By the time the carriage returned to the palace, the sky had turned dark. The guards were preparing for the night shift. All the officials had retired to their homes.
All the way till here, Evans impatiently waited to inform Adney of the impractical offer made by Eric to farmers. However, taking into consideration the workload of Chief Advisor, he decided against disturbing him in his rest hours.
The next day, After completing his morning exercises Evans directly went to the office of Adney, Chief advisor wasn't in his office.
Evans then went to the office of Military Chief and he too wasn't in his office. Fortunately, the door guard of the office hadn't left, he told Evans about the messenger that arrived early this morning.
Evans hurried to the war hall, there he finally saw everyone present and heaved a sigh of relief.
Kipler sternly asked him, "What took you so long. We had already begun the meeting. Come quick. Don't stand like a statue."
Evans kept his grievances to himself and with a lowered head walked to the seat beside Eric.
Eric mumbled, "Evans, I checked your room when I was coming but you weren't there. Where had you gone this early in the morning."
"Don't ask. I was just exercising, my legs hurt so I had to walk a little longer before it relaxed." Evans replied thinking about his an hour of search.
"Ohh, Is it okay now," Eric asked, thinking of remedies for hurt legs and he couldn't remember anyone advising to take a walk. Maybe it works on this planet, he thought.
Evans nodded.
Kipler saw the two kids catching up, he said, "Hrmm, please pay attention." Both Evans and Eric knew it was directed at them as Everyone was staring at them.
"Let me brief once again, Dazarians have invaded our kingdom and taken control of the three mountain passes. They surprise attacked our forward lookout camps and killed nearly more than 500 people and 400 more injured."
Evans was shocked by revelations like other people had been a few minutes before his Entry. A Dazarian invasion.
"But why?" Evans blurted out. The pondering faces of officials turned to him as if saying why are you being stupid, then their eyes turned to Eric. He understood.
Evans was sure that their thinking was too simple. If it was because of Eric's attack then it might have happened long ago. Dazarians had numerical advantage since the very start.
Kipler's stern voice resounded across the hall, "We think the reason for their attack is much more complicated than our simple assumption. They withdrew their soldiers from other borders and deployed them here. It's not a wise move to leave the borders unprotected."
"It could only be possible if all other neighbouring Kingdoms are supporting them, which is also highly unlikely" Adney added.
The room went silent. The officials were now analysing as per the new inputs given by the two chiefs.
Evans too thought, what Kipler and Adney said makes sense. It was a huge risk that Dazar took, going for a full fledged war was mutually destructive.
The more he thought about it, the more unpleasant his expression became. He muttered, "A strong and powerful Ally".
Everyone clearly heard what he said, if it was true then it's not a good news for Alvaton.
Eric glanced at Kipler and Adney, their face told him, it was true.
"Well, the reason, whatever it might be, can be discussed later. Let's first decide what our next step should be." Eric suggested.
Evans and others nodded their head in support of the suggestion.
One of the officials said, "it will take time for them to build defensive mechanisms around the newly captured camps. If we launch an assault on them now, they might be caught unprepared."
A military general snorted at the comment of the official, "huh, this is the time when they would be most alert and would be expecting an attack."
"However, this is the time they would be most vulnerable. It might be a bitter struggle but it's the risk worth taking" another general presented his thoughts.
Evans also had the same opinion to attack as fast as possible and uproot them.
Most of the officials present were in favour of attacking now.
Kipler unfolded a parchment, he read some points mentioned in it, "Dazar had sent 12000 soldiers in North, 7000 on other side of mountains and 5000 soldiers on our side, and we currently only have 7000 soldiers there."
The new information revealed by Kipler turned those suggesting direct assault silent.
Eric was hesitant, he didn't want a bloody struggle but a complete one sided massacre. How? He was yet to figure it.
Adney suggested, "If we attack now, and regain the control over passes, we wouldn't need to care about the 7000 more soldiers."
Adney wasn't a military expert. However, his opinion mattered. Once again, the officials and generals started speaking in favor of attack...