Zachania (37 page)

“Thank you.” he
gasped still breathless from reaching out.

“That’s a fine
sword you have there” replied Talon.

“It’s for my
Grandson.” replied the old man as he once again struggled to polish
it.

“Can your
Grandson not do that for you sir” Talon said.

The old man
looked up at Talon.

“My Grandson is
with Lord Heikan, this is a surprise for him, it’s our family sword
and I and my ancestors will be honoured when he fights the Empire
with this sword.”

Talon smiled
sympathetically and sat down next to the man.

“Let me help.”
Talon said taking the sword.

“I do not want
to keep you from anything son.” the old man said.

“Nothing is
more important than restoring pride into a Grandfather’s
heart.”

Talon then
began to wipe the sword but it was very old and dirty so it was
going to take some time, the old man watched Talon’s hands moving
up and down before looking up and catching Talons eye.

“This sword is
as old as the Degrain war.”

“I can see the
ancient markings.” replied Talon.

“At last we
will fight again.” the old man suddenly gasped.

“Are you
pleased that we are going to war.”

The old man
stiffened as if trying to look strong and he took a deep breath
before answering

“I am 147 years
old and for every one of those years I have lived I have prayed for
the time when we will repay the Empire for the dishonour that we
have shown our ancestors.”

“What do you
mean dishonour?” asked Talon.

“What else
would you call it? The Empire murdered my family but they are not
avenged, my ancestors lay in their graves betrayed by their sons
and Grandsons.”

Talon sat
upright.

“Your ancestors
were not betrayed old man.”

The old man
raised his hand pointing to Talon while raising his voice.

“Many fathers
and Grandfathers were tortured and killed in the Great War and
their sons were forbidden by the King to seek any revenge, instead
they hid like cowards, my great Grandfather died a broken man, he
once told me that he woke everyday cursing himself for not
revenging his Grandfather, he died of shame.”

“But the war
was lost; our family’s had to do all they could just to
survive.”

“Tell me young
man, if someone killed your father and Grandfather would you want
survival or would you want revenge.”

Talon lowered
his head as he thought of his own family and how revenge was
burning away inside him.

“umm! I can see
the answer on your face young man; you would not turn your back on
your family.”

Talon looked
side wards at the old man and patted him on the leg to say he
agreed.

“You’ll have
your revenge old man, we all will.”

Talon sat with
the old man until the sword was shiny and polished and when he said
his goodbyes he left with some new ideas and views, before he met
the old man Talon was looking at the people in the street feeling
guilty that some if not all were going to have grief and maybe
death and the blame would fall upon him but after a few words with
the old man he realised that this was a war that had to happen.

There was a
feeling of hate and revenge deeply imbedded in all Zachanian’s.
Talon now walked to the Palace looking at the people who were happy
that their life’s now had a sense of purpose.

When he reached
the Palace, Talon looked straight for Ganasis who he found in the
library, Ganasis smiled broadly as he heard Talon enter.

“Talon when did
you get back?”

Talon walked
over and slumped himself in a chair opposite looking tired.

“Well did you
find it!” snapped Ganasis clearly excited

“aaarrrhhh I
need a long hot bath Ganasis” replied Talon purposely avoiding his
question playing with his friend.

“Talon! Did you
find it?”

“Find
what.”

“arr your
impossible, the book! Did you find the book?”

“Oh the spell
book, Apollo’s spell book, the book of all spells, yeah it’s in my
bag” replied Talon playfully playing down its significance.

The two men’s
eyes met and Ganasis noticed a gleam in Talon’s blue eyes and a
cheeky smile on his face.

“We have it my
friend.” added Talon sounding pleased with himself.

Ganasis
patience suddenly burst as he reached down to Talon’s bag and
frantically reached in for the book, Genesis’s mouth dropped open
as he opened the cloth and placed the book on the table, he just
gazed as if mesmerised by it as he sighed out loud.

“By the gods.”
he said just looking at it, not taking his eyes of it for a
moment.

“This has the
power to change everything.”

