Not yet. Except a rumor that the Prahbrindrah Drah called in the big men in the wall project and told them they have to build you a fortress instead. Ive located a friend who works in the palace occasionally, when their normal resources are taxed. Our prince doesnt maintain a household in keeping with his station. He wont get much if the prince doesnt entertain, and probably not much then.

Look into the possibility of arranging for your friend to become employed full time. Have there been many more volunteers?

Only a few. Its still too early. People want to see how you manage with the powers that be.

Understandable. Nobody wants to sign on with a loser.

Be interesting to know what they said about me at that meeting. A pity I did not command the resources I once had.

I was not going to get them back loafing. Ill ride back with you. I have things to do. I had recalled one thing my husband had done to secure his rule. A version here just might make everyone forget politics for a while.

I would need a suitable theater. I had to start looking. As we rode, I asked Narayan, Do we have many archers? I knew we did not but what I lacked he had a knack for finding.

No, Mistress. Archery wasnt a skill much encouraged. A hobby for Marhans, thats all. He meant the top-dog caste.

We had a few, though. Find them. Have them teach the most reliable men.

You have something in mind?

A new twist on an old story. Maybe. I may never need them but if I do I want to know theyre there.

As always, we shall endeavor to provide. He grinned that grin I wished I could scrub off his face forever.

To create a body of archers youll need bows and arrows and all the ancillary paraphernalia. That would keep his mind occupied. I did not feel like talking. I did not feel ready to wrestle lions today. Had not for several days, in fact. I supposed it was lack of sleep, bad dreams, and the fact that I had been driving myself to the limit.

The dreams persisted. They were bad but I just shoved them aside in my mind, took the unpleasantness, and got on with getting on. There was just so much I could do in the time available. I would deal with the dreams when I finished with more immediate concerns.

For a while I thought about my one-time husband, the Dominator, and his empire-building techniques, then about my own plight. Lack of leaders continued to plague me. Every day men were handed tasks beyond their training, based on my or Narayans gut feelings. Some worked out, some folded under the pressure. That was heavier now that we meant to digest a horde with no idea what was happening.