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.Wheeler excused himself to give thenecessary orders."Good," Sapphire said."Now, as some of you have doubtless guessed, the second major element in our siege tactic is theneed to break down the smugglers' will their morale.As I see it, by whatever right Baron Endbrook has claimed a placethere, he is a relative newcomer.Initially, the smugglers will view us as their enemies, but after Firekeeper has rid them oftheir foodstuffs and proven that they are not so impervious to attack as they think, then Prince Shad and I will send a messageto them."Shad continued, "We want Citrine Shield alive and safe.That's what started us down here.When we consulted with KingTedric and Queen Elexa, though, they rapidly showed us that there is a bigger picture here a more complicated question.Inshort, Baron Endbrook cannot be permitted to operate on Hawk Haven land without penalty.If we let him do so, we send amessage to Queen Valora a message that she will interpret not as caution but as weakness.""Moreover," Sapphire said, picking up on Shad's point so smoothly that Derian couldn't help but imagine prince andprincess rehearsing exactly what they would say, who would make which points, it would be to our advantage to break thepirates' hold on Smuggler's Light.As long as rule of the sea was split between Bright Bay and Waterland, the pirates were anuisance, but one we could deal with in our own time."Baron Endbrook has shown us that the pirates are willing to operate as the Isles' ally.We must show this cannot be.Therefore, if at all possible, we must take Smuggler's Light.If we cannot and I am willing to admit we may not be able tothen we should at least leave them a clear message that the days of tolerance are over!"She brought her hand down on her thigh as she concluded, a dramatic gesture that was not all affected.It was perfectly inkeeping with her persona as the warrior princess, the heroine of ballad and song.There was no applause, but the respectful silence that greeted her proclamation outrageous as it was in view of what theyhad learned about the smugglers' defenses, in view of past defeats was more acclamation than any cheering could be.The meeting broke up soon after that.The commanders went to tell their squads an abbreviated version of plans.It hadbeen decided that it would only help matters if a pirate spy learned of the plans to break Smuggler's Light.For that reasonanyone seen leaving the swamp except for Baron Endbrook and Citrine Shield, of course was to be permitted to go.In winter's hold, the pirates would find summoning reinforcements difficult.In any case, they were unlikely to wish todeclare open war on Hawk Haven.Smuggler's Light was a good base, but it was not the pirates' only base and now theymight well feel they had a claim on Queen Valora.Before departing for their own pavilion, Shad and Sapphire paused to say good night."That was a good plan, cousins," Elise said, rising onto her toes to kiss Sapphire's cheek.Sapphire glanced from side to side, but there was none but their own small company to overhear her."To tell the truth," she said, "wiser heads than ours concocted it.King Tedric was the one who suggested much of it.Yourfather, Elise, helped us refine it along the road.""Father is here?"Elise looked not so much pleased as terrified."He is.By his own choice, Baron Archer stayed from council.He said it was essential that our commanders think Shad andI are completely in charge.""You are," Doc said softly."You are."Shad nodded."I've commanded a vessel a small one but the responsibility is nothing to this.""And I," Sapphire said, her voice hushed, "thought I would be delighted, but I find myself continually thinking what UncleTedric said before he let me go.""What?" Elise asked."He told me to be careful, that he didn't want to lose another daughter to that blasted lighthouse."Sapphire's voice broke on the words.Then she straightened and shook back her hair. "And if we do things right, he won't.Where is Firekeeper?"Derian spoke up, "Building bridges or, rather, watching them be built.""I won't meddle further," Sapphire said."Firekeeper will know best how much time she needs and when she's ready toleave.""And we," Shad said, "need to go 'round the campfires and speak to our troops.Rumor moves fast and dangerously attimes like this."They strolled away, hand in hand, for a brief moment just two people who had been married for only a few moonspans andwho, in that time, had repeatedly faced death and hardship.Then they reached the light of their own, larger, camp and almostvisibly became crown prince and crown princess again."I'm so glad I'm not them," Elise said.Derian thought he heard Docmurmur, "So am I." He might have been mistaken, though, because when he looked over at the healer, Sir Jared's featureswere as expressionless as those of a graven image.Occasional clouds slid over the sky.There was little moonlight, so little that Firekeeper didn't need to consider it beforesetting her bridge in place, arranging the elements just as the scouts had taught her.Going barefoot for better balance, she crossed.Blind Seer followed.The temporary cloud cover was breaking as she hidthe bridge near where the smugglers kept their own bridging materials.Anyone looking out from within should see even indaylight nothing unusual.Of course, if plans went correctly, by daylight both the wolf-woman and her bridge would be longgone.Needing no bridge, Elation and Bold had gone ahead
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