“What? Saisagus attacked again. Did I hear correctly?” King back in Tetrao couldn´t believe it. How could they still strike on them? This didn´t make any sense. Didn´t they just loss the war. How could they start new one so quickly.

Ball was ended for a moment when messanger arrived there. King was with few trusted men. They were too surprised about this. Room was full of intelligent people so they could figure out what this meant. This border war was trap made for purpose to make everyone leave the capital.

They knew southest was currently in great turmoil. Refugees are trying to escape to all directions. Public safety has collapsed. Citizens trust to crown has taken huge hit. They are thinking that they couldn´t certify their victory and this was result of it.

It isn´t save to make army walk at random. This could cause panic to rise. This was last thing they wanted to happen. They could choose from defence, attack and combination of both. It has to be choosen now and stick with it.

Defence could stop all extra damage to rise to kingdom but problem was to where to place the defence. Attacking could cause army to retreat to defend their own lands but it might cause them to loss our their land too. Normally combination of those two would be the best option but how much should they invest to both sides. Wrong balance is in fact the most important reason behind all victories and losses.

In the past combinations were the most popular choice but now thing are going to specialized fields. All out defence or attack are popular now a days. Saisagus is using all out attack. Hardly any defence is prepared. This makes it difficult to choose any option at all.

“How about we make attacking plan from here. At least we are close to the border and Dialkas won´t be doing anything in this golden moment. Count Ben has experienced horrible defeat. They might surrender. We could take over their capital Uvikosa in return. Also our soldiers in Orseas aren´t going down easily. Nothinghill could pay us time to act. We also can act quickly from here. What do you think.”

Second prince Peter´s words were heavy. Guarding soldiers in Orseas were his men. This made his right to talk. He was openly going to sacrifice his men. Everyone knew they meant a lot to him. One was willing to make their most likely to be ruler take such sacrifice. This was good change to make great appear to him. The most thought like that.

Some thought about weaknesses and strenghts of all options. If they would follow with such plan then it would represent southeast part people certain disaster. Althought defence doesn´t make their survival certain, it still would cause longer war. This longer war might harm all parts of the country. Sacrifice one to save three or defend all and take change to loss all. These were options. Non was right or wrong answer. There was no certain path to succees.

“I´m against that.” These words surprised all. Not because these words were strange for the place. Person how said it was strange thing. Aled Rowan had said it in front of them. He was their current host and Tetrao village´s viscount´s oldest son. It was certain he would become the next viscount in this place.

He started to explain. “We don´t know what kind of place Saisagus is from this place. At least no this village soldier knows anything about things there. There is only one road to there. They might use same tactics which were used against them here. At least I´m not willing to sent my father´s men there. We also know their attack is concentrated to the front. Thanks to this there is change to deal huge damage to hteir rear suddenly. Just causing them think this would happen, their fighting power will suffer.”

Not many people here knew about him but some knew him well. He has been studying for years in the capital. Everyone near campus know what kind of person he is. His words can be trusted. In border war he got support from many high standing people so he could give back up to Tetrao. They gave their men to young boy. How could they do something like that without trust?

Even still those people couldn´t recomment Aled´s words. He was too young for it. Normally he wouldn´t get change to talk in here. It is miracler that he can even stay in this room. At any moment someone could say you are too young, let grown ups talk, you stay quiet. They still stayed quiet. They knew this was correct way to act but feelings were getting their way. Saisagus was attacking and we aren´t going to attack back at them.

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These people were angry already when border war started. Problem was Saisagus is way too strong. If they try to attack then they will loss for sure. There has been many small conflicts over border for many years but non of them has grown into large conflict. Desert peak battle was one examble of victory but it still ended as defeat. Polgon knew if they start to chase back then they will suffer massagre.

The border war was one and only clear victory which was deal to Saisagus. For this reason it well deserved celebration. In some way cotton candy has already become symbol of this victory. Although nobles were forced to come here, most of them was glad to come here. Especially people part of the army. They have been waiting for this kind of moment for long time. It was just shame this happened in this small place. This told them they were strong. There was future of this place. For this reason they wanted to make connections to this place. There isn´t no harm to place some trust to his words.

