Page 93 of The War is Coming

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 “