After they stopped crying the minsters, captains, and the maid praised and thanked Prince Edward whole heartily for his generosity and care for the kingdom. After that Edward said to Captain Rick.
Edward: [ Captain Rick did the attack start or is there sometime before they attack us. If there is time and attack hasn't started yet then can you send some one to visit my father say that "Prince Edward Wants everyone to stay there and do not start attacking or defending against the army, something special is going to happen so afterwards try to make everybody calm and let them stay together at one place." Take my and Mother's seal so that father may see it is really us that has sent message. ]
After saying that he took is seal out from the pocket and asked Margaret for her seal. Margaret put all her new found trust on her son so she directly gave the seal to Edward when he asked for it, after taking the seal Edward gave both the seals to Captain Rick.
Captain Rick: [ Well your highness the enemy army won't be attacking anytime soon so there is time before attack, But asking the king and everyone to stopping attacking and defending, i don't think its appropriate. ] He said in doubtful manner
Edward: [ You tell them what i had said and after everything is settled ask some one send signal in the air or ring the bell at the watch tower. And now you should hurry up there.]
Although Rick wanted to say something seeing the serious face of Prince Edward, he knew that prince was serious and he won't take no as an answer. So he held he seals was ready to depart when Fred to volunteer to go with him. So both hurriedly went their out. After seeing they have gone Edward asked both minister of War and logistics about more details.
Edward: [ So Mr. Sebas tell about all the casualties kingdom has suffered till now and also tell me about all the equipment and warhorses present in our barracks, And Mr. Victor tell me about all the ration left in the reserve and how long can it last, and also tell me about about the people in shelter and also about the people who are participating in war, tell me about there numbers. ] Edward calmly asked both the ministers and also asked everyone to slowly walk towards the entrance of the barracks.
Minister of war Sebas: [ Your highness about 2000 farmers were killed during invasion and during the defending process more that 7000 people died, so it a total about 9000 people have died. As for equipment it is shame to said it but due to our size of kingdom and its location we were about procure more iron or iron mines nearby so only soldiers have very basic equipment as for the people i'm afraid they are fighting without them. ] Sebas replied in shame and sad voice.
Even though already knowing about the casualties but listening to Sebas say them out aloud everyone's expression became grave and everyone felt very sad. But after listening that the people are fight even without having the basic equipment everyone's expression became even worse.
Minister of Logistics Victor: [ Since the winter is coming king had already able to contact the merchants for them to supply for more food, but who would have thought all the merchants who were coming to the kingdom with the loads of ration were killed in middle by the invading army so we weren't able to get food from them but also the crops that were about to be harvested got destroyed by the invading army so we weren't able to get them too. So the ration we are using now is the reserve ration that had been stored in the treasury for past few years. If this go like this we won't be able to make it out of the winter as this year said to have a long winter period.
Our total population is about 50,000 so for the people who had left us they are about 20,000, so the remaining population is about 30,000 and after deducting the dead its about 20,000 and in these the people who are in shelter are old, women and young who aren't able to fight they are about 8000 to 9000 so the remaining people that are left to defend are about 12,000. ]