“I agree with boy´s words. We should go defend our people. Saisagus is striking to our people. We can´t make their trust to go way.” One Duke said these words. Normally these words would have been noble and wise words but now they were also the most correct words. Even if they manage to survive this, there is still change that people might strike to them. Cityzens are restless. This can´t continue.

All people have become to sama conclusion. They are going to make defence line. Purpose is to defend people escaping southest and all people how were left behind there. Some in here were from there. They were all glad about this help especially one duke.

Although land belongs to crown even then land is departed to your parts. They were all around secondary cardinal points. Southeast was one of them and dukes ruled over them. Of course duke there couldn´t thing go this way. He could loss his title and power. This can´t happen no matter what.

All dukes were siblings of the king or past kings. They could only withold their standing by political acts. In other words by marriages. In the end there is only your left today., but they hold power over their lands. King is only title as keep unity over all dukes. In that sense king is only puppet over dukes. Duke hold greatest strenght over their lands.

There is still one exception in this rule and that is archduke Sebas. He is in paper king´s right hand man, but in front of the dukes he is way more than that. He doesn´t have any royal blood or any noble blood in that matter. He has gotten his place by his own effort alone.

For that reason he has one other title under him. He is wizard. Wizard how protects humankind from witches and other evil beings. He is known to come from different dimension like the witches but in his case he uses his magic to protect. There is in fact only one wizard in the world. All other are either witches or demons. Evil beings no matter what. This is believe which comes from west church.

Saisagus´ church is keeping demons in their ranks and they are saying that wizard is the devil. One one is going to believe that. Even still no commoner knows about this. Because of it always hen witches are taken down their belongings are taken away by the church. Not even royal family knows about this. Only dukes and their close ones how they trust know about this. Because of him dukes power has fallen over the years. This can´t go on no longer. They have to make Sebas move but not yet. This isn´t the time.

In the end of the day king is the one how makes decision here. “In that case we should prepare to defend our country.” Order was short but message was clear and full of power. No one was going against this order. Even if some might want to make dukes fall from their power, they can´t make such thing possible so suddenly. Everyone started to prepare their force agaist Saisagus and possible attacks from navy and Dialkas.

Meanwhile Orseas capital´s scouts have arrived to bring message of war. The first one to hear it was Sebas. King had given him full power over the city. For this reason he was the first one to know about this. It is his decision how should know about this. It would be normal to avoid this knowledge to come to cityzens. It would cause panic.

At same time if they got this news elsewhere then this will become even more difficult. Finally if army comes here without anyone leaving the place then people trust will cause enormous hit. No matter which one to choose from it won´t give positive image at all. There is only one way to make everyone happy and that is to defeat enemy before they come here to cause any kind of danger.

To make matter even force he didn´t know what kind of decision king will choose from Tetrao village. For that reason he choosed to order knight Arwin how is close one of that Peter. He was similar to me. He too had risen up to his current place by his own effort from the common folks. People will listen to us if we tell them the truth. There is still one problem to that. This will only work if Saisagus will retreat soon which is close to impossible.

Maybe this is perfect moment to do it. “Please call Arwin here. I wish to talk with him. Prepare ship to the coast. I will leave as soon as possible. Make this happen as quickly as you can.”

Scout left to do his work. I started to prepare notes which would be placed to all busy public places.

Saisagus army has gone over the border. I wish there won´t be any panic. I hope you can trust us. We will keep everyone save. I also hope you are willing to take in people how are migrating here. This will cause some problems but we will give back their home. For that reason this is only denporaly.

We need arwin´s and mine signature. People can trust us over any noble. We both have become symbol of kingdom. We all living prove that commoners can aim for high places in our kingdom. Many have taken us as their live goal. How could they not believe our words? They have no reason not to. Since we have been born from same place they think we can understand each other.

Finally I should explain to Arwin why I´m leaving the place. People can´t know about this.