The castle brooded darkly below the scudding clouds of night. From time to time as the winds moved the clouds, the angry yellow moon beamed down upon the highest tower where a fitful light glared defiantly outwards.
Within that topmost chamber, King Rodgers brooded darkly upon the dying embers of the fire. The moldering formation he had stuck with for so long mouldered there betwixt sparks that lit his eyes like the afterimages of shooting stars.
He looked up warily as Sir Lancelot returned from that topmost window. "The natives, sire." he spake. "They have come. Their burning torches light the way almost to the sea!"
"How fare the guards?" asked the King
"They fare well, sire. Some are at ye defence, yet. But more falter every hour as our battles stumble and wane."
The King brooded longer. Then his eyes moved to the silent spectre at his side. "Merlin!" he commanded briskly. "What do thine eyes see within those smouldering fires?"
The magician pondered briefly. Then looked up. Eyes bright with knowledge. "My Lord!" Spake the man. "Come! Let us look at the stars that mine eyes can see beyond these walls, so grim, so dark!"
So they moved to the battlements, and from there spied the torchlights seeming to lead to the sea, but the angry chants and groans could not be heard from such a lofty perch.
"Look!" Commanded the mage sternly when they were atop that ghastly peak. "Thou canst see the great stalwart!" And it was true. A bright star stood alone, defiant, proud and silent. "In front of him, thou canst see upon the left and the right two stars which stand and cover the flanks, while allowing breaks to be covered on either side." And it was true, those avenues of defence and attack burned brightly in the heavens.
"And see, My Lord." The mage gestured, light flaring from his staff, quickly extinguished. "Those two large bright staunch defenders. There! In the Centre. They work with all four as a unit and one that is formidable to behold!" and it was true. The lone, last defender stood proud with the four ahead of him like granite obsidian.
"The rest of the puzzle comes quickly, My Liege!" he gestured and to complement those four mighty stars at the back, were four stars, brighter and more colourful glaring into the night with many colours and twists of flame. "Two in the centre shall help form their backbone! Between them, they shall share defence of thine kingdom, and attack, that we can push the struggle to thine enemies, and look! Those further out shall provide waves and waves of attack and movement!" Now the nine revealed stars all shone as brightly as the sun, so that the King had to shade his eyes in their glory.
"It seems so simple now." The king mused quietly. He waved his hand and two of the brightest starts suddenly flared into light - bringing the night into day and all eleven stars shone down, their brightness dwarfing even the soon-to-be rising sun from the East.
Far in the distance, the King could hear the crowds cheering and far away in the dark kingdom of his enemies could be heard the nervous fear of tens of thousands.
The King smiled in wonder.