Ferndale's Second War of Independance II

“I won my first school war without any practice,” Sam pointed out and Kerma had to admit that he had a point. Sam was able to adapt and see a way out of most military problems without effort. It was a tactical turn of mind that she had never actually asked how he had acquired.

Once Sam had left Kerma threw on her light shawl, for protection against sand and wind, and headed to the walls of the city. At one time the city had had a natural wall that had protected them very well. The city unfortunately had expanded over the years and they had been forced to build a new, man made wall, which even made a part of the desert their city. The founders of their city, simply known as The Queens, had been the most shocked about that. They had never imagined that they would ever claim desert as theirs.

The Queens had founded another city and moved on, a sister city to Ferndale, and another like it had been founded by the King of Ferndale’s brother. The cities formed a new nation, at least as far as they were concerned, though they had yet to get recognition from the underground cities. The farming communities above ground recognized the Triet, as the three cities called themselves as a unit, however and that had cause a lot of difficulties for the underground cities.

Frendral, King of Ferndale, as well as being Kerma’s boyfriend, was sitting on the wall when she got there. A couple of people were hovering around concerned and fussing, but Frendral was ignoring all of them. Kerma sat down next to them.

“You know, you two really shouldn’t be here,” Tom commented, but his tone was casual. He was sitting with his back to the parapet, bandaging the arm of one of his spies. “It’s fine for most of us but I bet a lot of the people down there would be willing to risk a lot to kill one or both of you. It’s a recognized tactic, killing the leaders.”

“If you guys would stop fussing around us no one would think we were important,” Kerma pointed out. “I don’t see any crown on our heads.”

“It’s our risk,” Frendral added.

“Why do you insist on sitting up where a random shot could hit you at any moment anyway?” Kerma asked, once they were alone. Even Tom had left to be about his business and it was one of the few times that they were truly alone to talk however they wanted.

“Why do you sit with me?” Frendral asked. Kerma blushed, they might be dating, and both would privately admit that they really loved each other, but putting it in words was something that neither could manage, making it a very awkward relationship at times. They didn’t even really have true dates since most of their time together was dinner over the paperwork involved with running a city.

“You do have a nice view here, I can see everything that the front lines of the enemy are doing from up here,” Kerma said. “Did Tom have any news about how the other two cities are doing?”

“Liz says they’re doing as well as we are, Daisy Hill is under attack, but other then some few minor scrimmages Willow Creek is being left alone. Both cities are holding out, striking out some at their attackers but nothing that might stretch them too far.” Kerma nodded. Willow Creek wasn’t as useless to the war effort as the enemy seemed to think. Willow Creek was the industrialized city, the one that made all of the weapons and supplies for the other two cities. Because they didn’t have to make any of their supplies Daisy Creek and Willow Hill were allowed to throw all of their citizens and energy into the all out battles that surrounded their walls.

To be continued...