The council of war gathered up inside the palace secret room, where only James, Rigo, Islinda, Dora, and the new arrival Anasta joined the council.

"May I ask what she is doing here?" Rigo was the one to express his doubts, and James simply replied:

"She has a tactical mind that I liked. She will be our strategist from now on, war strategist."

His words weren't groundless, as he and others had reviewed the footage from the surveillance cameras, plus James heard the confessions of other girls who described what happened, and all agreed on the main role of Anasta in saving them and killing Rischa.

So, James decided to appoint her in this vacant place, where no other girl or droid was able to occupy for so long already. He admired her mind abilities, perfectly reading the situation, anticipating what would happen, and planning a perfect counter attack where she wouldn't even be blamed for!

James knew everything was her planning and execution, and he wasn't angry with her; on the contrary he was admiring her more for such a twisted meticulous mind of hers.

"A strategist?" Rigo said, asking about this strange role he never heard of!

"It's someone who will be responsible for setting up plans and reading the enemy's plans before they even leave their homes. It's an old role mentioned at some old records I once read, and I intend to mimic them and she is the most suited person to do that."

His words didn't manage to explain things to Rigo, and James just helplessly sighed before gesturing to Anasta, who was also surprised by his words and his trust like others. "Can you explain to him your importance by putting the grand map of the dark crow forces and regions please?" Kames said and she just nodded.

Instantly a huge map appeared in front of everyone, and once it did Rigo said in a complaining tone:

"I have an exact copy of this map if that would be her role!"

James didn't answer his sarcastic remark, as he asked back:

"Can you tell me what you think our enemies will do and how we should move against them?"

Rigo glanced at him, feeling like his leader was putting his capabilities to test. "They will gather all their forces after knowing about what happened here; and I'm sure they already did. then they will move towards us to face us in a grand fight where they will try to snatch rapid victory before we can amass our forces."

James' face didn't change as he nodded, motioning for him to continue. "Then we have to amass all our forces, fast, and I have already sent for all of our forces to come and gather here," he said, with much pride in his simple plan, while Dora sitting next to him nodded, expressing her approval on this genius stroke of brilliance.

"May I hear your words?" James totally ignored the two as he glanced over to Anasta who was still surprised and feeling awkward about this situation. She had already thought about what the black crows would do, and she had a plan in her mind.

"Ahem, first they won't try to directly face us," she opened the words by saying this, making everyone glance at her in a weird way, while Rigo even raised an eyebrow in response to her assumptions. "May I know why?" he asked, calmly yet the vibe he gave was so heavy.

"It's because they don't have the higher moral grounds here," she simply replied and Rigo seemed not to understand what she meant, in addition to Dora. Only James and Islinda understood her meaning perfectly. "Then what do you think they will do?" Rigo didn't give up and asked.

"They will target our allies first," she said as she started pointing towards places next to the huge territory of the black crowes. "Allies?" Rigo asked.

"The other six forces, or to be more specific the other five forces greatly weakened by your masterpiece at the last expedition," she said, directly revealing how she understood things here.

Rigo's eyes shone and widened, while he remained silent this time. "Keep on," James said, with a faint smile over his face. He was pleased by his right decision and keen eye when he chose her to do this critical long forgotten rank.

"They will try to threaten the weak forces in a try to break the grand alliance we have. In the meantime, they will wait patiently for us to attack them, then they will take such an excuse to claim the higher moral grounds and assemble their forces and allies, try to break our allied forces and start a grand war towards us."

Her words were logical and each sentence she said gained the approval of James and Islinda, who was surprised by how well organized Anasta's mind was. She glanced at her, knowing for sure this little girl wasn't an easy pick at all!

"And what do you suggest we do?" Rigo asked, feeling some logic in her realistic words.

"We should use the forces you summoned, distribute them into seven forces, six small forces sent as a guarding garrison to each of the six forces main territories, and one huge fleet be stationed here, ready to move out at any short notice," she replied, explaining her own view over how to act here.

"Didn't you just say we can't move against them?" Rigo asked with confusion.

"We will, but after flipping the tables over them, besting them in their own game. we will use the stationed garrisons at each force as an excuse; any move towards any force will be faced instantly by the summon of our grand fleet, under the banner of the righteous act of rescuing one of our allies."

Her words managed finally to reveal the beauty of her plan, rendering Rigo and Dora speechless, while James just clapped his hands as he patted on her back as he said:

"Brilliant idea Anasta, you really deserve the reward I'm planning for you tonight."

The face of her reddened, while the others understood what he meant by that. Dora glared towards this little girl feeling like glaring at a snake in human skin, hating her even more she hated Islinda. As for Islinda, she inwardly sighed; she relaxed herself and lowered her guard for a brief time and this was the result! She had now a formidable enemy she had to dread carefully and seriously, or else she would lose!

"Now, as you can see; this is the main and critical role of a strategist in any empire or kingdom. It's an old role, but not an obsolete one," James said before starting to relay his orders, "Rigo and Dora will be responsible for arranging the fleet in the manner Anasta just described. As for Islinda, you will be responsible for dealing and arranging things with our six allies. Inform them about the fleets sent to them, but say nothing about the plan."

The three nodded, as they realized James was ending the meeting.

"What about their merchants?" Islinda suddenly asked.

"Don't touch them," James said, before evilly smirking, "after all, all of them will belong to our empire sooner or later."

The four in front of him smiled as they understood his set of thoughts. They all moved away after that, all except Anasta.

He glanced at her before adjusting his seat to be more comfy. "Come here, don't be shy," he said while patting on his lap.

Like a docile cat, she moved towards him, raised the edge of her long dress to expose her smooth thin legs. "Like this," she said while sitting over his centre, moving her body a couple of times as if she was adjusting her posture, while putting one leg on another, both naked, both so alluring with their smoothness.

"Oh, you come prepared, '' he muttered before pressing a button on the arm of his seat to lock the door, soften the intensity of lights, and a smooth weak music played in the ground.

"I was anticipating this reward, ain't I now your strategist?" she said each word while unbuttoning his shirt, moving her long smooth end nails scratching slowly over his skin.

And he wasn't polite, squeezing her back and thin waist between his two hands, while stripping her from her long tight dress, exposing her figure, and his lips were moving smoothly and quietly, leaving fiery stamps over her delicate skin, arousing her more, igniting her desires to no limit!

And then they had a very, very intimate and long love that extended for sessions upon session, taking the rest of the day with it, linking it through the whole night, and at all times shades of two dragons superimposed over their bodies from position to position; while the soft music was always interrupted by the loud screams, muffled moans, and the grunting she had at the end, while she was unable to keep up with his.