The Enchantress

33.

Prince Chaeyoung.

We reached the barracks and settled down. One after the other troops from the other kingdom came. I arranged a meeting with the generals of each kingdom. A few hours in the discussion a soldier reported troops from the Kingdom of Once arrived then Rowan appeared and went in. The people around the room watched him as he walked towards me and bowed.

"Your Highness, I'm Rowan, in charge of the troops from the Kingdom of Once."

"You arrived just in time. The general will stay with the king then?"

"Yes my Lord... I mean your highness." He said immediately.

"Old habits die hard. Call me either is fine." I then looked at Tzuyu  "Prince Tzuyu, Please give a brief summary before continuing."

Tzuyu gave a briefing on our strategy. Telling Rowan where they're assigned. He placed him with the troops on the battle field. Then I remembered the letter from Mina. I took a deep breath as I was about to say something that might be questionable for Tzuyu and Momo even to Rowan, but not for others.

"It'll be best to split their troops. Once all the troops from other kingdom arrives we have more arms on the ground. We need more support from the Arrows. Place Rowan along with his kingdom's Archers on the Arrow line."

Rowan was surprised, I can feel his stare. He might be confused as to why I said that.

Just as what I thought, I saw Tzuyu and Momo exchanged glances. Tzuyu looked like he have a moment to think it through.

"You have a point, More arrows will take down enemies' Arrows as well as in coming enemies on the ground." He said looking at me before shifting his gaze to Rowan and point something in the map to him. "You'll be stationed here with your Arrows and here for your ground troops."

An hour later the meeting was adjourned. We all went to our own camp site.

As soon as I sat down on our tent Momo voiced out what they're been thinking.

"Care to share what you were thinking?" Momo said as he sat on a chair beside me.

Tzuyu sat down opposite me and stared at me with his curious eyes. There's no point of keeping it from them. Tzuyu wasn't aware about Mina so I told him first about it. Then shared Mina's letter.

"Ouch. Really? She ask you that?" Momo said in disbelief.

"Yes. Not even acknowledging my letters to her. She just went straight to it."

"You're fighting a losing battle here brother." Momo said nonchalantly. He then realized what he said. "I mean the thing about fighting about Mina's heart... Not this battle."

I chuckled at how he try to get back with his words.

"He is right though. Her asking you to protect her lover, that speaks volume." Tzuyu said.

"So you assigning him at the Arrows is your answer to her letter?" Momo asked.

"Yeah, someone whom you put into team Alpha because of his speed and combat skills for our mission then assign him to the arrows, that's not suspicious at all. Him staring at you says he thinks it is suspicious. I won't be surprised if he ask you why anytime now." Tzuyu interjected.

"I am aware of that, but that's the only way I could think of. I can't babysit him while on battle. To put him away from the battle field is the least I can do."  I then looked at them both. "If you have any good idea, I'm all ears."