Chapter 210

The next day came and it was time for them to begin looking for the Theapan King. Unlike usual Vorbuk and the prince could not depend on Ashley or Bredret to help them. Zoe was helping the priestess with healing others inside the temple. They also did not feel right asking her to fight considering she wasn't the best option for fighting the werewolf knights.

Prince Leo stood at the temple wall looking out at the battlefield before them. At his side he had the wolf, Vorbuk, and Daryl.

They were the prince's best option right now. To add one more to the group there was a young tiger standing beside the wolf, Chase. Although he was uncomfortable with the thought of letting the child fight, when Chase heard that they were leaving behind the other two to watch over Aoki and the princess he was determined on joining them.

"Look, isn't that-" Daryl pointed in the direction of a large knight riding a horse. Unlike the temple's people some of the knights rode horses up the mountain. Though they did not all use them while attacking them temple as they could not waste the lives of every mount on their attacks. This man, however, maintained his position on the horse. He was also able to avoid the incoming barrage of magic attacks sent in his direction because of his keen insight.

"The king's general." Prince Leo answered him before he finished speaking. He could recognize someone in that position easily because every royal family had generals.

"Looks like we know where to begin." The wolf said to Prince Leo while pinning his ears back.

"We'll need to take care of him on our way to the palace even if we don't take him out first. The knights wont give up as long as that man feeds them morale to keep fighting." Daryl spoke without knowing what the wolf was saying to the prince. Whether Leo was responding to the wolf, Daryl, or both of them in general he nodded while observing the general on the werewolves side.

"Your Holiness!" Prince Leo shouted in the direction of the pope who was directing his men along the wall not far from them.

"What is it your highness?" Johann Lovette asked while stepping over at the sound of his name being called.

"That man." Prince Leo pointed out the general to Johann Lovette. "You should focus on him more."

"You want me to focus more on him?" Johann Lovette asked while understanding the intention behind the prince's words. The prince wanted to shake up the morale of the knights by taking out the general in charge of them.

"While you focus on him we will work on locating the king. Since Aoki has been taken care of he will probably need to step forward himself in the future. I doubt Chynir would allow him to fail so he will probably intend to take care of things himself." Prince Leo spoke while he listened.

Johann did not speak in return as his mind was pondering. There was no reason for him to reject that request from the prince. They were both equally cornered by the king. His intention was to protect the temple. It was different from the prince's intention. However there was no reason for him to refuse this much help when the benefit was mutual.

"Are we going outside the temple?" Daryl asked the prince while following him as Prince Leo began to walk along the wall with the tiger and wolf at both his sides. With a beast at each side he looked almost like a beast master.

"No, I am not going outside the wall. I will fight from inside the wall this time. Without Bredret and Ashley to help us and no clue when the king will actually step forward our best option is to remain inside the temple. Fighting shall be done long distance this time." Prince Leo said while considering everything carefully.

He did not have the manpower to fight the King of Theapan's entire army outside the temple by himself. It was not like when he had a dragon or a mid rank vampire at his side to protect him. Though not everyone outside the wall in the king's army was ranked very high; they were still dangerous. To face them all on his own with only Daryl and a couple beasts to help him they would not stand a chance. If they got over-whelmed outside the temple they would be completely on their own.

This time Prince Leo was intending to fight with distance between them and the enemy. Inside the temple they had mages. If they thought carefully he was certain they could find some way to strike them back without him risking their lives by stepping outside to fight them head on while out numbered.

"Long distance?" Daryl understood the prince's concern. He was worried about being swarmed when they went out alone as well. Considering that thought he still could not think of a method of long distance attack they could manage.

"Yes, I will think of something. If not long distance we should at least find a way around the battlefield so that we don't get over-whelmed.. Our effort would be useless if that happened." Prince Leo thought out loud.

"Leo." The wolf called out to him from below. His gaze instantly falling to the wolf to see him looking out towards the battlefield as they walked. It only took a second for the prince to look at him that he realized the wolf was coming to a stop completely. Focus drawn to something outside the temple. "I don't think we have to look very hard in the future."

"What do you mean?" Prince Leo asked while turning his attention to outside the temple.

In the distance they could see a group of knights riding their horses down from the higher land in the mountains. That was when the prince saw him. These men were ones they had seen before. In the center of them on his own steed was the king. Dressed in his battle armor he rode along centered among his group of knights. The king was heading towards the back of the enemy camp. Tucked away by his knights he was joining the battlefield camp to see to his plan. It was a task that the God Chynir had given the king so he could not run even if he knew his fate.

Price Leo understood that the king had been watching from afar the entire time. They both knew the king would notice right away when something went wrong. When Aoki was captured he surely found out about it right away. This was reason enough for them to expect him to come personally to the battlefield. Though they never thought he would show up so quickly. It was like the king had resigned himself to whatever fate he was given in the end. Hesitation was something he did not show outwardly. On one hand it was something worthy of respect. On the other hand they felt their stomachs drop as they felt uneasy about the situation.

"What is it?" Daryl asked the prince when he saw the still expression on his face.

"The king, he arrived at their camp." Prince Leo answered simply.