"I am not going alone," I said, turning towards her. My voice was firm, but my heart was heavy. "I am taking my army with me, minions who follow my orders without question. I need soldiers, not people who will question every move I make. I am a king, and I can do as I please."
As I spoke, I could see that she was upset, almost on the verge of tears. She was a loyal subject, and I knew that she believed in my leadership. But I had already made my decision not to take her to battle, and that was final. She had been too judgmental about my choices, too quick to criticize without understanding the weight of the decisions I had to make. I couldn't afford any more drama from her, not when there was a war to be fought.
"I am a crucial part of your army; you can't leave me behind," she protested, her anger evident.
