“Maybe they went back to O-Town for reinforcements?” smirked Lance.
“This is the BackAlly Boys we’re talking about!” shot back Odessa with a glare. “They aren’t that smart!”
“Smarter than you though,” mumbled Lance under his breath.
“Stop it,” whispered Joshua to Lance gently. “We’re all going to have to work together to defeat Lou.”
“Okay,” sighed Lance. “You’re right. I’ll try and be nicer to Odessa.”
“Thank you,” whispered Joshua gently brushing his hand against Lance’s.
“I’ve had enough of this!” yelled Odessa in frustration, stopping her pacing. “We attack now!
“That’s not wise,” warned Lance standing up. “They could be waiting for us to make a mistake like that!”
“Don’t tell me how to do my job,” snared Odessa. “I’ve been running things just find without you around.”
“When it comes to my life and the life of Prince Joshua, then I will tell you how to use your job!”
“So what you think we should do!” asked Odessa sarcastically.
“I have an idea,” replied Lance with an evil grin. “Those BackAlly Boys won’t know what hit them.”
*~*~*
“Where are they?” grumbled Brian as he paced back in forth in front of Howie and AJ.
“Give them time,” reassured Howie. “They’ll be here. They have another hour!”
“They better be here!” snapped Brian.
“What was that?” asked AJ as the other two looked at him with a confused look. “I thought I heard something.”
“They’re back?” asked Brian hopefully.
“No it was coming from the other direction,” informed AJ.
“Are they planning on attacking the three of us?” asked Howie.
“They wouldn’t be that dumb,” snapped Brian a little too quickly. “Would they?”
“I don’t know what’s up but I hope that Nick and Kev get back soon,” replied AJ with a nervous look on his face.
*~*~*
“Are you sure this is going to work?” asked Odessa unimpressed with Lance’s plan as they rode through the woods on their horses. “What if they hear the troops in the woods?”
“That’s a risk I’m willing to take,” sighed Lance. His plan had been to spilt Odessa’s troops into two groups and have each group to quietly move through the forest until troops were on two sides of the BackAlly Boys.
“Well maybe you need to be a little more careful!” shot Odessa. “I don’t want to get my troops killed!”
“And I don’t want to get myself or Joshua killed,” replied Lance, glaring at her.
“What about us?” protested Chris. “We risked our lives to help you two!”
“I don’t like you,” grumbled Lance.
“Why?!” cried Chris.
“Do you like me?” asked Justin with a hopeful smile.
“You don’t bug me,” mumbled Lance. “For now.”
“Hear that Chris?” teased Justin. “Lance likes me!”
“Both of you shut up!” grumbled Lance, glaring at them.
“I think you spoke too soon,” whispered Joey to Justin with at grin.
“You really have been putting up with those three?” asked Odessa with pity in her eyes as Joey, Chris and Justin playfully bicker between themselves.
“Know why I’ve been in bad mood lately now?” asked Lance and Odessa nodded her head.
“Yeah, I guess I should cut you some slack then,” grumbled Odessa. “I’m still concerned about this plan of yours though.”
“Trust me Odessa,” sighed Lance. “They won’t hear us. We wait until they’re joined with the others then we take them in a surprise attack.”
*~*~*
“Any more noises?” asked Brian causing Howie and AJ to groan. For the past hour since AJ had first thought he had heard noises, Brian had been asking AJ every ten minutes if he had heard any other noises.
“For the hundredth time, no!” yelled AJ. “It was either the wind or scouts!”
“I hear something,” spoke up Howie.
“Where?” ordered Brian.
“It’s coming from the direction of the O-Town,” informed Howie and a few minutes later the cheerful voice of Nick rang throughout the forest.
“Look, Brian!” cried Nick happily. “We’re back within three hours! Didn’t Kev and I do a great job?”
“How many troops did Lou give you?” asked Brian to Kevin, ignoring Nick.
“Sixty,” informed Kevin. “It was all that he could spare without the King wondering what was wrong. It should be more then enough however to take out the rebels.”
“Good,” nodded Brian. “That will be more than enough.”
*~*~*
“There’re here,” informed Odessa to Lance.
“How many?” asked Lance.
“About fifty to seventy,” replied Odessa.
“Good, I was expecting a lot worst.”
“Should I give the signal to attack?” asked Odessa.
“Yes,” nodded Lance and Odessa gave a sharp wolf’s howl that could be heard throughout the forest.
“Did you have to do that so close to my ear?” asked Lance annoyed, while giving her a dirty look.
“Yes,” smirked Odessa.
“Right,” sighed Lance before turning his attention to Joshua. “I won’t lie, I don’t want you here Josh,” he whispered to his lover. “But I know I won’t be able to convince you otherwise. Just be careful.”
“You too,” whispered back Joshua, as they both unshielded their swords and steered their horses towards the upcoming battle.