– Shall we attack tomorrow, then? – He commanded a large force of spearmen and was terribly proud of his friend's confidence in him.
– Yes, tomorrow," confirmed Derek.
– Must it be at dawn? – One of the warlords asked.
– No, noon. The warriors need to sleep and rest. The demons don't stand a chance anyway. They don't even have a single cannon. Fools never thought they'd have to defend their cities from their enemies," Derek smiled mockingly.
– Lead us, our king! – Bergil exclaimed. – We will follow you to both Hell and Heaven!
– To get there we all have to die first, and I'm not going to die yet! – chuckled Derek. – Andrada, my treasure, deserves the highest honors, and when I return to Sturfjell, I will reward her properly!
– But don't take her to your bed: I don't think she'll like it, for everyone knows she's proud as a wolf! – Bergil laughed loudly.
The whole kingdom knew of the king's love affairs, and he did not hide them.
– Her surname is a fox," the king grinned.
– A fox, then! Such a fluffy, affectionate fox! – Bergil laughed again, but he was the only one laughing: the other warlords stared at the ground, for they dared not mock His Majesty. Only Bergil, Derek's best friend, could afford such liberty.
– My friend, I think it's time for you to get married! – Derek smiled, squinting his eyes. – How do you like our Hedda?
– No way! I'll kill you! I like being a lonely bear! – Bergil grumbled unhappily and hurried to steer the conversation in another direction: "I thought maybe we could give our warriors some wine. They deserve it!
– I want sober warriors," Derek cut him off. – The wine will come after we've won, so tell them that.
– As you say, Your Majesty. – Bergil bowed to the king and left the tent.
– You too are free to go," Derek ordered the commanders, and they left him alone.
"I'll bring my daughters a nice crown each," he decided, sitting down on a roughly chipped wooden chair with a mug of water in his hand. During the war he had always observed a rite of sobriety so that wine and honey would not cloud his judgment. – Lamar has a wife and a daughter, and they must each have a crown worthy of my daughters' heads. I must remember to give orders that Lamar and his family are not to be touched: they will be executed in public, in the main square of Sturfjell, as will their vile relative, the murderer Daryal."