The people of Castella

One year later...

I know, I know. Do you want to know what's going on with those other two characters in Castella? Unfortunately, I am the main character and I do not know what they are doing. You are not even interested in the fact that the war finally broke out, right?

I feel betrayed by you. Curious about my contract? Well, now I will tell you only at the end of this chapter!

And ... I'm bored by being stuck in that carriage all day.

I look at Rômulo sitting across from me. To no one's surprise, he is sleeping like a baby, even though this carriage bounces and jumps like a mule on these mud roads.

I take one of my books and throw it on his lap. He jumps in fright and hits his head on the ceiling before exclaiming an angry swear.

— Oh, by the gods, Alamex. What do you want? — It's worth it. His face, that's the entertainment I wanted, but I won't say that.

—Then I am not your highness anymore? — I ask, trying to use my child's face to my advantage.

He looks at me, unmotivated, and speaks in the same tone.

—"Highnesses" do not plan to destroy their own empire or throw books at their teachers. — Sometimes I forget that he is already immune to this type of tactic.

And that child's face is less effective than baby's face. Anyway, let's get to what you like.

— As a citizen of Castella, do you keep yourself informed of events in the royal court? I've seen you exchanging letters. — I question him without the slightest care. At this point, he has already given up acting.

— Yes, as the king's only cousin, I maintain a stable relationship with the royal family. — He said, puffing up his chest with pride. This is what I call patriotism. Wait, this is a new one. Did I miss something? I look at Rômulo in confusion and I ask:

— Only relative? In the political books, I read from Castella, no relative of the current king was mentioned, they must all be ...

— Dead, murdered by Kreg mercenaries. But I'm not, don't you think it's a good camouflage? I can even use a modification of my original name and no Kreg nobleman would suspect that I am from the royal family since they personally took care of the matter. — He said as if he was bragging about his cunning. Probably to hide the tears, but I didn't think he would respond so openly. I must have really earned his trust. Creepy, but at least he is more useful now.

— Yes, enough of the story of your life. What about the little prince and his new friend, the merchant's son? As far as I know, he is old enough to enlist. Do you know what happened? — I will probably ruin my image by asking questions like that, was that for you, satisfied?

Rômulo gives me a confused and puzzled look. Understandable.

—What a surprise to see your highness in the little prince. How did you find out about all this? — I look at him, I make a face of "I don't want to tell you" and stay silent. What should I say? What ghosts are watching me curiously because they think my life is good entertainment? You know you make everything more difficult, don't you? Rômulo rolls his eyes, giving up on pulling something out of me. He continues to talk.

—Anyway, I'll be happy to tell you, you asked the right person. I keep in touch with the lady-in-waiting. She is called Moli and for a while, I considered her a sister. — It looks like I dug up a talking monster, I bet he'll be like that all afternoon. Settle into your chairs, annoying readers, this is going to be one of the long ones, and you asked for it! — Before the war, Prince, and his friend Lion were living what would be the best time of their lives, carefree, learning, and exploring the world around them. They are just wonderful kids, Prince is energetic and positive, while Lion is more experienced and has a special touch with Prince. He even managed to teach history to the Prince!

Wherever the two were, Moli was together, and once in a while even participating in their games. And I assure you, this is not an ordinary scene. How I wanted to see the face of that stone woman playing knight with both! For now, I am content with the letters.

The downside is that time goes by much faster when exchanging cards. As soon as I realized, Prince was six years old and Lion had reached the age of serving in the army!

A very good boy, Lion.

From a poor family, ascending to a nobleman and the power never got to his head like many other children like him. (he says, staring strangely at me)

Yesterday I received a new letter about the break out of the war.

I still remember every single word of it:

Dear Rômulo, my old friend, I'm afraid I'm bringing some bad news.

At dawn like any other, Shipburg, a city from Castella, burned engulfed by the flames.

