A Crowned King (Complete)

Chapter 14

Darius rode high atop his warhorse heading down the road. He wasn't alone though. At his back were over twenty thousand men, armed and armored for war. They were marching in a large formation behind him, their spears in hand while they had swords strapped to their hips, shields on their backs, and knives on their persons. Moving along with them were carriage trains which were laden with supplies of food rations, iron and steel, chests filled with Griffons, maps, and other things they would need to fully garrison the Three Towers.

While twenty thousand was a large number this was just a paltry number that he would be commanding. All together he would be in charge of fifty thousand men and women who would join up with him after their stay at the Three Towers. A large part would come from Furia itself, the city of war many called it. Being as close as they were to the border Furia had the most soldiers and would be the most prepared for an assault. However they weren't to remain there. At least that was how he was taking it. He believed that he was to hold in place and then when their full strength was marshalled they would march on the Galtea border.

The Lord General hadn't been ordered to do any such thing, but he was a battle tactician and that was what he would do. He couldn't move without the order of the Prince though, at least not technically. If one were to follow the laws of Star, the Lord General was only beholden to the King himself and Mako was no King. He was only the Prince which meant that he had no real authority over the Legions or the Lord General.

Treason, he thought to himself with a shake of his head. You think treason against the crown. What are you doing? You served Dryn without a second thought and his father before him. So why am I even thinking about such things? Is it because he's just a not and I don't know the young man that much. It can't be that simple. It has to be something else; something more retrospect.

"Are you alright Lord General?" asked a feminine voice from his side, sounding concerned for his mindset. He looked to see where the voice had come from and he spotted the woman that had rode up beside him astride a bay stallion, her helm clanging against her belt as it had been strapped there, leaving her features bare. He stared at her for a moment, wondering why she looked familiar. Then he realized why she looked familiar: she was the soldier back in Blackreach that he'd seen take down more than one male soldier without breaking a sweat. He couldn't remember what her name was or if he'd even learned it in the first place.

"I'm fine, soldier." Darius growled out at her brusquely, wanting to keep up his stern commanding voice. He looked back towards her, narrowing his golden eyes on her. "Just who are you anyway? Your name. I remember you from the training grounds, but I don't know your name."

The female soldier nodded and bowed her dark head. "My name is Dana Proof of family Proof in Blackreach. I am here to win glory for my family." she told him ina serious tone. "But my main goal is to protect my Nation from any dangers that threaten us. What is all of this about anyway?" She waved to the formation of twenty thousand behind her. "These are too many swords and spears to be a small incursion. I'm betting on a full-out war."

The Lord General stared at the woman as he rode. She was staring back at him without worry. She didn't seem all that worried about staring her superior officer in the eyes. It said a lot about her discipline and a lot about her upbringing. He knew who her family was and about their pride. Their were few who could match the Proof family in pride and honor. If he was being honest, they deserved their pride for what they had accomplished in the recent years.

He was no fool though. He would not allow her to profit off of Darius Wolf. He wasn't that person. He would never give in to such machinations and he wouldn't allow himself to be manipulated. He was strong-willed and mighty with a keen mind.

"I was given orders. That's all." Darius told her and turned away from her. He rode easily across the ground with the sound of soldiers behind him filling his ears. "The Prince gave me my orders to raise men and march to Three Towers. That's what I'm doing now and I will continue to follow my orders."