chapter 18

James was sitting on a far away place from where he had killed the demon lady. It had been two days since then and he did not have any means of travel. He knew he could summon Agni, but he wanted something more corporeal in the world. He had read about beings made out of materials with pseudo-life that could be able live as long as the creator lives. He wanted to create a horse, a winged horse to be precise. James remembered how the soldiers were created. They did have intrinsic magic in them which he was not able to learn due to the limited time but he was able to understand the basic idea. James had been creating the horse for the last two days sitting in a cross-legged position. There was something about that position that made him concentrate his mana more properly.

He had decided to make the horse from metal like the soldiers of army griffin. He had used the metal needed from the broken buildings. He had made the horse impermeable to any kind of magic and had also made it such that during the war times, it would be able to attack the foes itself.

The onyx Pegasus roared to life. It was really beautiful and strong to those who looked at these properly. James checked the horse properly and said the command word to fold its wings as not to cause any trouble. The only thing left was to name it. Ebony. James named it within his mind. The horse became small and vanished into the demon/dark lord ring. James looked at the ring and sat down. The horse was built properly but he felt like he lost something. He had decided from the very beginning he was going to walk alone. It was necessary to kill the lady.

The time had passed by. James called upon Ebony and flew in the air with her. Before he reached the borders, he had landed and pulled in the wings. Still the horse was pretty fast. The left-over parts of the buildings as the base materials and the parts of the demons as the war materials did make a war horse strong. James had reached the castle and there seemed to be an unrest. In no other place had he seen it. James wanted to curse himself for having stayed inside his room all the time learning when he could have at least went and talked to the neighbours, at least heard the news and common affairs.

He was immediately granted audience to the queen and he was happy he did not have to wait. James went inside to see the queen, princess and the three head ladies of the three military families laughing and talking. James got confused by the fact that they need not be present here at all. It was not necessary for them to be here for welcoming him or other things. He looked at the queen and stared at her.

Queen: Why are you staying there general?

James went over and knelt before the queen and then to the princess. He took a seat and accepted the drink that was poured for him. James took a sip of it. He had expected it to be tea but it was something different. Something tasty and new. He decided to make it the conversation starter.

James: It's a nice drink. What might this elegant drink be?

Lady Stonewood: It's called coffee which only the elegant of us drinks.

James: It's so nice of you to call me elegant, my lady.

Queen: Why have you returned? Were you scared by the Dark lady?

James: She seemed nothing more than a con artist. She was easily defeated.

Queen: How nice! It reminds me of my youth. Except I was a woman.

Eleanor: Everyone knows you are a woman sister. You should give him a price as per the tradition.

Lady Merrywood: It brings tears to my eyes thinking the words spoken in this court. Are you sure we have the time to spare to keep him here for now? Shouldn't he be elsewhere.

Lady Rookwood: That would be a good thing.

Lady Merrywood: Of course, you would support it. Why wouldn't you? There is a rumour that the dragon he killed wasn't a strong one. Also, that he was asleep while the serpent was killed. You might be sending him to just take away our children's glory.

James: Innocent until proven guilty. Tell me. Is this think I am supposed to know related to why everyone is at unrest?

Eleanor: True. A Goblin army I currently attacking the fortress as you are enjoying coffee.

James: I am sure my thirty thousand men can handle it.

Lady Rookwood: Also, the five thousand send by the three of us each.

James: Why would you need forty-five thousand soldiers. If I had read the report right the last time the fifteen thousand soldiers from the three families stood upfront while the five thousand extra supporters from the griffin army helped the rear line. Is it that the generals from the Merrywood and Stonewood family are scared!

Queen: No slandering in my court boy.

James: I was not slandering the ladies, my queen. All I wanted was to offer them help if their children were actually cowards.

Eleanor: There happens to be a hundred thousand goblins in the army.

James: So less. I expected much more. Tell me. Why don't we arrange a part and hunt down the goblin King who lives in the far end?

Queen: Seems like you know a little too much and yet a little too less. The goblin land does exist, but is farther away and in between comes the elf lands. They never allow any army to pass except the goblins in fear of their number and retribution.

James: True. But a single small party with me as a lead might do the trick.

Queen: Ever since the great revolution we have not had any connection with the outside world. At least not the king you would expect. The territories are divided properly. We do not interfere.

James: It seems like he is breaking the agreement.

Queen: True. But a few soldiers from our side is not much. You are a general, a person in the high like us. You should think in the same manner. It is fun after all.

