Chapter 7: The Lich’s Plan.

A large man with dark green slimy looking skin with two white horns upon his head approached them and shouted out toward Ranwald. Just as he was about to hit Kalon with a powerful attack.

As soon as he heard the man’s voice Ranwald stopped what he was doing and sheathed his sword before turning to greet the man.

“Captain Moro. Long time no see. How are the knights treating you these days.” Ranwald asked while looking up at the huge looking man who was almost half a metre taller than him.

Kalon took a slight step back when he saw the man looking down upon them both.

‘That’s the knight's captain Aken Moro… I have heard stories about him but I didn’t expect him to be this tall. But I guess that is what you get when you mix an orc with an ogre.’ Kalon thought before looking up at the giant standing before him.

“It’s not the time for catching up, Ranwald. The emperor said he wants me to bring you to him immediately.” Captain Moro shut down Ranwald’s attempt at being friendly immediately.

“Sorry Kal, It looks like we are going to have to cut training a little short for today. But you can take that sword and book home with you and practice if you want to.” Ranwald turned back to Kalon and scratched the back of his head while he spoke.

He seemed worried and even Kalon could tell. His teacher's face had changed from its usually happy smile to a troubled frown.

‘Is this because of what just happened with Octavian!? Oh no, It’s all my fault. Master Ranwald is going to get punished because of me.’ Kalon felt guilty about the situation as he concluded that he was being summoned to be punished for stopping his older brother from killing him.

“Mr. Moro! Please, It’s not Master Ranwald’s fault. Can you take me with you? Maybe I can tell the emperor what happened?” Kalon asked Captain Moro.

The big green half-orc looked down at the small boy for a few seconds before answering.

“The emperor has prohibited you from entering the palace already. You know the knights will have no choice but to kill you if you attempt to enter…

But you have nothing to be worried about your highness. Today Ranwald is summoned to talk about military plans. There is nothing for you to explain to the emperor.” Captain Moro bowed his head slightly as he addressed the young boy.

The Knights were the ones responsible for protecting the emperor and his family. Even though Kalon had been cast out from the palace he was still a descendant of the emperor so they had no choice but to address him by his birth inherited title of prince.

It was something he had gotten used to but the way that Captain Moro addressed him seemed strange to him.

“See you have nothing to worry about. But I am flattered that you would be willing to stand up for me like that. Now take your things home with you and practice some more.

We can go over what you learned the next time we meet.” Ranwald smiled and ruffled Kalon’s hair before walking away with Captain Moro.

“Okay…” Kalon said with a sigh as his teacher walked into the distance. He felt a little frustrated but he knew that there was nothing he could do about it. Ranwald was first and foremost a soldier in the emperor's army. Him being a teacher was secondary and he accepted the fact that he would have to take care of military business before he taught him anything.

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But despite knowing that, he couldn’t help but feel disappointed. He was in the middle of learning something that he had begged to learn for many years. He was apparently quite good at it by the looks of things but now he had to stop early.

‘That’s it! I will practice at home and show Master Ranwald how powerful I have become by tomorrow!’ Kalon thought to himself before picking up the two wooden swords and the book and then tucking them under his arm before making his way home.

Meanwhile, in the palace, a meeting was taking place inside the emperor's strategic planning room. The most powerful people in the empire were in attendance and sitting patiently as they awaited Ranwald’s arrival.

“Sir, How should we go about dealing with the forces in the north? The humans have set up a border at the Highwall mountain pass.

It has interrupted our attacks since our men now have to go around the whole mountain range on foot just to get into their kingdom. Otherwise, we will have to fight a disadvantaged battle.” One of the men at the table stood up and said. His body was completely covered in fur with a black-spotted pattern splattered on the orange base coat, with two cat-like looking ears on the top of his head.

“If I may Sir, I suggest that we lead a unit of two thousand soldiers to go to the border they have set up, and slaughter them all. We have estimated that they only have around five hundred men guarding it.” A big muscular ogre stood up and said to the emperor who had yet to make a decision yet.