“Look inside
Ganasis Apollo left a map where the treasures are.”

Ganasis flicked
the book open and picked up the map still in wonder.

“I had no idea
Apollo knew the locations, but there are still five locations
missing.”

“I have the
skull and the soil Ganasis, the rest I will find.”

Ganasis just
studied the map until something caught his eye.

“Talon, two of
the artefacts are located in Degrain.”

“Yes the
candles and the lava.” replied Talon seeing Ganasis expression
turning to concern.

“What’s wrong?”
Talon added.

“It’s not good
Talon, no Zachanian can walk on Degrain soil.”

“What!” scowled
Talon?

“The province
of Degrain is cursed by evil spirits, evil spirits of the men who
died fighting Zachanian’s, it is said that they will find and kill
any Zachanian who ventures there.”

“Nonsense! You
believe this Ganasis.”

“It is what it
is, Talon.”

“Ganasis I will
not be thwarted in what I have to do, not by natural or unnatural
beings will stop me in what I have to do.”

“Talon your
courage is unquestionable but Degrain is an evil place, the only
Zachanian’s who ever went there either died or returned totally
insane, it has powerful magic.”

“Can you not
match this magic?”

“I tried and
failed many centuries ago.”

“Well sometime
in the future you shall try again my friend, now for matters at
hand, what of my Grandfather.”

“Zalon is in
Zafra building the ships, the last report I heard is that he is
ahead of schedule.”

“Good now where
is Prince Arun I will need to speak with him.”

“The Prince is
here in Zachra he returned from the border yesterday, is there
anything wrong Talon.”

“I think it is
time that a Prince becomes a King!”

Ganasis nodded
agreeing with Talon.

“Both I and
Heikan will second you on this; Zachania has to be driven by a
strong pair of hands.”

“Have you or
Heikan mentioned this to the Prince.”

“I have not but
Heikan has hinted at him a few times but the Prince seems to feel
that he has to earn his respect before taking the crown.”

“So Heikan has
spoken to him then.”

“Like I said
he’s mentioned it.”

Talon then
yawned from tiredness and Ganasis advised him to get some rest.

“I will arrange
a meeting for later tonight Talon, now get some sleep you look
exhausted.”

“I am fine
Ganasis.”

“Talon! Even
the strongest of men need sleep, now go freshen up and I will take
matters into hand.”

Later that
evening after Talon had slept and washed he joined a meeting that
included Prince Arun, Ganasis, Zumal, Lords Heikan and Tanaga and a
few of the Princes Generals with General Pelkan.

Prince sat in
his usual seat at the head of the table and Talon noticed he had a
drawn and stressful look about him; the Prince rubbed his head and
yawned before starting to speak

“Firstly we
must welcome to our table the safe return of Talon who has returned
after successfully finding Apollo’s cave, Talon I welcome you, you
have been missed.”

All the men
welcomed Talon who in turn enjoyed the warmth that was being shown
to him then he raised his arms asking for silence.

“Thank you my
friends, it’s true I found the cave and I have returned with a
spell book which Ganasis is now in possession of. We will be trying
to learn its secrets and I am sure Ganasis will keep the council
informed of any progress, but now what of our preparations.”

Talon sat back
down with an air of power in his presence, he was fast becoming a
model of strength and power and besides his young age, his aura was
overwhelming to any who knew him. This sort of adulation for Talon
did not escape Prince Arun’s attention, he could see that whenever
the council spoke they seemed to focus what they were saying to
Talon but the Prince did not feel resentful as he himself found
himself drawn by Talon’s powerful charisma. But in the back of his
mind he wanted to be more authoritative.

Lord Heikan was
next to rise to his feet and address the meeting.

“Firstly I give
great thanks to the gods for your safe return Talon, now news from
my own army is that they are looking formidable, they do me a great
deal honour and it seems the battle at Zafra has wetted their
appetites for Imperial blood and they are ready to march within one
days’ notice” answered Heikan proudly.

“Tell me Heikan
what is your army’s strength?” asked Talon.

