After the discussion took place in the back room of the secret cemetery, the royalty leaders had informed the public the plan to both end the war... and to save their beloved allies from the desert queen's clutches.
"May I ask a question, your Highnesses," a Forest Kingdom survivor said.
"You may," Juniper replied.
"How are we going to kill the Queen, when she's guarded by our loved ones?"
"Yeah," exclaimed another civilian, "And how do we stand a chance inside the Desert Kingdom? Or in the desert for that matter?"
"Our stealth is completely useless in that terrain!" yelled another Forest Kingdom assassin.
"Guys, guys, please, one at a time!" Lemur exclaimed.
Eventually, the entire crowd began a commotion, filled with dread, anger, and lots of confusion and anxiety. Cedric, who was investigating the people who died back home, had emerged from the cave in response to the commotion. He shook his head in disbelief.
"SOLDIERS!" Cedric exclaimed, with emotion in his voice, "Everyone stop!"
The commotion continued despite Cedric's attempt to end it. Lillian had then used her scepter to produce a bright light, to gather everyone's attention.
"Everyone!" Lillian exclaimed, "I would like to call someone forward, as they have something to say. Cedric, if you would please come up to the podium."
Cedric, in utter shock of his name being called by Lillian herself, had then ushered to the front of the crowd. The crowd began to gossip around who Cedric is and what he had done.
"Ermmm thanks my Queen," Cedric murmured, "But why me, and what are you exactly doing?"
"Because, you've faced it, and came out of it alive. These people need to believe it can be done. That we can beat this evil, as you are living proof of that."
"But Polar-" Cedric stated.
"Is still asleep," Lemur whispered.
"Why are we bringing this guy up here Queen Galaxy?" Juniper asked.
"Yeah!" exclaimed a civilian in the crowd.
Cedric peered amongst the crowd below, and Lillian continued.
"They're waiting Cedric."
Cedric gulped as he eyed the crowd that seemed to grow exponentially as he looked further beyond them.
"Hello... everyone," Cedric started, "I am Cedric, and some of you may know, I am one of the people who had scouted the deserts beyond... and one of the few that returned."
"One of the few?" A civilian asked loudly, "This is hopeless! The Queen will take us all!"
"Especially if we're fighting on their turf!" yelled an assassin, "We haven't ever experienced combat in those wastelands!"
A commotion had begun to arise again, and Cedric responded to it by pounding his fist into the podium in front of him, and exclaimed, "Soldiers! Assassins! Everyone!"
The commotion ended abruptly and Cedric continued his speech.
"Get a load of this," Cedric murmured, "A united civilization that can't look at one another or act cohesively. With all due respect to the royalty, this Union is bullshit if we can't keep ourselves on the same page for more than five minutes!"
The people below the stage began whispering and one asked to Cedric, "Look, we're scared. We don't know how this is even feasible to attain."
Cedric shook his head and said, "It's impossible if we can't work as the Union we are meant to be! On the scouting mission, I lost half of my squadron... due to not listening to the people around me. It's a mistake I take deep into heart... a mistake I will make right. Don't be making the same mistakes and not hearing what everyone around you has to say! What are we!?"
"The Lapis Union," said someone in the crowd.
"I SAID WHAT ARE WE?" Cedric exclaimed.
"THE LAPIS UNION!" exclaimed the entire audience of people.
"That's more like it. Uhhh"
Lillian touched Cedric's shoulder to get his attention and asked him, "What is your plan Cedric?"
"My- my plan?" Cedric asked in even more shock.
Juniper facepalmed and looked down at the wooden flooring beneath her. Cedric turned to the audience.
"Uhhhh Here's my plan," Cedric stated, "We won't have to face the Desert Kingdom army on their turf."
"What!?" exclaimed a civilian, "How won't we?"
"Queen Nile, upon seeing her in person, and after she took the mind of Jackson, has discovered that the heart of this Union is Lapis Kingdom."
Commotion began to buzz amongst the audience quickly, so Cedric expressed himself.
"This news may come across as bad news! HOWEVER, we can intercept her path to the Lapis Kingdom on our grounds. We can prove to her how wrong she is in saying that. The Union resides not in a place, but in all of our hearts. We will devote our hearts in the protection of our kingdoms!"
A person in the audience raised their hand to signify they had a question, and, once allowed, she asked, "Pardon me for asking, but how would we know that Queen Nile would even accompany an assault squad on the Lapis Kingdom? She hasn't accompanied them before, so why would she start now?"
Cedric pondered to himself for a quaint amount of time, and elucidated.
"Thanks for asking. There are two answers to that question. One, Queen Nile knows our sheer numbers. While her kingdom is bigger than our Lapis Kingdom... as an alliance of kingdoms, we are far greater than them... this is exactly why she's making this feel impossible. She wants our alliance to break so we have no chances! She would most likely accompany the assault squad to capture more people in her army to greaten the odds. Only she can control new people. Her puppets are... well... puppets. And when all else fails, we have the second answer. Give her the proper motivation."
Cedric nodded to Lemur and continued.
"King Lemur, if I may ask. If necessary and when the time comes... may I ask of you to make use of your flight powers, and assault the Desert Kingdom? As the Desert Kingdom lacks flying enemy soldiers, you would have the advantage, as you could keep out of their most ranged attacks."
"I am willing to do this Cedric," Lemur stated, "For the greater of our Union."
"If the King can just attack the Desert Kingdom, why can't he just wipe them out for us?" asked a Forest Kingdom survivor.
"It's far too risky," Cedric stated, "We can't afford to lose King Lemur to the enemy. Imagine having to face off against him as an enemy."
"Uhhhh forget I asked that," replied the survivor.
"So then it's settled?" Lillian asked.
The audience boomed with ferocity in response to Lillian, assuring her that this can be doable. They can and will defeat the Desert Kingdom, not as a bunch of flailing civilians, but as a united force.
YOU ARE READING
The Legend of Lemur (Book 3) - Rise of The Desert Queen
Phiêu lưuAfter defeating Herobrine once and for all, being reunited with his true father, and finally becoming Galaxy's husband, the kingdoms now live in unity with each other, becoming more powerful each day. However, when a call informing the Forest Kingdo...
