corner of her being, leaving her mind empty of distractions, just a cool intelligent calculation. To seem natural around others, she put on a facade of emotions appropriate to the event. It was not that she was devoid of emotion, she was merely used to ignoring them. "I'd be the tribal dancer around the fire," She said with the upmost seriousness, though there was a slight joking look in her blue eyes, not unfriendly.

"Those unmoving targets can be so dense at times," Aly agreed, a smile still haunting her lips despite the serious tone of her voice. A little pun. Despite her comparably more pleasant tone, there was no mistaking the cool detachment it barely vailed. Her blue eyes, behind the suggested humor, were are as hard and cruel as ice chips. Aly was an assassin after all, personal relationships were dangerous. She nodded politely to Guinevere as she started off down the hall, returning her attention to the puzzle at hand. She'd managed to get the third to last ring off when the Queen turned. Aly looked up as the Queen paused. Hmm. Although the spies were technically under Arthur's control, they tended to leave him in the dark more often then not. What the King didn't know couldn't hurt him when he had others to take care of him. Some of the spies, like Aly, felt no personal loyalty to the king. They were for Britain. Still, it wouldn't hurt to get of her butt and exercise.

"Might as well, flattening my a-" She hesitated, “Er, backside won't make the 48 hour ride to the East anymore enjoyable.” She scooted out of the window, landing as lightly as a cat on the floor, abandoning the dress she had been leaning against in the sill. The metal puzzle she gently stuffed into her pocket, not wanting to bend the pieces. Hmm. It seemed that she had gained an ample amount of dust by sitting inside of the window. Wrinkling her nose slightly, she proceeded to dust herself off before walking leisurely to the Queen's side. They were about the same height, though Guinevere was perhaps a little taller, more muscled the slight little Aly.

[kajouka]

Guinevere led Aly to the castle exit, where their over tunics and cloaks were hanging by the door. She first pulled her leather and fur lined overcoat from the hook, pulling it over her head. The material was durable and light, but still quite warm. She glanced then at her cloak. It was a deep crimson color that reminded her of the color of freshly spilled blood. Lifting the cloak off the hook, she slung the heavy material over her shoulders and pulled the hood up over her head. The walk to the archery range wasn't long, but there was no sense in letting the chill of the winter air eat into her skin. She waited for Aly to don her own garments, then pushed open the castle's back door and headed out into the elements.

"A tribal dancer?" Guinevere repeated, reflecting on Aly's comment. She could picture the woman swaying to Saxon music. "You would charm them all back to the hell they came from I should hope. There is no place in Britain for men such as they. And we must know what their intentions are." Arthur might try and shield Guinevere from the troubles of the world, but she had her ways of discovering the events beyond her castle walls. Guinevere had fought the Saxons before. The evil men had damaged her people and only an alliance with Arthur had made them strong enough to win the war. But Guinevere had no doubts that the Saxons would look for vengeance when the time arrived. Haste was critical to their continued survival. "And you set out tomorrow?" She asked.

[allison]

Aly lagged a little behind Guinevere, eyes constantly flickering from corridors and rooms, observing. A couple of servants walked by carrying plates or towering piles of clothes, all bowing briefly to Queen as they made there way past. A couple nodded slightly to Aly, one man grinning quite impishly and to whom Aly made a face at. She was friends or associates with most of the castles servants, they heard things no one else did because no one paid attention to them. As they arrived at the exit, Aly stuck her hand outside. It was confronted by an icy winter chill. She sighed. Colder weather meant changing into warmer clothes, which always took a while with her sheaths. She pulled her shirt over her head, revealing a simple white under shirt. Over the shirt were two straps. The first was like a wide belt a little above her navel, holding the largest of the three knives. The second was harnessed to her shoulders, and she had a third under her wrist.

Muttering something foul in Italian under her breath, she painstakenly unhooked the straps and pulled off the sheaths. Thus accomplished, she survayed the coats on the walls. None were hers, but she settled for a thick white shirt and pulled it over her undershirt. Next came the sheaths, followed by a fellow spies black jacket. This allowed easier access for her knives at the archery range. After all, she would have to make sure her skills hadn't rusted. This took all of five minutes, long after Guinevere had donned hers.

