STEEL AND FLESH

SECRETS

"You know I have been thinking my king."

"What have you been thinking Lord Garthine Polion?" king Lauihnio asked.

"I am thinking, maybe your uncle has a hand in this - maybe king Brothlander invading this lands is another plan of his to usurp your throne, to strip you of your crown. Lord Garthine Polion put up a sad, look making him look extremely disturbed.

"I doubt that possibility Garthine Polion, my uncle Lord Mordian is locked away in one of our most protected fortress in all of Bauthinia and guarded by our most trusted soldiers." king Lauihnio said with assurance. "however I wonder how my uncle is very good at winning the hearts of men, only Oridon knows how many men he must have won over before he was convicted of treason."

"Five hundred men your majesty." Lord Garthine Polion said. king Lauihnio raised his eye brows in amazement. "five hundred men - I assume most of them are dead - however I doubt anyone would want my crown especially at this time."

"Are you sure of that." Lord Garthine Polion put up a sad smile.

"I am certainly sure Garthine Polion" there was some silence among both men for a while as they decided to watch the skirmish drills of the soldiers.

"How about the revolt your majesty?" Lord Garthine Polion asked. King Lauihnio was prompted by the question as he quickly turned to Lord Garthine Polion. he heaved a sigh.

"I leave that job to you and your scouts. however do you think our military have been in anyway affected by the news of king Brothlander and his army?"

"I have heard nothing of such sought, anyway as you can see the soldiers here take their drill seriously which means that they aren't short of passion for their jobs." Lord Garthine Polion pointed towards the field were the soldiers were.

"Something tells me that eh our army is short of motivation, can you think of something I can do to at least spur them up, maybe a feast, coin even women?"

Lord Garthine Polion laughed. "women your majesty? some of these men here are married, how do you think their wives would react when they receive news of their husbands finding pleasure in the bossoms of another woman by the order of the king."

He looked straight at king Lauihnio and after about three heartbeats both of them started laughing.

"Another thing my king do you think that with this threat posed on us by king Brothlander you are sure of the safety of the dragon egg in our lands?"

"Shhhh." the king motioned for Lord Garthine Polion to keep quiet. "it is forbidden to speak of the dragons egg in the open, believe you me this walls have ears, this is a secret that should be known to me, you, king Rashur and the arch cytix priest." he whispered. "I only made mention of that to you because you are my closet friend, you are a man I trust. I swear in the name of Oridon no member of my family knows about the dragons egg, not even my wife." he continued.

"How long has it been in our possession, this egg?"

"I don't know, since my great grand father's reign, according to tales I heard he found it in the woods while he went hunting with his men - apart from that I know nothing else about the dragon egg." He whispered cautiously looking around to be sure no one overheard their conversation.

"Ok my king about the soldiers, I believe they would love to hear you speak - to be honest during the joint campaign you inspired us all with the ferocity you showed while we fought the Quanians, some of them thought you were were out of your senses when you decided to be in the Frontline during the battle of Harenia" Lord Garthine Polion said.

"Yes I had a pop that day - I was so eager to shed blood given the fact that we had lost some good men when were ambushed a few weeks before that battle as a result of some misinformation from the Mocinians." king Lauihnio said coldly.

"You sure must be grateful to Heykzan for giving you victory and also letting you live. hardly does any man survive the Frontline while in battle with those beasts of men."

"but I survived - however I would not refer to them as warriors for they are not as deadly as they look."

"And you tasted some human flesh."

"Wait, who told you that!" king Lauihnio

snapped.

"It was sometime at dusk while you were close to a river don't worry that secret is safe with me I assure you that." king looked suprised for a moment he wondered what kind of a man Lord Garthine Polion was. he was however disappointed that the secret of him turning into a cannibal as a result of the joint campaign was known by a second party which was the man standing next to him.

"If words about that spread I would have your head." he said coldly.

"Not a word will come out my king." Lord Garthine Polion said.

"However I believe your soldiers here would love to hear you speak. I am also eager to hear what you would say about keeping calm concerning news of king Brothlander - do you wish to speak?"