[ WP ] A king is blessed with triplets . Rather than choose one as his heir , he separates the trio and sends each to a secluded island with a small retinue , to see which will grow up to be the most deserving of the throne .

As I opened my eyes I could see the sun rising on the horizon out my window. But that was n't important, I had another one of my `` dreams'' last night. I'm not sure what else to call them though as they often signal things to come. My earliest memory is of the dream I had when I was only 4 years old. Before my men had built this fort. It was the catalyst that made me grow up, and build the fort in the first place. I'd had a dream that Sir Lucas, my senior advisors oldest son, the one that had come here with him when I was a baby was killed by one of the beast-men. And the next day we found his body clawed to pieces. After we'd buried him my first order was to clear an area in the center of the island and to start building the walls. It was a bloody task with many of my own men dying, but we'd got it done, and we now had a defensible position, and my `` dreams'' had been more pleasant. I'd predicted safe births of children, and I'd predicted attacks by the beast-men which allowed us to repel them with ease. But this dream was different. I saw at least a hundred poorly built boats each seating 3-4 warriors landing on our shore. I did n't see whether they were friendly or not, but I must warn everyone. If they're not friendly then we stand no chance. Our fortifications may be able to keep out the beast-men, but trained warriors would have the knowledge and tactics that the beast-men lacked. But there is still hope. The soldiers bore a crest similar to my own. My families crest was was a silver knight emblazoned on a blue background. There's was the same knight, but black rather than silver, and on a red background. 
 
 Just then I heard a sharp rap on my door and realized I'd been laying in bed worrying for far too long. My `` dreams'' always came true exactly 1 month after I first saw them. But for now I must get up, the knock on my door was Sir Duncan, my senior advisor telling me that the meeting of senior officials was starting soon. So I got up and put on my clothes, the ones Sir Duncans wife Mary had made for me for my last birthday. It was my favorite outfit, it was very comfortable while still maintaining the royal appearance I was expected to maintain. I could n't stop thinking about my `` dream'' as I made my way to our meeting room though. Something kept knawing at me though and I knew that I had to address it in todays meeting. It could n't wait. 
 
 `` Good morning your highness'' Sir Duncan was the first to greet me as usual. He was a battle hardened man, his face and body weathered from years of battle, and a scar on the right side of his face reaching from his eyebrow down to his jaw, and is salt and pepper hair. But despite his hardened appearance and booming voice he was still the kindest man I knew. 
 
 `` Good morning Duncan. But how many times must I tell you? When we are in private you should just call me James.'' 
 
 `` Yes your high- sorry, James.'' 
 
 *sigh*'' You'll get it one of these days Duncan'' 
 
 `` If we can move passed these pleasantries sire we have much to discuss'' It was Quimby that spoke next. He was n't a warrior like most of the men father sent with me, but he was an integral part to our survival thus far. He was the brains behind the operation. The slender man with the long hooked knows like the beak of a hawk may not know how to swing a sword, but without him the place would have fallen long ago. He was the one that tracked our food and water, and our rates of consumption and always made sure we were stocked well enough to last through any siege the beast-men could mount. 
 
 `` Yes Quimby, we absolutely do. What news do you have today?'' 
 
 `` We're running slightly low on meat. We could survive another month, possibly 2 if we ration with the current harvest, but we both know these men need their meat'' 
 
 `` Ah yes, we shall send out hunting parties today then'' I replied. This would be the first party we sent out since the death. It seems the Beast-men are done trying to attack us head on and are attacking our hunting parties instead. `` Make sure they are well guarded though. I want at least 2 guards with every hunter, and I want every group to be carrying a horn. If they're attacked I want to know about it before we find the bodies.'' 
 
 `` Yes sire'' Quimby seemed proud that I was learning to be such an efficient ruler. He had trained me well for nearing 2 decades now, and it showed. 
 
 `` Does anyone else have any news?'' I asked those assembled, my spy master Dennet. Another advisor my father had sent with me he was a small wiry man that wore a strange cloak that helped him blend in, and always carried his longbow with a quiver full of arrows, and a short sword. He was slightly younger than Duncan, but they had served in many battles together and trusted each other with their lives. 
 
