Bonding with one of his Undead transformed Alaster’s senses into that of the Undead’s. His sight was largely different shades of grey. When looking at something alive, he was able to a very slight shift in color according to that person’s dominant type of Mana.

When Alaster combined Identify with it, the person’s Mana formed a translucent fog around them according to how powerful they were. Only four people in the Meeting Hall weren’t Experts, even then, those four had excellent control of their own Mana.

Alaster could see that their Mana didn’t swirl around them as wildly.

The young man, in the Night Child’s body, knew that each person was important to the city itself. The City Lord was also there. He was the only person sitting down, but he was just as invested in the conversation, though he rarely spoke.

“Is the boy to be trusted?” One of them asked the room.

Lord Siphas opened his mouth to speak, but the City Lord discreetly shook his head, silencing his friend.

The one who answered was one of the few of them in armor, well used and battered armor. Alaster assumed he was the actual General.

“I believe we can. At least during the siege. If he was working with the Tarians, he could have easily shifted the battle today and we would have lost the outer wall completely. Perhaps the towers would have lasted another day, but the wall itself would have been lost.”

“What do you mean, ‘At least during the siege’?” A third man asked.

“We don’t know his intentions. I am fairly sure he wants to keep this city out of Tarian hands, and in that, we are aligned, but besides that, who knows?” The General continued, shrugging.

This time, Lord Siphas spoke, “I cannot speak to his exact goal, but I know the lad. He is highly protective. To an almost frightening degree. If he has decided this city is his to protect, it will only be to our advantage.”

“His?” Of the nearly two dozen people in the room, this last speaker was one of the more Noble appearing. Likely more concerned with political power than actual power.

“Yes. So long as we treat him well and don’t try to take advantage of him, he will do all he can to protect the city. At least, the people he decided is worth his protection. However, if someone acts against him in a way he decides is hostile, he will eliminate them without hesitation.” Lord Siphas described.

‘Am I really like that?’ Alaster asked Sedall.

Sedall had been watching Alaster for much longer than Belgroth.

‘Yes. You are highly protective and also quite violent when harm comes to what you consider yours.’

Alaster shrugged to himself, ‘Not a bad trait.’

‘No, not a bad trait, but one that shouldn’t be done blindly. Just like any other trait. Now pay attention.’ Belgroth cautioned.

“How can we make sure he protects what we want him to?” The Noble asked.

The General sighed, but Lord Siphas chuckled, “Good luck. That boy is picky. We could try to order him to protect something, but I promise you that he will immediately abandon that if something he actually cares about comes under threat.”

“Then he is a wild card. We cannot allow such wild actions in a time such as this. How do we be rid of him?”

The City Lord’s eye twitched, but Lord Siphas tightened his grip on the sword at his hip.

“Try it at your own risk Lord Vincent. Not only will you be dealing with his own strength, but such actions will result in open conflict with me.”

Lord Vincent raised his hands in mock defeat, “I don’t mean kill him. He hasn’t acted violently against us and has even protected the wall. All I am saying is that we need some kind of leash on him. We cannot control him!”

The City Lord spoke up, “Nor will we try. He isn’t unkillable, if we tried, we would succeed, but the cost would be too drastic. If half the reports are correct, then it’ll take a full squad of my Guards to reliably eliminate him, and they would take several losses.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Besides, he has roots here. They are, as of yet, shallow, but they are present. He won’t harm the city. Instead, we will make use of him.”

The City Lord stood up and approached the map of the city, details marked and labeled. The people parted to let him through. He looked at the General directly.

“With his capabilities, the Bailey might be a better place for him to display his power. Allow his Minions to overwhelm the enemy soldiers. But as we have already seen, he would also be valuable defending a Section of the outer wall.

What is most at risk at the moment?”

The General’s hard stare turned into a sigh, “Everywhere is at risk. Our soldiers are of a higher quality than theirs, both in training and equipment. But they are slowly grinding us away.

The defenses in several places are cracking. Two walls in the bailey have been broken down, allowing them to stream through. The tops of two outer wall towers are inaccessible due to damage. The outer gate is completely shattered. Eight of the Eastern Sections have siege towers latched on.

