Read Online Reborn: Flames of War by D. W. Jackson - Free Book Online Page A

world.”
    Surprisingly they were not left to wait long. Less than a quarter of an hour after they had been brought to the waiting room, Allan returned and announced that the king was ready for them. Like before, they were surrounded by knights when they left the room. The only difference was the level of the knights had changed.
    Ash had used analyze on the knights when they walked down the street from the inn and found that most of the knights were in the high twenties, but the current knights were in their early to mid-forties while the one at the lead was high enough that Ash couldn’t see his status.
    Even though they were within the palace, it felt almost like they were walking the streets of a small town given how wide the hallways were and the number of eyes on them. Ash and the others were led to a massive set of double doors that could easy allow a frost giant to enter without them having to duck.
    When the doors to the throne room opened, it was like entering a different world. The floors were made of marble and large pillars rose into the air, lined in silver and gold while large statues lined the walls. The king was much younger than Ash had expected, looking to be only in his early twenties. He had a clean shaven face and though it was hard to tell since he was currently sitting, Ash guessed that he would only stand slightly under six foot tall with a mostly lean body. His hair was cut short and only a small bit of its light brown color peaked out from under the king’s crown.
    After being led to the center of the room, the knights took their place, with the leader taking his place at the king’s side while the others moved to stand in different places in the room. 
    Ash took a step forward and slightly nodded his head. “King Forten of Heluria,” Ash said in a heavy tone. “I am the demon Maoh Ash Hawkwing.”
    “Why have you come before us today?” The king asked his eyes narrowing.
    “Originally I had come to your land in order to stop a war between the lands of the Hawkwing kingdom, the demon kingdom, and your kingdom, but now that doesn’t seem possible,” Ash said honestly. “Here and now, I the Maoh of the demons and the consort of the queen of the Hawkwing lands declare war on the kingdom of Heluria.”
    “How dare you,” an older man with thinning black hair and a long beard with more than a few slivers of silver hair said moving from his position behind the throne. “You said that you came for peace when just yesterday we got a report that demons have attacked two villages, only a dozen miles from the palace.”
    “Yes, you will also receive a report saying that the main demon army has started its march from its location in the Hawkwing lands,” Ash said in a bored tone.
    “You think your small army can match the might of the great kingdom of Heluria?” the wizened old man asked his voice tinted in anger making Ash laugh.
    “At most your kingdom has an army of twenty thousand, if you enlisted every person who could hold a weapon, you might gather a hundred thousand for a full scale war. The Hawking lands might not be able to stand up to such a force, but I think you have a misunderstanding about demons. Within our whole kingdom, we have just over a hundred and twenty thousand people, but unlike humans, every one of those people are built for war. Right now, forty thousand soldiers are marching and they will tear your feeble country to bits.”
    “How?” The man asked, his knees going weak after hearing Ash’s words. “It takes months if not years to assemble such a large force.
    “For human’s maybe. You have your forces spread out and have to call for them from your nobles. You must gather food and weapons, but when I order the demons to march, there is no one who will not heed the call. While we took our time reaching your capital, my people were amassing and preparing for war.”
    “Then your words of seeking peace were nothing but lies,” the old man retorted