James: True. But sometime the people in the low might consider it fun to kill the high.

Queen: True. Those low people shall be throttled by the legs of the high.

James: I think I need to go.

Queen: Oh, do stay. You are fun to talk to.

James: True. But I need to go to a war.

Queen: You have just returned from one. Surely you wouldn't mind having some rest.

James: I am a pretty unrest person. If you were to give me a mission as soon as I return, I shall even accept it happily.

Queen: Consider it done.

James: That was a joke.

Queen: So was I. Joking!

James bowed to the queen and left in a hurry. He knew he wanted to slaughter goblins. But what he wanted more was to stay away from this place. James went to an empty area and summoned Ebony. Everyone around looked surprised. Ebony unfolded her wings and flew to the air. James flew towards the war. Sun was on the top. He knew it would go to his right in time. The beast was fast and he saw the ongoing battle. He looked from above to see an unexpected strategy. The fortress was the centre. The shield was in the front, the spearmen behind them and the arrows behind them. He was able to make the outline of the soldiers of Stonewood and Merrywood. They were line up and were doing nothing.

James landed in front with his horse. He unsheathed his sword and looked at the goblin in front of him.

Goblin: The dark lord.

The goblin began to run away. He paused and looked himself. He was wearing dark coloured dress and his horse was dark. His sword was dark too, but that was not a reason to call someone a dark lord. He then looked at the ring. Goblins were half beasts themselves. They will understand when a dark lord is nearby. But he never thought he would be able to understand the goblins. Maybe they spoke the same language.

James looked around to see that the battlefield was silent. The goblins were afraid of the general and his army was silent due to respect. He was able to hear the members of the Stonewood and Merrywood murmuring. The army of Rookwood and griffin saluted him.

One of the goblins shouted.

Goblin: He no dark lord come help us. He help humans.

The goblins began their battle cry once again. James drew his sword that was given by the princess but he felt it was not strong enough. The horse battled the goblins that came to attack him as he was looking at the sword. He took out his spear from the extradimensional space. He looked at the spear and found out that it was stronger than the ancient artefact. The spear brought the scent of blood. James inflamed in anger. He looked at the goblins approaching. James lifted the spear in his hand. The horse stopped fighting. The goblins who came near him collapsed onto the ground dead. The spear brought forth lightning beams on all the monsters. He pulled into his magic and released his anger through the spear. Black fire tornado rose from the tip of the spear. The spear started vibrating and the black fire tornado split into for and began consuming the goblins. It even started to move in a path surrounding the fortress and spread through the ranks of Goblins.

The Fire grew as more and more goblins were consumed. James laughed out loud sinisterly.

James: My name is General Griffin. Tell your goblin lord that you will have to face me.

James cancelled the magic and the mana of the fire and the acquired mana came back to him. He threw his spear into the middle of the ranks of the goblins.

James: See my spear you vile beasts. The spear made powerful by live dragon blood. The spear used to kill a dragon and a dark lady. Cover before me and I shall kill you. Run and I shall let you live.

James extended his hands and the spear returned to his hands. The goblins began wailing and started running away. The truth was that goblins were scared of one thing more than blades and death. It was magic and the general emitted a huge aura around him.

James slowly moved his horse towards the horses. Seeing he was actually the general the troops began saluting him. They then began cheering when it began.

James: Attention army of griffin and Rookwood.

The army of army of Merrywood and Stonewood looked perplexed. The soldier all stood in attention.

James: Soldiers weapons ready. Your new target is the Stonewood and the Rookwood army.

The two parts faced each other. The shields came further in and blocked the other side. Archers had their bow ready. Lucy and Everly came forward on their horses.

Lucy: How dare you do this…

James: Were you the one ordering such pathetic strategy?

Lucy: From the order of the queen we were assigned temporary powers to command the griffin army. The dragon cannot be mobilised unless the griffin is in trouble.

James: Did the queen as you to employ such pathetic strategy. Covering in fear behind a wall of soldiers in the name of protecting the fortress. Did you not know the fortress cannot be broken down simply charging goblins?

Lucy: James. What exactly do you want?

James: IT'S GENERAL GRIFFIN. I want you to leave with your army right now.

Lucy: The goblins will surely return. Do you think you can face them of with thirty five thousand soldiers alone?

James: If they do not leave, I will be having thirty-five thousand soldiers and ten thousand cowards.

