After successfully butchering all the Crescian knights, Alexander rode back to the castle with his mother. He left the Valorian knights to guard the border since Griffin seemed hellbent to kill him especially now that he had known who he was. But he could use that to his advantage later. Griffin would regard him as a threat to his rule and would definitely attack before the Valorians. What he needed now was a war plan to counter the Crescian army. And though Valoria had great numbers in terms of knights, Crescia had few but powerful knights who could take half an army on their own, especially Griffin’s elite group. "Why did you come here? You could have sent someone else." Alexander didn’t like the fact that his mother had come into a war zone. What of something bad... Damn it! He couldn’t bring himself to even think about it."I was worried about you," she replied alighting her horse. Everyone was avoiding Alexander especially those who witnessed his flaming self. They knew something was special about their prince but flames! That was clearly off the wish list. Alexander didn’t like seeing her worried. "I’m sorry. It won’t happen again I promise. I was just...""It’s okay Alex," she said taking his hand into hers. "I’ll never let something bad happen to you again, ever!" Alexander felt like his little self. He was the one supposed to tell her this and not the other way round. And that woman, Lylla, what did she want to tell him before she left? It sounded like something important. He had to find her and find out what she had in store for him. "I need to take a bath," he said handing the reins of midnight to a knight before telling him to feed him. Midnight had proved to be courageous, fighting against all odds. How he couldn’t get burnt while Alexander was in flames still remained a mystery to him. His mother simply nodded at him before the pair parted, each headed to their individual rooms.*****"We’ll attack tonight and commence here," Griffin said pointing a dagger towards the blue colored region. "We’ll attack their blockade and steal their food and weapons. That will grant us supremacy in the sea.""Don’t you think you’re acting way too fast Your Majesty?" The general questioned, but the look he got!"Are you suggesting that I’m making a mistake by attacking Valoria?" He asked clearly irritated by the general."No, no Your Majesty!" He blurted. That would be terming himself a traitor. "If you don’t have an opinion on how to win this war, you better shut up unless you don’t value your life." That silenced the general together with everyone else who had thoughts of objecting to Griffin’s plan. "We attack tonight," he reminded the crew. And turning to the general, "Send a message to the capital informing Newton and everyone else that their presence is required here in the camp. Have Isadora’s squadron prepared by then. Also send a message to the witch clan requesting their help. Have my elite group arrive here in two hours." He said surprising everyone else present. It would take a normal Crescian a whole day to arrive here on foot and approximately half a day on horseback. How then was it possible for the elite group or whatever it was called to arrive in two hours. Were they flying or something?"Consider it done Your Majesty," the general left to convey the orders. Two messengers were dispersed, one on horseback and the other, one gifted to materialize just like Kael. It was the fastest way to convey information to the capital.*****A knock on the door disrupted the little conversation going on between the trio in Isadora’s room. Newton went to answer the knock to only be greeted by a knight."What is it?" He asked, trying to act like an irritated Griffin."Someone from the camp claims to have been sent to you by Lord Newton." Newton felt like laughing. Since when did he leave the palace? "His message?""He said he can only convene it to you and you alone," the knight answered. Newton threw a quick glance behind him and saw Zed focused on studying Isadora’s condition and so was Kael. This was the perfect time to slip. He silently closed the door and followed the knight outside."Where is he?" "He’s in the throne hall waiting for His Majesty," the knight replied. Newton simply nodded before he made his way into the throne hall. For some odd reason, he found it disturbing that Griffin had sent a messenger directly to him. Couldn’t he have sent Kael... Kael was here! "Speak," he demanded taking the King’s seat."I’m here to convey His Majesty’s message as instructed." Newton said nothing and just let him continue. "The king has officially declared war against Valoria. He is therefore deploying all resources and manpower to see the victorious end of the war’s aftermath." The messenger paused as if taking the privilege to deliver someone’s last wish."It is with this in mind that the King has ordered all the Crescian knights present in the palace to join the war at the sea front. You and Isadora will be leading a squadron each on the land front. A clarion call has also been made to the elite group to embark with immediate effect and arrive at the camp in two hours.""I’ll convey his Majesty’s orders to all relevant troops," Newton said. "But we have one tiny problem...mister." Or whatever his name was. "What is it... My Lord, " he added as if to remind Newton of his position. Newton wasn’t affected though."Relay to his Majesty that Isadora cannot make it to lead the squadron in time.""And why is that?" The messenger asked. Newton didn’t like his nosy behavior at all. "I’m not in the position to trust a messenger with a royalty’s information," he said, backfiring the gauntlet at the messenger."Okay. If you have nothing else to say, then I’ll take my leave, Your Majesty." The tone of mockery used didn’t go unnoticed by Newton. One day, if not soon, he was going to pay for this.