Our engineers are doing their best to repair the most critical areas right now, but tomorrow, the repairs will be negligible.

However, as of today, the Bailey was able to hold well. At least, they gave worse than they got.

Luckily, the outer and inner walls are only connected by a single wooden bridge every other section. If it was every section, the inner wall would have already taken significant losses.

I believe that it will be best to station the boy to the section of wall over the outer gate.”

The City Lord listened with a serious expression, “Your reasoning?”

“That section has two Siege Towers latched onto them. Our engineers believe they can detach one by tomorrow evening if another attack doesn’t come. However, that section has been hit by so many siege weapons and Magic that the footing is rough and broken.

We have even resorted to using boards to traverse a portion of broken wall between the left tower and the section. The fighting is rough there every battle, forcing us to dedicate more soldiers there due to the bridge there. If they capture that section, they can attack the inner wall.

However, if we allow the boy and his small army of Minions to fight there, then we can move the soldiers around to focus on other points of defense.” The General explained.

The City Lord turned to Lord Siphas, “Lord Siphas, do you believe he will be able to defend that section?”

Alaster’s former employer thought for a moment, scratching the stubble on his chin, “I do not know for sure. I have only the same reports as the rest of you to go on. I do, however, know the boy.

If we ask him to, he will tell us if he can or cannot. But if he believes he can, I suggest we still station two Squads of primarily ranged soldiers there as well. He hinted that most of his Undead were melee.

The reports claim that he is capable of ranged magic, horrifying magic, but if he is to be left there, he will need to focus his Mana on his Minions.”

“The reports were encouraging. Perhaps it would be better to have the boy in one of the towers, using it?” One of the other Lords suggested.

“True! I personally questioned one of the Soldiers that remained with the boy until the Tarians sounded the retreat. He sounded truly frightened about the boy. Nor do I think they saw everything the boy had to offer.

“No,” Lord Siphas said firmly, “I got the impression that his true might is in his Undead, and himself.”

“Himself?”

“The reports say that he was confident that the Tarians would prefer to fight his Undead than him.”

“Mere rumors those reports.” Lord Vincent scoffed.

Alaster chose that moment to open the window and drop down onto the map with the Night Child. Everyone jumped back, drawing their numerous weapons. But Alaster simply put his finger on the outer gate on the map and raised a thumb.

‘Shame I can’t talk through Bond.’

Everyone looked confused, but Lord Siphas was the first to cautiously approach, slowly lowering his sword.

“Alaster?”

The Night Child nodded.

“This is one of your Undead? And you can control it directly?”

Another nod.

“Are you able to use your magic through it?”

This time the Child shook his head. It was only a small lie. For the most part, Alaster’s Magic was weakened while Bonded. Alaster assumed it was because he wasn’t fully connected to the Undead.

“And you believe you can confidently defend the gate section?”

Alaster nodded but held up two fingers.

“Two? Two what?”

Alaster thought for a moment before holding up all ten fingers.

Lord Siphas’ eyes widened in understanding.

“Oh, you want two squads with you?”

Another nod.

“Ranged?”

Alaster nodded but also clentched his fists together before expanding them.

“You want Mages capable of ranged area of effect attacks?”

Alaster nodded, satisfied he had gotten his point across. Who knew playing charades as a kid would actually come in handy?

Lord Vincent scoffed behind Alaster, “We can’t possibly afford to have twenty such Mages in one section.”

Alaster only shook his head and pointed to the two towers beside his section. Holding one finger to both.

“One squad in each tower. You don’t want anyone with you in the section?”

Alaster vehemently shook his head, moving a finger across his skeletal throat.

One of the Lords spoke up, “Oh, I remember the report! It’s said that the boy was capable of using Magic that devastated the Tarian Soldiers but left his own Undead completely unaffected.”

Alaster pointed to the man who spoke and nodded.

“Oh please! This single boy can’t defend an entire section by himself.”

Alaster turned to face Lord Vincent and held up a single finger.

‘There are other methods of communication.’