Horses could be lowered onto rowboats - but it was hazardous, and best to be avoided. Ideally a jetty or a semi-beached alighting would be faster. But without such many had to a horse or two in the boat while it was rowed - some trying to keep it calm. Long pitched shallows was common for places without much wind so it would be possible, and the only option unfortunately.<br/><br/>Waiting for the rowboat to make its rounds to drop them all off was painful, but necessary.<br/><br/>On the beach doing so Sheva groomed her own horse to calm her nerves. She had little tactics training, most of her involvement concerned negotiating trade rates. She had one or two escort missions with her mounted archers but they went smoothly, no enemy - no problems. Easy money.<br/><br/>This was different. Within hours of being on sea that strange creature struck. Nothing like she had heard before, and news travels quickly and thoroughly for such things even false ones. It just sliced through one of her crew like he wasn't even there. Sheva shivered. Miracle that it was only one.<br/><strong><br/>"Thank gods your here"</strong>she said to the other heros on the beach absent mindedly.<br/><br/><strong>"I have a feeling none of us would come back alive if we tried this on our own."<br/></strong><br/>When crossbowmen had finally arrived they saw to being on their horses quickly. The horses couldn't be more pleased to be on open ground again and were circling about those assembled with eagerness that made Sheva's horse want to join them. Sheva let her ... and soon her own horse was trying to join in doing some warm-up formation riding.<br/><br/>The soldiers were scared. But unfortunately Proud. All had polished their new breastplate until it was sparkling. Hmm shame. Probably not a good idea considering. Some of the heros were scouting for their own reasons.<br/><br/>The right decision concerning the crossbowmen's involvement Sheva knew would be crossroads for more than her own life. They had not seen much action and they knew the heros did that work for the monster. They may be biting to prove their worth, perhaps too eagerly so. Still their armour was polished. If anything was going to work with a small team assaulting a place that's well entrenched being proud and loud may not be the hottest of ideas. This had to be done in a way to keep morale um.<br/><br/><strong>"Remind me to get you surcoats - for you all will blind us all before you blind them with your splendor!"</strong>Sheva waved at the breastplate of the closest soilder and squinted like it was blinding her already<br/><br/>It was a hint that was put in the kindest way that being seen now would be foolish. Being on horseback was pushing it enough.<strong>"For my own sake would you all dull them a little ? Some oil and little ash would do the trick. Dull and mat please !"</strong><br/><br/>Admist chuckles they sort to doing so. Structure and knowing what to expect next help many relax, so Sheva spoke of a plan even if it wasn't one they would necessary follow. She wanted to keep them out of trouble, but needed to do so without insulting them.<br/><br/><strong>"Let the horses need to stretch their legs for as long as they need"</strong>Hmm, perhaps horses were too much trouble... how much more options would not having them give her ? But then again they also gave options in their own regard. Depends on numbers of people really.<br/><br/><strong>"We will let the horses get rid of energy for a while but each of you will be assigned as the henchman of one of the others with me, do whatever they say. If it sounds ridiculous do it anyway, even if its just carrying stuff or making distractions somehow. They saved us before with that bird. And I trust they will do so before with each of you more than I trust myself."</strong><br/><br/>There, hopefully that was enough. Some breathed out a sigh of relief knowing they would have one of heros nearby. Stress shoulders relaxed on the others. They were worried about that not happening. Who could blame them. Hopefully the heros will not dispense of them or overestimate how experienced they were.