Chapter 11: Chapter 11: The Declaration
Maxis and his two companions arrived at the royal palace in Middle Tahl around midday and spoke with the king.
"Our forces were crushed at the Cochise River, my King. You need to declare war against these invaders and get the support of Schussel and New Mecklenburg." Maxis demanded, speaking quickly with alarm and panic in his voice.
"Calm down, Max. This isn't the kind of thing you can rush." The King responded calmly, trying to reassure the clearly worried Grandmaster. "We're gonna have to rush it. The knights of Middle Tahl are stationed on Mt. Boren, that's ten whole miles away from the Cochise River, dammit." Maxis said angrily, walking over to one of the cushioned chairs in the war room and sitting down. "Maxis, Middle Tahl is not ready for a war, and the people don't want one." The King said, standing in front of Maxis. "What do you mean 'they don't want a war'? They cheered at the news of your law. What makes you think they wouldn't support you if you declared war on the church?" Maxis inquired, leaning back into the chair and sighing tiredly. "Maxis, Middle Tahl is progressive, not anti-Christian. Most of Middle Tahl is made up of christians, at least half of them." The King responded, sitting in the chair next to Maxis.
"The other half are Indians and descendants of the Norse, both of which are still in touch with their culture and religions." Maxis said calmly, trying to ease the tension.
"Yes…What would you do in my place, Maxis?"
"I'm not sure. A chief would drive out the invaders at any cost if the situation was dire. It's what the wampanoag did, and it's what the Hasowa did."
"The Hasowa people were wiped out by the Mongols just like the Gansee to the north were when they went to war with the Norse."
"Mhm… It's been survival of the fittest for us since they arrived. Two of the greatest conquerors in the same continent."
After a long pause, the king arose from his seat.
"Very well then. I will declare war on the church." The king said as he began to walk out of the room, followed by Maxis and then by Hetfield and Edelweiss, who were standing outside of the door.
"Bryce, do you have the manpower to fight this war?" Hetfield asked, catching up to the king, his plate armor and chainmail loudly clanging together as he ran up to the young king.
"He doesn't need man power." Maxis interjected. "All he needs to do is to avoid direct engagements, only fight when the odds are in our favor."
"Well, man power helps doesn'ts it?" The Austrian inquired.
"It does, but it is not necessary." Maxis responded.
The king led them into his office room where he wrote speeches and letters. The room was mid-sized and had a table right across from the door that had special carvings in it to be used to hold various writing utensils.
"I will start writing the declaration, and then I'll prepare a speech for Middle Tahl once war has been declared." King Skinner said. "What of the troops on Mt. Boren? Tos-Que's estimate was wrong, there has t0 be around two thousand christians. There was a thick fog, too, that veiled their full force." Maxis said.
"I'll send a cavalry detachment to guard your flanks as well as canons." The King responded reassuringly as he sat down and took a sheet of paper and began writing. "You'd best be on your way back to Mt. Boren now." He continued. The three knights left the room and let the king write. He stayed in his study for hours, writing and thinking. He liked to be precise with his words while also keeping the words and phrases simple so that even the most inbred farmer from the furthest south reaches of the kingdoms would understand the true meaning of the message.
By the time he was finished, it was sunset, and his wife Elenor had come to check on him.
"Hello dear." She said with a smile. "I talked to Maxis and Edelweiss earlier."
"Is that so?" The king said, his focus still on the paper and writing. "Yes, they seem to be worried for you."
"Why?"
"I guess they don't think you can handle this. Defending the Kingdom, I mean."
"Hmm."
"Perhaps it would be best to let Leonidas or Maxis be in charge of the defense of the Kingdom. After all, they have more experience in war."
"Maybe."
"Are you okay? I didn't mean to upset you."
"Huh? No, you didn't love."
"Okay, well, I'll let you write. I love you."
"I love you, Elenor."
The next day, the King issued his declaration to the local news outlets throughout Middle Tahl, and soon everyone knew about the invasion.
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