Warrior Princess

Chapter Five

"W-War," I stutter, "Tell me I'm hearing this wrong."

Amara doesn't answer my question. She calls to a nearby soldier. "Commander Carter, inform General Carter that I need to speak with him immediately. And have the rest of the commanders join us in the citadel tower."

" What about Commander Jacobson?" the commander asks, " He passes away at sea. We received the news this morning."

Amara bit her lip. " My condolences to his family. I'll have Kara take his place as commanding officer. Assign her to the blue squadron."

" What?" I blurt out. I had no idea what the army did during wartime. How was I supposed to command them.

" Are you sure, Your Majesty?" Carter asked with confusion.

" My daughter was able survive in the West Forest for eleven years. Alone. She'll be able to do this." Amara said with a tone that almost sounded like pride.

Commander bowed and left the room. Amara soon followed behind him. I, on the other hand, stood frozen in the throne room.

" What have I gotten myself into," I whispered, before heading to the citadel.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have to say, the citadel was impressive. Outside the kingdom's outskirts was a hundred foot tall wall meant to keep invaders out of the city. This was the inner ring. Outside that wall was the outer ring, which was three times as thick as the inner ring. Four fortresses were located adjacent to the citadel tower, which was two hundred feet tall! The tower was armed with 150 archers and 200 swordsman.

" This is unbelievable," I tell Adam, who was beside me. He was the commander of the green squadron.

" I know," he answers, " the tower alone took fifty years to build. With the walls included, this was three hundred year project."

"Still, It seems a little excessive."

"Well, the wall was able to defend the kingdom in the first war with the South Kingdom. So, I guess no one complains."

"About that." I say, "I heard Amara mention it. What happened?"

Adam shrugs. "No one really knows. Centuries ago, both kingdoms were trade partners before controversy. I'm not sure anyone knows exactly why they fought, but it had something to do with . All I know is that the North Kingdom won and the South Kingdom's economy fell apart after the war and turned into a corrupted wasteland. It's still a scary place."

"There's a maid, Lillian. She said she was a refugee from the South Kingdom."

"I wouldn't be surprised. 'Bout years ago, there was a group of twenty of refugees from the South Kingdom. They were all simple farmers who were wrongfully convicted of crimes they didn't commit.  They were going to be executed if they hadn't escaped."

"That's horrifying," I tell Adam, "How does anyone live like that?"

"It's not a life, if you ask me. You can't really live if you can't control how you decide to spend the rest of life. I think the refugees started their living after they came to the North Kingdom. I just wish I could help the rest of the suffering people in the South."

"You sound really wise and humble for a person raised with all the money they could ever want."

"What?" Adam grins, " You thought I was an old royal snob."

I smirk. "Yes."

We walk up a steep spiral staircase. According to Adam, all military meetings were on the highest story of the citadel tower. The conference area was a circular room room with a table in the center. The table was draped with a large map of the Four Kingdoms: the North Kingdom, East Kingdom, West Kingdom, and the South Kingdom.  Surrounding the table with all the commanders, along with Queen Amara beside a man with very dark hair. I assume that's General Carter.

Adam and I stand next to table and the conversation.

"This is Joshua Michaels and his daughter Amelia, both refugees from the South Kingdom." General Carter says, motioning to two people I had't noticed before. Joshua Michaels was a middle-aged man with greying blond hair. Beside him was his daughter. They had to same defined features and blue eyes, but Amelia had auburn hair. And unlike her father, whose face was filled with sorrow, she looked as tough as nails.

"They both graciously provided us with a map of the South Kingdom," General Carter explains. Then, he draws a circle on a piece of cloth. "The South Kingdom is circular with a tall wall surrounding it. But, according to Mr. Michaels, the wall is extremely weak and there are several access points around the wall. However, the main gate is carefully guarded."

General Carter than pointed to the bottom half of the circle. "This is the lower residential area. We have some contacts there, if we need to hide. And this," he says, pointing to the upper half or the circle, "is the higher residential area. You must avoid going here at all costs."

"What about the castle, General Carter?" I blurted out. Everyone stared at me, except Amelia and her father, who seemed more interested in their leather boots.

"Excellent question, Commander Hathaway," says Carter, "At the very center of the Kingdom is the castle. It is the most armed and guarded area in the entire kingdom."

I gulp. "So, what is our mission sir?"

"First, we must draw the guards away from the castle. The red, gold, black, white, and orange squads will launch a heavy attack at the main gate. This would be able to bring at least 3 quarters of the kingdom's soldiers and weapons to the walls. The attacking squads will receive all the ammunition we have. Gather your troops and weapons and report to the tower at dawn. Understood?"

Most of the commanders nod and leave the room. All that are left is Amara, Adam, the Michaels, and me.

"At the same time, The blue and green squads will enter the kingdom from one of the breaks in the wall. Mr. Michaels and I will also accompany you. We will infiltrate three of the castle guards and retrieve the stolen papers. Clear?"

Adam and I nod and climb down the stairs. "This got a lot more real," Adam tells me as I'm walking o the last flight of stairs.

"Yeah, it has."