Everly: General griffin! Our armies were ordered to do what they did. They are not cowards.

James: True. I apologise for my behaviour. I thank the Stonewood and Rookwood family for their support. You may leave now.

Everly: By the queen's orders…

James: I am the general and states I have to take care of the problem. You may leave. Now. I don't want the goblin army split into two and begin chasing you two.

Everly: If that is what you want griffin!

James: It is not sweety. I just can't fight properly if I see you sexy figure in front of me.

All the soldier of his army looked at him.

James: It was a joke.

Everly: Okay sweety. I shall pull away my army.

Lucy: Fine James. You win. Let move troops.

The way was made as the ten thousand troops and their army marched away from there. They went away silently and the general went inside the fortress. He was there met by the commanders and his lieutenants. He went to his office and the others followed him. His horse was called back to his ring. James reached the office and sat down on his throne. He kept the spear horizontally. The fully metal spear did look heavy on his legs but was actually light.

The three scholars appeared into the room and took their seat. Olivia and Mia were also there. The looked at James doubtfully, but he smiled at them indicating they could stay.

Archie: Did you just make the two generals go away?

Eagle: They did appear to be calm about it.

James: They were brought according to the court life. They will keep their calm if even their arms are cut off.

Rosy: What do you mean?

James: There is nothing you need to worry. I can carry the retribution myself. How is the war.

Erwin: Of all the army of griffin and Rookwood, forty-two dead. The injured were all taken care off.

James: Number of goblins killed.

Eagle: Thirty thousand.

James: We need to move to offensive strategy. There is a person known as the goblin lord who controls the army. I am going to ride out today with all of you. We shall reach their fort and kill their commander. Then it shall be just hunting down lone goblins.

Eagle: The fortress is to thirty-two degrees north from here.

James: Explain everything to the troops.

Rat: We can move today if you want to.

James: True. But tomorrow is better.

Rat: What about the troops.

James: Let everyone rest. Divide the armies into batched and take shifts.

Eagle: We can work without rest.

Fish: We do not need much rest as these ser.

James: That is a direct order.

The others went away from the room. James went over to the window and looked down on the army. It was good to be alive.

There were recursive attacks of the goblins but were all repelled by the army. James was meditating over the events that has passed by him. His energy was increasing each second. It was as though he was waiting for something. A new seal to control himself.

He was informed by his guards that the time had come. He went down to see his army waiting for him. James knew he had to say a speech. The previous time he had just raised his hand and had walked away. The soldiers needed something more. They needed something better.

James: My fellow comrades. The time has come to enter the battlefield. We ride on to the destiny we had chosen the day we decided to be a soldier. Yes. That is war. The endless turmoil known to human kind. Known to cause death and suffering. But my friends we shall fight. The goblins shall know what humans really are. They shall face the wrath of the Fenrir that they will never return here for another millennium. Let's ride into the battle my friends. Shields, today you shall stop the goblins from escaping while the others hunt the goblins. Archers, hunt the escaped goblins. All the other soldiers. Do I need to say what needs to be done! Victory.

Everyone roared into the air. James jumped down directly and went to the centre of the force. There he summoned his horse and mounted it. James rode on with his horse with his personal battalion commanding the other knights on horses besides him. They moved slowly as the spearmen, shields and the crossbows were on foot. It took them until evening till they saw the goblins' lair. There were many goblins all around. Goblins here, goblins there, goblins all around.

James gave a command to the archers to line up behind the shield. The goblins were approaching the invaders of their fortress. James roared into the air and moved rushed forward with his army. The soldiers attacked the goblins with power and conviction. James killed any goblin that approached him. He did not use any other skill other than martial arts. He was a general now, not a dark lord. The army's attack was successful. An ogre as big as an elephant approached the soldiers. They were thrown back when hit with the clubs. It seemed as if the armies were only successful in killing the goblins the size of the humans. James took onto the air with his horse. The goblins looked at him momentarily and they were killed by the soldiers who had a good idea of discipline. James summoned his spear and threw it to kill the ogre and any other player that was too big for his army. James looked at the number of the bigger beast. He focused his mana and controlled the spear and made duplicate copies of it. A hundred spears went and hit the goblins and exploded.

