What Lies Underneath

Chapter 20

*Nikolajis's p.o.v*

i gazed at everyones face in the room. there was 7 Neko's sitting at the table. i sat at the head of the table watching them lowly converse and compare notes and such. Kimon and Cilix stood behind me and Andrea sat to my right. i cleared my throat, instantly getting everyones attention.

"what have you brought for me today?" i aksed. one man stood, bowing.

"Lypámai Megaleiótate , egó̱ den miloún angliká kai" ( i am sorry sire, but i do not speak english well"

"óti eínai mia chará . Den écho̱ kanéna próvli̱ma me to na miláei ti̱ gló̱ssa mas . parakaló̱ , synechíste ." (that is fine. i have no problem with speaking our language. please, continue) 

"Megaleiótate , eímaste exantleítai ston efodiasmó me trófima . échoume arketá gia na mas líges evdomádes, allá típota perissótero diarkoún . den xéroume ti prokaleí af̱tó , allá tha máthoume sýntoma ." (sire, we are running low on food supply. we have enough to last us a few weeks but nothing more. we do not know what is causing this, but will find out soon.) i nodded and thought for a minute.

"tha páro̱ ti̱ voí̱theia ypó morfí̱ Prínkipa Danií̱l kai to vasíleió tou , allá thélo̱ na prospathí̱seis na po̱ stous anthró̱pous mou na tró̱ei me ypef̱thynóti̱ta . tha eímaste se dýskolous kairoús kai prépei na eímaste prosektikoí ." (i will get the assistance form Prince Daniel and his kingdom, but i want you to try and tell my people to eat responsibly. we will be in tough times and we need to be careful. ) he nodded and bowed before sitting down.

"poios apó esás epivlépei peripolíes ?" (which on of you is supervising patrols?) a very strong looking girl Neko stood, bowing. " Thélo̱ na prospathí̱soume kai na kratí̱sei mia pio prosektikí̱ mátia gia ta dási̱ pou synorév̱oun me to vasíleió mou . akómi̱ kai sti̱n ákri̱ . Den thélo̱ kathólou Rageans eisérchetai kai páli ti̱ gi̱ mou ." (i want you to try and keep a closer eye on the woods that border my kingdom. even to the edge. i do not want any Rageans entering my land again. ) she nodded and looked down.

"i vathiá syngnó̱mi̱ kýrie. i échete apotýchei kai prokálesan zi̱mía sas . Écho̱ apotýchei vasiliá mou kai akályptes to ónomá mou ." (i deeply apologize sire. i have failed you and caused you injury. i have failed my king and dishonored my name.) 

"i dechtó̱ ti̱ sygnó̱mi̱ sas . xéro̱ óti den eíche ti̱n próthesi̱ gia na symveí af̱tó . allá me óti eípe , tha prépei tó̱ra na eínai pio ení̱meroi kai prosektikoí. eímaste se pólemo . oi ánthro̱poi mou pethaínoun kathi̱meriná. Den boró̱ na écho̱ kápoion na kánei láthi̱ . egó̱ den tha to anechtheí . " (i accept your apology. i know you did not intend for that to happen. but with that said, you should now be more aware and careful. we are at war. my people are dying everyday. i cannot have someone making mistakes. i will not tolerate it.) she nodded and bowed before taking her seat.

".... poia eínai ta thýmata méchri tó̱ra ?" (how many lives have we lost?) i asked. they all looked down, staying silent. "Apánti̱sé mou" (answer me)

"dýo chiliádes pentakósia......" someone answered. (two thousand five hundred) i sighed and lowered my head. all those lives....

"Boró̱ na milí̱so̱ ?" (may i speak?" i nodded and looked up at a young male Neko, standing.

"Écho̱ mólis epistrépsei apó ton pólemo , kai écho̱ meriká .... ani̱sychi̱tikés eidí̱seis ." (i have just come back from the war, and i have some....disturbing news.) my eyebrows forrowed.