The first rays of dawn painted the sky with hues of soft gold. Bain Lawrence roused from his slumber. He had a crucial meeting scheduled with King Nelson Naharog and the esteemed military officers of the kingdom.
Without further ado, Bain arose from his makeshift bedroll within the confines of his large tent. Although he was offered a room by the king in the palace, the chief of the army politely refuse. He is more comfortable sleeping inside his tent just like his soldiers.
As he stepped out into the cool morning air, he found himself surrounded by a serene stillness that enveloped the camp. The soldiers, exhausted from their arduous journey, slumbered peacefully in their tents, their fatigue-laden bodies seeking respite.
The usual clamour and bustle that defined the camp at dawn were notably absent. Bain's gaze swept across the rows of neatly aligned tents.
He was usually a proponent of early awakenings to set the rhythm of discipline in the soldiers' minds. However, this time, he opted for a moment of leniency.
Recognizing the toll their recent endeavours had exacted upon his soldiers, he made a conscious decision to grant them the rest they so sorely needed. It was a calculated decision, acknowledging the toll their arduous journey had taken on their bodies and minds.
With purposeful strides, Bain left the camp and made his way towards the grand palace where the crucial meeting was scheduled to take place.
As he approached the palace gates, the guards recognized Bain and respectfully saluted him. He returned the gesture with a nod, acknowledging their presence before continuing his determined march towards the meeting hall.
Bain passed through the ornate corridors adorned with intricate tapestries and polished marble floors before ultimately arriving at the meeting hall.
He paused for a moment to collect his thoughts and compose himself. After taking a deep breath, Bain pushed the heavy double doors open. There is a large oak table revealed with multiple seats around it.
Bain promptly entered the meeting hall. He noticed that King Nelson Naharog had not yet arrived. Nonetheless, the room was already occupied by several military officers. Their stern expressions indicate their awareness of the importance of the meeting.
Momentarily unsure of where to sit, Bain's eyes swiftly scanned the table for any indications. His gaze ends up landing on a seat closer to the head of the table.
He saw that it had his name assigned to it.
Relieved to have found his designated place, Bain confidently made his way towards the seat. He acknowledged the officers already present with nods and took his position.
As Bain settled into his seat, he became aware of the presence of an elderly man dressed in red sitting next to him. If he is not mistaken, this old man introduced himself as Fire Priest Gliibious, a representative from the neighbouring Turtevekesia.
His king, Riz had warned him beforehand to be cautious of this individual, as their motives and intentions were unclear.
Bain's gaze briefly flickered to the old man, observing him discreetly.
Fire Priest Gliibious appeared calm and composed. His eyes filled with wisdom that bespoke years of experience.
"Is there something on my face, young man? You have been observing me for a while now." asked the priest.
Caught off guard by the priest's remark, Bain quickly composed himself and responded, "My apologies, Fire Priest Gliibious. I did not mean to appear intrusive. It is merely my habit to observe those around me."
Bain's answer seemed to satisfy the old man, who nodded and turned his attention back to the ongoing discussions with the officer near him.
However, the question still lingered in Bain's mind—why was the priest attending a military meeting?
Creak—
The door was open. The creaking sound reverberated throughout the meeting hall.
Bain's attention shifted towards the entrance of the meeting hall. King Nelson Naharog had arrived, marking the beginning of the significant gathering.
With a commanding presence, the king strode into the room, his regal aura demanding respect. The officers rose from their seats, offering deep bows and salutations to their monarch.
Bain followed suit, standing up as a sign of his respect for the king. He did not however bow down to Nelson as the king of Naharog is not his king.
King Nelson Naharog acknowledged the officers with a nod and a warm smile before taking his place at the head of the table.
The room settled into an expectant silence as the king gestured for everyone to be seated.
Bain took his seat while glancing at Fire Priest Gliibious for a brief moment. His curiosity regarding the priest's presence continued to linger. The old man's expression remained unreadable. His attention seemingly focused on the king.
King Nelson Naharog took notice of his confusion. Sensing the need for clarification, the king took a moment to address Bain's curiosity.
"Sir Bain," King Nelson began, his voice resonating with authority, "I understand your confusion but I can assure you that Fire Priest Gliibious will be a great help to us. The priest possesses an ability that can turn the tide of battle. He has shown me a remarkable skill in overcoming overwhelming enemy forces, something that we really need."
Bain's eyes widened in surprise as he heard the king praise the Fire Priest Gliibious's remarkable ability to overcome massive numbers of enemies. The notion of such a formidable power intrigued him greatly, but he realized that delving into the details at that moment would distract him from the ongoing meeting.
With a quick nod of acknowledgement, Bain set aside his curiosity for now, knowing that there would be opportunities to seek further clarification and understanding once the meeting had concluded.
"Let's begin the meeting now, shall we?" said the king.
""Certainly, Your Majesty.""
The meeting officially commenced. The participants straightened in their seats, prepared to delve into the matters at hand. The room brimmed with palpable energy as discussions unfolded, plans were proposed, and strategies were debated.
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