Small Landen Village in Glacia, Late Summer (Thursday Fandom Time)

[glacial_witch]

A little more than a week ago, Karla had sent the vast majority of her Court away from Haven. One could hardly have a proper processional through one's home Territory without people smoothing the way. There were perspective soldiers to assemble, food to purchase, lodgings to prepare, Province Queens to quietly contact...And so Karla had sent her

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[blondecanary]

Dinah dismounted with an 'oomph' and a sigh. Even for being in good shape, horse-riding was an adjustment. She patted her mount's nose, and looked around at all the people, trying not to gulp. People, lotsa people, all the people--!

To her horse she muttered, "We're gonna need a bigger boat."

[kindrednotkind]

*We are taking a boat next?* Dinah had gotten, Lord Swift, a very serious, very earnest horse, one who didn't really understand human idioms. *I don't believe Lord Khardeen mentioned anything about ships. I am wont to get seasick.*

Still a horse, not a unicorn. Still just lazy.

[blondecanary]

Dinah grinned, and scritched him under the chin. "No worries, buddy. Just a way of saying we may need to re-think our plans, 'cause we are already in over our heads. Did Khary give you much idea of what to expect?" Of non-landens, of the war to come, of well, anything.

[kindrednotkind]

Swift leaned into the scritch, almost like a giant cat. *He didn't, Lady. I don't think he knows what to expect.* Scelt was far from Glacia and even more peaceful. *Just that fast hooves and care would be needed. We were to carry you bravely and keep you safe.*

[glacial_witch]

"Which means that you might figuratively be butting heads with a horse soon," Karla said, wandering over to toss Dinah and apple to feed to Swift. "Sorry, Dinah. Males are fussy, whether four legs or two."

[blondecanary]

"Don't listen to her," Dinah whispered loudly. "I think you're doing great." She held the apple out to him, and then asked Karla, "Did you expect all of this?"

[glacial_witch]

"Expected? No. Hoped?" She shrugged. "I always knew this was where my main support was. I hadn't figured that it would start off strong, but..."

She looked at the milling people, now released from their formation. "More people to fight...but more people to worry over, too. And more to feed."

[blondecanary]

"Did we have something in place for this?" Dinah looked around, and bit her lip. "I feel like we're back at Fandom. Planning for the latest weirdness with whatever we've got on hand. Except this is going to last a lot longer than a weekend."

[glacial_witch]

"Months longer," Karla said with a sigh. "Fortunately it's summer, so we'll be able to buy food as we go, but I can't encourage scavenging, neither here in the north or in the south. Glacian winters can be hard enough without wandering armies acting like locusts."

Mental note: Put Jono's forces in charge of hunting food. That might help them train.

[blondecanary]

Dinah nodded, biting her lip, watching them and thinking. Too many things at once, really: who would keep them under control? Could they all camp out in common spaces? How many of them would stick around past the first engagement? "Holy wow. I so should've read more Revolutionary War stuff. Remind me to track down anything about how General Washington planned for this." She rubbed her knuckles between Swift's ears and said, "First order of business?"

[glacial_witch]

"...Try not to get overwhelmed and cry?"

Okay, unhelpful. Even if accurate.

"Umm, actually I had an idea for you. If you wouldn't mind. It's kinda weird though."

Karla took a deep breath and asked. "How'd you like to be me?"

[blondecanary]

"You couldn't pay me enough," Dinah said automatically, then blinked. "Wait, what?"

[glacial_witch]

"HEY!"

They'd get to Karla's point in a second, but hey!

[blondecanary]

"Hey, let's face it, I would suck at ruling," Dinah said quickly. "Also, I'd strangle Julian, so... what's your plan, again?" Well, maybe she would, maybe she wouldn't, but wasn't it a good thing they didn't have to find out?

[glacial_witch]

Decent reasons or not, Karla was going to stick her tongue out at Dinah anyway. "I was hoping you'd be my double," she explained. "We're blond and female and, from far away, that's all we'd really need, you know?"

[blondecanary]

"Hunh." Dinah blinked, considering that, then nodded, smiling a little. "Not a bad plan. I'm pretty sure politicians back home use them sometimes. Body doubles for security. When were you thinking, what kind of situations, would I be pretending to be you? 'Cause up close, the lack-of-magic *would* be a dead giveaway."