Chapter 32 - Fake Fight

Michael was trying to get some rest in his chamber. He was alerted by the sounds of the door. Someone was coming in to his chamber.

"Mother!" he moaned as he saw Queen Teresa.

"Son!" she replied sarcastically and waited few paces away from the door. It seemed she was expecting someone to come in.

"I hope this is nothing to worry about?" Michael moved closer to her.

"Will you get this thing in here right now" Queen Teresa leaned towards the door and yelled. She was definitely addressing some people outside.

Two male servants carried in a heavy chest. It was heavy enough to hinder their free movement.

"Drop it here" she pointed to a spot in front of Michael.

The servants put the chest down and went outside.

"Gifts for me? What is in there, Mother?" Michael asked on a lighter note. He was not sure what she could have brought for him.

"What are you doing here?" Queen Teresa asked with a frown. It seemed she was trying to show him how angry she was.

"What am I doing in my chamber?" Michael repeated and chuckled.

"What are you doing here?" she asked again emphatically.

"I'm trying to get some rest" he finallly answered her to prevent much further ado.

"Is this the right time to get some rest?" she criticized him.

Michael was fed up of this. He groaned to be free of her.

"What is in the trunk?" he tried swaying her away from annoying him.

"Open it and tell me" she frowned at him.

Michael cracked the chest. He found an armor, sword and some side weapon in it. His mother had prepared him for a war.

"Armor!" he exclaimed excitedly. "This is beautiful" he traced his finger on it.

"I think you know where you are supposed to be right now?" she asked.

"I don't need to be where you want me to be because I have a place where I should be and thanks for the armor. It came at a needed time" he smiled as he appreciated his mother.

"And where else is more important than where I want you to be?" Queen Teresa seemed disappointed.

"A place where I will solve all problems and get all you wanted me to get from where you want me to be" Michael was enjoying the way they were communicating In encoded words.

"There is no where else you should be than beside James who is trying to impress the King and everyone" she bursted out, she had finally gotten tired of speaking in riddles.

"And I have a place where I will make more impression" he chuckled. Apart from the fact that Queen Teresa wouldn't understand that. She wouldn't want to believe it

"Put on that armor now and get there in the front line if the throne means anything to you" she threatened and headed back to the door.

"Mother, I told you not to worry about anything. I have everything within my grasp" he said slowly.

"That is what you have been saying" she walked back to him hurriedly. "And I don't see you like someone who has everything in his grasp but someone that is allowing everything slip away" she shook her head in pity.

"Mother, the armor you brought was very thoughtful. In fact, I didn't think in that direction. It is now that I realize I need it as much as every other thing in my plan" he narrated plainly.

Queen Teresa had no choice but to listen.

"But there is still one help I will need from you. When James would have finished his war and will be expecting to receive his grace. I will need you to break a news of my disappearance" Michael concluded.

Queen Teresa didn't say anything. It seemed she was waiting for him to continue.

"And how will that make up for all what you wanted. Are you going to blame him for your vanishing?" she asked. She was confused by what he was planning.

"I only think the news will be more believable to come from your mouth. If you do this,everything we wanted will be at our disposal" he assured her.

"If that is all you wanted. That is nothing. But I think the best way to play this game is to go out there and outshine your brother" she ascertained and left immediately.

Michael laughed. He was very sure by the end of everything. He would be praised above James. All what he was working for would be his.


*******************

The war cries from outside the gate kept going louder. A sentry climbed down from top of the gate and knelt before James.

"Report!" James said sternly.

"My lord, they are making no attempt on the gate. By the look of it. It seems they are trying to destroy the gate with their noise" he reported what he saw over the wall.

The soldiers standing behind James and General Brewer all bursted out laughing. There was no way they would bring the gate down with noise.

James moved forward away from the soldier, he stopped and turned to face them. He breathed in deeply.

"I know all of you here are warriors and not just warriors,you are experienced in the art of war" he began his speech.

"Don't forget the bravado" some of the soldiers mocked him.

"I know you are all looking at me like a novice who knows nothing, not even half of what you know" he raised up his voice.

The soldiers kept mumbling. They were not buying what he was saying.

"But I will show you today, that you are wrong. I see clearly where all of you are blind. You will accord me deserved respect after what you will see today" he boasted.

"I don't think you are using the appropriate words suitable for the ears of soldiers marching into a battle ground" General Brewer moved close to him to whisper in his ears.

He shoved him away lightly and continued.

"We will do it the way you all use to do it and when you realize your mistakes, I will bring forth the solution" he said conclusively and waved to General Brewer to take over.

General Brewer took position beside him. He waved at Commander Craig to come to his side.

"My brave warriors of Darnley Kingdom" General Brewer screamed moderately.

The soldiers cheered loudly.

"My brave warriors of Darnley Kingdom!" he yelled again louder than the previous time.

The soldiers replied with loud cheers longer than before. They jumped up with some of them howling with joy.

James felt like they were doing that to taunt me.

"My brave, warriors, of Darnley Kingdom" General Brewer repeated again, roaring this time with his throats.

The soldiers continued making strange noises happily slamming their swords against their shield.

"I don't know what happen why some few unknown men have decided to march to their death at our gate" he started speaking after he had waved to them to keep quiet.

"But that is none of our concern, we will give them what they wanted tonight. Because we are warriors and we are always ready for war. To me, I see this as nothing to worry about" General Brewer walked into the midst of the men. He smacked some of them on the chest as he walked between them.

"Because I have reliable men here that will do the job perfectly. And to show our prince here that he is in good hands. I will dispatch a hundred men to serve those fools outside their dinner" he walked back to where he was standing before

"A hundred among you and your commander will go out there. We will lock the gate behind you and watch from on top of the wall. I know that as men of valor that you are, some of you want to be dealing with them right now" he turned to Commander Craig.

"Arrange the hundred men close to the gate. Make sure the gate is locked behind you. We are watching you from up. Your highness,let's move" General Brewer climbed up on the wall followed by James.

They watched Commander Craig as he chose the soldiers that were advancing outside the gate. The soldiers moved out and the gate was locked.

James and General Brewer turned to the outer side of the wall to see as the battle goes down.

The soldiers rushed into those laying in wait and were putting them to the ground without much stress.

James opened his mouth wide. It was the exact opposite of what Quentin said. Within few minutes, all the soldiers of illusion were down.

Commander Craig and his men jubilated down there.

"I told you" General Brewer reminded James.

"You said it" James was very disappointed within but he had to hide it.

They were about getting down from the wall when they heard sounds of swords clashing against each other.

They went back to watch. All the soldiers of illusion were back on their feet and they were dealing with Commander Craig and his men.

"No, no, no. They were dead before" General Brewer cried.

James heaved a sigh of relief. The plan was working.