The story of Gabriel Alvarez Aspas

Chapter 8

Perspective changes to Carles I at his castle in Madrid)

Carles I was with his noble friends feasting  on the best food Spain had to offer.

"Why, what should we do after this feast? Feast again? horse race? or see Spain's finest women?" Carles asked

They were mixed answers around the room of the suggested three options till Carles spoke

"I know! How about we run the country like father did." They were stares around the room till Carles could no longer contain himself and burst out laughing which the rest did the same. Carles was just about to sip some of his wine till the door swung open, almost causing him to spill it all over himself.

"Why, what is the meaning of this? Don't you know to knock before entering!?" Carles said in an angrily tone.

"Why I do apologise your majesty but the news is urgent. The French have stolen almost all of your army's horses!" The messaged exclaimed.

"I care not." Carles said before turning his head back to face his friends."

"Your majesty, horses are an important part of warfare and this is a major blow."

"GUARDS take this messenger outside the castle, he is welcome here no more."

The guards immediately seized him and took him out of the room.

"Ah, finally that messenger is gone. Now let's get back to what we were doing before." Carles and his noble friends started feasting once more.

(Perspective changes back to Gabriel's)

The Spanish had been slowly pushed back and back to now back to Lourdes. Anger swept in due to the king not helping the situation at all. Morale was low inside Spain as well with a few riots happening and although small in number it was clearly growing. Gabriel knew Spain needed a decisive victory however it would not come in Lourdes however for the plan to work he would need support from Matías.

Gabriel saw that all the teaming in generals there entered the tent in which Gabriel planned.

"So, apparently they are going to siege Lourdes. We won't be able to face them in battle due to lack of horses and we will lose this siege most likely-" Gabriel paused, realising the severity of the situation before continuing "our only hope is for a distraction force which will make us try and counter..AH I can't think of anything good." Gabriel smashed his hand on the table

"This is a grand waste of time, might as well surrender now and maybe they won't take much land off us." Rafael said.

"Surrender? They haven't even taken territory of us yet, we fight to Madrid and if the last stand is there, so be it!" Tobal enthusiastically said.

Gabriel hated it but he knew Rafael had a point, the situation was hopeless but also kind of agreed with Tobal, it looked bad to surrender when they haven't even reached Spain.

"I agree with Rafael we should surrender, the conditions will be more conditional, I am sure, those in favour of surrendering raise your hand" Matías said before his hand along with Rafael's and Francisco's hands were up, 3-2 means the vote of surrendering had won.

"Now that is sorted, I'll write back to the king as we still need his seal of approval to send the letter of surrender." Matías said before leaving with Rafael and Francisco.

"Why does no one care care anymore? France didn't surrender at Lourdes and yet we will probably surrender without them reaching Spain. I can't stand some of these people in the leadership, especially Matías, actually all of this surrendering stuff never was in question till he showed up." Tobal ranted, shocking Gabriel.

"I don't like Matías either but we shouldn't cause further divide in the army than there already is. Their is unrest back home-" Gabriel looked making sure no one else was around, once he saw the coast was clear. "It pains me to say this but I think the current king is not fit to rule, he really is clueless, I can see the Aragonians revolting against him." Gabriel saiid

"Yeahhhh" Tobal drowned before looking to the sun. "Fucking Aragonians I fucking hate them." He muttered to himself. This set aback Gabriel, this was the disunity he was on about and even the best fellow general in his eyes failed to understand this.