The armour was heavy, but worse were the looks from her people, part new respect, part fear. Catrin had kissed her, then gathered her charges and barred themselves in the Hall. Teens stood loitering on the street ready to carry messages. Others walked around mimicking their daily routine. As ordered, none looked toward the forest. 

Joan sighed on her chair, out of sight from the road connecting them to forest. All their people were in place. They had no guarantee of victory, Suze ...