Ugly Wise Blood (Completed)

The Penultimate

The 'rebel' bodies were taken to Fearos. Mr Goch and the members of the Division immediately went to General Vaughan's office. The General was looking over the profits made via trade and had a smile on his face. Mr Goch entered the office hurriedly and said, "General, we are under grave threat and the likelihood of us being perished is very high if we don't know, forget those trade and artillery profits, we need more weapons. What we need now are weapons and not savings. Four caravans were on their way to attack the Capital, but hail the Lordess we were saved, those mines saved us. The bodies are outside, take a look".

Before the General could say anything, Mr Goch took him outside and confirmed the threat. The General could feel the sweat and cold hands of Mr Goch, another evidence to believe them. The General said, "Who are they? Oh wait, this is the Turnet Army, the symbol on the uniform is the flag of Turnet". Mr Goch nodded his head.

The General addressed the Division, the Officer's of the Army's headquarters and the people gathered. In a loud voice, he said, "People and Officers, this is War, for the first time in decades. The reason is unknown. I assure you all the safety of this city and the country. It's a clear sign of a battle. We didn't lose anyone in the attack but it doesn't mean that we should stay defensive now. We will retaliate. This is the land of The She. We don't play defensive. We go to War and come back victorious. If anyone of you people, wishes to join the army and fight of our land, you are welcome. Mr Goch, multiply the production rate, make more attacking weapons and equally defensive. There may be a shortage of money and grains for a few days, but after we defeat Turnet, we will have a surplus of every goddamn thing. The Division, I order you all to get back to the advancement of arms at once. We need to be loaded in a fortnight or maybe soon. The scribe, I want you to write a letter to Turnet. Let them know our decision. We won't be negotiable now. The Lordess' land could have been attacked badly. The limits are crossed. No diplomacy, just vengeance".

Days later, at Turnet, all of them were waiting for their Twenty Men to return victorious and capture the capital and country and get their decade long revenge. A man on a vehicle stopped on the court gates, with a huge congregation of people. He came inside running.

He greeted the Ladyship and handed her a small red bag with Turnet Army's symbol on it with a small cross on the bottom left corner. The Ladyship took a glance. At first, she had tears in her eyes when she opened the sack and read the letter aloud in the court with tears in her eyes. Everyone was shocked to hear that. She then looked down for a moment. Moments later, she looked up with no tears, she had anger written all over her. She ordered the Army General present there, she said, "Prepare for War".

He immediately left the court. She went outside the court and saw the people with an eagerness to know the result. She looked down. They understood. Some of them started crying. She looked up and said, "I promise you all happiness and smile the next time we wait for such news. And if someone wants to give a hand in helping their country take over Neaucape can seek guidance from the General. Let's take over. Long Live Lord Sancus. Treachery has no place, never will have one". She left.

The Ladyship ordered her scribe to write a reply to Neaucape. It was sent in no time. Larry & Davis were sitting in a room inside the court. Larry said, "Mark, I didn't expect Fearos to declare a War. I thought they would stick to diplomatic ways. This is worse than I thought". Davis was stunned by all this. He said with a fumble, "You do realise that we have a fifty-per cent chance of dying, maybe more. Fearos killed the most competent Twenty Men of Turnet, How? I still can't figure out. They might have advanced their artillery after declaring this War. I think we agreed to join Turnet without considering this".

Larry stood up and in a sad face replied, "When they started their plan to us, they did mention 'killing the General' and taking over the country". Davis furiously said, "That didn't mean starting the War. Killing just one person is better than killing thousands, and also we were blinded with rage back then, maybe we were not thinking straight. I cannot do anything now. What the bloody hell! Our people and other Gentlemen of COAT are still in Walbur, they might in grave danger. Neaucape will aim to capture that first"

Larry calmed him down and said, "No brother, Turnet did send some of their good Men there. It's pretty safe there, considering Neaucape's weak Army". Davis, still tensed, said, "If Neaucape has declared a War, then surely they will advance their Army overall. If anything happens to Walbur and our people, I'll not bear it". Larry comforted him and said, "I assure you nothing will go sideways. Honestly, I feel we don't belong to either of the two countries, we are different. I hope these two lands think straight".

The Brothers entered the room. Wade looked tensed. Francis was going through the combat strategy and he needed some answers. Francis said, "We know what a War does to land even they are aware of this. To prevent our destruction, we will take the fight to their land. The Army with us will set for Neaucape tomorrow". Davis asked, "Her Ladyship will also fight in the battle?". The Brother's laughed. Wade eased up and said, "The Monarch is chosen after a series of hardships or assessments and fighting is one among all". Larry asked, "Then why to assign an Army General?". Wade replied, "Help. We all need help as we took yours".

General Vaughan and Mr Goch reached the Division to inspect the arms. They seemed quite happy with it. Mr Goch asked, "General, when can we expect the War to commence?". General replied, "The Lordess herself will signal us". Mr Goch said, "That is accurate, she will save us. We will do everything to protect her land". Both of them saw the Army going through the strategy and training simultaneously.

The General told Mr Goch to be ready with the weapons as the signal might come sooner than they would expect.

Three Days Later.

The General was praying in his room, wishing to come out victorious. He heard people shouting as if they are telling someone to stop. Suddenly, he heard his door banged open. He got up with a gun in his hand, aiming towards a man. The man was sweating and looked pretty scared. The man said, "Hail the Lordess, the General. I am a child of The She. Citizen of this country. I work in a town near the Country Port. They have come, they are here". He fell down and lost consciousness.