19 The king's decision

Father and daughter looked at each other. King Korbe realized that Sam was serious. She was now betting her life and making a gamble. If she was that desperate, then this would be a good time to test her skills. Though her ambitions ware not always in matching with her position as the second princess, the king concluded that he must allow his second daughter to serve her country before she gets married away.

So he passed the following order.

"I shall allow princess Sam Korbe to be in charge of affairs related to the war with the rebels, but only I shall have a say in deciding who gets to ultimately lead the troops."

There was a murmur in court with this development. Sam could not make out what her father was thinking. If he did not allow her to go to war, was he planning to send prince Edgar to lead the troops? So he wanted her to remain in charge of the soldier recruitment and training...but not allow her to participate directly. Sam hated this but she had to obey no matter what.The war was likely to happen only by next summer. She would do her part for now.

Sam bowed and said, "I thank father for his decision to put an end to the rebellion.I shall not disappoint the king and overstep my boundaries."

The king summoned General Octavius Hyson. He was the one who had replaced the previous general. This was a tall sturdy man in his late fifties who had been to war with the king in his younger days and had taken an earlier retirement owing to the absence of wars for many years. The king had asked him to take the position as the new general and he had to obey. He wasn't interested in court affairs and thus was in a neutral position with respect to the powerful and feuding ministers.

Presently the king ordered General Hyson to assist princess Sam in preparation for war. He accepted the king's order and bowed to princess Sam who bowed back to him.

One of the ministers then got up and made a suggestion to King Korbe, "Please allow Prince Edgar to manage the troops and be in overall charge of the war affairs.The war is no child's play and the rebels will considerably increase by next summer." This minister was of the powerful Nirano family. He had said this in order to gain favor with the prince, though he knew his request would not be complied with.

"I shall allow the prince to assist the princess but he won't be allowed to handle the military till he has had his formal engagement with the crown princess."

The ministers agreed silently. Prince Edgar bowed and said, "I shall offer any service within my rights if the second princess so demands it."

"Then that's settled." King Korbe got up and dismissed the court.