Chapter 38
The next morning saw the Generals, Frederick, Jaxton, Maletayah, Shiloh, Julian, Marius and Kyle sat in a dragon’s meeting room. Coffees in front of them, with plates of biscuits on the table.
Marius was updating everyone on the events of yesterday.
“Am I the only one who thinks injuring Barnabus was easy? I mean, I know he can mimic powers, but even doing that, he loses each encounter,” Julian said. “I thought it would be harder to hurt him.”
“Apart from mimicking powers, which he stole, I don’t think Barnabus is a strong demon. I think he’s trading on the ‘I’m a demon’ thing,” Maletayah said, holding his coffee mug.
“It depends on his demon level. The higher the level, the harder they are to kill,” Jaxton told them.
“Demons have levels?” Frederick asked in surprise, picking up a biscuit and eating it.
Jaxton nodded. “Yes, all demons have levels.”
“Do you have tests to decide levels?” Shiloh asked.
“We’re tested throughout school, and if later you want to move up a level, you can take another test. If you pass, you advance.”
“What level are you?” Frederick asked.
“Eight, so are Winnal, Plog and Stanley. There are ten levels in all.”
“Do you have a special power?” Paulo asked, dunking a chocolate biscuit into his drink.
Kyle grinned at him. “A general who dunks.”
Paulo nodded. “Only certain biscuits.”
“Dunking is the best.” Jaxton says. “As for special powers, fire and popping to and from places. Winnal’s is water, Plog is air, and Stanley is earth. They can also pop to and from places.”
“Four elements, nice,” Maletayah comments. “That’s good, as there are no water shifters here.”
“Is that important? Having the four elements?” General Gasgoyne asked.
“It’s good to keep things in balance,” Maletayah replied.
“So, we’re working on the assumption that Barnabus isn’t a high-level demon and is working on luck. But I’m sure someone mentioned that Barnabus was a feared demon,” Julian said.
“He got that reputation because he killed a lot of people in some pretty gruesome ways,” Jaxton said.
“So why was Tatum hired to release him from Tartarus?” Marius asked, sipping his coffee.
“It could be because of his reputation and the fact that he hates the gods with a passion and wants to destroy them,” Jaxton replied.
“We’ll stop him before he can kill them,” Frederick said.
“We will,” General Delinga said.
Blake hung up his phone and sent a message to Puff and Tudor, telling them the council would be arriving this afternoon at three, and that the first lot of council guards would also be arriving with them.
He then messaged Frederick, Shiloh, The Generals and Maletayah that council guards were arriving today. He created a group for them as he now considered the five of them his command team. Blake was considering calling them ‘The War Council’.
He needed to think about housing the guards. He wondered which magic user was around that could help.
He got up and walked outside, heading for the new training ground. As he walked through the garden, he saw Antares.
“Hey Antares, are you all settled?”
Antares turned and smiled at him. “We are, sire, thank you “
“Call me Blake. We’re family after all.”
“Thank you, Blake.”
“Do you want to walk with me? I’m off to the new training ground and guard compound.”
Antares nodded, falling into step beside him. “I’ve heard of your training ground but not seen it yet.”
“There are a couple of training grounds. An easy one, which newbies and the children use and a much harder one. Ares created both of them.”
“That’s handy, having gods in your pack.”
Blake burst out laughing. “Handy and still slightly surreal.”
“Very surreal. Apparently, there is talk that a pub might be opening on the pack lands.”
Blake nodded. “Yes, there has been a request for one. With the number of people here, it would need to be big. Then I’ll need to find a landlord. Someone who can deal with different types of shifters.”
By this time, they had reached the new training ground. They stopped and watched soldiers training.
“That looks interesting and tough,” Antares commented.
“I’ve not tried this one yet.”
They watched as fireballs were shot at a group of four. They saw an angel suddenly spin round, expand his wings and turn them to steel, protecting his teammates.
“That’s amazing,” Antares said, with a touch of awe in his voice. “I’ve heard warrior angels can shift their wings to steel, but I’ve never seen it.”
“Neither had I until now. I’m glad Zeus had them come and stay here. They’re here to protect his mate, Battle, but Maletayah had some join the other defence teams.”
Ares came walking over. “Want to join in?”
Blake shook his head. “Oh, what a shame. I don’t have time.”
“Wuss,” Ares said to him. He looked at Antares. “How about you?”
“I’m really old; this might kill me.”
Ares and Blake burst out laughing.
“That’s okay, we can start you on the baby course.”
Antares looked at Blake. “I’ll run the pub for you, then I’ll be too busy for this,” he said, waving his hand around the training ground.
Ares shook his head. “You can train when the pub is closed.”
“I don’t even know how long my family and I will be here for.”
“Fair enough, but if you want to try, come by anytime,” Ares said.
“Some of the council guards are turning up today, with the rest coming over the next few days. We need somewhere for them to stay,” Blake told him.
“I can sort accommodation out for them. Some families have also started turning up. Paris and Dane are showing them to their houses.”
“Excellent. I’ll catch up with them in a bit.”
Ares looked at Blake, really looked at him. “Brother-in-law, are you okay?” he asked gently.
“Yeah. It’s just a lot at times. I bought this place for peace and quiet.
I thought I’d live here happily for a few years then start a pack.
The day I moved in, Ash and Nick needed a safe place.
Jason and Nancy followed soon after, then Puff and Oz, then everyone else,” Blake sighed.
“Then your father randomly made me Alpha King. And all this in such a short period of time.”
“That’s a lot all at once,” Antares said, understandingly.
Blake nodded. “It is, but luckily Tudor and Puff live here, and I don’t need to deal with everything alone.”
“You need an assistant. I know Ash is your Beta and Regent, but you need an assistant,” Ares said.
“You might be right about that. It’s something to think about anyway. Right, I need to get going. Catch you both later.”
Ares and Antares watched Blake walk away.
“They definitely need a pub here. Blake looks like he could do with a stiff drink,” Antares commented.
“I think we could all do with one. I need to get back to the training. See you around, Antares.”
The dragon nodded. “And you, my Lord.”
“Just Ares will do.”
“Got it.”