I looked at the elderly woman, probably twice my mother's age yet she looked to be only a few years older. You could see the elegance and how time has been good to her. Her beauty is timeless, paired with how well she carried herself, she was the perfect example of how a noble should be.
But to ask to fight demon beasts with us is another story.
"Lady Polit, I am not undermining you or anything but please keep in mind that we may not get out of this alive." I told her. "I cannot promise your safety."
Countess Polit smiled.
"I am not as young as you are, my lady." She said. "But I have fought my fair share of wars and battles. I assure you that I will, in no way, be a burden."
I pinched the space between by eyebrows.
"Fine." I sighed and stared straight at her.
"Thank you." She smiled at me. "It's also reassuring to have a healer with us."
"You're a healer?" I asked her, surprised.
"Oh! Not me, my lady." She shook her head lightly. "Lady Rutchel's ability is healing."
I turned to look at lady Rutchel.
"Is that true?" I asked her and she nodded.
"Mother was a frontline healer before she married father."Sky said as he looked at me. "Her specialty is area and range healing."
It was indeed reassuring to know that we have a healer with us. No matter haw basic her healing capabilities are.
"Fine, but I be leading and everyone should listen to me." I looked at all of them. "Do we understand each other?"
"Hey-" Sky was about to interrupt but I shut him up with a glare.
"We understand, lady Mel." Lady Rutchel nodded.
"Mom!" Both Rutchel sons argued.
"Who are combat ability users here?" I asked, ignoring them.
Lady Polit, the two Rutchel boys and three maids raised their hands. All in all, there are about forty of us who could fight. Still not a good number.
"All non-combatants are to stay in the back. Children, I mean Susan and the Polit granchild are to stay inside the tent. This tent is fortified with a protective barrier, if anything should happen to us, the ones inside will be safe until help comes." I explained. "Who are specialized range ability users here?"
Lady Polit raised her hand again, she was rather confident.
"How far?" I asked.
"Fifty meters." She answered.
"What about accuracy?" I asked again.
"I have never missed a mark." She replied in a not proud and not humble tone.
"She was called the 'golden aim' because of her marksmanship." A maid added.
"Okay." I nodded. "I'll trust support from the lady."
I started to give them their positions and what to do in case of a breach.
"My lady!" A frowning Klent came inside the tent. "Sightings of the demon beasts have been seen."
"How many?" I asked.
"About a hundred to three hundred thousand, different classes, different sizes." He answered solemnly.
"Any movements from the mountain?" I asked.
"None, my lady." He answered. "But knights from other families are also getting ready to make a stand."
I frowned massaged my temples. I felt like I'm getting a headache from all of these.
"Gear up." I said and looked at tge others. We will stand in the frontline and take out as many as possible. Lady Polit please give us support from afar. Sky Rutchels, lead your knights and kill anything that gets past us. Lady Rutchel, heal anyone injured but do not go out of the barrier. Astrid, help Elaheh create a poison barrier in between the forest and us. Even if it cannot kill the demon beasts, at least it should slow them down or even weaken them is enough."
Astrid and Elaheh nodded, they quickly went out to create the barrier.
"Mother, you and the remaining maids protect the kids." I nodded at her. "Loki, get a knight who can use earth attributes and have him create a high place for Lady Polit and Lady Rutchel to see better."
"I will, my lady." Loki bowed lightly and went out the tent before going back in. "My lady a messenger from House Salvatore is here."
"They have time to send a messenger?" Uriel sneered. "They better have something good to say."
"Let him in." I said to Loki.
The messenger came in and was surprised at the amount of people and the people itself who are inside our tent.
"Your grace," The messenger kneeled. "Her grace, Dutchess Salvatore would like to know if you have any plans to stop the demon beasts. The Dutchess Salvatore and Dutchess Brouette are now preparing for battle. If you have any plan to fight, they would like to-"
"Schyler Levene Rutchel, go and tell them the plans we have made." I instructed him. "As the eldest son of a captain of the royal guards, I can trust the information with you, right?"
"I understand." Sky nodded, even though he does not trust me, he still did what I asked him.
"Hurry back, you still need to lead the second line of defence." I added before he left the tent with the messenger.
He just nodded but did not look back.
I sighed.
"Everyone, get to your places." I commanded. "This will soon be a battlefield."