17 A WAR?

~THE CHIEF GENERAL'S OFFICE- ATKINS~

The office wasn't as extravagant as the administrative court. It looked more military than executive. It was large and had a large table at the end of the room arranged in a dining set with a single executive seat and five other seats by each side.

There were three guards in the room with a man seated in the executive seat. Two of the guards were by the door while one was standing beside the man, possibly his guard. The chief general was in his office going through some documents. It contains background information about the recruits to the army. Suddenly he heard something, it was a knock on his door.

"Who is there?" He asked softly.

"The finance minister." The person at the door replied.

"Come in!"

A guard open the door and the minister walked in.

General Mica stood up as they both greeted each other with a bow and the minister took his seat.

"So what would you like to have?" He asked and immediately called for a maid to take down the minister's orders.

"I don't think I'll have time for that." The minister looked around before moving closer to him.

"Well, what I have to discuss with you is very confidential."

General Mica dismissed the two guards by the door leaving only his guard.

"So what is so important that made you come over?" He asked the minister who still wasn't ready to respond and signaled at the general to dismiss the last guard.

"Don't worry, he is trusted." He added, on realizing the minister's silence.

"Just dismiss him. What I have to say is more delicate than your trust." He said, finally breaking his silence.

"Okay. Ryan!" He called out.

"Yes General!" The guard replied immediately with a salute.

The general raised his head in the direction of the exit door and Ryan immediately left.

"So he is gone. What do you have to say?"

"Like I said whatever I say here should be between us. No third person must hear of this."

"I give you my word. Nothing you say leaves this office." He replied and gestured for him to go on.

"Hmm…." He took a deep breath before he began to speak.

"I think we should declare our independence"

General Mica's eyes got widened immediately. He knew what independence from Giza meant. War!! How will their nation that can barely provide for itself declare a war on Giza? Even a mad man can't do that.

"What!" General Mica finally found his voice.

"There is no way we can do that, have you looked at the men I control, almost 30 percent of them are from the dynasty. Moreover, most of the generals are not even citizens of this kingdom. We aren't even able to buy mercenaries because of our low financial state."

"I know that." The minister cut in.

"So how do you expect us to go on a war!" He replied instantly.

"Well, I'm not saying it has to be now. But we need this. Despite our soil being rich in diamonds, we are still poor because they took charge of it without us profiting from it. We can't keep living like this, for how long are we going to endure?" He paused for a while before he continued.

"Till our children become their slaves just like we have become? Our grandchildren and their generation to come?" The minister spoke again.

"Hmm.." General Mica always had this in mind. He was one of the few who fiercely opposed the dynasty which was possibly why the minister came to him.

"I know you General, I know you understand what I feel. You must have felt this severally."

"So what do you intend to do?" He asked.

"Well, I haven't thought of anything yet. I just wanted to know if you were with me on this."

There was a brief silence in the entire room before the minister stood up and took his leave.

Upon noticing the minister's absence, he stretched for his drawer and brought out a paper. It contained the names of various tribes he had wanted to get mercenaries from. He had this document long ago and has been waiting for the perfect time.

"It is the time!" He took a last glance at it and returned it to the drawer.