What was left were ruins, the ashes of the dead, and a flag that fluttered black and dark blue. At sunrise, the citizens of different social classes and from different corners of the country were heading in a single direction. Moli described it as if all the big roads and even small paths were moving to the capital. She said they were afraid and in panic. Moreover, the only one who could solve their problems and take the countermeasure was Your Majesty.

According to Moli after a few hours, Camelot had already exceeded 3 times the number of people it could hold. Whether it was squares, taverns, or private residences, everything was packed with people who barely knew each other, but who now treated themselves as a single, colossal family. How I miss the capital!

Naturally, the occasion was extremely rare, something that only happened in a few decades, a royal decree would be announced.

In the early afternoon, the flow of people was already much smaller, everyone tried to settle in the best possible places, squeezing, trying to get closer to the castle.

If I remember correctly the letter said that around three o'clock in the afternoon the main event started. Can you imagine? The sudden trumpets by the drums silenced the crowd. Slowly, from inside the gates, a man dressed in red and gold colors came into view of the crowd, followed by armed soldiers wearing their armor.

The last time I saw him was four years ago on a diplomatic visit. You had to see how scary that guy was when he entered the role of King! It doesn't even look like the little boy I met when I was a child. Moli gave me a copy of his speech. Let me give you a demonstration of my amazing memory.

— And there he goes to play the action to imitate the king's voice. Although he looks really funny when he does that, better if I save the jokes for later. —"The King took a deep breath and started to speak:

To all citizens, landlords, and traders, today I bring you my word. I know that no one here wants this. I am aware of the consequences and the pain that my words will bring to everyone, but I believe that if we do not act. Our destiny will be sealed.

Do not think of it as a hasty action, but as a means of defending and protecting what we love.

I, Arthur III, the King of these lands, officially declare a state of war against the Kreg empire! Lamentations and cries started and spread to the public as the news spread by word of mouth, some people were already on their way out to meet their loved ones. Even so, the speech continued. But my words alone will not change anything because the true power of a King is in his people, we must fight United, to protect and not to destroy!" — Ha! He's so engrossed in it that he's even using his hands! I think he forgot that he is not telling this story to a normal six-year-old boy. — Moli's letter said that by this time most people were already retiring to their respective homes, those who stayed were those with an important social position or those who already lived there.

Shortly after completing all the formalities, Arthur also went silently to the castle to carry out his tasks.

Even at sunset that day, all cities were still vivid and busy.

Supplies were distributed and those who lived on the country's borders fled to the homes of relatives closest to the capital. People were so busy that Moli had to help with the kingdom's paperwork.

The next day the commotion started again with the delivery of recruitment lists. It was always like this.

Wherever you looked, you could see people crying or trying to escape reality.

As night fell, the air felt heavy, and the lights dimmed.

Most families were having their last dinner together.

Although all novice recruits were offered the opportunity to defect without consequence, everyone had something they wanted to protect with their hands.

Castella is a young patriotic nation, built on the blood of its ancestors. Even if the country was in a panic, its citizens would come together and fight to the death if necessary. Being a purely military country, the art of war was embedded in the blood, and self-defense was learned together to speak and tell. 

We would not fall so easily. — I know, I've seen it in practice. It's really scary. — For the second time since the war decree the day was beginning, but the weather was colder than the previous morning, as dark clouds took the place of the sun. — How does he know all the details? That must have been a long letter. — Future soldiers tried to leave the house before their families woke up, jumping over windows and fences while carrying extremely heavy luggage.

But soon one or another woman, even children, would wake up and start to cry, forming a chain effect that gave the late ones a painful last goodbye. — Hey! When will he start talking about the prince? Now even I'm getting curious. And that is not cool. — In the royal castle, the situation was not very different, children of nobles of all classes were taken from home to command the battlefields. In particular, Lion's recruitment was one of a kind. — Finally! — This story became famous throughout the castle. When his carriage arrived at the gates of Castle, Lion it was not there yet.

The coachman had long been waiting for his passenger, who had been hijacked for the moment, of his own free will!

