• Papers, papers, and more papers; so many reports on the casualty of the recent skirmish down the border of the Avalantian Kingdom, the kingdom they have been at war with for the past decade. Casualty reports were one thing, another thing that added to all these were the financial budgets that rose after every engagement against the enemy.

    Whatever these papers were, they simply added to Willande du Montegeare’s stress. Being the head tactician of the Targessan Kingdom’s army, people may think that his job centres on the army and planning out the formation.

    “Boy were they wrong,” he rolled his eyes, staring at the paper; “Being head tactician is more than that. So much more…”

    Financial balance was important so that they would minimize the costs and wages used against damaged weapons, treating the injured, training the newly recruited, et cetera. Of course, such information should actually be handled by the Master of Coins, but it was Willande’s demand that copies of financial report were to be sent to his desk for inspections.

    “Lord Willande, perhaps a rest?”

    He sighed and ran a hand through his short blonde hair; “If time were so kind as to give me a momentary pause in life, I would, Lady Freeshia,” Will turned back to look at his apprentice-to-be, Freeshia Feraqua, and gave her a wry smile, “But if that were to happen, the world would be such a dull place to live in, no?”

    Freeshia laughed lightly and stood in front of his table, picking up one of the papers scattered across its surface. She tossed her golden curls back as she studied the contents of the paper; “Will, this is the collection of tax in the whole of Targessa,” she frowned, “Why has it increased…so abruptly?”

    “War makes things even more expensive than before, my dear. Why, even an apple nowadays costs twice as much,” the head tactician laughed, “Twice as much, mind you,”

    She lets the paper fall from her hands as she looked at her mentor, “But it sure feels like…we’re at peace now, Lord Will,”

    “That’s the beauty of it, Freeshia dear. War strikes when you least expect it. The best example can be seen from the rise of taxes, food, and whores,”

    Freeshia blinked; “Whores?!”

    Willande nodded like it did not bother him the least bit, “Without whores, our soldiers won’t be motivated enough to fight out there for our cause,”

    “But they have pledged their loyalty to the king and swore not to take any women…they should keep that promise!”

    He laughed and leaned back in his chair with one hand on his chin, “That would most probably be around 1 out of 10 soldiers. Most fight for money, others for their family; mainly reasons that are not entirely tied to the king,”

    His apprentice gave him a strange look, but before she could say anything, the door behind her slammed open. A soldier stepped in and saluted to the two.

    “Lord Montegeare and Lady Faraqua, good evening,” the soldier bowed and looked straight at Will, “You have been summoned by His Majesty to the throne room,”

    Judging from the sound of the soldier’s voice, he could tell that the king did not sound too happy with the recent result of the skirmish. He suspected that that mischievous Master of Coin, Lord Aldo Merrick, was the tattle-teller behind His Majesty’s unexpected summon. Aldo has always been a tricky man and he always seemed to know more than he anticipated him to be.

    Will placed the papers on his desk and stood up, “Yes, of course, I’ll be out shortly,”

    He waited until the soldier closed the door, and then he turned to Freeshia, almost catching her off guard, “I want you to study the rise and fall our current economy status. Find out more about the strange financial fall somewhere in the middle of the year and report to me once I return,” his voice was soft but stern, and it made her feel a little uneasy. Chuckling softly, he placed a hand on her shoulder, “Don’t worry, I’m just giving you a little training, apprentice,”

    Freeshia nodded slowly, “Come back soon, Lord Willande,”

    Will smiled, “Of course,” and turned to exit his room.

    - - -


    “Lord Willande du Montegeare, lord of Rivermouth and head tactician of the Targessan Army,” announced the soldier.

    The gigantic door to the throne room opened, and in entered Will himself, dressed in his regal costume of red and yellow with his golden mane of hair combed neatly to the back. He was looked as though he was ready to accept any form of punishment, though his youthful features hid the fear perfectly. Despite it all, he was most probably the comeliest man in court. However, this was not the case.

    As the door closed in from behind him, Willande lifted his head to look up at the man sitting on a high chair on a slightly raised platform. The man was probably around his late-forties, yet, there was little evidence shown on his face that proved he was of that age. Perhaps a wrinkle or two, but otherwise, he still looked quite young.

    And angry.

    King Cerunnos von Targeesia focused his dark green eyes on Will as he watched him kneel before him.

    “Your Majesty,” said the tactician and he stood up once more.

    The king spared no expression for this young man and went on to the matter at hand, “Why are the papers regarding the kingdom’s financial standing is in your hands, Lord Montegeare?”

    He gulped; he knew he was not supposed to be in charge of that section, “For my research, Your Majesty. Financial matters are relevant in order to form a strategy; therefore the papers are much needed by-”

    “I don’t see any change in our position against the Avalantians,” he interrupted, his voice growing cold, “In fact; I believe we are still on par with them,”

    Will frowned, “Wars cannot be won within a single day, sire, surely you know of that,”

    “I am well aware of that, Lord Montegeare,” said the king, resting his chin on his hand as he did so, “But this war has been going on for two whole years, and still I see no difference,”

    “But sire-”

    “Perhaps the only difference is the rise of our tax and the number of casualties. I don’t suppose that is good change,”

    He gathered his voice to speak up to the king, “Your Majesty, forgive me for asking, but truly, what is the purpose of this war against the Avalantians? Honestly, I do not see a sound reason for this war,” he has been meaning to question this for a long time and now he found the courage to ask, “It seems to me that we have lost our true purpose for this war, so why are we still fighting?”

    “Because they hold the artefact which was rightfully ours to begin with!” the king was starting to lose his patience, “That artefact has kept Targessa at peace for a very long time until it was stolen when that Avalantian messenger entered the castle!”

    Will sighed and continued to listen on. Apparently, when King Cerunnos began to press charges against the Avalantian king, Freida Avalice, the kingdom denied any claim of theft in Targessa. Unsatisfied with their answer, Cerunnos executed the Avalantian messenger, which stirred anger among the Avalantians. King Freida replied their act with strife. But that did not stop there; along the way, the Avalantian’s artefact was also stolen from their castle and the blame was put on the Targessans. Thus, from strife, it evolved into total war.

    “And now my daughter remains lost to me,” the king’s voice slowed down to a slightly devastated tone, “The only heir to the throne,”

    The tactician looked at him with pity. He knew; the princess was his only child born from Queen Elrissa, who died shortly after giving birth to her. She was his daughter, and to lose her at a time like this pressured him.

    Lord Willande sighed, “There has been no word of her since the ambush at the camp. I am sorry about Her Highness, sire,”

    “Continue the search for her, Lord Montegeare. She must be found no matter what,”

    Cerunnos turned to look away, “You have my leave,”

    He looked up to the king once more, “Yes, sire,”