"I keep feeling that something isn't right."
Taking off her armor had, of course, been a joke on Alusair's part. The Princess Regent had really wanted to vent her frustration on Aaron. Once she had thoroughly worked it out on him, peace returned to the tent, and Aaron said to her, "How did an ordinary mortal mage summon a Klurichir and an army of demons?"
"I know Bilgard." Alusair straddled Aaron's waist, resting against his shoulder as she thought it over. "Father once thought highly of him and appointed him governor of Marsember. Later, he was dismissed for excessive corruption and sent to the Rocklands. After that, he carved out his own little kingdom."
"Exactly. Someone like him shouldn't have had any chance of summoning a demon of that caliber. More importantly, we still haven't discovered who shouted those words that made the noble cavalry charge early."
"You mean..." Alusair understood. "Another faction has intervened?"
"I think we'll have our answer soon." Aaron nodded. "Bilgard's secret weapon, his demon army, failed to win him a victory. If I'm right, his envoy is already on the way."
Aaron's words proved prophetic. Early the next morning, Duke Bilgard's envoy arrived at the Cormyrean camp.
Inside the command tent, the Purple Dragon Knights stood in one row and the Silver Dragon Knights in another, facing each other. Alusair sat in the center, with Royal Chief Wizard Vangerdahast to her left and Aaron to her right. Big Dragon Aegir clung to Aaron, her arms around his neck and her full breasts pressed against his back, showing off her "servant."
Several nobles from Suzail stood at the far end. After their earlier defeat, they looked like beaten fighting cocks, their heads hanging low. None dared say another word.
The sole exception was perhaps Earl DePies,