The next morning, the great hall of the castle was filled with the nobles and advisors of Naviel, all gathered to hear the report of Princes Arthur and Erics.
The air was thick with anticipation, as the princes entered the hall, their faces serious and somber.
Prince Erics, his eyes scanning the room, began to speak, his voice clear and strong.
"Your Majesty, nobles, and advisors, we have returned from our mission to Decresh, and we bring grave news."
This caused the hall to become a little bit tensed as everyone held their breath, thinking about what next would come put from the prince's mouth, after hearing such words about bad news from him.
"The outcome of the negotiations wasn't good at all. King Harrison Delong didn't leave any room for a nice negotiation. He claims that we are encroaching on his kingdom's resources and lands and that what he's doing is the right thing."
Hiss!
Everyone in the hall became shocked.
"The right thing?"
"At the expense of people's lives!"
"The kingdom of Decresh is really going too far!"
Various murmurs came out from the mouths of the ministers and councils members.
King Alfred raised his hand and the rowdy hall became silent.
He then gave a sign to Prince Erics to continue.
"He's planning to disrupt our trade routes, Your Majesty," Prince Erics said, his voice clear.
"He's working with pirates at sea and bandits on land, trying to crippled our merchants."
Prince Arthur nodded, his expression serious.
"We tried to reason with him, Father, but he's too far gone. He's convinced we're stealing from him, and he's determined to take what's 'rightfully' his. I gathered reliable information that he's being backed up by a certain Lord Harlan."
King Alfred's face darkened.
"And what of Lord Harlan? What's his role in this?"
Prince Erics' eyes narrowed.
"He's the one pushing for war, Father. He's got the king's ear, and he's using it to fuel his own ambitions. Talks of a fortress tower to be built has made news in the various circles of Upsala and beyond. Lord Harlan is looking for partners in this project."
"And where does he plans to build this fortress of his?" King Alfred asks.
"We didn't get any reliable information on that father, news about it's location hasn't been released, but am guessing it would be somewhere close to the border of both kingdoms." Arthur replied.
Sigh!
'This is harder than we thought' King Alfred said in his mind.
As the princes spoke, the room grew increasingly restless, with murmurs of concern and anger rippling through the crowd.
King Alfred on the other hand, listened intently, his face a mask of concern.
When the princes finished their report, the king nodded, his eyes grave.
"Thank you, my sons, for your bravery and diligence."
"Thank you father." Erics and Arthur replied.
"Now we have to think of our next line of action." the king said.
The room erupted into a cacophony of voices, as the nobles and advisors began to discuss the implications of the princes' report.
The king raised his hand, calling for silence, and the room gradually quieted.
"Lord Thomas, what is your assessment of the situation?" the king asked, turning to his chief advisor.
Lord Thomas, a wise and seasoned diplomat, nodded, his eyes serious.
"Your Majesty, it is very clear that Decresh is asking for war. We must take immediate action to protect our kingdom and our people."
King Alfred sighed.
It is clear that war is inevitable.
"With the information given by the prince's,"
Lord Thomas, the king's advisor, continued, his voice calm.
"This changes everything. If Decresh is working with pirates and bandits, we have a clear casus belli."
The council meeting continued, with the nobles and advisors debating and discussing the best course of action.
Prince Erics and Prince Arthur sat quietly, their eyes locked on the king, as they waited for the decision that would determine the fate of Naviel.
As the meeting drew to a close, the king stood, his face set in a determined expression.
"We will not be intimidated by Decresh's aggression. We will prepare for war, and we will defend our kingdom to the last man."
"General Black!" The king called out.
"Yes your Majesty." General Ryan Black, a grizzled veteran of many battles, stood up, his expression grim.
"What's your report on the army?"
"Your Majesty, we have approximately 10,000 men ready for deployment, with another 7,000 in training. We'll need to mobilize the reserves, but we should be able to field a force of around 30,000 within a month."
Prince Erics nodded, his eyes narrowed.
"What about the border defenses, General?"
"We've reinforced the g garrison at Fort Ashwood, Your Highness," General Black replied.
