"Commander, the troops are in place." An armored blonde boy spoke to the back of the commander as he feasted on a loaf of bread.
"Words out, The King of Nofims is headed this way; it'll take him a week to journey here. That bastard's smart." He munched on the dry loaf, trying to speak again.
"He knows the water places, and his words are deceiving enough to lead his men to death in vain." The commander of the roaring lions turned to face the young assistant.
"My son, you'll inherit my position, this country one day, and today you'll lead the army." He pointed at the boy, smiling with gratitude.
"I shall do as I am told." The son bowed, yet a smirk formed on his plumped pink lips.
"Rise, boy, for you are my greatest gift, one enough to present to our lord, King Arthur." The commander placed his hand over his beloved son's shoulder.
***
"My lord, you are awake?" A maiden cleaned the dresser as Arthur rose from his bed.
"Yes, good morning to you, Leslie." Arthur moved over to the corner.
"To you too, my lord." She bowed as the king stood up.
"Where's John?" He asked curiously about his brother missing.
"He had woken up since sunrise and steered out. I do not currently know his whereabouts. Do you want me to send a search?" She had seen John leave with his guard but never knew where.
"No, I think I might know where that little brat has run off to." Arthur smiled, dragging his feet as he walked for the bathroom and a morning shower.
***
Loud hammer thuds continued behind a closed door.
A boy seated on a chair, smiling and eating a cookie, shook his legs back and forth, and he, as soon as the hammer's noise stopped, asked the forger a question.
"How much longer?" He looked at the middle-aged man with curiosity beaming out of his body.
"We are all done. Just need to cool it and see if it has any errors." The forger smiled, picking up the iron mask with his clamps.
"Ahhh!" John screamed, smiling, imagining the reaction his brother would give him.
As the forger dipped the iron mask into a liquid, he kept it inside until the water boiled from its temperature.
Taking it out, he placed it by a nearby table and asked John to come over and look. "Young Sire, look here." The forger smiled.
As John stood on a chair, his face beamed, looking at the styled iron mask made for his brother.
"The last touches are here." The forger walked beside him and secured a strap to the mask.
"It's so beautiful, and now my brother will be beautiful to others too." So overwhelmed with joy, John grabbed the mask and ran away to gift it to his brother.
"Young lord?" The two guards were shocked by his speed, making it after him to guard his way back.
***
"This article references my tactical analysis of the Nofims' advancing army. Use it, and spurt from it your ways to overcome your enemies." Arthur had his attendants pass out a book containing his ideas and plans. The commanders each opened their book with curiosity.
"Will eventually have to come to terms with war if peace isn't what the Nofims seek. We must prepare so that I will speak to the army at the assembly court tomorrow." Arthur announced before releasing his commanders to go back to work.
"The roaring lions will tend to weapons training."
Arthur began telling his commanders what to focus their training on to avoid battlefield weakness.
"The sharks will advance their battle tactics and strengthen their decision-making skills."
"The bears have been reckless, and they care not to wear their battle attire; endurance and stamina training must be done wearing their armor attire all day as punishment."
Arthur babbled, wanting to finish his meeting.
"Tsk, useless brat." The commander of the bears spoke under his breath.
"The elephants will tend to the defensive equipment and defensive gear."
"The grim reapers will be training to improve their ability to engage in long-range attacks, so bow and arrow skills will need to be acquired as soon as possible."
"The crows are the weakest with their swords and spears and the strongest with their bow and arrow, so the crows will join the grim reapers and work together to learn spear and swordsman skills while passing their knowledge to the grim reapers in bow and arrow."
Arthur supported his head onto his knuckles, elbow resting on the side of the throne.
"Lord Arthur, we'll only have a couple of days. What about defensive preparations? Our cannons are yet sitting under a cover. First, we need to map out our land and advantages." The Sharks leader spoke out in worry over preparing their defensive artillery.
"I am drawing out a defensive plan based on our country's advantages. You will not have to worry about that. I will guide you to the best fitting positions." Arthur stood up, heading towards the exterior door leading to the king's hall.
"Will lead you to victory, King Arthur." The Grim's leader spoke with haste and pride.
Arthur gestured with his index finger, "no."
"No, no one will lead me nor the army. Instead, I will lead this country to victory, to peace."
"Tsk," The bear's leader looked furious.
"Are you sure that we will not be led to doom? King Arthur, the old commanders, your parents, and the ancient armies' ways are dead because they chose to trust their enemies. You are too soft, perhaps like my father. Trust is weakness, lord Arthur. I remain loyal to you, but I disapprove of your ways." The crow's leader slammed his hands to stand up, infuriating Lion's squad leader. The Lion's leader remained quiet, nipping on his lip in anger.
"I understand, but I am Judep, and I will do whatever is necessary to attain peace for Judep." King Arthur eyed his commanders. His demonic aura filled the room. Scared, the commanders hushed and stood up in respect. "Dismissed," Arthur spoke out.
"My King!" The Commanders saluted their king as he walked out. Everyone kept to themselves as the temple leader left the room as well. The commanders packed their papers, each to their own, and walked out to the main hall.