Leadership

"Wulfharts team will move to the south, cut off access of the lumbermill and then prevent reinforcements from moving in to counter siege us along the road. Imirin's group will head north west, around the top of the keep and hit the mine. After that, she can move down to reinforce Wulfhart." Commander Hawthorn pointed to two areas on the small map we were all studying. The four of us in the tent seemed satisfied with his plan so far.

"Seren can lead her team against the farm on the eastern side. Just ahead of the main assault te-" Hawthorn continued
"I'm sorry, what?" I interjected"
"Is there a problem?" He asked, turning up to look at me.
"Yes. Since when did Seren lead teams?"
"Since I said that she was and since I promoted her to the rank of Captain as of two minutes ago. Do you have a problem with that?"
"Are you telling me that you just went and conscripted my friend?" I asked, putting my hands to my hips.
"Yes" Hawthorn said, getting impatient. The two others in the room, Wulfhart and Imirin remained silent but eyed me carefully. One didn't usually contradict the commanders plan.
"Did you ask her?" I asked.
"I'm the commander. I don't need to ask" He said.
"Try telling her that then"

Hawthorn's rage bubbled over. I'd rather not put into writing what he then said, as Imirin tried to keep him calm and Wulfhart tried not to laugh at the commander's short temper. I left the tent with his yelling behind my back and walked down the hill to where Seren's tent was, a short distance from my own.

"What's on the lunch menu today?" I asked, eyeing the pot slowly bubbling over the fire"
"Goat stew" She said, tasting her broth. I was tempted to make a sarcastic quip about her cooking skills to lighten the mood but I also didn't think that now was a good time. I sat down by the fire, overlooking the flat plain a few meters off the side of the hill where a number of soldiers were training.

"Tell me" I started. "If you were to lead a group... Any particular soldiers you'd like to lead?"
Seren stopped cooking for a moment and looked up at me with a confused look on her face. I'd never asked such a thing before.
"Well, I don't think I could ever lead you" She said.
"Eh?" I asked.
"I said I don't think I could ever lead you... You've always been the one mentoring me so it'd be too werid"
"Fair enough. What about them?" I asked, pointing to the recruits behind me.
"Torvoal is pretty good with his sword arm... though admittedly he can get a little bloodthirsty at times... and drunk" Seren said, raising an eyebrow. "How big a group are we talking here?"
"Dunno. Your choice"
"The Circine sisters from Morrowind are decent healers. I'd definately bring them along. Though as we both know, defending people is always a bit hard"
"Eh. They can take care of themselves" I said.
"That archer as well... Sinmild I think his name is? He's a fairly good shot" Seren said, returning to cooking.

"Sounds like you have a good team then" I said,
"Any particular reason why you asked?"
"Hawthorn conscripted you into the Pact Army and made you a Captain"

Seren suddenly stopped cooking and looked at me.
"Well... I suppose I'm honoured and all that... It's rea-"
"You want to punch him in the face for not asking you personally, don't you"
"Yea" Seren said flatly. "I'm not a token to be bought and sold"
"Well go on ahead. I'll finish making lunch"

Seren stood up and walked back to the command tent where I came from. Almost a minute after she entered, I heard a crash as a table was overturned. Seren came back out, a slight redness to her right hand. She sat down and I passed her a wooden bowl with her food in.

"Feel better?" I asked.
"Much better."