Ch 23 - Phoenix Squad

So here I am at last! The central war room of the Royal Palace, a large circular room with a huge black stone wall on the back. Four huge pillars on each corner, full suits of armor and weaponry are displayed on every other wall.

A huge curved table covered by a black opaque tight piece of fabric is located in front of me, close at the back near the black stone wall, a position that allow those sitting there to look over the huge map of the kingdom located in a large wooden table in the center of the room.

There at the curved table sit the king and the twelve Commanders of the kingdom, five to the right wing of the table and another five to the left wing, in the center sits the King Garret Beves Reyah, to his right arm sits the High General, Lord Knight Mark Regenald Decebal, The Pegasus, my father and to the left sits the first prince, Lord Higg Armand Reyah, The Gryphon, my fiance.

It’s been thirteen weeks since I applied for the appointment of a new small but extremely elite squad under my lead, to be formed by members of my own choosing.

At the beginning there was some controversy and opposition, the General Commanders had given up on recruiting me, believing that I would join either my father or my fiancee’s squads. But when I submitted my request to form a new squad they strongly opposed the idea.

Having a new squad that could potentially gain more achievements than theirs, was not accepted heartily by those noblemans(that’s how this corrupt and envious nobility system works!).

My lord father asked me inside the privacy of our home why I wanted to form a squad and I replied honestly, he didn’t like the idea of me traveling much now that I was about to get married, but that choice was mine to make not his, and in the end accepted my proposal.

Whereas Higg approved of the idea from the get-go as long as I promised to return home as often as possible, he seems to understand that if he tries to cut my wings he will lose my affection or at least our engagement would break right there.(It’s not like i can just say ‘I don’t love you now’ you know!)

Today we are here because for past twenty days I’ve been dueling each General Commander (ended dueling with Higg and my lord father too mind you), to prove that my strength was enough to lead a squad of my own and to strengthen my argument (They may think me a bit arrogant for it) that I wouldn't serve under anyone weaker than me.

Ah! As to why did I ended up dueling with Higg and my lord father? Well, once I defeated all the General Commanders they proposed that I dueled them both too and in case of losing to either, I should serve in the winner’s squad and forget about this idea of forming my own.

So after beating everyone here and having allowed a full week of rest(except the king of course, haven’t dueled him... -yet) two days ago I received a letter of summons, in which I was asked to bring my selected Knights and show myself in this very room I’m standing right now.

“Lady Knight Gatriel Adelena Decebal, welcome to the Central War Room of the Kingdom of Imil”

“Present”

After being addressed by my lord father, who seems to be the one leading this meeting I responded according to the norm.

“Prior to answering your request to form a squadron of your own, the king and we the generals would like to meet the members whom you call ‘the few elite of the elite, that I’ll handpick myself’ and hear from them if they answer your call and why”

Hoho, so they want to see who do I consider to be the elite of the elite now? Well let’s oblige.

“Thank you for receiving me in such short notice, King Garret The Earnest, High General Lord Knight Mark Decebal The Pegasus, first prince Higg Reiyah, The Gryphon, and all the General Commanders.”

I intentionally left the other generals names unsaid, after proving to them that my strength was not unfounded nor lesser than theirs, I’m referring to them as an equal, not disrespectful nor looking at them from below.

“Following the order given by the High General, I’ll present my choosing one by one.”

They nodded and my lord father signaled me to continue.

“I call upon thy name to present yourself and answer the questions truthfully and to the best of your ability.

Aliyah Meriel Galeran.

She is to be my Specialist in shadow ops and infiltration.”

There was some unrest among the general commanders but no words came out.

“Present”

Ali walked over to my right side, and removed the black hood that was casting shadows on her beautiful face, and performed the kingdom’s martial salute.

Right fist clenched into a fist on her heart, left arm behind her back and a light bow.

“Were you asked by Lady Knight Gatriel Adelana Decebal to be part of her new squadron? And if so when was this? And if you accepted her call, we would like to hear the reason.”

My father asked ali tho I’m sure he knows she was the first to learn about it and agreed without questions.

“Answering the question posed by the High General, The Pegasus I answer honestly for in front of our king lying would be treason.

Yes I was asked to join over six months ago, and I have decided to respond to her call, there is not a single General in the world I would follow if not her.”

The general commanders complained a bit but the king ordered them to be quiet and they zipped their mouths.

And like so I presented everyone one by one and they answered in the same way as Ali.

“Azer Aldous Garnotin - master strategist”

“Daniel Derric Lief - war council member”

“Julius Gerrart Valentin - master forward knight”

“Galiene Alais Lunet - war defense specialist”

“Roxana Dimia Reiyah - foreign relation specialist”

The king stood up with his eyes wide open at hearing her daughter’s name and looking at the figure that walked to my right.

