John Finder is a good man. He fought in the great loving King Leonard's army as a nobody, just a soldier in bloody battle after a bloody battle. John Finder saw so much blood by his twenties he had nightmares and could barely sleep. The carnage in his wake was that more than any other, he had destroyed and taken many lives now, but he wished he didn't have to. All he wanted was peace, a way out. A method that did not leave the pieces of men behind him.

 The King was a good man, and he hated war, but he was a man who would fight for those who could not fight for themselves. He stood up for people, and people loved him for it. Battles lasted weeks, sometimes a month or more at a time. King Lenard needed someone to help win battles. As he looked at his army, he saw a man stand up to his captain in his own unit because the captain began flogging a young boy who was morning his mother and father that had been lost in the battle of the night before. The boy had tears in his eyes. The boy could not have been more than nine and was already in great pain. All he did was trip in front of the captain, and the man began wailing at him. Then a common soldier took the captain by the arm, holding the whip, and asked him to stop. The captain ripped his arm from the soldier's grasp and turned to beat the soldier as well. Finally, the man had enough, he grabbed the whip from the air with a speed that could be barely seen, and his eyes glowed with rage that looked like it could kill just as sword. He ripped the whip from him while pulling the captain with it. He slammed his left elbow into the man's temple with tremendous force the captain fell to the ground unconscious.   

The King saw this and yelled out over everyone, 

"Soldier. "

Everyman stood to attention except the man who had just knocked out the captain. He fell to his knees and softly apologized.

"My lord, I apologize for that. I was out of line. I could not take that captain's wretched ways anymore. He hurt---" 

the King interrupted him to say 

"I saw the whole thing, soldier. Just as I began to come to scold your commanding officer, you stepped in. I would ask you to see me in my tent in an hour, soldier."

 The soldier responded with a quick 

"Yes, My king, as you command." 

the King stopped for one more second 

"What is your name, soldier." 

The soldier was surprised by the question. The King did not tend to ask for the names of ordinary soldiers. Too many men to remember everyone's name, but he replied

"John Finder, my Lord."

The King smiled and walked back to his tent.

The King was an Ernest man. He knew his weaknesses. He did not tell everyone but did not hide from the truth. He embraced it. He knew he was getting old, seventy-some years, and his life would not last much longer. His son, Prince James, was about to become King, and he knew he would need someone to keep peace and fight at his son's back while helping him learn to love the people as he did. His son was stubborn but a good man who wanted to be like his father. 

King Leonard, as wise as he was, knew he needed to domain. The kingdom was the center of trade for all of lagosas, and it fueled all the kingdoms around with the exchange of wool, steel, and lumbar. Most other countries and kingdoms knew of Ashland's power and desired it for themselves. The King needed someone that could be peaceful and level-headed. He also needed someone who could fight and win battles and wars for his son Prince Thomas and the people of Ashland. He required a knight with dark abilities that surpassed any other he had seen so far, but that man had to be able to have mercy and grace in the very next moment. He had to have a demon in him that could be released in a moment and retired the next. He knew it was a rare ability, but he saw it in the soldier John. He knew John was a good man, but he just saw him release something on that wretched captain, and he knew that he had it. John had that demon. That darkness that walked in the light of day. He saw it in his eyes. His eyes glowed like a fire that couldn't be contained. But his question was, did he have the mercy and compassion for someone who slapped him in the face? Did he ask questions before he raised his sword or fist?

 The King didn't know who could fill such a position, so he asked his most trusted advisor to start looking and bring reports to him if he found any man that was a leader by example, one who did not fight but ended arguments with words. Then the King saw John knock the unruly captain unconscious. The King brought his advisor to his tent and asked him if John was on his list of potential candidates. The advisor nodded his head yes. The King asked the advisor to tell him about John.

The advisor, in a raspy aged voice, said, "He settles arguments with all of his units and does so without ever raising his voice or sword. Your son, the prince, also enjoys his company and, if I may say so, considers him a close friend" the King told his advisor thank you and asked him to bring the prince to his tent.

King Leonard was looking over the battlefield when his son James walked in and promptly said, "You summoned me, father?"

The King responded with "yes," took a drink from his cup, and said, "My time in this world I feel is coming to an end, and I would like to go ahead and give the kingdom over to you as I feel you are ready to take up this responsibility" prince James stood still shocked by this revelation but choose to let his father continue instead of interrupting "I know you are a great man and will take the role of King very seriously however you are a peaceful man you barely have the stomach for war and can not oversee battles as I have so I have been looking for someone to be your advisor when it comes to a battle of brawn, not wits as you do not lack in the courtroom and the nobles from all over respect your ability to conquer with the pen. However, this alone is not enough. You must have a strong army to gain the respect of other kingdoms. This kingdom must also be strong enough to protect its people." James quickly protested, "I can grow a stomach for it. I have been training with the soldiers to take on the role in every possible way."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

 The King looked at his son with love and laid his hand on his shoulder and told him I know you have. Still, I also know you will be a great king because you know how to lead peacefully and with strength but not bloody battles, especially the battles that may come many of the enemies of our kingdom are starting to try and take from our people and every day the battles grow more fierce and the men we fight better trained. So with all that being said, I have been looking for someone to lead the armies as someone who might be able to strengthen your role as King and protect you and the people from harm with as little bloodshed as possible. I might have found that man today. He should be here in the hour. I am told you know him" James looked his father in the eye and asked who do you talk about?" The King, with a grin, said, "John Finder."

