“Well, you can imagine,” Henok said, “the Technocons themselves are a very proud race. They told our ambassador that they had done more than enough investigations to make their claims salient. In their words, as part of the races in Toas, their contribution to its existence is to ensure the continuity of peace. And their way of doing that is by not aiding us with their technology. Because we have magic and an already strong army.”
“And we have the money to pay for their technology,” Sinto said. “This was supposed to be a trade.”
“We have tried that. It did not work,” Henok said. “The ‘technocons’ are using our possession of magic as a bias. They insinuate that we would become too strong if we added their tech to our magic.”
“So they offered to give it to these magicless humans instead,” Lord Taboon completed.
“That is not of concern to them,” Henok replied. “I got intel from my spy network that the humans of Tonar have been preparing for battle. The Technocons are still shipping them gadgets and upgrades. I do not think there is a better time than now. If we attack Tonar now, we can prevent any further questioning of our authority over Toas.”
It was an unspoken fact among them that an attack on Technocon was close to impossible, even with their magic and the Warriors of the Middle Kingdom in their possession. The technology of the Technocons was virtually magic of a creative kind. It was magic that could be compressed into portable objects, but the effects these objects had were still mammoth. These Technocon’s were creatures with a head half of their body, perhaps that explained why they created such powerful tools. Most of the time, they wanted peace, so they could continue creating their little, strange type of science magic. Other times, they backed the underdog, but seldom got into conflicts themselves. The people of Tonar on the other hand, were humans, just like them, but without magic, except for very few among them. The people of the Middle were druids. It was rare to see any of them without magic.
However, Lord Taboon and Sinto were still at a loss as to why the king had requested their presence. They were not generals, and not experts on battle strategy, either. It was not clear what the king had called them out for. If it was for counsel, which they had been inclined to think was a reason initially, then Henok showed that he did not need much of it!
“I have sent out word to the generals to prepare our troops. The earlier we attack Tonar, and silence their growing presence, the better. However, a little help would be needed to combat whatever tricks they will have up their sleeves. I require your magic.”
Henok’s tone was clear. This was not a request or a plea. The King had given a command.
“What are we to do?” Sinto asked. He was secretly happy that Eldana’s case had not been brought up. Because, once again, he would have sounded incompetent before the monarch.
“Gather your men,” Henok said, staring at the both of them. “Make sure they are ready. We will leave in two weeks.”
“Two weeks, my lord?” Sinto asked. He was unable to keep the shock out of his voice.
As head of the guard, he always ensured that his men were ready. That preparedness was part of the reason he had remained head of the guard for decades. But though their recent major altercation was weeks ago, with Eldana in the clearing of Kleas, they had expended so much magical energy that they needed more time to recuperate.
“Is there a problem, Sinto?” Henok asked.
“No, my king,” Sinto said recollecting himself. “There is just this one minor thing.”
Henok raised his brows inquisitively.
“My men are not yet ready to devote the amount of magic that you would deem satisfactory for the war effort.”
“Why is that?” Henok asked.
Sinto stared at Lord Taboon. He hoped that the wily bastard would not do something that would place him in the king’s anger. Because no matter how hard he had tried to evade mentioning Eldana, she still found a way to affect the king’s plans.
“It is just a simple matter of recovering the strength we had lost during our altercation with Eldana and her friends at Kleas.”
“Eldana, and a bunch of criminals like her, you mean to say,” Lord Taboon corrected.
Sinto looked at him, lowered his head slightly, and flashed Lord Taboon a smile. It was a gesture to show the king that he was in total agreement with Lord Taboon’s view. Meanwhile, in his heart, he thought:
Stupid bastard.
“I thought it has been weeks since you fought with the girl?” Henok asked.
“You are right, my king,” Sinto said, “but as Lord Taboon will also confirm, the level of magic Eldana exhibits unprecedented levels. And her friends in her company too. The three of them are all very powerful.”
Sinto turned to Lord Taboon, fixing him a harsh glare. Lord Taboon smiled in return. He had grasped the meaning behind Sinto’s expression.
Watch as I save your hide, old friend, he thought.
“My king,” Lord Taboon said, “Sinto is right. Why else do you think the girl had been able to best the royal guard, which is comprised of no ordinary mages. Sinto himself was there! And just like he said. And it was not just the girl. The Siem and Berserker are both fearsome magicians. It took them almost everything to keep from getting killed.”
Sinto felt relief flood through him. Although, he took care not to reveal that.
“We, Lord Taboon and myself are in no doubt in true shape to contribute our all to the battle, but I cannot say the same for the members of the guard.”
“How much time do you need?”
“A month, my king,” Sinto replied.
Henok shifted in his throne.
“Sinto, we do not have a month. Attacking Tonar in two weeks is even too delayed. The goal here is to decimate