 `` We saw another boat passing on the horizon today, but nothing of consequence, and the beast-men seem to be quiet for now.'' His words about the beast-men were reassuring as I was sending men out to hunt today, but the news of the ship worried him. 
 
 `` Were you able to see the banner the ship was flying?'' I knew it was a long shot, but I had to ask. 
 
 `` No sire. It was too far off.'' 
 
 `` Well. If that's all you have to report then I must tell you now I had another of my dreams.'' I told them about the dream in vivid detail as I always did. I could tell by the look on Duncan, and Dennets face that it was bad news. 
 
 `` Did you say 100 men? Wearing a crest of black knight set in a red background?'' Duncans voice was trembling slightly. I did n't think I'd ever see the day where Duncan was scared but he certainly seemed that way now, and I could see even in the hooded cloak meant to hide his face Dennet was nervous too. 
 
 `` Yes. But they did n't attack, I woke up before I could see what happened next.'' 
 
 `` They will attack. And they will be looking to exterminate us all. They will kill our men and children and rape our women. That sigil is the house of the O'Carricks, your father most vicious enemies. If Henry O'Carrick is coming here it is not for Tea my lord. And if they're coming with 100 men we can not take them on our own. We only have 20 men of fighting age.'' Dennet was deadly calm, but something in his voice belied his facade and I could tell he was shaken. 
 
 `` But our men are elite soldiers, and we have a defensible position with-'' 
 
 `` Our men may be great fighters my lord but even the greatest of men would fall before 5 average soldiers. And the O'Carricks have been taking fortresses much stronger than this one for years.'' Duncan was right. We could n't fight them, even if I did n't want to admit it. But I could n't let my men die because of my pride. 
 
 `` What do you propose?'' I asked looking from one adviser to the next. To everybodies surprise Quimby was the first to speak. 
 
 `` What of the Beast-men?'' he asked nervously? 
 
 `` What about them?'' I was confused. The beast men were a problem, but hardly the issue right now. 
 
 `` Well, we know they can speak, and they speak our language as we've seen from the few prisoners we've had, perhaps we can release the one we've got now with a message that we want to meet in a neutral place to discuss a truce. After all the if the O'Carricks attack they will exterminate every living creature on the island. It is their way.'' I was shocked. As was everyone at the table. 
 
 `` The beast-men?! How could we ever work with them?! Have you forgotten the countless lives lost building this fortress? Or the countless lives they've lost trying to take it? They are savages through and through!'' Duncan was the first to respond, but Dennet looked unsure. 
 
 `` What do you have to say Dennet?'' I asked curiously. To tell the truth I was nervous. Quimby could be right, and it could be our only option. But Duncan was right, there had been a lot of bloodshed on both sides, and neither side was likely to trust the other. 
 
 `` They may be simple but they're not savages'' Dennet was speaking slowly, choosing his words carefully `` but... I do n't think they can be trusted.'' 
 
 `` If they knew the situation and the O'Carricks reputation would they fight them?'' A plan was forming in my mind. I know my men wo n't fight with the beast-men. But I've got a loose plan. 
 
 `` Yes, I believe so. But I can not be sure they would honor a meeting in the first place. Nor can I be sure that our representative we send to the meeting would make it out alive.'' 
 
 `` I've got an idea. Samuel, send word to the guards we are to release the prisoner with a message. I want their leader to meet with me on the northern coast of the island. We may each bring 2 guards but no more.'' Samuel was one of our younger soldiers. He'd been born days after we arrived on the island and because he was one of the only people on the island my age we had become close friends. 
 
 `` I cant believe you're actually considering this. The men would never fight alongside those *beasts*'' Duncan spat the last word out like just saying it left a bitter taste in his mouth. 
 
 `` I have a plan for that. On the day of the attack we will meet the O'Carricks on the beaches. As soon as they land we will charge out of the trees and attack. The element of surprise will help us. But once they start to form up we will retreat back towards the treeline. When we start to retreat we will send the beast-men in to attack them from both sides and we will attack them from the front again. If all goes to plan the beast men can attack completely separated from us, and since they will have the clearly safer role they will be more likely to agree.'' I knew my plan was n't perfect, and we would take casualties. But there's no other way. We do n't have the numbers to flank the enemy from both sides, and we do n't have the numbers to win the battle on our own. We needed help. And it seemed all 3 of my advisers knew it.