"I thought Woads enjoyed tribal dances, or am I mistaken?" Aly asked innocently. She knew the Queen was a Woad, if she didn't she would be concerned for her spying abilities. Woads were generally a secretive people, and even curious Aly didn't know much about them, not even the meaning of the tattoos which they wore like a second skin. She considered Guinevere's speech for a moment. She was very anti-Saxon, no doubt thought even a child cruel and barbaric to their core, horrible things which must be driven out. Foreign and strange, and thus dangerous. "You should be careful not to judge people you've only fought. If I were to describe a nation based on a battle, I'd call you all unsuitable, blood thirsty barbarians." Aly commented, though her voice gave no hint that she might be warning or repremanding. If Aly was to recall, Arthur had once defended Hadrian's walls against the Woads, not the Saxon's. "Though you have a point, they are currently not in Britain's best interest."

They arrived at the Archery range, which was nearly empty. Aly stretched languidly, bending down to touch her toes. "Yes, I have the pleasure of setting out for a cold, lonely ride to the Saxon's." She said, still debating if she should be telling Guinevere this information.

[kajouka]

A sour look struck Guinevere's face at Aly remarks. Her people were different in their ways, a far cry from the civilities that had come north with the Romans. But her people were not cruel, nor unjust. Guinevere considered herself a rational judge of the nature of one's deeds, but even she knew that any attempt at being objective could be tossed from the top tower of the Castle when the word Saxon passed someone's lips. A seething hatred fumed inside her, but she quelled it. She would not explain her inner feelings to someone she'd just met; even those who had known her a lifetime were often not privy to her deepest meditations. Instead, she spoke curtly. "Blood-thirsty is a fair description of Saxon motives, Lady Aly, but you put yourself at peril to use them as descriptors for the Woads." A quick glance was all the Queen needed to convey that this conversation was over.

She moved on, preferring to turn the talk to Aly and her mission, but the pair arrived at the archery range before another word could be spoken. Guinevere relayed her wishes to the groundskeep who rattled off order to his underlings. Targets were placed at the desired locations for both Guinevere and Aly. When the servants were out of the way, Guinevere pulled an arrow from her quiver and notched it the string of her bow. She pulled back, her first two fingers gripping both arrow and bowstring. Her movements were smooth, practiced, and quick. In seconds, the arrow soared through the air, and true to target, landed only a finger's width from the center. "Not a bad shot," she commented, more to herself than the audience. But what did she expect? She could hit a rabbit on the run, a bird taking flight, and a charging Saxon square between the eyes. A target was nothing.

She turned to Aly. "Have you talent for the bow? Or do you prefer a hand weapon?" The questions were more small talk than to garner any real information. Guinevere wanted to shoot a few rounds before asking anything more serious.

[allison]

Aly's expression seemed unconcerned at the bitter expression on Guinevere's face. She would a disgracefully horrible assassin if she cared about every woe people felt. She was interested in, however, the reason for the Queen's raging hatred of Saxon's. Aly herself had no personal grudge against them, having spent most of her life either secluded in southern Britain or in Italy. Half of the soldiers in Arthur's army probably didn't hate the Saxon's. Dislike, sure. But hate was born from confrontation, whether it had involved one personally or a relative. Aly might be knowledgeably weak when it came to the cultures of Britain, but she was pretty sure the Saxon's were no more bloodthristy then the Romans, Brits or Woads. Perhaps they were just more open about it. Regardless, she decided not to further offend the Queen by arguing, and so only shrugged dispassionately, as though the Queen's statement made no lasting impact, and pressed her lips together in a tight line. The urge to argue was second only to her urge to know, but she controlled it.

Her eyes lightened with a calculating curiosity as the Queen effortlessly notched her bow and released. She was a natural, as if shooting a bow came to her as easily as singing did to a Bard or writing to a scholar. Her mark was exceptional as well, no more then a fingers breath from the center. It seemed like Aly would have some competition. She had been trained in all manner of light weight weapons, long and far, from knives to bows to steel gloves. Nothing unwieldy, like a sword or ax, for her goal was to dispatch a persons life as quickly and as efficiently as possible. For her, it was a matter of life and death. No one would back her up if she missed. "Impressive." Aly murmured, glancing at Guinevere.