“I have over
one hundred and fifty thousand warriors, with a further fifty
thousand in reserve.”

“Great news
Lord Heikan” replied Talon.

“Heikan’s army
will support me from the rear when we make our initial attack, I
now have sixty legions, each legion containing two thousand men
deployed at the border awaiting orders, and I have a further one
hundred and fifty legions here in Zachra” added the Prince.

“And you Lord
Tanaga.” asked Talon.

“My army is
nearly ready, I would say another week where I will be in command
of over one hundred and seventy thousand warriors, and I await the
council’s decision as to where you wish to deploy them.”

Talon nodded
and turned to the Prince

“What of the
houses Zagar and Krazmos.”

The Prince
called for Pelkan to fetch some papers then the Prince sifted
through them till he found two letters

“This is the
last correspondence we have had from Lord Krazmos, two days ago,
‘my royal Prince, the house of Krazmos will be in a position to
offer one hundred thousand soldiers in ten days’ time.’”

The Prince then
picked up the other letter.

“Lord Zargar
also asks for ten to fourteen days where he will have eighty
thousand soldiers ready.”

Talon then
asked the Prince about his Grandfather and the house of Zalon.

“Lord Zalon is
understandably bringing up the rear, after the recent troubles in
that province but he reports that the ships are on schedule but
there is some unrest by those who are still loyal to Korvak but he
says he is making progress in singling them out.”

“Has he asked
for any assistance?” asked Talon showing concern.

“No Talon but I
was thinking of sending Zumal there anyway.” answered Arun.

“Then I will go
with him, we must have peace in Zachania, if there are any
troublemakers there then I will deal with them.” Talon said to the
Prince looking very determined.

“Lord Zalon has
not informed us that there is any trouble Talon, just a few rogue
individuals.”

“Yes Prince but
one flower can spread many seeds, Korvak was well respected by his
men, he brought them great wealth by peddling the Zac, their
allegiance and frustrations may still be high. I will go there and
see what is happening, I will leave tomorrow” added Talon with his
mind made up.

“Graval is with
him.” added Heikan at Talon.

Talon just
nodded but did not say anything as his mind was set and he did not
want to dwell on this subject which the Prince noticed and changed
the subject by calling his General Pelkan over.

“Are you ready
General?”

“Yes my liege!
We leave at dawn.”

“Thank you
Pelkan, I will excuse you now as I’m sure you have things to
do.”

General Pelkan
saluted the Prince and then saluted the council before leaving the
room with three of his men, once he left the Prince addressed the
meeting again.

“Pelkan will be
leading a scouting mission to Zanlia at dawn tomorrow; we need to
know more of what is going on there.”

“Will the
Zanlian resistance support us Prince” asked Tanaga.

“We must know
if we have their loyalty” added Heikan.

“Our friends in
Zanlia are not soldiers Heikan, what help they give us is hard to
fathom, Pelkan will find out just help they will be able to
give.”

“I don’t trust
them!” Heikan snapped back.

“Heikan not
everyone believes like you, there is more to living than just death
and honour, these people have risked their lives countless times
supplying us with information” snapped the Prince angrily, which
had the effect of Zumal brushing his leg reminding him show
composure.

“Prince Arun! I
am saying show caution when dealing with these men.”

Zumal decided
to intervene just as tempers were rising.

“Lord Heikan,
you must have faith in your Prince.”

Lord Heikan
realising he had stepped over the line quickly apologised to the
Prince before turning to Talon and changing the subject.

“Talon I have
read scriptures about the book of spells but nothing of any depth
could you enlighten us any further.”

“Ganasis would
you please” Talon replied turning to the wizard.

“It is said
that the spell book was written by the gods at the beginning of
time which helped them form the land. Myth states that Apollo while
in mortal form retrieved it from the home of the gods and brought
it here, but the gods knowing of this books great power made twelve
artefacts that are needed for the spells to work, these artefacts
were hidden all over Kratos in secret locations so that the book
would never be used again.”