- The Prouds 6
is prepared to respond, as in the case of the message
delivered by the king’s messenger, as the leader was readily
prepared for the absolute refusal of any request to have the
Prouds give in. Nevertheless, despite the fact he was well
aware that the man was the king’s messenger even before
he entered his house, and although he was expecting the
content of the message carried by him, he had treated him
hospitably.
“Is this your final reply?” asked the messenger.
“It is,” replied the leader with absolute confidence.
“It is war between us then,” said the messenger.
“Tell your king that he has doomed himself,” said
the leader unshaken by the messenger’s threat.
The messenger left the house in a hurry followed by
the leader who rushed out where the Prouds’ knights
gathered, trying to find out what went on.
The messenger rode his horse and off he went as the
leader said, “People, King Matthew sent me a messenger
ordering us to become his slaves and I replied by declaring
war against him.”
“War it is,” one knight said.
The other knights shouted, individually and
collectively, “It is war between us.”
Having heard what Leader Addison had to say, Milton, one
of the Prouds’ knights, decided to go to Cintana. It was the
capital of Widea Kingdom and was in the middle of it.
Cintana was where King Matthew lived most of the year.