"True, but if it works, it will speed up our plan," Gideon said.

"Preparation has to be thorough. We cannot rush. If they get suspicious, we could die," Lena replied.

Gideon nodded, fully aware of the consequences. The change of plan meant they had to redesign everything. He could not reuse the old plan for this new approach because they did not match.

Lena said she would help draw up the plan. She felt that Luke and Hannah should be involved too, since they would take part directly.

Soon their food and drinks arrived. They stopped talking and ate, enjoying the quiet of the village night.

The second floor was much calmer than the first, which was full of soldiers, though they still noticed a few tables where troops were relaxing. The food and drink were not great, and Gideon did not complain given how cheap it was.

"Does Hannah need to know this?" Lena asked.

"I'm not sure. I worry about her safety. After all, she is the king's daughter."

"So she probably won't be part of the plan?" Lena asked.

"Norton's cavalry unit will arrive. She can lead Moko's cavalry with their captain. That would be more effective," Gideon said.

"I agree with that."

Gideon was glad Lena did not push back much. He still needed her input on other details. Their food and drinks finished, they decided to return to the inn and rest since Lena already had a good idea of the new plan.

On the way back, Lena yawned now and then, her eyes heavy. She was very sleepy even though she had not done much that day. Maybe the heavy meal had made her drowsy.

They walked up to the second floor and down the inn hallway. It was ten p.m. Most guests were already asleep.

Gideon squinted. His room door was closed tight and he faintly heard soft moans coming from inside. He stopped Lena so she would not make noise.

"There's—"

"Ssh!" Gideon hissed, holding a finger to his lips.

It was true. The sounds were only made by activities private to spouses. Lena's eyes widened and she covered her open mouth with her hand.

"Could it be...?" Lena whispered.

"Luke was careless!" Gideon muttered, smacking his forehead.

"B-But—"

"Disturbing them would make things awkward," Gideon said.

"But they are... I can't believe Luke would do that with a princess."

Gideon sighed. He had no choice but to walk around for a while to avoid making them suspicious.

If he and Lena stayed in Lena's room, the moans could be heard and Luke and Hannah would be embarrassed and awkward.

Lena felt confused. It was her first time hearing a friend have sex, even if just from the noises. Gideon's face flushed. He took Lena's hand and led her outside for a few hours.

"Where are we going?" Lena asked.

"We'll wait outside. I'm sure they'll be done in two hours."

"But... I'm sleepy," Lena complained.

Waiting outside was risky. It was quiet and cold, which could be bad for Lena. Gideon had no better choice.

They would go back to the tavern and order drinks so they could pass the time comfortably while waiting for Luke and Hannah.

***

The next day.

Jurgan Village.

Lena and Gideon slept in late after the previous night. They had drunk a lot, and luckily the tavern had not kicked them out.

Around one a.m., Gideon had carried Lena back, drunk and sleepy. Luke and Hannah had already finished. Gideon opened the door to their room and found Luke asleep in his tactical shirt.

Because they had stayed up late, their sleep schedules were messed up. Luke did not feel guilty. In fact he and Hannah had grown closer and laughed together while preparing breakfast.

Lena woke with a headache. Hannah brought hot water to help. Slowly Lena felt better and saw Luke and Hannah dividing the breakfast portions for four people.

"You two..." Lena called.

Luke and Hannah stopped and looked over at her half-asleep face.

"Don't put onions in my food," Lena asked, then lay back down to rest.

Luke breathed a sigh of relief. He guessed Lena and Gideon did not know what he and Hannah had done the night before. It was better not to tell them so things did not get awkward.

Two hours later, Gideon and Lena were up. They still felt tired and had dark circles under their eyes, unlike Luke and Hannah.

"You drank too much last night," Luke joked.

"Do I look like it?" Lena snapped, and Gideon quieted her.

"Finish breakfast. No more talk."

"If I'm counting right, Norton's cavalry should arrive today," Gideon said.

"After breakfast, we get ready."

Luke, Lena, and Hannah hurried to finish breakfast and prepare. From the east of the village, the sound of hundreds of horses' hooves grew louder.

They marched in neat formation, carrying Moko kingdom flags. Few villagers came out. They were traumatized, since their food supplies ran out fast every time many soldiers arrived.

Gideon finished gearing up and looked toward the window as the cavalry approached. He clearly saw the cavalry unit he expected.

"You! Where is Captain Gideon's house?" a cavalry captain asked, pointing to a soldier.

"I-I don't know who Captain Gideon is."

"Has he not arrived? He left early. He should be here by now," the captain said.

"Fetch your captain. Tell him to come to me."

"Y-Yes, sir."

Gideon left his room and went down to the first floor, standing outside the inn. The cavalry captain looked and saw a man in a tactical shirt matching Commander Ashfield's description. He dismounted, his armor clanking, and shook Gideon's hand.

"Your outfit matches what Commander Ashfield described. Mind if I see the black weapon to confirm?" the captain asked.

A strange request.

Gideon pulled a SIG M17 and held it up so the captain could see. The man nodded, satisfied that the description matched.

"My salute to Captain Gideon," he said, followed by the salute of hundreds of his soldiers.

"Make yourselves comfortable."

The cavalry captain introduced himself as Giroud. He had come with 700 cavalry soldiers to help Gideon, plus logistics enough for a week.

"What's the plan?" Giroud asked.

"Tell your men to rest. You come with me."

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