Reorganizing the Command Structure

Alexander was pleased by Melodias's quick consent and so about to move on to another topic, when suddenly his eyes caught a small detail missing from one of the reports, the one from Menes.

The black giant had stood beside Alexander like a towering, granite statue, unmoving and mute the entire time, as if trying to make himself one with the air.

"Menes, there's no report of the number of animals the Cantagenans have. Why?" Alexander gently inquired.

"Commander, the Cantagenans have too many animals and no one knows the exact number. I had assigned a few people to count them, but they could not finish in time." Menes succinctly explained.

Then he promised, "I will give the numbers by today afternoon."

"Okay, have it by lunch," Alexander said understandingly.

Right then, Melodias piped, "Commander, I know the rough numbers."

"Oh, how?" Menes quickly jumped in between, a bit shocked that someone else had finished the work assigned to him.