"Knives are less noticeable then a bow." She plucked the knife from under her wrist first, tossing it lightly into the air in order to hold it by the tip. For a moment she looked at the target, gearing the distance, before with a flash of her wrist sent the knife whirling through the air to land, buried halfway up the blade. It was no more then a couple of centimeters from the center. Accuracy was the key, to much to one side and you'd hit a rib instead of the heart, the trachea instead of the jugular. "Though in a pinch I could use a bow." She admitted, not wanting to go through the trouble of removing another knife from the target, she looked around for a bow and arrow. For an assassin, she was remarkable lazy, not wanting to move farther then what was necessary.

[kajouka]

Guinevere watched Aly take a shot with the knife and nodded her approval at the woman's skill. Knives definitely had their advantages, but so did a bow. "For one who does not intend to sneak up on their enemy, a bow is a formidable weapon. The range is much better than a knife. A bow and arrow do little good when the enemy is charging. I think I will practice with a knife next time I come down here. The bow is no longer a challenge." Guinevere pulled another arrow from her quiver and took her second shot. This she followed with a third, and then another until her quiver was empty. None of her arrows had missing the target, and only one had missed the center two rings. She slipped her bow onto her back and turned to watch Aly's shots.

"I should think that mastering skills for multiple weapons would benefit us all. Tell me, when you ride to the Saxon encampment, how will present yourself?" Guinevere found herself curious as to the nature of Aly's assignment. She had never been a spy, but she had spent many a day spying on others for her own personal reasons. She had never, however, tried to blend in with those whom she considered her enemy.

[allison]

"Unfortunately, my profession rarely deals with war directly. Silence them before they have a chance to take a breath, before they so much as know what is going on." People always looked at spies and assassin's with such distaste. As though they were cowards, stabbing an enemy with his back turned in cold blood, murdering anyone who posed a threat. Personally, Aly held all those who thought that as irrational fools. Half the men in war couldn't kill a man or women, especially a child, if it was in 'cold blood'. Aly shrugged agreeably at Guinevere's comment on bows. It was true, ranged weapons were excellent at bow. Perhaps less force then a knife, but more ammo.

She watched as the Queen fired her last shots, and, finally spotting a bow on the opposite wall, retrieved it. After hooking the bow string, notched an arrow and pulled it back to her ear. She was good at the bow, certainly not the best, but good enough to get a kill shot 9 out of 10 times, probably more. It landed in the second inner ring, about three inches from the center. Aly wrinkled her nose, and notched another arrow. A whistle of air, and this one landed inside of the center. For safeties sake she decided to shoot a third, and this time it landed next to the second. One horrible one, two kills.

"So would reading the Library of Alexandria," She said, sighing slightly. But Egypt was a long, long way away. Reading the fabled library would be nearly impossible, though unequivocally amazing. Aly looked up at Guinevere's question, eyebrows knitting together above her blue eyes. Normally she didn't divulge information on missions, regardless of who it was too. Still, Guinevere was the Queen, and it wasn't a partically major one. Thoughtfully she scratched the side of her face, fingers brushing the long, wire thin scar down her cheek, before answering. "As a harmless, charismatic diplomat. Wary, obviously, but confident. I'll be discussing peace treaties, seeing what they want from King Arthur, see if anything can be arranged. Not the actually reason, of course," She paused, smiling slightly. "But no information comes without a price, you must understand." Her voice was almost persuasive. "Tell me, do you still fight in war's, or have your responsiblities shifted?"

[kajouka]

Guinevere watched as Aly fired at the target. The woman was skilled enough at the bow to be deadly, and Guinevere concluded that Aly rarely missed when the shot was important. She nodded her head in admiration as she watched each arrow fly true; even the worse shot would at the very least maim the enemy enough that he could be finished off with little effort. As Aly finished up and began to speak, Guinevere motioned for the servants to collect up the arrows. Normally, she would collect her own weapons and fire another round or two. Today, however, she was finished, too interested in Aly's words to take the break needed to fetch her arrows.

At Aly's question, however, she frowned. The topic often came up between her and Arthur and Guinevere was torn on the subject. It was her duty to fight for her people - to show her face proud and unafraid on the field of battle to give her people courage and show her convictions in their cause. But her daughter was her responsibility as well, and Helena would be far worse off if she were killed in battle than Britain would be if she simply didn't show up. The blood in Guinevere's veins screamed to fight, while the woman inside her begged her to put her daughter first.

