Morpheus poured over several maps that seemed to grow forever on the table, beside him stood Captain Ahmed, Captian Faris, and General Bjorn.
"Im sorry but are we seriously ignoring the fact that there is the ghost of a pharaoh playing board games with Anubis whom you claim isn't a god but just a strong magical being?" Ahmed asked in bewilderment
Morpheus cracked a smile before gazing back at his work, "He isn't a ghost Khufu is more like an Apparation, don't bother him this is his pyramid after all."
"Are you done with the maps yet? If your predictions are to be believed then they will hit this location soon." Captain Bjorn said clearly losing his patience
Morpheus grumbled, "Give me a second here, who knew a location with nothing but, sand surrounding it could change so much."
A squeaky voice sounded, "Do you really expect us to win? They will be coming at all sides." grizzak hopped no more like leaped onto the table, "I don't understand why the king wants to help your kind."
Morpheus laughed at the goblin, "Guess what Grizzak, if we lose you guys always lose. I know someone as young as you doesn't remember it but back in the day the goblins were treated worse than slaves. You would think us humans have provided you paradise with whats going on."
Grizzak had to hide his anger, he was 100 years old damnit! Not some young pup.
Morpheus sighed as he crossed out another line and compared it to the new changes of the landscape.
"How is the shield looking Khufu, Anubis?" Morpheus asked as he outlined another area of importance
"It's almost done with repairs but we need a stronger source of magic if we want to have it strong enough to withstand a couple of waves got any ideas?" Khufu replied
Morpheus hummed in thought, "How long will it hold now?" he asked while marking some more locations
Anubis yawned, "Two of my attacks and it would be done with, the wards are good but since the last attack our magic source ran a little dry."
"Okay, we will do what we did last time we were in need of a magical source then." Morpheus replied before standing from his seat
Khufu chuckled, "You are a sick bastard."
"Thank you."
"Mind sharing?" Faris drawled from the side as he looked over Morpheus's notes
Morpheus shrugged, "it will be handled, don't worry too much. Now, let's move on to the important stuff."
Everyone waited for his 'grand' plan, "Grizzak has his team with him, if these maps stay true even with some new dunes cropping up. Your team should be able to use the tunnels to get under the sand, there are secret exits. Goblins excel in hit-and-run attacks, if you split your focus to the back line and a small team for the front line we can hopefully cause confusion within the ranks. How does that sound?" Morpheus asked Grizzak but it really wasn't a question
Grizzak nodded, "Your plan aligns with what I imagined we would be doing."
Morpheus nodded and promptly moved on, "We have soldiers and tents around the pyramid all within shield range, I and my fellow ward experts have managed to put up a few anti-magic wards outside of the shield but activating them will have to be essential. Activating one prematurely could affect the whole war. They will not attack in waves but instead with overwhelming might encircling the whole pyramid. Sand is our best friend in this case, it should make Transfiguration even easier."
He gazed at Faris, "Your company should be a primary backline resource."
Bjorn, "Your men are well suited for the front lines, you yourself are excellent with Transfiguration."
Ahmed, "Your an excellent healer, you and your people should mainly focus on pulling back the injured and getting them fixed."
Bjorn grunted, "That's good and all but our companies don't make up the whole army and you're not even the general we came here as a courtesy."
Almost as if his words were magic a new man entered the room, "Ahh, he might as well be the damn general those two only talk to him." the man said pointing over at Khufu and Anubis
Morpheus smiled brightly, "General Theon! Come join us."
"Then why isn't he giving anyone else orders and just us?" Ahmed asked
Grizzak snorted, "You humans are so stupid, if you had a king this would all be easier."
Faris snorted, "And what would that achieve?"
General Theon ignored them and nodded in greeting, "Because, you are the most experienced captains, you will be vital to our defense. I asked him to talk to you all because I thought it would be better for you to get acquainted to the man who is going to kill us all."
Morpheus smiled sheepishly, "Your going to make me blush."
***
Helga felt sick, suddenly this whole thing felt too real. She put her armor on and it made her shudder, she truly didn't want to do this.
But now she had no choice but to join the war and fight against her people. Fight to destroy an anchor.
Fight to slaughter humanity.
She felt so so sick.
"Are you ready yet Helga, remember to wear a mask we want you to be front and center when the big reveal happens." Thor's voice echoed from the other side of the door
"Yeah just give me a moment," she replied her voice barely above a whisper
"This is the battle where he dies you know?" he sounded so giddy
Her stomach dropped and once again, Helga wondered why she made this decision.
She sighed before picking up the gaudy silver mask they had prepared for her.
"Yeah I know," she replied
Tears slowly slid from her eyes as she thought of her life up until this moment, she thought of the choices she made and the friendships she lost.
'He will never forgive me.' she thought and once again she sighed
"You are taking a while everything alright in there Helga?" Thor asked once again
Helga firmed herself before wiping away the tears and slipping on the mask, "I am ready hold on."
For the first time in a long time Helga wished she had Morpheus's gift of sight. She wished she could see the branching paths and see the one that would help her future.
But, she wasn't Morpheus. She was Helga Hufflepuff, and she was going to do whatever it takes to reach her ultimate goal.
Even if it took her betraying everything she had ever known.