The prince allowed John to speak freely with him no matter what; he respected John above most people and regarded him with the love of a brother. John encouraged the prince to get on the level with his men. He said it would bring respect from the men and make him more approachable. The prince began eating with the men and training with them, not leaving anyone out. He did as John suggested, and they won many battles because the men loved the King and the prince. After the King discovered all the information on his son's relationship with John. And then, seeing the man's fiery eyes, he knew this was the man he needed to put at his son's side. With his son's permission, he would ask John to be the general of the military and the advisor to the new King.

John was preparing himself for the meeting with the King as his hour came to a close. Expecting him to take a hand if he was lucky, if not just string him up for treason for assaulting an officer, let alone an officer who was a lord of the land. As John Finder came into the tent of the King, he knelt before him just as he was told by his friend the prince. The King got out of his chair and asked him to rise. As John rose up, the King began to talk, first asking all the guards in the tent to leave them, so now only the Prince, John, and the King stood in the King's tent. John looked at the prince wearily, silently asking if he royally messed something up. He knows he hit a commanding officer that just happened to be a lord. However, His focus snapped back to the King as he began talking.

"This war is almost over for now. "However, I'm changing a few things in my kingdom. I need a man with character and honor who is not afraid to stand up for the weaker men. More importantly, I want a man who stands up for what they believe in and holds himself and others to a higher standard, even those above his station" as the King looked to his son and smiled." I have seen you, and I have watched you for months now and seen how you have led even when you had no title, nothing to your name except talent with the sword, and how you excel in anything put in your way you may be one of the best fighters I've seen in all my time. Yet you handle your disagreements with words when you could defeat the man and settle it within seconds. The men in your company and those not in your company come to you with their disagreements and ask you to help resolve them. You have all the men's respect, even that of my son Prince Thomas. I believe him to call you friend. "The prince stepped in and said, "Father, that man is more like my best friend, but I call him my brother." the King smiled and continued," I'm coming to my end soon. I get weaker every day, and my son will need someone at his back he can trust with anything and everything that comes to him, someone who can advise him on the hard things and choices that come with his role as King but also someone that will fight with him and protect him no matter what ." the King looked between the men his son who he loved and a common soldier. John spoke up "my king do I have permission to speak now sir" .the King nodded." sir I thought I was coming to receive punishment for not following an order from my captain and then preceding to knock out said, lord sir. My King, I'm confused, sir. What have you called me in here for?

The King looked at his son and Laughed. He laughed heartily at his own son's expression. The King then spoke through his amusement. "You are not in trouble, John. You are far from it. I also think my son would disown me and the crown if I were to punish you."

John quickly looked at Thomas, smiled as a brother would, and looked back at the King. "Sir, may I ask why you have brought me here?"

The King went to his desk and sat down. His desk was beautifully embellished with gold and silver. It had papers appropriated across his desk as well as a decanter with some wine and goblets. The King picked up the decanter and poured wine into the goblets while inviting John, as well as Thomas, to grab a goblet from his desk. He then sipped his wine, and John and Thomas followed suit. They were sipping their wines. The King then picked up a piece of paper with the seal of the King and gave it to Thomas. Thomas sat his goblet down and read the report, and he was slowly starting to smile when he got to the end. He looked to the King and said, "I would prefer no other to fill that role. He is one of my closest friends. Therefore, I see it fit that he gain this position." 

The King looked at Thomas and then John "Perfect, then it is settled. John, this is a certificate of unlimited power under the King and prince and grants you the power to command all the armies of Ashland and hold the highest seat in counsel to the King."

John stood there blank-faced and speechless. He looked at the King and Thomas. 

Thomas told John "this is a great honor, and I believe my father has made the best choice. If he did not give this to you, I would have. Believe me; you could help me keep our people safe from insiders and outsiders to the kingdom. You are highly skilled, and you truly care about people." 

John looked at Thomas "If you truly believe I am the right choice, I will take this and thank you for the opportunity. My King and Prince. I will uphold all the responsibilities to the best of my ability. If you don't mind, my King, I would like to write to my mother and father and tell them what happened."

The King chuckled and responded, "It's your army now. You may do as you wish. I will tell everyone right now that you are in power over the army. The only one in all the land that has more power is my son, who I will in 4 days make King."

A bell rang in the background in the city of lagrosas. We had won the war. 

The King said, "We should be on our way, John. Go home and tell your parents in person and bring them to your new home. Half a day's ride to the kingdom, you will be gifted riches and a home for your whole family. You are a lord now, John. There is only one with more power. I can trust you with this power as you have achieved much during this war. And I will make a second announcement to all when I announce my son's ascension to the thrown. Of your new lordship John."

As John and Thomas walked out of the King's tent, Thomas asked

"How long has it been since you have seen your family." 

John signed 

"Almost four years, I send a letter and get one about once a month. I miss them very much. How long has it been since you have seen your mother."

Thomas looked up. "Too long, almost two years. I can't imagine what your going through. You were seventeen when you were pulled to war, right."

John sighed. "Yes, and I haven't seen them since I have grown so much and seen so much bloodshed. I feel as if I'm a completely different person."

John told Thomas, "I will get my family and be there to see you become king in four days." 

Thomas "grabbed a small pouch at his belt and said get yourself and your family nice clothes for the festival before you get there. And buy a good meal when you get home."

John smiled. Thank you, my lord. "I will, and thank you, I feel truly honored to be your general. And advisor."

John road off. He had a two-day ride to his family, a day to move them, and half a day to return to the kingdom, so he rode quickly home.