The castle walls seemed to seep cold through them. Or that could have just been his sleep demanding brain saying he should go back to his nice warm bed. Which wouldn't have been such a bad idea come to think of it. Then the image of Daimen having one of his own soldiers or even one of his minions slit his throat for not being more active cut across his brain. He didn't survive nearly three decades by being completely lazy. Not when it counted anyway.<br/><br/>And the fact that they were gearing up for war meant it counted. Oh boy, did it every count.<br/><br/>Hastening up his steps, he didn't even wince at the sharp echo. Let people know he was coming. If they didn't get out of his way fast enough...Well, then they would just get run over. He had no problems breaking a few bones here and there. Especially when it was his own bones on the line.<br/><br/>Entering the spacious war room, he immediately scanned the bare room for any signs of threat. No rich tapestries hung here. No big chests or even really that big of chairs. The table was a solid wood block that no one could hide under. The whole room was built with assassins in mind and keeping it bare like this limited the number of hiding places. It also made it very clear whenever someone left or entered the room. Though the closer they got to the war, the harder that would be. Soon this room would be a beehive of activity. Just a lot more deadly.<br/><br/>Striding to the map, he looked down at mini 3D map of Bloods Bane and the surrounding kingdoms. Scarborough was there as well as its neighbors. Small flags were here and there and swaths of green paint represented fields and forests that the army could cross without little trouble. Rock made the mountains and the more rocks meant the higher and tougher the mountains would be to get through. Really, it was a good map of the area. At least as far as Bloods Bane was concerned. Francis was a little skeptical of the kingdoms outside Bane's borders, but that was what spies and intel was for. To find out and plan.<br/><br/>Plan for the downfall of a king and his kingdom. Plan for death. Plan for destruction. But most of all, plan for King Daimen to get what he wanted so that they could all live relatively without fearing for their lives.