The original spear returned to him. Binding multiple fathomable spears to the original on was a good idea. From one of the tents a goblin wearing armour came out. James wondered why the other goblins wore nothing but loincloths while this goblin wore a full armour. The goblin in the armour gave a command in a language he did not know. The goblins went on the defensive. The army had completely locked down the support of the goblins. James landed near the goblin lord. James looked at the small being. He laughed. Both the armies had stopped battling. The goblin lord came forward.

Goblin Lord: What is it you want?

James: You tell me. You are the one that attacked my country.

Goblin Lord: Are you telling that you have come to eradicate us?

James: Are you willing to leave?

Goblin Lord: If it is inevitable.

James: How come you speak our language properly?

Goblin Lord: I am well versed in many battles.

James: Were you in the previous battle too. I was not the general seven years back.

Goblin Lord: True. And before that.

James: I like your style. Trial and error to find out the weakness of the army.

Goblin Lord: Never had any human come to a forward strike. They always were on the defensive. So, hundred thousand is your tipping point.

James: No. Even if it was just one goblin, I would have hunted him down.

Goblin Lord: What is it that you have against goblins, dark lord.

James: Nothing in fact. Except for the fact that you attack us every few often and I will have to fight eery time.

Goblin: Why would that bother you? Wouldn't it be fun playing war. Anything is possible as long as we have power.

James: True. Why don't we speak this over a cup of tea?

Goblin Lord: Sure, my Lord. Why don't you come inside the tent?

James ploughed the spear through the spine of the Goblin Lord. Goblin everywhere started wailing and started attacking him over the army. The horse did keep the goblins in check but his power formed a barrier around himself. The soldiers were killing the goblins to reach him but they did not mind dying.

James: Eagle. Fire the arrows. Do not worry of me. Others stay guard.

Arrows rained the air. Many of the goblins were being killed but even after being hit by many arrows, there were many still advancing. James released fire all around him and went towards the army's line up. The army was on one side with heir general in front and the goblins were in front. The army were still killing the goblins. Some time had passed and it seemed sense started returning to the goblins. The goblins started turning and running away. James advanced his army in pursuit of the army. The speed of the goblins rivalled that of the horses. James and his soldiers stood side by side.

Commander Eagle came riding the horse and came to the general.

Eagle: It is impossible to reach the goblins with arrows now.

James: Do you want every one of them dead?

Rosy: Isn't it better that way?

Fish: There is no way that was possible.

James: Let me tell you something. A King should be singlehandedly more powerful than all his subjects together and the same goes for the general.

James took his spear and spoke the incantation of the great fire he had created. The spell was just a way of remembering the act of guiding the magic and this was the fastest way. James threw his spear into the air. The spear turned to be a bird with phoenix that hit the ground far away. It turned into a fire-tornado much bigger than anyone has expected. James looked at the result and was happy. James summoned the spear back and kept it back in his extradimensional space.

James smiled at himself. He raised his hands in the air and the army cheered. They surrounded him and was cheering. James put back his sober face but was happy from within. James was happy he was a dark lord now. He was also a successful general. He was really happy.

James suddenly felt warmth at his lower back. The soldiers retreated away from him for some reason. James looked at others to see that they were looking scared. Everyone had drawn weapons at others and were standing toe to toe.

James: What the hell is happening?

Rosy came forward and got down from her horse and knelt before the general.

James: Ser James. You are bleeding.

James looked at himself. He knew someone had struck him and it was one of his own men. There was a traitor among them and everyone was at each other's throat. One death was enough to cause the whole army to kill others in call of suspicion.

James: ALL OF YOU WEAPONS DOWN. NO BODY IS THE TRAITOR. WE ARE LEAVING FOR THE FORTRESS.

Rat: General. The person needs to be found.

James: I officially pardon the person who has done this to me and also give you a direct order that there shall be no search for this person.

Erwin: But ser. It is necessary.

James: I am the general here and these are my orders.

Everyone kept their weapon down. The medical team came forward to inspect the wound. James kept them at bay with his hand. James touched the wound. He had not felt pain but the wound was still open. Ordinary weapon would not have been able to do it. Someone had a really powerful weapon in their hand. The magic was crossed by a weapon as thought they had been an artefact. It was the work of one o the ladies. The soldiers looked at the general in fear. There were times when the whole army was killed in the past because of a drunk general who had happened to be the princess. The tale was not much famous among the common-folk but the soldiers were told this tale ever since they entered the training.

