A Reality better than the Dream

5.- The battle - An unexpected closeness

The woman was adorable. He had really fun with her reactions last night, but he had tried to hide it, because it was improper for the situation. All the women wanted to enter his apartments to allure him, but the woman who finally entered there did it only unknowningly and accidentally, with no intention to approach him. He had not felt as if she had violated his privacy, on the contrary he liked it. He was not an idiot to ignore himself. This woman was not what he had imagined to be. Beyond beauty and charm, she was really extraordinary in war schedules! The emperor had to admit it. She could be compared with his two best generals, although inexperienced. But something more than this: She was capable in political strategy, too. Finally, King Iridan had made the best choice. Of course, the emperor had more information than her about the situation in the empire and the probable traitors, so he had already taken care of the political field, suspecting who the culprits could be. But he had kept it secret till he has all the proofs.

After a long discussion, they decided that his own army and cavalry would meet on the battlefield with Iris's cavalry, which was the best one in the whole empire, and King Azan's cavalry. The armies of the rest kingdoms would not be sent to the battlefield, although they had said so in the first meeting, but they would be used to protect themselves from the probable traitors who could try to make a mess in the empire behind their back. King Bendin, who trusted the emperor, accepted Oren's proposal to control his army during this period replacing some corrupted officers and King Karendim took many precautions for his kingdom and his boundaries with the rest barbarians. It was also a matter of life for him. He knew his enemies but he could not yet expose them.

The army and the cavalry would be divided in three parts, the middle would face the first attack of the enemy and the two sides would try to enclose them in the middle. Then, suddenly they would withdraw and the cavalry would attack from two hidden areas according to the given signs.

Iris's cavalry would be hidden behind a hill, to attack suddenly against the barbarians. This high hill was very vertical and dangerous from the side facing the barbarians. Iris had insisted to put on it guards before they go there, because the enemy had extraordinary skills and could climb on the cliff and attack them on their back from that point. Only the emperor and Iris had this opinion, because the cliff was generally considered safe.

They would not wait for the armies of other countries, because they would lose time and wanted to make sudden movements. The barbarians would surely believe now that the war preparations would take the empire at least 3-4 weeks, since they had already information about the first meeting in Emperor's kingdom. However, they didn't know that in the private meetings between the few leaders were made different decisions. Since, the two cavalries could come here very quickly, Iris remained in emperor's kingdom waiting for the battle.

Just after the meeting, General Sheng was trying to persuade her to return to their home, but she resisted stubbornly.

Sheng: Your Majesty, at least, you should remain in this palace safe. You cannot fight.

Iris: Oh, why are you calling me "majesty"? I grew old with you as my real family. Never call me like this again. I prefer to keep you as my father than a general.

G. Sheng: Ooh.. this is a great honor for me. Well... Iris... - even if we ignore the fact that your are too sensitive to bear the violence of a battle - there is another problem too: you are not at all good in fighting, you have not the necessary body- strength and skills. So, what will we do if something bad happens to you? You are the queen!

Iris: I will not fight and I'll leave, if the things turn in a bad way, but for now I am necessary here to help if needed in any new schedules. And... what do you want me to do, to leave you alone, you... who were a second father for me? I will not!