Uhm, I think I better not tell you why. If Moli found out I told you, she would kill me. Anyway, this is not relevant now! Sometime later, Lion finally arrived, he was crying and with his head down, like many others that the coachman had already taken, interesting were the two men who accompanied him. They were trained knights, elite royal guards, dressed in heavy armor, and yet they had a worried look as if at any moment something was going to attack them.

To the coachman's surprise, it happened.

Prince, jumped from the gate wall, over the head of one of the guards knocking them over. — Of course, a child my age beating real knights. Rômulo must really like this little prince to increase the story like that. — He was like a wild animal, biting, kicking, and tearing off the guard's armor. — Okay, he's not a prince, he's a beast. Better be careful when I go to Castella. — Like a hare, instantly he was on top of the other, he turned the second guard's helm backward, looped his sword away, and finally dropped it too. The exasperated coachman pulled the boy. Still in tears, into the carriage, at that very moment, the wild boy was about to jump on the poor man, when one of the soldiers grabs his heel by a close call.

While the guards held the little prince, the carriage left.

That is all I can tell you about Lion and the Little Prince. — I bet he is making me curious on purpose. But you were the ones who wanted to know that. Good luck trying to guess what happened. — On the battlefield, the situation couldn't be worse. Kreg's army was already positioned at the borders even before the official declaration of war.

Thus, they were the ones who started with the advantage. — Stop it! I already know that part! What a disaster, it will be impossible to stop him from talking about his letters at this point. I'll try to take a nap, he won't even notice. Good luck listening to the man in love with his country talking endlessly. — The troops arriving from Castella tried to cover as much area as possible, but with Kreg's watchmen always on the alert, this was an extremely difficult task. The soldiers spent the day on alert, praying that they would not be noticed before reinforcements arrived.

Six hours before the last squad of Castella arrived at the borders, there was a bloodbath. A unilateral massacre, a surprise attack from the unsupervised coasts to one of Castella's borders.

With that single attack, Kreg had taken three (percent) of the battlefield territory, on the only first day.

Amid this tragedy, no squires or helpers were spared.

I really hope the Lion boy is okay.

The following day, the onslaught of Castella would begin.

The event that all soldiers were waiting for.

The King's arrival on the battlefield.

I can even imagine it.

More or less at sunset when the watchmen were drowsy, the soldiers tired of putting on heavy armor all day and the atmosphere seemed as dark as the sky.

He always arrives like the new sun brightening the night.

Dressed in armor three times heavier than that of soldiers, he carries a spear-sized sword and is mounted on the strongest horse in the kingdom. The man I grew up with!

— Why is he talking so loudly? It took me out of an incredible dream! — His presence brings courage and respect.

He shows no weakness but always manages to empathize with those who were afraid.

— Oh, it's about his beloved cousin again. What a thing! Now I lost my sleep! Uhm, what is this? A book by my side without being read? — Castella was a dreamland for any politician with good intentions.

They strictly followed the laws, the maximum penalty being an exile, but they used to be flexible.

The honor was synonymous with ignorance. Honesty was worth more than any treasure, and those who disagreed or showed signs of arrogance did not belong to that country.

They were all descendants of a people who knew what it was like to suffer subservient to someone. Of warriors who fought for their freedom and who would die if it were for their ideals.

The first King, Arthur swore that he would educate his children, grandchildren, and all future generations so that they were more able to rule than any other. That was the meaning of nobility.

He had sacrificed his family for his people, and they would be forever grateful.

To show their gratitude, specialized teaching houses were created.

They aimed to train only the best, to serve and support the royal family, were the Houses of Councils.

Castella is a democracy, any citizen could take the throne if that's considered needed by the people, even so, the royal line was already in the fourth generation.

They might have been only a few people, but that didn't mean they were weak.

That day, no sentry fell asleep. No soldier complained about his duties.

They were ready to follow their majesty wherever he went.

The most anticipated event was being discussed that night, they could not neglect themselves.

In a circle, the three strongest men in Castella were discussing their next move.

The King's onslaught on the battlefield.

— For God's sake, he's still talking. I think you've had enough. See you in the next chapter.