James inspected the wound again. The magic he had placed on the dresses and his own body should have helped his regenerate faster. It was as if the wound was infected by something. Something along the lines of poison but supposed to work in a different way. Maybe along the lines of magic. James got down from his horse and send it back into his ring. He sat down cross-legged. The others came to help him but he held his hand up. There was complete silence everywhere.

James concentrated on the wound and started feeling it. It was as if his body was an entanglement of magical chords, each representing different parts of him. There were places with puddles and places with gems. His body was a whole another world. James looked at the wound inwardly to find that there was something different about the colour. The colour seemed something on the lines of fire but was against it. James started releasing mana onto the site, but ordinary mana seemed to be of no use. James started applying the mana through different spells and elements but nothing worked. It was as if there was a seal put on his body and he needed to open it.

James knew everything about seal as he had been a fanatic about security. James started searching for the seal and kept finding it. It seemed the time was going on. James felt another intrusion on his body and opened his eyes to the physician was trying to treat him. James slapped him and sent him away. No one else approached the general. James looked at the wounds inwardly again. He looked with different spectres of vision until he found the charm. A circular magic manipulation. All the mana would be used to the point such that there will be no mana for regeneration. The only way out of this was either to live the whole life with you magic being stolen or to break it. James knew there was a way to break it. It was an anti-magic charm that had worked, but it had been created using magic.

James began trying to unravel the spell. He also started to give it more and more mana so that the spell might become overwhelmed. A spell separated from its source always depended on the balance of magic. Disrupt it and it can be destroyed. James tried it different methods until the spell was removed. James had succeeded in removing the spell. His body began growing in the area where there was wound. The clothes also began growing as he had already magicked it. The blood stain was removed automatically by the cleansing charm. James was out of danger and he was safe. He looked at his body. It felt week. A lot of mana had been used by him.

James looked at the soldiers that had aligned before him. He smiled at them and everyone cheered slightly and then shut up.

James: We are leaving for the fort. After aa day of rest you all can split into groups and can hunt down the rogue goblins. Do not go too far.

Soldier 1: Can we take some goblin meat now?

James: Is goblin meat consumable?

Rat: It might sound disgusting but they are really tasty.

James: Fine. You shall do so. We are leaving for the castle in two hours. Take as much as you can.

James waited for some time. It was dark now. The perfect time to have someone assassinated. James looked at the happy faces of the soldiers. The world was beautiful and ugly at the same time. Someday he might have to face these people and someday he will. He was ready for anything and no one was going to stop him from getting what he wanted.

The army was ready to depart and they did. The army reached the fortress the next day morning. James was happy to see his home. James went to the office. The members of the dragon army were cheering them on a job well done which was not seen usually. The army was allowed to be rested and those who wanted were allowed to form a party leave.

James went to his office and locked all the entrances and sealed the room. He checked his mana and found out that much wasn't consumed in comparison to the mana he had. It was just that he had never consumed such amounts of mana before and had felt a slight unease. He had even borrowed the horse of one of the soldiers because he was afraid to summon Ebony due to lack of mana. She was not a being from other plane coming when called but was a being living alongside James and lived of his mana when it was in full form. James looked at the people through the windows.

Word would have reached the queen that he had mistreated the Merrywood and the Stonewood. The word was now being sent that the war was over. James relaxed slightly. He did not leave the room for three days. He did nothing but move around and sometimes was stable. He was also rebuilding his lost power but mainly his confidence. He had gotten afraid a little bit. He was a child after all.

There came a knock on the door. James sat on his throne by the huge table and unlocked the door. Olivia and Mia walked in. Mia had a plate full of food and Olivia held something to drink. The wine bottle was kept on the table. James had not eaten since he had gone to the dark lady. He was really hungry due to desire but not due to the body. James thought while eating the food. He had dragon's blessing ever since live dragon blood had fallen on his body. How was that someone was able to pull such a feat against dragon hard skin. He was able to kill the dragon with the spear, but that was because he had used higher order fire magic on the spear. He had newly formed a bond and had a lot of essence of fire. Someone who had fire artefact.

Olivia put a letter in front of the general after he had washed up.

Mia: May I draw a bath for you ser.

James: I like the bath in the castle, not of here.

James opened the letter to find the queen's sign at the bottom of the letter. The queen had directly written to him.

Dear James Rookwood.

Hearing about the way you reacted to the Merrywood and Stonewood general made me happy. I have always had people analysing the situations. It was right to drive them away. After all it was your strategy that won us the war.

