Chapter 20 We Have A Chance

• Princess Aris couldn’t believe her ears because she was greatly shocked and extremely happy that her father had made her dream come true all just because she and him got to have a private conversation. Princess Aris wanted to jump up in excitement but chose not to because she had to be careful about the way she behaved now that she was 3rd level general.
• Everyone in the hall couldn’t believe what their ears had just heard and wondered if King Hartley was under a spell except Queen Rebeca and priestess Mary who were just watching and smiling. General Baci said to King Hartley “with all due respect, your royal majesty, making Princess Aris a 3rd level general is an insult to the whole army. We can not accept that”.
• Hearing that made Princess Aris annoyed just then General Dre bowed saying to King Hartley “yes, your royal majesty. Making her highness a 3rd level general will make the soldiers look less of themselves. The princess is a female so her being a soldier is impossible not to talk of her as a general. Please withdraw your order, your royal majesty”.
• “We kept silent when, your royal majesty, made the princess sit on the throne because we thought you had your reason. It is forbidden for the heir to the throne to sit on the throne while you are still alive but then you made the princess sit on the throne and we keep quiet about it. But making the princess a 3rd level general is not acceptable, your royal majesty” said King Jeff to King Hartley.
• “The princess is someone who does not have proper fighting training and has never fought in a battle nor can she even fight. She is not fit to be a soldier not to talk of a 3rd level general. Please listen to your loyal subjects and withdraw your order, your royal majesty” said the prime minister of Arcadian to King Hartley.
• “Please reconsider your order, your royal majesty” said the council in a union to King Hartley, except head General Ben who said nothing, and Queen Rebeca and priestess Mary who were just watching.
• Princess Aris was angry because the council was against her being a general and a soldier while Prince Ranork and Prince Ragon were happy that the council did not accept King Hartley's decision and might make him change his mind.
• King Hartley listened and looked at everyone while they talked and chose to say nothing waiting for everyone to give their opinion. After hearing what all the council had to say, King Hartley asked them “is there anyone that would like to add anything?”.
• “They are all right, your royal majesty. Princess Aris can’t be allowed to join the army. Her being a female already forbade her so her joining the army will only make the soldiers see themselves less. There has always been an order in the army. Making the princess a general might bring disorder to the army. Please reconsider, your royal majesty” said head General Ben to King Hartley.
• Hearing what head General Ben said to add to the council request, King Hartley smiled and said “are you all indirectly questioning my order?”.
• Hearing the head King, the council all bowed saying they dared not and were only making sure everything remained in order then assistant General Suci said to King Hartley “we beg of you to make the right decision, your royal majesty”.
• King Hayley smirked and said to the council “you are all saying this all because she is female but I can boastfully say her worth as a female is more than any of you here. All you all do is fight over insignificant things while she was creating a way for every one of us to live even though she has no idea what she was doing”, and then King Hartley pauses looking at everyone in the hall.
• The council was annoyed by King Hartley's words and wondered how he could make them feel less in front of Princess Aris but they could do nothing while Princess Aris smiled happily. King Hartley continued saying bluntly “I want you all to look at Aris carefully, and remember this……. She is the reason why all of you will be surviving the Arkians out there. My commands will remain. Aris is to be made a 3rd level general. And believe me, anyone that goes against my command will be beheaded by me”.
• Hearing King Hartley, the council could not utter a word even though there was not in agreement with the head King's decision to make Princess Aris a 3rd lever general and wondered what King Hartley meant by they would all be surviving because of Princess Aris. Prince Ragon wondered what his father his doing making his sister a 3rd level general.
• King Hartley said to the council “the army will understand my decision knowing only the brave can become a warrior. And here is the plan”, and then he called head general Ben.
• Head General Ben answers then King Hartley says to him “go to the blacksmiths now and make sure they start preparing shields for the combat soldiers. I want all the combat soldiers equipped with shields by sunrise”.
• “Yes, your royal majesty” said head General Ben with a bow.
• King Hartley called assistant General Suci and he answered then King Hartley said to him “I want you to gather a group of soldiers and meet me privately. You and them have a mission outside Arcadian. Be prepared to travel”.
• “Yes, your royal majesty” said assistant general Suci with a bow.
• King Hartley called Princess Aris addressing her as a general and she walked to the head King while everyone watched. Upon getting to King Hartley, Princess Aris kneeled with one of her knees in front of King Hartley and bowed to King Hartley, then King Hartley said to her “you are now a general of Arcadian and your loyalty to Arcadian is an oath that will remain to Arcadian even in death. You should always put the kingdom first no matter what. You are to resume your duty as a general immediately”
• “Yes, your royal majesty” said Princess Aris and stood on her feet.
• King Hartley also said to the two priestesses that he would be seeing them privately before saying to everyone in the hall “we must survive until the full moon and continue our legacies no matter what”.