CHAPTER 12
Bella turned to the cheering crowd after few minutes and held her hands up "People, it is too early to celebrate. We have an Army approaching and we must prepare. We must show the world that we are not to be taken lightly. After tomorrow we shall make a mark on this world. I shall call upon 1,000 of you to be the high guard warriors.
Bella paused and then looked on the city with a smile "It is time to prepare for that which is coming."
Harry and Hermione stood before Bella and Hermione grinned "So, had an exciting two days?"
Bella let a little smile appear "Oh, not really. I defeated an Armada, gained a partner in life, and I changed my appearance." Bella almost couldn't hold in her laughter as she said the next "Nothing too drastic mind you."
Harry rolled his eyes "Yes, well we can't have anything too drastic as it might tip the balance of our sanity."
Bella looked at him with a blank face "Insanity is a form of sanity…right." Bella looked over her shoulder "I could ask my imaginary friends if you like." Bella and Hermione started laughing as Harry just shook his head.
Harry turned and left muttering "I just had to ask didn't I?"
Bella smirked before yelling after him "That is the first sign."
Harry turned "What is?"
Bella replied with a big smile "Talking to yourself…it's the first sign of being insane. The scary part is when you start answering your own questions."
Harry just looked at her strangely "I have an Army to go defeat. You need to meet me on the hill at sunrise in your battle armor and don't be late!"
Bella just smiled as Hermione spoke up "You seem to be taking this in stride. Need anything?"
Bella looked at her "Nope. I am doing all right. In fact I feel better than I have in a long time." Bella looked around before finishing "The world seems much brighter and clearer to me than it ever has before."
Bella looked over at Hermione and smiled "Your radar thingy was really brilliant. I can't tell you enough times how sorry I am to have ever believed being muggleborn is a disadvantage… it's not. If anything it is an asset."
Hermione smiled "Bella I do believe you have found your way in this life, maybe even your calling."
Hermione turned to leave "I am very happy for you. See you tomorrow morning."
Harry, Hermione, and Bella stood atop the rim of a five hundred foot deep passé that was the only means for the invading army to arrive at new Phoenix city. They had worked hard for the last four hours preparing the troops for the assault.
Below them was the Army of Vatswaine in all its glory. Harry just shook his head as he watched an entire Army move blindly to their doom. It seemed such a waste. Bella and Hermione were watching them come.
Harry without warning to the other side began reigning terror down on the soldiers below. After thirty minutes, amidst the moaning and groaning from soldiers that were injured but still alive, Harry with his sword held downwards approached the Vatswaine leader.
The Vatswaine leader was standing with not even a scratch on him. He looked very scared as Harry approached "I told my soldiers that you were not to be harmed. I wanted you to witness what you have done. I am also taking you back to your kingdom where you will surrender to me."
The king looked at him "No, I will not do that."
Harry smiled and then struck with lightning quickness that made the king cry out in pain. "Harry looked down at the king "That was just a broken hand. The next time you don't agree to my terms I will break your other hand. Then I will continue to break every bone in your body. You might as well give up because we already know that you only have 1,000 soldiers left to guard your kingdom."
The king on his knees looked up "I will surrender."
The king sat down looking very defeated "They said you would be a soft target. They said that your knowledge and riches would make it worthwhile." The king looked around "I have never seen devastation such as this. They are wrong about this city."
Harry asked "Who are the -they -you keep referring to?"
The lost king began to stand "They are the kingdom to the North of me, they are the Tranth Kingdom."
Harry just looked skeptically at him "Never heard of them but it sounds like a setup to me. Were they allies of yours?"
The king looked up "They were not allies but I did not consider them enemies."
Harry replied "I think they just moved up my list then."
Harry brought the king back to the city and the king was amazed at what he saw. People were busy bustling about conducting business and going about their daily lives. He had never seen this before. Harry conferred with Bella and Hermione quickly and it was decided that Harry would leave with two hundred men, fifty of them with discs, 15 of them on the war sleds as Harry called them now, and the remainder on the ground.
