A Crowned King (Complete)

Chapter 31

Kevin Pale, General of the Magnus Battlemages, stood atop the pavilion and watched as the last of their soldiers marched into Three Towers. He kept himself aloof from the other men, but not cold. He didn't want any of them to think that he thought himself above them or that he didn't care. However, he did have a job to do and he couldn't allow them to bog him down with too many of their problems or their bickering. He knew that there would definitely be bickering. There was no way to avoid that when you packed a post full of soldiers from different cities. Before long there would be boasts from each side and they would be sure to be some who would want to back up their words as well as challengers to make them prove it. 

It was his job to make sure that they were all kept together. They were the Legion after all and he would have to remind them of that. They might all come from different cities and different parts of Star with different styles of doing things, but they were all of one Nation, one army. They would have to serve together and faithfully. If they didn't then the Gaal army would wash over them like they were nothing more than ants. 

The Battlemage balled his hands into fists on top of the railing. He wouldn't let that happen. They would fight together. They had no choice. It was either that or the Nation was lost. They would have to become one cohesive fighting unit. He took a breath, preparing himself for what that meant. 

One hundred fifteen thousand, the General thought to himself, still amazed by the staggering amount of fighting men that he had under his command. As he was ranked General in Magnus, Kevin was the highest ranked among the commanders of the different cities' armies. All of the others were mostly captains, maybe one or two commanders. As he was the only General, that made him the field commander which meant everyone had to listen to and follow his orders. If they didn't they could face court martial and perhaps if they survived this war, death at the end of a rope for treason. But that wasn't what he wanted. He just wanted his men to get along, for them to win this war with little bloodshed, and for everyone to go home safe and sound. That was all. 

The Gods would never be that merciful. The Circle never were and neither was the Father. They would just have to do their best and hoped that it came out right. That was all any of them could do. 

More than that, Kevin knew that they couldn't stay there any longer. Three Towers was too far away from the border and he knew that the enemy would be marching soon. They had no choice but to do so. They had enacted a part of their plan that just screamed, "endgame" and he would have to answer it. He would have to position his men right and meet them before they could do very much damage. If he failed, thousands died. 

He wouldn't have that on his conscience.

Turning from the pavilion, the General made his way inside. The halls were utilitarian with no decoration and even the floors were made of plain grey marble. This was a military installation and there was no doubt about it once one looked on the decor. There was no attempt to make it look like more than what it was. 

Strangely, he appreciated the simpleness of it, but then again, he'd always been a very simple man. He liked plain things and despised the intricate. He found life would be a lot easier to live if everything was so blunt as his own personality. Unfortunately for him, most things were as blunt as he. A pity. 

Walking into the mess area, Kevin paused in the doorway. For the moment, he was unnoticed and he was glad for it. He wanted to see how well the men were getting along and there was never a more obvious time as when men were eating to see how they felt about one another. 

There were thousands all gathered here together at one time in the gigantic room. It was obvious that it wasn't large enough as some men were standing as they ate and drank, but they didn't seem to mind. In fact, they seemed to pay no mind at all to the fact that they weren't sitting. He could smell the roasted venison from where he was standing and his mouth started watering instantly. What he wouldn't  give for a thick piece of venison at that moment, but he wouldn't join them for dinner. Not yet at least. He would observe them first and see how well they were getting along.