I ask you to report to the castle in three days. Hope you can come right now. After all you have the magical horse that can fly. Over and over have you proved yourself worthy. Had you not been hunted down by my sister to be the general of the griffin army, I would have made you the general of the dragon army.

Come here fast. There will be a a ceremony held in your honour. There is no need to bring the commanders of the army or anyone else. All the attendants will be provided by the castle. If you find the need to bring someone favourite of you along, you can do so.

I would appreciate if you had been here this day itself. I had this letter delivered in a fast and secret manner such that it would have reached to you this day itself. Come today itself.

Your Majesty

The Queen Ariadne Fenrir Senviness.

James: Why does the queen want me to be in the castle so badly. It seems as if he wants me to be dead. It smells like a trap.

Olivia: The queen will never do so, Ser.

James looked at the two women who were in the room. He was interested in the fact that he had talked out openly. It was as if he was under the charms of someone. Or it was more likely that he was growing affectionate to the two of them and had felt safer there.

James: Call the commanders, lieutenants and the scholars.

Olivia and Mia left the room. James burned the letter with his hand. James waited there serenely alone. The requested people started coming one by one. After all had come James began.

James: How is the goblin hunt?

Rat: It had ended two days ago. There are a very few countable goblins left and as it was hard to find them the hunt was stopped.

James: The meat.

Rat: It is being sold to the queendom. The money shall be given to you soon.

James: Distribute it along the soldiers who had worked for it.

Erwin: Are you sure ser. Goblin meat is very rare and brings a hefty sum as money.

James: I know the implications. Have we reached the normal way of doing thing?

Rat: We never had any change due to the war at all.

James: Good. Is that physician still angry with me.

Mia: I have heard that he was really sad that you did not trust him.

James: Tell him my condolences.

Eagle: Why did you pardon the person who hit you?

Fish: It sees there is a traitor among the army.

Erwin: It seems to be the work of someone from the griffin army. After all we are the ones he can trust properly. To you isn't he someone but a newly appointed head who is an outsider.

Snake stood up and withdrew his spear form his back and had it pointed at Erwin. Erwin and Rosy sided to one side and used fire to appear at the tip of their fingers. James looked at the things happening in front of him. For a person able to comprehend the chaos of abyss, he was not able to enjoy the chaos of the world.

James: Weapons away. Attention. Be seated.

Out of habit of following the orders in the ground, all of them did as was said. Snake got really angry again.

Snake: Why is it that you do not believe us?

James: I never said so. Where did you get the spear from?

Snake: Ever since you fought with the spear, …

Eagle: Why are you changing the topic, ser.

Erwin: You dare question the master.

James: All of you be silent. If I had known the attacker, he would have been tortured by me personally and killed and would have let his engrails hang out in the open. Tell me. Do you know him. Do you know how to find who did it?

Olivia: The general's life is more important than everyone else. Only once in a century does a person like him appear.

James: I am not going to put the army to death for such a silly reason. And stop pointing at each other or I might just have to do it. Even the Rookwood army.

Everyone was silent listening to this. James drank some wine from the glass. Olivia filled in with more wine.

Fredrich: Why have you called us here General?

James: I received a really friendly letter from the Queen asking me to reach there as soon as possible. I think the queen might want me dead.

Erwin: Believe me when I say this, the present queen favours men properly. She has even faced opposition at the beginning of her regiment due to it. If you are able to make such a prestigious image in the queendom, you could be easily supported by the queen.

James: I do not believe it as such is possible.

Olivia: It is true the hands of the queen is bound. But she might actually be interested in supporting you.

James: True. So, you are saying I should leave for the capital block myself alone.

Eagle: I think there should be guards for you.

James: I can take care of myself. We are talking about the other implication. What are the possibilities that I might have a lawsuit presented against me?

Archie: For what reason there is a possibility of such a lawsuit.

Eagle: Our General made a statement against the Stonewood and the Merrywood army and made them return to their home. They might fight against the general in the court.

Archie: The language cannot be questioned as he was of higher status. But the action might be questioned. I say bring me along.

James: Sure. As long as you are not afraid of flying.

Fredrich: The previous time also you called us into here about such an occasion but spoke very y much less.

James: I am not much of a talker and I thought it might be better to speak to all at once before I leave.

Rosy: When might you be leaving?

James: If the meeting is over, right now.

Archie: Why is it that you are always interested in finishing the job as soon as possible.

James: I am ready to wait till you are ready.

Max: Archie, remember your oath to serve the general however necessary.