Bella had decided that once Harry had the city under control that she would send fifty advisors to adjust that kingdoms political, social, and economic structure to better align with New Phoenix cities. Bella was going to improve the conquered kingdom's way of life.
Harry departed and three days later he informed Hermione and Bella that an Army from the north was approaching. It appeared that the north Kingdom had set up the Vatswaine for an invasion. Harry was determined to stop them. Once the city was secured and Bella's advisors were in place to revamp the city and its' structure Harry departed to meet the incoming Army on the plains of Galbraith.
It was a two hundred mile stretch of mild hills and low lying depressions. As Harry looked over the plain he realized that this would make really good farming country. It was only thirty kilometers from the Vatswaine city and was perfect for feeding many people. As Harry spied many lakes within the area he began to smile. Yes this could be very productive for the Vatswaine and New Phoenix City.
His musing were cut short by an Army that looked to be four or five thousand strong coming over a hill less than a quarter of a mile away. The lead element stopped about twenty meters from Harry's position. Harry was sitting on his disc hovering about five feet in the air. This made for a very weird view for the North kingdom's leader.
Harry looked up "Hello. Are you the leader of this Army?" he asked him.
Harry watched as the leader looked suspiciously at him before answering "I am group leader Korgran and I am in charge of this detachment." He stated to Harry from his mounted position.
Harry smiled "Where are you going and what do you plan to do?"
Korgran looked at him "I don't think that is any of your business. Now please step aside so that I may continue."
Harry stood up and pointed behind him "I wouldn't go there because the Vatswaine city was just conquered."
Korgran looked incensed "What do you mean they were conquered? That is impossible because my troops aren't there yet."
Harry chuckled "The General of New Phoenix City invaded two days ago and defeated the remnants of the Vatswaine army. He stated he is claiming it for Phoenix city."
Krogran began to laugh "That is impossible as the Vatswaine Army was sent to New Phoenix city eight days ago to conquer it."
Harry replied "They were not successful and lost in a day and a half. When the king of Vatswaine was interrogated it was found out you set him up so Phoenix city sent an Army to protect Vatswaine's city and they came out here to stop you."
Krogran look back with disbelief and then stared at Harry "You are the General from Phoenix city? Harry only nodded his head.
Krogran looked at the hundred men that surround him and arrogantly stated "We will accept your surrender."
Harry began to laugh "I am not surrendering…you are. I have the superior forces."
Krogran looked at him in dismay but was soon distracted by yells and screams coming from the rear of his ranks. Harry looked at his watch "The sooner you surrender the sooner the massacre ends."
Krogran could not hear anything but the screams of his soldiers getting louder and closer to him. A soldier came running up and began to inform the group leader that something mysterious was killing his soldiers and then produced a bloody metal dart of six inches to show him.
Krogran looked to Harry and Harry held his hands behind his back with not happiness but sadness. Krogran bowed his head "I surrender General."
Harry screamed out "Cease fire!" Harry turned to his men "Take half your men and save as many as you can." Harry turned to Krogran troops "You in the front ranks escort my people to help yours and you will protect them."
Krogran looked on in dismay but then looked at Harry "How?"
Harry shook his head "That is not your concern Group Leader." Harry brought a mirror to his face "Did you catch all of that luv?"
Hermione's voice answered "Tell Bella to send fifty more advisors to the north Kingdom." I take it you are not going to be home for dinner?"
Harry cracked a smile "No, probably not. Please tell the children I love them and give them a kiss for me. I will see you soon."
Harry tucked the mirror in a special pocket behind his armor breast plate. Harry stepped off his disc and walked up to the leader "Now Group Leader we are going to go back to Tranth in the north kingdom."
Krogran looked shocked "Why would you do that? They are no threat to you."
Harry arched an eyebrow "The same as Phoenix city was not a threat to Tranth or Vatswaine that is until you manipulated the Vatswaine to attack us." Harry looked at him "That was a very bad mistake on your part."
Krogran began to become upset "Wait you can't go there are many people in my city. Where will they go once you take over?" Krogran could see that the General was not swayed. "General my children and family are there."
