SECOND ATTACK

The generals were gathered in their Command Tent, their surroundings in a flurry from tending the wounded to the distribution of today's ration.

The generals were at a loss of why the King had retreated just after noon.

"He never, ever used this strategy with me. This – I don't know what to make out of this," one general said.

"I agree," Hiro said. "All of us never experienced a retreat order from the King, so this came as a shock to all of us. But we have to be vigilant. He may use dirty methods to attain victory."

There was a moment of silence before Hiro started throwing orders, "General Badu, please reinforce the knights stationed outside the camp. We don't want to be surprised."

The general nodded, "On it. But this won't be enough."

"Yes. And so, I'll ask every one of you to be aware. I have a bad feeling about this."

Another general chimed in, "I think we should enforce also our wards to prevent magic and unwanted visitors."

"Yes definitely. Please generals."

All of them nodded determinedly at Hiro. Just then, the tent entrance flapped. In came Denaire with dark circles around her eyes, face wan and sallow like a lost child suffering of malnutrition.

Hiro stood up in a heartbeat. "What are you doing here? You're not yet well. Go and rest, we'll be okay."

Denaire smiled weakly, "I just wanted to make sure – " her voice trailed off and her eyes looked distant as if in a trance.

Hiro was worried, "Denaire? What's wrong?" He shook her to let her come back to reality.

"Damien," Denaire said. "He's here."

"Damien?" Hiro asked incredulously. "But I thought –"

Denaire ran outside, leaving a confused Hiro.

"Damien? Isn't that the mind control magician –" a general said and altogether they ran to follow Denaire.

Denaire met Damien outside camp. She hugged her brother.

"Denaire, I received the necklace. Thank you, thank you for saving me."

Denaire hugged her brother tight, tears flowing relentlessly from her eyes. "How did you find us here brother?"

"I pretended to be under the Chief's control until I knew how to find you."

"But –"

"Sssshhh there are more important matters to take care of. The Chief is trying to control the knights patrolling around the camp. They tend to infiltrate here when most are vulnerable."

Denaire froze, thinking. When was it that most would be very vulnerable? She scrunched up her face to think and then, "At night. They're going to attack when we're all sleeping? But after that clash, we are all vulnerable. I have to tell them immediately. Let's go."

Denaire pulled Damien to enter the camp but was met by the generals.

"Denaire, what is he doing here?" Hiro asked her.

Denaire replied, "He is my brother. And I managed to get him out of the mind control."

"How?" one general asked.

"The same as how I managed to lie to the King when I was interrogated."

The generals sighed in relief. "Okay. But how did you find us, Damien?"

"I heard it from the knights. And I also heard that they intend to attack when we are most vulnerable."

All the generals stiffened. "Well, it could be now or later when we sleep."

Hiro then said, "Let's go back and strategize this out."

Everyone nodded and went back, leaving General Badu to command his troops to increase the guards.

***

Inside the tent, the generals, Emong and Damien convened for a good strategy to counter the King's underhanded attack. Denaire was sent to the healers to recuperate her dwindling magical life force.

They were in the middle of the discussion when a knight came running inside, panting and all bloody.

"Generals, the knights on guard, they started attacking us." And then the knight fell down, life gone.

The generals stood up. Hiro looked at Damien, "Could you counter that mind control magician?"

Damien said grimly, "I can, but it's going to be difficult. You have to hold them off until I can manage to bring them back. And please enforce the wards."

Hiro nodded, "Will do. I guess, this is going to be bloody. Be safe." And then he went out following the other generals.

Damien then went out and looked for a high place to use his mind. He needed to do this as quickly as possible so as to prevent taking more and more lives.