My kids arrived a few hours later and immediately sprinted over to me. I smiled when I saw and laughed as we collapsed into a pile of hugs. After a few minutes they calmed down and I started to explain what was going on.

James excitedly looked over the battlefield and asked. “Are you fighting enemies right now my Queen?” I nodded and said. “Yeah, an army of zorkids are holed up in that fortress.” He nodded slowly and I could almost hear the gears in his head whirring.

I suddenly had an idea as I walked up to James and asked. “What do you think we should do with our army? We have nine hundred bruisers, a hundred windclaws and the three trenches. The enemy has around two thousand soldiers.”

James stared at the battlefield for a bit before saying. “Attacking the hill wouldn’t work very well with our numbers and lack of anything capable of destroying the walls. My Queen, you might be able to destroy the wall with your large body but it would still result in a tight choke point. We are the attackers so we’ll be at a disadvantage no matter what. The best thing to do is starve them out.”

I stared at him, shocked that he knew any of this. How does this race work? Do all my kids know this? I turned towards Marlow who was building something out of the mud. “Marlow, what do you think we should do?”

He looked up at me, a dazed look in his eyes as he walked over and said. “I… I think we could a-attack them head on?” I frowned and asked. “What were you building over there Marlow?” He smiled when I asked and said. “It’s a place where all our sick or wounded friends can stay. We could have people there to help them and it’d be safer. Like a home for hurt people.”

Huh, so one kid was talented at tactics and the other invented a hospital. Weird. “Charlie, Chester, what advice can you guys give me?” They both shrugged and started wrestling.

I smiled and turned towards Tim. He had been staring intently at the trenches the entire time. Without even being prompted he said. “I don’t really know what I can do to help you, my Queen. I’m sorry.”

I shook my head and said. “No, I’m sorry. Don’t ever think you have to become something for me to be proud of, Whatever you love doing is what you’ll get to do.” Tim smiled and said. “Thank you, my Queen.”

I turned towards Tom but decided not to ask. He was sitting in the back chewing mud up and then spitting it onto Charlie and Chester. I just smiled and said. “Alright kids, I need to talk to some of my commanders. Try to stay quiet.”

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I turned towards the windclaws and said. “Summon all of the battalion leaders. Once you’re done with that, have three windclaws go to Tiat and request two weeks worth of food for a thousand soldiers. Tiobella promised us provisions.”

The windclaws sprinted away as I walked a few feet away from my kids and awaited their arrival. It took a few minutes but the ten commanders all gathered around me. A few were talking quietly but most just stared at me. Uh, creepy.

I shook myself before saying. “Alright, I want each battalion leader to introduce themself.” Actually, do I really want to remember their random names? Not really. “Scratch that, I’m going to give each of you new names. First battalion commander, step forward.”

He did, looking a bit confused as he did. “Your name is now Uno!” I had tried learning foreign languages when I was younger. I don’t remember what it was called but it would work for now. “Second battalion commander steps forward.”

This one was a small bruiser with a missing eye. He had a few scars criss crossing his face and looked quite ugly. “Your name is Dos.” The rest of the naming went pretty quickly. The final tally for the names was Uno, Dos, Tres, Cuatro, Cinco, Seis, Siete, Ocho, Nueve and Diez.”

“Alright commanders! Uno give your report!” Uno was the commander of the windclaws so I had his battalion foraging in the surrounding countryside while also scouting for any zorkids that hadn’t made it to the castle.”

Uno cleared his throat and said. “We’ve had limited success hunting for food. We managed to feed ourselves but that's about it. We’ve been eating the zorkids but we won’t have any food by tomorrow.”

I nodded and said. “I’ve sent messengers to the city. Food should arrive soon. If not I’ll go buy some goblins from the nearby farms. Queen Tuobella promised us provisions.” Uno seemed to hesitate when I said that so I asked. “Uno, what is it?” He sheepishly looked around before saying. “Queen Tuobella, is a bit infamous for going back on her word. I wouldn’t depend on her helping us. It’d be best if we could secure our own supply.”

I frowned and asked. “So basically, it's going to become a competition between us and the zorkids of who can not starve the longest?” Uno nodded and said. “Exactly!” Well, that pretty much ruins the plan of starving them out.

“Uno, have your entire battalions spread out, find every goblin farmer and claim them for me. Then ask them if they can spare any goblins. Don’t threaten them, just ask for a few. Tell them we can buy some as well.” I don’t actually have much money but I’ll just say that Queen Tuobella is paying for it.” Uno nodded and sprinted away as I turned towards Dos. He just shrugged and said. “Everything seems fine. The zorkids seem content to sit inside and wait.”

I nodded and asked. “Do you think they’re planning anything?” He shrugged again and said. “Maybe, they might try something when they start getting hungry but for now we’re doing alright. I’m thinking they’ll realize they don’t have any food tonight or tomorrow morning. We’ll have to worry about desperate raids and attacks after that.”

I sighed and said. “I want four battalions in the trench closest to the castle at all times. Make sure everyone gets time to rest though. Tired soldiers are dead soldiers.” Dos nodded and I motioned for Tres to walk up. He just shook his head and said. “My Queen, battalions two to ten have the same report. Morale is high but the food situation is worrying.”

I sighed and nodded. “Alright boys, get back to the trenches and send a windclaw if anything happens.” They all nodded and bowed before walking away. I gotta say watchings them bow is hilarious. It’s like a little shuffle and then a slight dip of their heads. God I need to try to take this seriously. I settled down and was about to take a nap when I heard a loud “Thwap!” coming from the castle. I looked over towards the castle and saw a goat sailing through the air, screaming the entire time. I was about to laugh when I remembered what those goats did. “Incoming!”