Harry turned sharply back on Krogran before he started to yell at him "That didn't stop you from gladly sacrificing my family or my children." Tell me commander why should I be concerned with your children and family when you don't care about mine?"
Krogran took a step back "I honestly never thought of it like that. I never knew you or your city and I just wanted to increase my people's holdings to make a better life for them."
Harry did not relent "So you admit it was for greed only that you sent others to kill me, my wife and children?"
Krogran bowed his head "Yes."
Harry looked at him "So again Group Leader why should I care about yours?"
Krogran looked into Harry's eyes "You have no reason to because I have never given you a reason to care."
Harry smiled at him "Not until now commander. I see remorse and regret in your posture, your eyes, and most importantly in your voice. I think you understand that war is not an abstract idea. War kills people and disrupts lives. It is a thing to be avoided at all cost."
Krogran looked puzzled "But then why did you come all the way out here?"
Harry stood before him "My city has become more widely known. Travelers come through and tell others of our accomplishments. In the last year we have been attacked five times. The Vatswaine were by far the largest force but those forces become larger each time. Should I wait until such a large force comes that I have no chance to defend?"
Harry walked over to stand by Krogran's mount "I hate war and I hate killing." Harry turned to him "but if I am given no choice, I will make war so terrible that my enemies will never wish to see it again and you Group leader gave me no choice." Krogran looked at him and realized suddenly that he and his family were lucky to be alive. His body shivered.
Harry walked back to face him "If you had won what would become of my family and my wife?"
Krogran looked down "They would have been forced out of their homes and land to wonder."
Harry arched his brow "But you ask that I not do the same to you?" Krogran did not reply. Harry continued "I and my queen do not want to be conquerors. We want peace and allies. So I am going to go with you to your city and I have fifty advisors that your people will work with. They will help you with your political system and your economy to make things better and you will help them in any way you can."
Harry stepped closer "Because if you don't group leader and I am forced to return I will level your city to the ground. I will leave nothing to remind history of your existence. Do I make myself clear?"
Krogran stepped back and in fear "Perfectly! I will ensure that Tanth never is a problem again."
Harry smiled "Good! You will become excited in time about the wonderful improvements this will bring to your city. How close does this grassland come to your city?"
Krogran was shocked by the question "It goes almost to our door step."
Harry chuckled "Can you imagine these fields being full of fruits, vegetable, orchards and other food. It would be enough to feed your people, Vatswaine, and Phoenix city?" Krogran looked perplexed as Harry put his arm around his shoulder "In time my friend you will learn all that my people have to offer and will be glad to call us allies, friends, and neighbors."
Over the next five years Harry and Bella went off to other kingdoms, other lands and began a systematic tour of this world. Vatswaine was now known for the great mining and mineral resources that they provided. Tranth was known as the agricultural hub. Two other cities Unruth and Vestral had taken great strides in producing clothes and manufactured goods. Phoenix city became a transportation hub for many goods and services. They also became the financial center for business and banking.
Many had heard of the alliances that Phoenix city would make and over time the wars became less and many sought out Phoenix's help to advise them to improvements. The one oddity that recurred over and over is that in every city that they advised in, within four months of the advisor's arrival, magic begin to flourish. The people of the new city would become magical and with the magic coming they would become known as the high guard.
Harry, Hermione, Bella and Veldane were sitting around the dinner table in the Potter's home. Bella had been contemplative all afternoon. She had just returned from a very productive meeting with a city that was on the ocean. "I have come to the realization that we have done all that we can for this world. When I reached the ocean I knew that we had completed our task." She said out loud.
Harry and Hermione both looked at her and Harry smiled "You have been redeemed in my eyes for many years." He told her.
Hermione smiled "Perhaps you have done the unthinkable and feel redeemed in your own eyes."
Bella grinned and a tear leaked from her eyes "I have I feel it inside but alas I have sadness as I know what this means and I do not want to go back. I have everything I want in life right here. That is what frightens me the most. I do not know what will happen."
