I entered the royal council room, the place was filled with hidden agenda and mind games that did not find its end. The huge conference table lined at the center with chairs surrounding all around it. The nobles and other personnel sat at their respective places with the King occupying the head seat.
With great strides I crossed the room and found my seat next to the king and opposite of Prince Remus. I had not worn my commander uniform since it will take time to be custom made. Which somehow was being made by his Majesty's personal tailor.
As I settled down, the King looked at me with great interest since I don't have the usual pleasure pleasing face, My bad mood taking the best of me. He then did a shadow smile and looked away at the other nobles and personnel.
"Let's start the meeting." He announced with a nonchalant gaze, the amusement gone. All the people including me nodded and opened the pages with the agendas.
"The first agenda is the war with the north." I announced.
The atmosphere shifted to a gloomy and serious mood.
"Then I would like to start with the statistical data that was collected with the help of Princess Cardea and Prince Remus." Aspen said and everyone nodded shifting to the page with the data.
Jasper, who was behind the king, looked at me but I feigned ignorance. He leaned into the king's ears and said something.
Aspen was detailing on the numbers of troops in total combining both naval and soldiers all together. 'We have quite a big army excluding the king's shadow knights and my beast troops. Well considering it's only been three years since the last war. This is normal.'
The king nodded and Jas came and stood behind me. All the members in the room saw that and went silent for a second, even Aspen stopped talking before coughing and then resuming.
I ignored them with every fiber of my being and made sure that all my focus and attention was on the document.
'They are head bent on annoying me. Damn it.'
I could feel the sadness radiating from my back but I had my mind full with thoughts regarding this fake war, well at least for me it is fake.
'I need a strong force who can stop the northern fleet before they can cross the ocean. I also need to buy time to ready the troops so we can teleport them to the north front line. After we have reached there I can take care of the rest.'
I flipped the document as different military countians tried explaining their strategies.
"Commander Mabuz, what are your inputs on this?" The King pulled me out of my thoughts so I looked up and saw that all eyes were on me.
I placed my eyes back on the document and said "well all the strategies are good and all but there is no sign of defense in the vision and also if we need to even go to war in the northern lands we will have to stop the northern fleet before we even leave the Ravial lands."
I turned to the king and told him "First we have to stop them from coming here so we need a good naval commander, after stopping them we will have to safely send out troops to the northern lands."
Then I turn to Remus "also we have to train our soldiers for the harsh winter and snow of the north. We can't send all our un-trained assets half heartedly in the battle field that will just make them a liability."
I turn to the other member and continue "I need three things prepared, proper ships, trained soldiers and a lot of mages."
Everyone's face shifted into a thinking mode and the room fell silent thoughts.
'Now all I have left to do is set it all up.'
***
The meeting came to an end after my plan got the approval from all the members and the plan will proceed accordingly.
I go out the room and straight towards the horse barn.
'I need to go back home.'
"Kaan!" I heard Jas called me but I kept walking.
"Kaan come on."
"..."
"Kaan...."
"..."
I heard fast footsteps and Jasper grabbed my wrist and pulled me. He turned me towards him and said "Stop it already, I will rather have you shout at me than your silence."
"..."
"Please... Kaan. I promise to be your puppet. You can ask me to do anything and I will do it. But please stop ignoring me." he said with a sad expression.
"..."
His eyes filled with tears and shook. I have never treated Jasper like this ever. Even when sometimes he had got on my nerves, I have never out right ignored his existence. This showed him that there is a possibility that I can leave him but he can't. And that just made me feel so good. Having someone at your complete mercy.
I turned and walked towards the barn, Jasper still holding my wrist and following behind me. But since I did not tell him to let go, it should be seen as some kind of approval for him.
'I don't care if he follows me like a dog or he stratign his act and follows me as my perfect right hand man. All I need him to do is follow me.' An involuntary smile escaped from me.
We got to the barn and I found a carriage from the Mabuz territory.
"Millard sent the carriage to pick you up." he said, letting go of my hand and going to open the door.
I nodded and climbed on it and we departed to the manor from the back gate.
'No point in informing the king, that's his punishment for trying to play with me.'
"We need to get everyone together. I want all the people involved in this art in the ice castle tomorrow and with no excuses. It's an order." I command looking out the window refusing to even glance at him.
"As you wish My lord." and he refused to back down.