She didn't answer the question. "I have not given up my interest in this war, nor Britain's dealing with the Saxons. I would be careful, Lady Aly, when approaching those barbarians. They will care not that you come in peace. If they mean war, they could just as easily declare such by sending back your head as by attacking our wall. Keep your wits about you." With that, Guinevere turned to begin the short trek back to the castle. "I believe this cold afternoon could use a warm snack and a hot fire. Don't you?"

[allison]

Aly crinkled her nose again when Guinevere didn't answer her question, though she got enough information from body language. The Queen obviously had discussed the topic before, probably still undecided on the subject. It did mean, however, that she would have the change the focus of her questions to less personal matters. In Aly's world, no information came free of charge. People died over names, his father had risked her own life over information. Aly would simple lay in mental wait until Guinevere asked an important question, and then she would ask her question.

"Few would agonize over my death, Queen Guinevere." Aly said with dry humor. "Fewer still would believe it warrants retaliation in the form of outright war, I think." She was no fool to politics. If she was a general or an influential noble from a dominate family, it would be very different. But if no one weeps over your death and demands revenge, it could easily be swept under the carpet. The Saxon's might take it to as declaring war, as might Arthur, but Aly's death could just as easily be ignored and not be used as a tool. "The advice is duly appreciated," She thanked without sarcasm, "Though I believe I understand the need for cautiousness. This is not the first time, after all."

She pressed her lips together at the mention of a warm snack, smiling in a comical expression. "Sounds delightful, I'll be right behind you. " Turning, she walked leisurely to the target, fastening her fingers around the hilt and tugging hard. After the second tug it came loose with a the sound of metal on wood, a shrill squeak. This done, she turned around and followed Guinevere, walking briskly until she caught up and sliding the knives into their respective sheaths. Entering the castle, she shrugged of the borrowed jacket and hung it on the wall. Sighing under her breath, she unhooked the sheaths, pulled off the thicker borrowed shirt and reattached the sheaths or the white blouse. This accomplished, she pulled on her blue blouse. Painstaking process over, she looked up to find Guinevere.

[kajouka]

"The King and Queen of Britain value all those who offer their lives and services to our country," Guinevere returned before Aly headed for the target to collect her knives. The spy was a strange woman, although Guinevere had to assume that the profession attracted a certain type of person. Guinevere would not want to spend her days among enemies pretending to be someone she was not for the sake of information, and she was glad that others took up the mantle of the position for her. She was far more suited to being herself. She watched Aly work her knives out of the target for a moment, then turned and began the walk back to the palace. Aly could, and would, catch up when she was finished.

Once inside the palace, she pulled off her cloak. She left on her overtunic, as the chilly outer air had crept inside with them. She made her way to the dining hall with Aly in silence. Once there, she requested two cups of hot tea and a plate of cheese and bread for the pair to nibble on before the evening meal was served. She side into her customary chair, one of many that surrounded the round table. All the tables in the dinning hall were round. Despite their inefficient shape, her husband had insisted that all men and women sit equally during castle meals. She motioned for Aly to take a seat at the table with her as the servant girl returned with both the cups of tea and the plate of food.

"Hot tea warms the bones, something you'll need before your long ride. When do you plan to leave? Guinevere asked, before picking up her cup and breathing in the warm vapors that drifted off the tea.

[allison]

Aly's attention was focused else where as she walked next to Guinevere, perfectly comfortable with silence. She was hardly born with her multitude of thoughts to keep her company, content with verbal solitude and a clamorous mind which raced with thought after thought. As she mused a hand slipped into the pocket of her pants, playing with the metal puzzle with her finger tips, unhooking the second of the last four rings still attached. A few more servants whisked by, carrying towering piles of food supplies, preparing for dinner. The dining hall would be filled to the brim with diners and musicians, no doubt, everyone sitting on those ridiculously irrationally round tables which Aly found to be extremely inconvenient. Sure the idea of round tables supporting egalitarianism was nice in theory, but they were completely inefficient.