Archie: It is not that the reason I asked the question. I just wanted to know why you were interested in finishing the things fast. You lead the battle the very next day you came here. You left as soon as the letter had arrived. Important people are supposed to put on air and is supposed to appear late.

James: The only reason I does so is that after I get the job done, I am completely free to do whatever I wanted. Otherwise I have to wait till that moment appears. What am I supposed to do till then? Read books or increase power. The only thing I do daily is just remain alive. I do get bored from time to time.

Erwin: If I may not displease you; may I say something.

James: Yes.

Erwin: The high price of nobility is that which you have spoken of. There are thousands of unwritten rules in the society you need to follow.

James: True. I am ready to leave now. Archie, get ready for the travels. Is there anything that needs be spoken.

Snake: You could always duel with the soldiers when you feel bored.

James: True. The meeting is adjourned then.

It did not take much time for the lawyer to get ready. Archie was ready and packed. He went the gates to see the others surrounding the general. He went forward to meet with them.

James saw Archie approaching and summoned his ride. He climbed the horse. Archie looked at his expectantly.

James: Get behind me.

Archie: I thought I might be given a flying horse separately.

James: It take a lot of mana and time to make one and even more to control one. Get behind me.

Archie awkwardly climbed the horse and sat behind James. He caught James by the waist and held him tight. James looked at the unexpected outcome separately. He never knew that Archie was so afraid of flying and when did he get to test out whether he was afraid to fly or not. It seemed people are afraid of new things after all.

James: It saves me the need to say hang tight.

Archie: What!

James mentally coordinated the horses to move forwards. The horse moved forward slightly and then stopped. Ebony spread her wings and began to fly. The ride was pretty beautiful. Never did Archie open his eyes. James knew that he liked the horse. Even the first time he wasn't afraid of flying the horse. James knew the spells for flying and even the travelling spells. But he never much used those. He never had to built the horse when he thought in those lines. Then he remembered that the horses were built just for the sake of building.

The castle approached. No soldier interrupted him while he was flying. It seemed like he had become famous by flying in the horse. James landed in front of the castle. It was night time. One of the knights came and checked his left hand. The crest was visible.

James: I am the general.

Knight: Sorry ser.

James: I want him to be given property accommodations too. He is my legal advisor.

Knight: Yes ser.

James: Take me to my quarters.

The knight obeyed him and led him to his quarters. James went along with the knight and so did Archie. After reaching the quarters James saw tow knights were being his attendants and were placed outside his quarters. The knight that led him till then waited for Archie to follow her. But Archie asked her to wait and enter the room of the general.

Archie: Two people can stay here right.

James: Sorry Archie. I prefer being alone.

Archie: I was just saying it. I did not expect such a thing to happen.

James: Nobody is prosecuting you Archie. Do you have dress for meeting the queen?

Archie: Nothing fancy.

James: What is your favourite colour?

James opened his wardrobe and showed it to Archie. Archie looked at the dresses in delight. He then stopped himself and looked away.

Archie: The legal advisors by the side of powerful people usually wear uniforms.

James: Interesting. Do you have the right to wear such a dress leally?

Archie: Obviously.

James: Sorry for being rude. Here is ten gold coins. You might not have to meet the queen today but buy a dress now. Go to the market in A-block. I have heard that readymade dresses are less costly. And something to wear in the court other than what you are wearing now.

Archie: I do not dare.

James: Do you thing just because I talk politely and say sorry whenever I am rude that I am not to be feared or I am a kind hearted fool.

Archie: That's not what I meant ser.

James: You shall go now. Go and notice your room first. Hope you will remember the path.

Archie: I am a scholar ser.

James: good. Leave now.

Archie took the gold coins from the hands of the general and left the room in a hurry. James lay on the bed and stretched himself. Being powerful meant he was allowed to talk his mind out. He need not be careful anymore.

James stood and went to the door. He opened the door to see that two of the knights were waiting on him. They were standing erect without any movements until they saw him.

James: You there. I want a hot bath arranged for me. And also, some food and wine.

Knight 1: I am your bodyguard ser. I am …

James: Then find someone who can do these things.

Knight 2: Sorry ser for her impertinence. I shall inform the maids soon.

James waited in his room until the bath had been drawn. The food was left in the table and the maid had left. James took the food and went to the bathroom. He undressed and got into the bath with the food in his hands. He ate the food while being soaked in the water.