lthough at this point we cannot say what they intend," said King Aiwind to the senators, "we can say with utter certainty that 'tis nothing good."

A fearful silence pervaded through the court, it was impossible to ignore all the evidence as mere coincidence. A few of them thought to speak up, but getting voted out of office was not worth it.

"This is ill news indeed," a senator spoke up, "we have to make our move now, or perish most horribly in the consequences. I suggest a full mobilization of the legions."

"Hear! Hear!" a great many noises sounded: some in joy, others fear.

"We cannot do that," a legate spoke, "who knows how long it will take, and every moment our legions remain active, a sizable chunk of the royal coffers disappear. If we mobilize a hundred thousand men – ten legions, that's near-about two million silvers per month."

The other senators looked in tension to that. "Not counting auxiliary legions and state- legions," the legate continued, "at the end of the day, we might save the land, but this kingdom would collapse from the debt."

"Hear! Hear!" the senators sounded in unison to that.

"But the biggest problem," another senator spoke, "is not that we cannot keep an entire army at work for a couple months, but rather the fact that we need two-thirds majority in this matter, and even then individual legates have the right to reject the bill."

The senators nodded once again. "And what of the tribunal?"

"They have been aware of all of this," the king answered, "and have been busy setting up spy networks throughout the land. But the issue is: without an official consent, they cannot stay too long in action."

"Can't we ask our city-states to simply increase the expenditure on military? Maybe by a little amount, but enough to keep a semi-standing legion?"

"Only if it were that easy," another senator said, "individually it will bring no effect. A thousand additional men can be of terrible effect, but a meagre dozen will not matter at all. Unless you can get all the legions together, it'll be of no use."

"How can you even get the legions together? Most of the state-legions are static, not meant to fight outside territory borders, even if in the same country."

"Then we make them dynamic, just raise their pay and better their equipment."

"Like you can do that, and who will pay for the armour? You?"

And so the commotion broke out, and the orderly senate degraded into a network of quarrels. King Aiwind watched, wondering what he can do – that is how the senate functioned.

"Silence!" the Supreme Chancellor spoke at last, "we may keep bickering about it, but the enemy will not stop, they will do whatever they can to stop us, to destroy us before we have the time to strike. Though my tongue tarries, I must say it: our inaction has turned us to men of straw, golems of mud who clog the gears of progress. We must do something now."

The senators fell silent, nodding in silence to that.

"Yes, I heard the lot of you: we need to mobilise more people, but it is also true that the state-legions cannot be boosted like that, so what choice do we have but: hand a bigger fraction of the army into the king's hand."

...

And much commotion began, they had never thought of this before, and for good reason.

"That cannot be done," said a senator, "as per the twin laws, the total forces under the king can never exceed half the force of all the state-legions combined."

"Yes, I am aware of that," said the Supreme Chancellor, lowering his head into thought. "I have a solution to this problem, but it is a controversial one, and I swear most of you will not like to hear it."

The other senators looked in question, wondering what it was . . . even if they didn't like it, they had to evaluate it logically and not on emotion.

"I, Supreme Chancellor Annorius, elected into office for the welfare of the State of Alinor, hereby suggest an issue of dictatorship to King Aiwind, Lord of the House of Alinor, patriarch of the Minyär Clan of Alímar."

The senators looked at each other, the whole senate growing into a cloud of commotion and fear, King Aiwind looked in tension at this. But at the end of the day, most of the senators believed in him, and knew he would not abuse his power.

"As a dictator, he can temporarily change the laws and transfer more soldiers to his side. And with it, he can expand his legions from ten to sixteen, which I presume will be great enough to deal with this threat."

"Thank you," the king nodded happily, "I promise: should I become the temporary head of state, I shall not abuse my power, and my term will continue for as long as the daemons keep invading. And once Morthaur is gone, I will return power to the state."

"Hear! Hear!" the senators replied.

"Within moments the ballots will be offered, and you will be allowed to vote on the matter. Should the votes pass a two-thirds majority; the dictatorship will be handed to the king."