The book of Pericles

Word had spread that a large grey skin army had marched out from the mountains. People of the kingdom were terrified and started to lock themselves inside castles and keeps fearing for grey skin raids.

The scouts of the nobles went ahead of the army to inform any village or town that they would not be attacked. That the grey skins were working together with the revolutionaries and that they were here to get rid of the royals and nobles who had failed the kingdom. That they were fighting for the common person and citizen and that the famous Rufus was leading them all.

Still, many citizens were skeptical. The fact that they were marching together with a grey skin army made it difficult to trust them. This was a problem that was making people flock to the banner of the royals.

Rufus had named Doreen as the head strategist of the army. She was a wise person who had proven back in Lehasa that she knew what she was doing.

Doreen had called in all the major military leaders of the army. She was about to explain the strategy he had prepared for invasion.

"Mind working again as the translator again Amala," Doreen asked.

"Fine. With all the books you read you should have learned some grey skin now," Amala said back.

All the leaders were present inside the tent.

"Since we have now almost doubled our numbers, logistics have become even more important. We should get a foothold for us here in the Insbeck region," Doreen explained.

"I did bring a lot of supplies from Wallach. Is that really necessary," Count Hunyadi asked.

"We don't know how long this war will last. It is good to ensure that we have a protected supply chain. It is also dangerous to let even a small enemy force behind us."

"So where will we strike first?" one of the nobles asked.

"Castle Heinfel is just a two-day march away from here. It is well fortified, but we should take it nonetheless. It can work as a staging ground for our army where we take back our wounded. We also do not want to leave it behind us so we will be struck from the back as well."

"Castle Heinfel is very well fortified. We don't have any war machines with us. Are we really able to take it?" another noble asked.

"We must. Even if we don't have any war machines we have warriors with strong divine powers who can break the walls. We will be able to take the castle. I am sure of it," Doreen reassured all of them.

Rufus was very impressed with how well Doreen handled it all. He was mostly relieved giving the command to someone else than himself.

After the meeting was over Rufus went to talk to Doreen.

"Where did you learn all this? Leading an army, war strategies. logistic."

Doreen took a small book from underneath her toga. It had a picture of a man with an olympian world's style helmet on.

"My grandfather left me with this book of Pericles. He is maybe one of the heroes of Olympus world who was not a god, but a human just like you and me.

When the gods fought against the demigods in the great Imitheos war, he aided the gods against the rebelling demigods. He wasn't individually strong, but his mind was sharp. He defeated an army led by a powerful demigod with a smaller force and weaker divine power. He inspired the people to not think of them as small, but as great. That when we unite we can do anything.

After the war, he was the elected leader of his city called Athenai. He built the city from a small fishing community into a bustling metropolis and led his city into a golden age. His city still is considered the greatest city in Olympus after his death.

Herodotus a man also known for his wisdom was his most trusted friend. He wrote his story where he recollects every moment of Pericles's life. He also was the one who wrote this book. I learned everything from this. In the book, Herodotus writes the lessons of warfare, governing, and politics based on Pericles. It basically is Pericle's life story during the war and when he led the city Athenai into a golden age. The book was my grandfather's favorite," Doreen explained with a happy smile while thinking of his grandfather.

"Wow. This Pericles seems like an amazing person."

"Apparently he was. Too bad in the last moments of his life his own people betrayed him. Rumors had spread that he had sided with the demigods and bribed them to leave the city alone and that all his victories were just because of luck. He was forced out of the city and died in poverty. Herodotus offered many times to help his feeble and dying friend, but he would never take the help saying that if the people of the city wished his death he should then do as the people wished.

"The city of Athenai soon fell into disarray and anarchy, but luckily it never fell completely. For that reason, I also believe it is not just the leaders' duty to serve their country, but the people's too," Doreen said and looked at Rufus.

Rufus then realized why Doreen had been so faithful to the prince. Doreen believed it was also the subjects' and subordinates' role to do their best to help the leader or superior. That it is not what the leader could do for others, but what others could do for the leader.

"I will not be like the people of Athenai. I will work together with a leader and king worthy to lead and help him to the best of my abilities."