After removing the white hood that covered her face, revealing her face with a smile she looked at the king.

“And lastly, albeit not yet officially part of the kingdom after swearing allegiance to me, and promising to add his lands to the Kingdom of Imil, I call upon thy name to present yourself and answer the questions truthfully to the best of your ability.

Sir Domenic Watkin Drue - master forward knight and shadow ops specialist”

My father and Higg showed surprise on their faces, the king was already informed of the intention of Dominic to allow his ‘independent republic’ to be absorbed by the kingdom, so he wasn’t as surprised as the other two.

“Present”

My father thought for a bit then spoke

“Were you asked by Lady Knight Gatriel Adelana Decebal to be part of her new squadron? And if so when was this? And lastly, why did you swear your loyalty to Lady Knight Gatriel Adelena Decebal and not the King of our kingdom?”

*hmmm*

Dom thought for a bit his answer and started speaking.

“I was asked about two months ago, same as most of the rest here present, and accepted the request.

Lady Gatriel requested of me as a condition that I allow my land to be absorbed by the Kingdom of imil, and to swear my loyalty to the king.

Yet I swore my loyalty to Lady Gatriel which in turn isn't it the same as swearing it to you, sir, her father, and also in consequence to the King himself?”

“Lady Knight Gatriel is not the queen of the kingdom.”

My father roared but there was no hostility in his voice, it seems he did it to applacate the whispers of the other generals.

“But she will soon be, is it not so?

By marrying the first prince, Higg Armand Reiyah, The Gryphon, who is to become the king of Imil in the near future, Isn't Lady Gatriel then, as his future wife to become the Queen?”

The king stood up and spoke interrupting my father's words.

“Your words are true, as it is indeed the case that Higg will inherit the throne. So am I to assume that you have swore then your loyalty to the kingdom by kneeling to the future queen of Imil?”

“It is as you just said my lord.”

Domenic bowed lightly after ending his answer and went back to the others behind me.

“Now my daughter, aside from the dry answer given to The Pegasus, would you tell me why you want to join Lady Gatriel’s squad?

As I’m not clear of your reason and would like to hear it by your own words, those of my child and not those of a politician.”

Roxana took a step forward passing by me and standing to my right bowed slightly to the king and answered.

“Dear lord father, thanks for your heartwarming words.

I will answer your question in the way you have requested, because I think it’s just fair and you deserve it.

I want to travel the world and I never thought it would happen, but then suddenly Gat asked me with that scary serious face of her ‘Hey roxy I will apply for a new squad, and I’m handpicking the members with whom I want to spend time with. The members are people I consider to be those among the best of the best, the elite of the elite’ I thought she wanted me to appeal to you for permission but to my surprise she said ‘and I know not a better politician and social manipulator than you, would you do me the honour as my friend to join my new squad?’

It is true that I have had my quarrels with Gat, but there is no denying that we’ve been friends for almost all our lives, and I consider her to be one of my oldest and best of friends.

If such a talented individual considers me to be her equal, even if in a different area of expertise, I’m honored by her words so I said yes.

With Gat in the head of our new squad, I can not only travel the world as I wish dearly to do, but I’ll be among friends.”

“Umu, that’s a fine answer my daughter, I accept it.”

The king sat down after ordering us to leave and wait for their answer, we will be summoned at a later hour to receive the answer of their discussion and either reject or approve my new squad.

While we waited for the answer we were led by the members of the royal guard into a waiting room just outside the Royal War room. In there we relaxed a little and talked about a lot of things, our expectations and what we thought they would say and the likes.

“Gat and what will be our name if they approve our squad?”

Gali asked and everyone went quiet and stared at me intently.

“~puu puu~ be patient friends, this will be approved and gatriel will reveal the name that not even I know of ~puu~”

Ali pouted a little looking at me making cutesy eyes.

“Not even ali knows? Thats one well kept secret then?”

Azer spoke soon after and laughed a bit, but his eyes were not laughing.

After some more questioning about the name the door was knocked and we were led again to the room where the generals were.

“Welcome back Lady Knight Gatriel Adelena Decebal, we have reached a decision regarding your request, so we would like to ask, how would your squad be named?”

I stepped forward on the call, and gave my answer as clearly as I could.

“Surrounded by fire, thunder and shadow, soaring free, beautiful and majestic through the skies, with the strength to defeat any opponent, a being that is immortal and undying, The Phoenix shall know no defeat!

The squad name will be...

The Phoenix”

Thanks for reading my fiction! I hope to get your comments and help from now and in future issues.

Give and Take you know undefined, you help me, I help you! isn't that the main reason why most of us gather here in RRL? to learn from each otner?

This is the end of the first batch of chapters! I'm working on the next 27 chapters (for a total of 50 chapters for now for book 1), I'll post another batch in a couple of weeks.

Cheers.