"Come in!" Dana didn't bother moving her eyes from the screen.

Jan walked in, holding a tray of tea and sandwiches. He set it on the coffee table, and stepped to the desk. Dana smiled at him, and then winced and rubbed her neck.

"Sore?"

"A little, I'm getting too old for this."

"Hey don't say that, we are the same age!" Jan laughed and started massaging the offending area. Dana sighed and relaxed into it. "Food and massage, if you were not a mere lieutenant, I might consider marrying you!" she joked.

"God help me! In the Sand family, I'd rather have the cousin, she doesn't sound as bossy!" he chuckled.

"Oh no you don't, you vile seducer, unless you want a duel with her dad, or worse, with me..." Dana smirked. "Now come, we have work to do."

She pushed away her chair and dropped into a dark red sofa behind it, grabbing a thick folder on her way. Jan sat at her side.

Dana filled two plates with sandwiches and poured cups of tea, before placing the folder on the table and opening it.

It showed a map of Europe, with red and blue colored patches. A line started in Arania -formerly known as Spain-, and climbed northwest to the edge of Occitania, ending at the level of Bordo.

"Here, in black, is the path of an army led by Prince Elian of Arania. In blue are the regions where he was granted free passage, in red where he had to fight his way through. My concern is that I can't figure his intention, or what exactly he is doing. There is nothing of interest in this direction, no particular wealth or vital resources. He is already too far away from his base to be trying to expand their land, he would be cut off reinforcements. An army this size is very expensive, there has to be something he wants, and I can't figure out what."

Dana was an extremely skilled strategist and analyst. Her gift had triggered her meteoritic ascension on the army ladder, making her an eighteen years old commander. She was in charge of predicting geopolitical changes from reports sent by their mainland informers. In the aftermath of the Black Death, a depopulated Europe had broken into many little realms, fighting each other for land and income. Updated knowledge of these shifting feuds and alliances was essential to the safety of the White Mercenaries and the security of Helland.

And then, there was the threat of a pogrom against Sha'tans. While Humans reverted to medieval times, Sha'tans had made the choice to preserve knowledge and technology, and maintained a trading monopoly in these areas. Five hundred years later, their people, once shunned into exile on their remote island, enjoyed a life of comfort and wealth, triggering resentment and envy in human population. If it turned into conflict, Sha'tans, despite being better fighters, would be badly outnumbered.

Which was why Dana took her job very seriously.

She leaned to pick up a sandwich, waiting for Jan's answer.

"Maybe I could help better if I knew who that guy is?"

"Oh, sorry, I assumed you did. Prince Elian is the second son of King Rashid. His mother was a captured Celtic warrior, sold to the Royal Harem. She was the King's favorite, and died when her child was still an infant. When Rashid passed away six months ago, the crown went to his first-born, Mahmoud. And I hear there is no love wasted between the two brothers."

Dana took a sip of tea and cleared her throat. "At twenty-four, Elian is a reputed warrior and strategist, and a famous womanizer. He has no wife or heir yet, and escaped a few assassination attempts, likely ordered by his beloved sibling. Then suddenly, three months ago, he took off with an army. As no one in Arania tried to stop him, I assume he was sent on a mission. It might be nothing of interest to us, but I'd like to know what is going on."

She waited for Jan to process the information while biting into her second sandwich.

He was trying to make sense of it."Could his brother just try to getting rid of him?"

"No, too expensive, too many witnesses."

"Going to fetch something of great value and bring it back? A royal wife for the new King, maybe?"

"Possible, but would it justify such a formidable escort? He could have hired us, although there is no record of White Sha'tans ever working for Arania."

"You're right, this is intriguing. What about going to steal something he would have to fight for, and protect on the way back?"

"Well that would make a likely explanation, if we could guess what would be so precious and well guarded, and where it is."

"There is something else. Why do they travel on land and not by sea, which would be cheaper and faster? Until now, they have marched parallel to the coast."

Dana straightened. "Alliances! That's why he has such a large army. He wants to scare the local rulers into signing treaties !"

"Okaaay, but then why these rulers and so far from home?"

"Don't you see? They have ships and harbors, he would need them to transport troops north. But how far north?"

"Maybe as far as here?"

Dana's face dropped and she waved her hands dismissively."Let's not jump to conclusions. I should have more intel on his advance first thing tomorrow, when the ship arrives."

They ate the rest of their meal in silence, pondering on their findings.

A few minutes later, Dana stood up and sorted out the leftovers. She placed everything back on the tray, saying that she would carry it back later.

Jan took it as his clue to leave. Dana leaned to kiss him goodbye just as he was getting up, and the kiss aimed at his cheek landed on his mouth. Surprised, Dana warped backward. "What was that?"

Jan's hands and brows rose innocently."Euh, a fully accidental thank you kiss?"

"Yeah, you might just get a fully accidental kick in the groin next time..." Dana struggled no to punch him. Her defense reflexes, honed by years in the military, urged her to do so.

Calm down, it's Jan. You're overreacting. He would never do that on purpose. No one here is trying to seduce you.

Well, many HAD tried. And failed. Painfully. There was no shortage of idiots willing to be the one who got the Moon Lady expelled from the army. But not Jan.

Chill out, he is your friend.

A wicked idea popped into her mind and she pulled her most angelic face. "Or maybe I will ask Kate for advice on accident prevention."

"Oh my God Dana, don't do that. I will never hear the end of it!"

Dana's smile widened as she pretended to be weighing her options.

Kate was her best friend and Jan's current girlfriend. She was an adept of exclusive short-term commitment, with emphasis on exclusive and short. She also had a hell of a temper. Dana giggled interiorly. She was not stupid enough to mess between those two, but he couldn't possibly know that.

In the end, she put him out of his misery. "Right, you're off the hook this time, but don't do it again."

He rolled his eyes. "Yes mum."

"And thank you for the help by the way. Good night."

She turned, and was back to her desk before he closed the door.

Note to self, pay a visit to Kate.

A piece of yummy gossip on Jan could always come useful.