"But we'll need to move quickly to secure the border towns and prevent Decresh's forces from crossing into our territory."
"Very well."
The king then turned his attention to the commander of the naval forces.
Adrian Cole, the commander of the naval forces, spoke up, his voice confident.
"Your Majesty, we have 15 ships ready for deployment, with another 5 under construction. We'll need to blockade Decresh's ports and disrupt their supply lines if we're to gain the upper hand at sea."
King Alfred nodded, his eyes thoughtful.
"General Black, I want you to recruit as many soldiers as you can, from every corner of our kingdom. We will need every able-bodied man to take up arms and defend our realm. Spare no expense, General, we must be prepared to field the largest army possible."
General Ryan Black nodded, his eyes gleaming with determination.
"Yes, Your Majesty. I'll see to it personally. We'll recruit from the villages, the towns, and the cities. We'll leave no stone unturned in our quest for manpower."
King Alfred turned to Adrian Cole.
"Admiral Cole, I want our naval forces to be equally prepared. Prepare all ships for battle, and recruit as many sailors and marines as you can. We will need to control the seas if we are to strangle Decresh's economy and crippled their ability to wage war."
Adrian Cole nodded, his expression resolute.
"Aye, Your Majesty. I'll see to it that our ships are crewed and ready for battle."
The king's eyes swept the room, his gaze piercing.
"I plan to hold this war for as long as possible, my lords, this would help us in minimizing time to our efforts. We will not be rushed into battle, nor will we be swayed by Decresh's aggression. We will prepare, we will plan, and we will emerge victorious."
The room fell silent, as the weight of the king's words sank in. Prince Erics spoke up, his voice firm.
"Father, I request permission to lead one of the army units into battle."
King Aldric's eyes narrowed, his expression thoughtful.
"I will consider your request, Erics. But for now, let us focus on preparing for war. We will discuss your role in the battle plans later."
The council meeting continued, with the nobles and advisors working tirelessly to prepare Naviel for the impending war.
The council continued to discuss their plans, with General Black and Adrian Cole providing detailed assessments and recommendations.
Soon the meeting came to an end, with everyone going home to make preparations for the upcoming war.
After the council meeting, Prince Erics requested a private audience with his father, King Alfred.
Prince Arthur was present, as Erics had specifically asked for him to be there.
Once they were alone, Prince Erics began to recount their journey to Decresh, telling his father about the assassins they had encountered and how Prince Arthur had saved the day.
"...and if it weren't for Arthur's bravery, I wouldn't be standing here today," Prince Erics said, his voice filled with gratitude.
"He's a true hero, Father, and I believe he deserves to be recognized for his actions."
King Alfred's eyes narrowed, intrigued by his son's words.
"Go on, Erics."
Prince Erics took a deep breath, his expression serious.
"I request that Arthur be made a Knight under my banner, Father. I promise to train him, to teach him the ways of war and chivalry. He has the heart of a knight, and I believe he would be a valuable addition to our ranks."
King Alfred turned to Prince Arthur, his eyes searching.
"And what say you, young Arthur? Are you willing to take up the mantle of knighthood and fight for our kingdom?"
A Knight?
Wasn't this what he had been looking forward to?
Now it came to him in a plater of gold.
Prince Arthur's face was set in a determined expression.
"Yes, Your Majesty. I'm ready to fight for Naviel, to defend our kingdom and our people. I'm very much honored to serve under Prince Erics' banner."
King Alfred nodded, a small smile on his lips.
"Very well, then. I grant your request, Erics. Arthur, you shall be knighted under Prince Erics' banner, and you shall fight alongside him in the battles ahead."
Prince Erics grinned, relief and excitement washing over him.
"Thank you, Father. I won't let you down."
Prince Arthur's face was filled with pride and gratitude, as he bowed his head in respect.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. I won't let you down, either."
King Alfred's expression turned serious, his eyes gleaming with a hint of steel.
"I have no doubt you won't, Arthur. We need all the brave and skilled warriors we can get, for the battles ahead will be fierce and brutal. Let us prepare for war, my sons."