Meeting of Commanders

"Big bro, good morning." John stood in bed over his brother.

"Good… morning, Johnny. Up early, ain't ya?" King Arthur scratched his only normal eye.

"Hmm, hmm! Big bro, feeling better?" John fell on his knees on the bed, shaking it up. He placed his hand on his brother's flakey skin. "You feel normal." He smiled with excitement.

"Yes, I feel better too." The king rose in his bed. He was going to the side to stand up.

"You slept good, big bro." His little brother ran to his side, placing his indoor shoes by his feet.

"Thanks, bro. Yes, I saw you in my dreams, and that alone is enough to brighten my days." Arthur smiled, telling his brother about his dream.

"Really? What were we doing?"

"We achieved peace, and I had knighted you." He chuckled. "Pfft, you were all grown up in my dream too."

"Woahhh!" John had stars in his eyes as they both walked out of the room, holding hands. Guards, whose only job was to guard the inside gate, opened the door for his majesty.

Other guards ran to their side as soon as King Arthur's foot stepped outside the room, walking down a long aisle. John had a knight seated upon a horse metal toy. He was dreaming of himself riding one's back.

"Johnny, is my face messy?" Arthur looked down as John looked at the guard behind him. The guard was sweating, somewhat in fear.

"Na-huh, big bro, you're beautiful." His little mind thought of a clever idea. "Big bro, are you going to see the mean guys?" John asked his brother, wondering if he was to meet with his commanders.

"Hmm, you seem not pleasing to go? You want out?" Arthur looked ahead. He was physically stronger today. However, his disease was fraying him down, and it also had a more significant effect when he was overworked.

"Yes, can I go somewhere else after morning's blessing?" He asked. Still, his little mind was thinking of a way to make his brother not so scary again.

"You may. Go, sit down at your end." Arthur directed his little brother to take a seat while he took a look from a window in the dining room. The dining table was long. It could fit thirty people on each side.

However, only two plates were in the middle of the right side, with food presented beautifully in reaching places on the table.

Arthur walked down the table and sat next to his brother.

"I dream of a world where everyone from every race and religion could feel peace. I dream of a kingdom capable of listening and sustaining its people full-heartedly. I dream of a prince who will carry out the dream I might die before achieving." Arthur tried to smile, but no guard and maid around him saw it. Only John knew of it, and he smiled back as his brother sat down.

***

After the filling breakfast, the two brothers parted ways, each with their guards.

John had already planned his day, and his motives were clear.

"A mask?" An armor forger repeated John's words.

"Yes, an iron mask with beautiful patterns fitted for a king." John jumped in excitement, telling the ultimate armor forger.

"Well, my lord. I'll need numbers for King Arthur's head size and circumference. I could create it, and the circumference will be for the back of his head. Then, I'll tie a strap to the back of his head and attach it to the mask."

"Ahh, makes sense! Give me a day!" John opted to get the measurements within a day.

***

"My lord, the six commanders are present." Then, an armored knight, his chest crested in the holy symbol of their god, called.

The commanders of each unit were seated in front of a golden throne, each behind a large wooden desk.

Above them, banners of the kingdom and six central military unit banners aligned the edge of the room's red carpet that led up to the throne and down to the two entry doors.

A prominent commander swallowed his built-up nervous saliva as he saw the king seated, a hand on the throne, and a hand resting on his crouch area.

The nervous commander stood. "I, Richard, of Tyr, and commander of the Glooming Crows, demand action from the king against our advancing foes!" He shouted his words.

The room lit in the commotion over what to do. Some commanders agreed, some disagreed, and three of them sat silent.

King Arthur lifted his right hand in a show to silence the room, but it continued.

"Silence! The king's word!" The guard behind the king shouted into the room.

The room fell quiet as every commander took their seat, fearing what would come out of the king's mouth.

"Ahh..." Arthur groaned as he stood up.

"My faithful commanders, I, your king, will now speak my commands." He looked into their spirits.

"I received a letter directly from my greatest foe, King Lusi. He demands the holy land with a peaceful transition, and he is currently moving his army from a water place to a water place, hoping to reach the kingdom with energy." Arthur spoke and stopped for a long moment, trying to tempo his breaths.

"He and his army of three hundred thousand are looking to win. Negotiation for peace will be sought, but if he refuses. If war is what he seeks, he'll receive war." King Arthur sat down, tired.

"My lord, you are weak. We cannot win with you in command!" A commander stood to speak his mind.

"Yes, you seek peace with the Nofims, yet they seek war with us. Your tactics and general mind have plunged to bits." Another commander with a crest of wolf embedded into his chest armor spoke.

These two comments lit a fire in the room. Commanders were screaming at the king to step down and die peacefully. Some were as evil as to wish him a quick death and a new ruler.

"Silence!" Arthur coughed after screaming.

The room once again went silent.

"Weak-minded. I and my kingdom have no place for commanders with weak minds. Peace is above all else. I took the throne as a monster and shall leave it as a king who pursued tranquility." Blood gushed out of his deformed nose.

"I shall die leaving a legacy of peace for my little brother. And, my disgusting soul shall haunt any who object." Arthur's head fell back into his throne, tired.

The leader of the temple, hidden behind the six commanders, rose to speak his mind.

"The Lugic God of our universe shall watch thy disdainable actions, king Arthur of Judep."

"I am Judep, and Judep is the holy land that will prosper in peace, your highness." King Arthur mocked the religious leader of the Judep kingdom.