Aly sat across the the table from the Queen, watching as a girl brought tea and cheese and bread, not quite hungry, although the bread looked quite scrumptious. Cautiously, she picked up the tea and brought it to her lips, inhaling the steam to gather the flavor of the tea before taking a sip. It was good tea, slightly pepperminty. And it was hot, the liquid almost scalding as it slid down her throat and dropped into her stomach, though the sensation was rather pleasant after being outside in the cold, chill air. Setting the tea back down on the table, she drummed the fingers of one hand on the edge, observing the bread, debating whether to have some or not. She decided to stick the tea for now, and rapped her hands around the warm mug.

"I leave in three days, bright and early if I intend to arrive among the Saxon's in two days in the morning and not when there fast asleep in bed." She said, watching Guinevere with a calculating curiosity over the edge of her tea mug, steadily sipping the peppermint tea and waiting for any questions, stealthily laying in wait until she asked a question which would allow Aly's to ask hers.

[kajouka]

Guinevere picked up her own cup of tea and inhaled with the warm steam. The hot vapors prickled her nose, still half frozen from the bitter cold outside. She sipped slowly, enjoying the feel of the scalding liquid rolling down her throat. With the exception of a good wine, there was no better drink in Britain than piping hot tea. Setting down her mug, she picked up a slice of cheese and a piece of bread. She placed the cheese on the bread, then sampled the combination. "This is quite good," she remarked after having chewed and swallowed her bite. "You should try some." Guinevere gave the plate a soft shove in Aly's direction.

"Three days then." Guinevere repeated, more to herself than Aly. "Plus two for the ride. Much can change in five days I'm afraid." There had already been rumors that the Saxon's were closer than two days, although Guinevere supposed their home camp was still far away. "You must stay with them only long enough to obtain any critical information. Arthur must know their plans so he can prepare." Guinevere took another long sip of her tea. She did not want to appear frantic, but inside she feared that war was coming. And Guinevere suspected it was just around the corner, not waiting on the horizon like some of the thought.

"Is there anything at all we can provide you with before you go that might make your journey safe and successful?"

[allison]

Aly had not been raised in Britain, and although she had come accustomed to tea, it was not her favorite beverage. Still, the searing, pepperminty liquid was more then welcome at the moment. Wine, partially because her tolerance for the fiery drink was only mediocre, was not something a spy should drink. Excellent for loosen tongues, but Aly certainly didn't want her tongue to be running off or her mind to be clouded and thick. Alcohol being off limits, the list of beverages she was aloud to drink was sadly shortened. Stretching out a finger to stop the plate of bread and cheese which the Queen had pushed to her, she compiled a small sample. "It's not bad," She said with some surprise, combining another piece before pushing the plate back within Guinevere's reach.

"Our network is quite efficient, and our calculations and predictions are almost always correct. Nothing drastic should happen in the next five days, nothing to threaten the crown." Aly consoled. She certainly couldn't promise no one was going to get harmed or killed in the next five days, she simply meant that nothing major should happen. No large scale attacks or invasions, if the line of spies and informants was to be trusted. Still, there was always a possibility that they were wrong or had missed something. Not that Aly was going to say that. It was best not to trouble the Queen and King with what they might or might not have missed. The spies needed their confidence.

This particular assignment was strictly information. She was not to kill any off the Saxon leader and his siblings, although she would have to verify if she was aloud to incapacitate any off the officials or military generals, weaken them in war. "If the collected information suggests war, some poison would not be would be of great use." Aly suggested. Murdering the military leaders would induce squabbling amongst themselves as they scrabbled to fill the positions. "Preferably one which could pass off as a normal, but fatal, illness. I would prefer not having suspicions tailing me; it would make it difficult to return."

[kajouka]

Guinevere took another bite of the cheese and bread, enjoying the taste and swallowing as she listened to Aly speak. "We require only information at this time," Guinevere confirmed nodding. At least, that too was her understanding of the assignment. Certainly, taking out the Saxon leader or higher officers may wound the snake, but a wounded snake strikes unpredictably and the Saxons were already hard to predict. Guinevere would rather know what her enemy was planning and e ready to counter it, than have to figure out the enemies' move in the middle of the battle when all might already be lost.

"Information and your safe return is plenty." Guinevere continued. She was about to say more, when one of her guard crossed the room and whispered in her ear. Guinevere nodded and then turned back to Lady Aly. "It appears I am needed elsewhere for the moment." She gave the other a smile. "Please, finish the food at your leisure. I would be happy to meet with you again after your mission is over."