Chapter 27
Puff and Mateo walked outside searching for the General. They stopped on the way to watch Martha training some guards, which is where General Delinga found them.
“Your Majesty, Mateo, I’m glad to see you both awake. I was meaning to come back and sit with you, but ...”
Puff touched his arm. “Hi, General Delinga. You’re busy, I understand. Everyone is awake now and call me Puff.”
The General nodded. “Call me Paulo.”
“You can both call me Mateo,” Mateo said.
Puff and Paulo laughed.
“As opposed to calling you what?” Puff asked.
Mateo went to talk then stopped. “Yeah, I have nothing.”
“Nutter,” Puff said, shaking his head.
“I met Maletayah yesterday,” Paulo said.
Puff looked confused. “Who?”
“The leader of Battle’s warrior angels. Frederick was showing him around yesterday,” Paulo told him.
“I was busy all day yesterday. I’ll go and find him and say hello,” Puff said.
“He was over by the new obstacle course. Ares has created a new one that is much more difficult. He’s keeping the original one for the children,” Paulo said.
“I’ve not seen the new course yet,” Mateo said.
“I’ll come with you and introduce you.”
Paulo led the way to the new tougher obstacles.
“Apart from warrior angels and new obstacles, have I missed anything else?”
“We have three full defence teams that are training hard. Saying that, everyone is training hard at the moment. We all want to be at our peak in case we are needed.”
“I’m still holding out hope that we can stop Barnabus before that happens,” Puff said.
“We all are. I heard you suggested hanging, drawing and quartering for the Hayes shaman,” Paulo said.
“I did,” Puff said with a nod. “But I’m open to other options.”
“Like splitting him down the middle,” Mateo said.
Puff shook his head. “No, that was just for Maggon.”
“So according to Frederick, the angels are better with swords than the gargoyles,” Paulo told them.
“I didn’t think anyone was better than the gargoyles,” Mateo said, looking surprised.
“We’re waiting for the angels and gargoyles to test that theory.”
“Call me when that happens, so I can watch,” Puff said.
“So, this looks hard,” Mateo said as they came upon the new obstacle course.
“Wow,” Puff said, looking it over. “Ares must have had fun designing this.”
“There is Maletayah,” Paulo said, pointing him out. “Maletayah,” he called.
Maletayah turned and looked, then walked over to join them.
“Maletayah, this is King Puff McDuncan and King Bob, and Mateo Thomas, the Dragon King’s Guardian.”
Maletayah smiled and bowed. “Greetings, your majesty, Mateo.”
“Please call me Puff. I’m sorry I didn’t meet you yesterday.”
“Think nothing of it I know you were busy. I need to introduce you to my men. Zeus sent us to protect his mate, but we can offer help wherever needed.”
“Thanks. Looks like Frederick is heading this way.”
They turned to look and saw Frederick with four large men.
“Didn't those four help with the cleanup after the explosions?” Mateo queried.
“They did, yes,” Paulo replied.
Frederick stopped by them.
“Gentlemen, this is Winnal, Plog, Stanley and Jaxton. Hades has sent them here to help protect me,” Frederick said. “Guys, this is King Puff McDuncan and King Bob, Mateo Thomas, General Delinga, and Maletayah.”
“It’s nice to properly meet you. Thank you for helping after the explosions,” Puff said, looking at each of them.
“Hello everyone. Thank you, sire. If we can ever help you in any way, please let us know,” Jaxton said.
Puff smiled at them. “I will do, thank you. Do you have everything you need?”
“We do. Lord Hades created our dwellings and made sure we have all our possessions,” Plog replied.
“If you find you need anything, see one of us and we can help,” Puff said. “I don’t suppose any of you know how to track a demon shadow, do you?”
“Unfortunately, not. King Blake asked us that as well,” Winnal said.
“It was worth a shot,” Puff said. “I need to go and do king stuff now, but I’ll catch up with you all later.”
“Thank you, sire,” Jaxton said, as the four demons bowed.
“You don’t need to bow and call me Puff.”
Mateo took Puff’s hand. “See you around,” he said, and the two walked away.
“I like Puff,” Maletayah said, watching him walk away.
“You wait until you meet Tudor. He’s a sweetheart,” Frederick said. “Maletayah, have you seen Alex yet?”
Maletayah shook his head. “No, I didn’t want to intrude on his time sitting with his mate.”
“Understandable. Right, we’re off for more showing around,” Frederick said.
“If you can be in the cells in an hour, you can watch the interrogation,” the general said.
“Interrogation?” Jaxton asked.
“Yes, we need information out of the Hayes Pack shaman before he is sentenced to death,” the general told him.
“Maybe I can help. That’s my specialty, getting information out of people.”
“Then you can join me. Thanks, Jaxton,” Frederick said.