Queen was in a discussion of the battle strategy with Lord Commander and some knights.
“How will we be able to defend this castle against Stone Emperor?” Queen had been asking them.
“Soldiers will not leave the castle.” Lord Commander said, “We will shoot canons, arrows and mangonels from within the walls. Charging at them is nothing other than suicide.”
“Is this wise move? How can this possibly reduce their numbers?”
“If we stay safe, we can reduce them, your majesty. As you know, we are seriously outnumbered by them.” Lord Commander spoke, “We will be leaving the walls but after making the number of soldiers even.”
“So fight may last for days and days like this.” Queen was anxious.
“This won’t become seize. How can they cover a castle which has an area of over five miles? This castle is city in itself.”
“Mongolians. Don’t you think they also have them?”
“Your majesty, these walls have stopped mangonels and cannons for centuries. I am sure it would hold them for few days.”
“What will we do if they break in the castle?”
“There will not be any break in.”
“What about me if they somehow get in?” Queen asked.
“There is a tunnel from dungeon.” Cassandra came in and said, “I use it to keep animals. You can use it for escape.”
“Nobody wants to hear what a witch has to say.” Lord Commander growled.
“Then I’m afraid because this witch happens to be your Queen’s friend.”
“They might be coming anytime.” Queen couldn’t hide her nervousness.
“What is it?” Cassandra pointed out at the forest. Trees of the forest were breaking in a straight line as if someone was making a way there. None of them had seen anything as fast as it before. Queen wondered if he was Stone Emperor or something else.
The thing doing it was a person. And he was waving at them.
“Who is he? Witch, tell us.” Knight asked her after being unable to see his face from a distance.
“Roderick.” She sighed, “Open the gates.”
Queen signaled to ring the bell. When the sound of the bell echoed in the city inside castle, the gate swung open for Roderick.
Now Roderick ran in the city with same speed. He only slowed down when he reached the Keep.
“Where are the warriors?” Queen questioned him.
“They are adopted.” Roderick gasped.
“By whom?”
“Them.” Roderick pointed at hundreds of flying creatures which came through the clouds of evening sky.
“You brought these cursed women here?” Lord Commander panicked.
“They were following me.”
“Your majesty, if we use our weapons on them then we will not have sufficient weapons to fight Emperor’s army.”
“Don’t go into things that are afterthoughts. Emperor’s army doesn’t have wings, but these women have.” Queen mumbled.
“Stranger, you made us waste our weapons on these cursed women. I wonder what chance we will stand against Emperor’s troop.” Lord Commander bellowed at him and went towards the soldiers who were on standby with bows and arrows.
“Loose!” Lord Commander screamed on top of his lungs.