The room fell silent as everyone thought about the idea for a moment before a man dressed in a dark cloak stood up and addressed the emperor.

“Sir, I have another suggestion…” He stated and then looked up at the emperor, revealing the human skull that sat underneath his hood.

“You do? Let’s hear it.” Emperor Dorian smiled slightly as the man stood up.

“Sir! Are you really going to listen to the suggestions of a Lich? He was once a human too. What if he-” The ogre shouted but was cut off as the emperor raised his hand into the air.

“Penrith, speak freely. I would like to hear what you suggest.” Emperor Dorian said to the Lich who was the head of strategies despite the hatred felt by some of the other members of the council.

“Yes Sir. I have something to ask you first though. The plan we came up with to try to get the young Prince Kalon to awaken his powers. How far have you taken it?” Penrith asked the emperor.

“Hm… Not far, I believe the general asked Ranwald to do it earlier today. Why? What does this have to do with the current situation?” Dorian asked after answering the question from the Lich.

“That’s good. I suggest that we stop attacking the humans-” As soon as he stated that, he was interrupted by the ogre once again.

“That’s outrageous! See this is what I meant! He still wants to protect humans after we let him live here for so long!” The ogre shouted out to rile up the other members of the council. But just like the emperor, they were interested in what else he had to say.

“Silence! He didn’t finish yet. Penrith, Please continue.” Dorian demanded of the ogre and then let Penrith speak once again.

“I suggest we stop trying to invade their kingdom. At least for a while. Think about it, we have been trying to invade them for many years but each time we send a full-scale invasion they seem to be more and more prepared.

Each attack we lead against them only leads them to figure out our tactics, which only makes the future attacks less effective.

But if we stop attacking for a while to make them lower their guard, and send a spy to learn their tactics and bring them back to us. It will make taking over their kingdom almost effortless.” Penrith took a pause from explaining his plan to give the council a chance to think about what he was saying

“A spy? Have you gone senile with age? I don’t know If you have noticed but we don’t exactly look like humans and if we send one of the wolves they would be exposed on the first full moon. That’s just stupid. It would be much easier to break through with force.

Sir, I think that you should trust this task to the Ogre and Orc clans. We have enough strength to break through the wall and we have enough numbers to take the base before they have a chance to call for backup.” The Ogre slammed his hands on the table and begged the emperor for a chance to prove his plan was better.

“A spy huh? You meant my youngest son didn’t you?” Dorian ignored the outburst from the Ogre as he thought about Penrith’s plan a bit more.

“That’s right Sir, I honestly think that there is no hope for him to awaken his powers. It’s been twelve years and we have tried countless times already. I think it would be better to make him do something useful before he ends up getting eaten by one of the townspeople.” Penrith bowed his head as he addressed the emperor.

“I see… You have come to the same conclusion as I have. This was going to be the last time that I would try to make him awaken. I wasn’t sure what to do with him if he didn’t but I think you might be onto something here.

But how do you suggest that we get him to do it? He is just a child and he hates me. He would be likely to run away as soon as he gets a taste of freedom.” Dorian asked.

“But that’s simple Sir, As you have heard there was an altercation between Prince Octavian and Prince Kalon earlier today. I suggest that we side with Octavian and punish the other parties involved.

I heard that Ranwald blocked an attack from Octavian in order to save Kalon. What if we locked him up for raising a hand against the Prince? And for punishing Kalon…

His mother… She is the only other family member he has. If we lock her up too and tell him that he can buy their freedom by helping us with this plan. Then he should be willing right?” Penrith asked. He didn’t want to overstep the emperor's boundaries.

But luckily enough the emperor seemed willing. He lay back on his throne and laughed.

“That’s genius. I feared that he would be useless and die a meaningless death but like this… Even if he is caught and executed he will die a hero and inspire more children his age to join the army. I hear-by give Penrith full responsibility to act with this plan.” Dorian announced to the rest of the council members as there was a knock on the door.