The Nun and King

Chapter 22

"You did what?" Morgan asks, standing up placing his palms on the large wooden table and leaning towards me, his one good eye staring accusingly at me. It took about an hour to round up the men and have them meet me in the same quarters that the Buglin was held captive earlier in the morning. When they entered and saw that he was missing, they immediately assumed he had escaped. I did my best to ease into letting them know that I decided to let him go but with this being Morgan's reaction I'm sure there will be a few others to follow suit.

We all sit at the meeting table, the large map rolled out once again before us on it's surface. Leaning back in my chair I hear it creak beneath me as my weight shifts and meet Morgan's gaze. "I know you all don't agree with me, bu-" I begin, but Morgan cuts me off with a wave of his hand.

"You're trying to get us all killed is what you're doing," he huffs, taking his seat once more. Thunder rumbles in the distance as the storm draws near.

Durza--my head archer--narrows his pale blue eyes at Morgan. Today he has allowed his usual braid to flow freely, his long blond hair cascading over his shoulders. "Morgan," he chastises. "I know you and Thomas are close, but keep in mind that he is your prince," he says, his eyes flitting towards mine quickly. "King," he corrects apologetically. "My apologizes."

I quickly nod at him, silently accepting his apology.

Morgan inhales slowly before sighing. "You are right," he says, looking at me. "I've always thought of you like a nephew, my lord, I forget my place from time to time."

"It's alright," I say. "I've always encouraged all of you to speak to me how you would like any other man in these meetings. Many of you have more experience when it comes to war than myself, so I'm always eager to hear what you have to say," I say, looking at the other five men--one being Warren. Rory's empty seat serves as a roaring in my ear and forces me to stay on track, so I clear my throat and continue. "Yes. I let him go, Morgan. The Bulgin, Shadrach, really didn't have much information to give other than that Lugos is probably keeping him in his own quarters."

"If I may," Simon asks raising his thumb, middle, and index finger. He has short cropped copper hair and is in charge of the calvary. His pale skin is covered with knicks ands cars over his years serving my father and now he will gain more serving me. "Do you trust this foreigner enough to not share information with Bulgin leader, Lugos?"

Pursing my lips, I give my head a shake. "I don't see what information he could have acquired in his short stay with us, Simon. Any plans were put away before he was brought in here. I didn't share anything with him during questioning, and Max made sure to personally escort him to the forest. I'm sure they've gathered more information spying on us these last few months than what he could have gotten here today."

Simon nods his head in agreement.

"So what's our next move, Tom?" Warren asks, resting his chin in his hand.

The corners of my lips pull downwards. "I know this might be another decision of mine that you all will not agree with, but it is my decision," I begin, pausing. "There was a story my father would sometime tell us before bed. The last time I heard it was when my mother was pregnant with Rose, though I still remember it rather well. Morgan even more so considering you were there," I state, glancing at him. His eyebrows furrow curiously. "Nazima," I press, and I watch as realization flashes across his face.

Morgan gives a swift shake of his head, "You're father only got out by the skin of his teeth. It was pure luck. Besides, those of us that were captured would have died proudly at the end of that war."

Very few know of this tale, as my grandfather deemed it shameful for my father to act in such a reckless manor. It could have not only cost him his life, but the war, and all of Paevia. To a child it was magnificent--to hear how his father not only snuck into a military camp the eve before battle and overhearing a key point in their strategy while rescuing his comrades. With the information he gained he was able to foil the opposing side's plans and was able to claim victory all before noon the following day.