Zachania (11 page)

The rest of the
day really dragged on for young Talon, his concentration drifted
most of the time from his studies to the mysterious book that lay
concealed under his papers. He could not wait to flick open its
pages, and find out why he was forbidden to read it. When sunset
came and he was excused he grabbed hold of his belongings and
marched quickly to his quarters. Once inside Talon locked his door
and sat down onto his bed where he turned the cover of the large
book, he was quickly struck by the age of this masterpiece; he saw
by the date that it was five Imperial centuries old. Quickly he
turned the next page to reveal a sketch of an ancient Imperial
soldier, the next page he turned revealed the heading THE BATTLE OF
ZANLIA, Talon wetted his lips as he began to read.

Talon read the
first two pages in excited mood but once he began to read the third
page on the battle his excitement suddenly turned to shock. He
began to grasp facts on how this Empire that he served had
butchered thousands of women and children in the battle of Zanlia.
He turned more of its pages only to uncover sketches of women being
tortured and killed, and soldiers wielding the severed heads of
Zanlian children.

His next
discovery was a sketch of the Emperor himself, dressed in unknown
fighting apparel he looked sinister in every way. Under the picture
he read how the Emperor had ordered the deaths of every living
person in the north west of Kratos, this made Talon sit back and
sigh with disgust. He felt sickened on how the women and children
were killed. And he felt a strange and intense anger overwhelmed
him, he felt rage at this Empire that he now served, and he now
knew why this book was forbidden, it was a damning documentation of
savagery and iniquity.

Out of the blue
this Empire did not seem so glamorous; its roots were forged from
the blackest of blood shed by the bodies of women and children.

Talon now
totally entrenched turned to the next chapter called THE WILD
FIGHTERS OF ZACHANIA,

On the first
page there was a sketch of a bearded man with long fair hair
dressed in a strange manner of clothes. The warrior held a sword in
one hand and an axe in the other, written under the sketch was the
heading Zachanian warrior dressed in a Zachanian battle suit.

Talon stared
deeply at the drawing as could not help feeling that something
about it was familiar “I have seen this dress before ...... But
where.” Talon thought as he racked his brain trying to
remember,

He remembered
back to his Grandfather and how he would speak of Zachania but why
was this sketch so vivid in his mind; he knew he had never seen his
Grandfather dressed like this. Then suddenly like a bolt of
lightning it dawned on Talon where he had seen this man, it was in
his dream while he was travelling from his home in Tallasian to the
military school in Kallick Town, the strange dream where he awoke
grasping the mysterious pendant that he always wore around his
neck,

Talon grabbed
the pendant and sat back feeling slightly dizzy and anxious. “The
man in my dream was dressed as thee” he whispered to himself. His
confusion and anxiousness rose “If the man who gave this to me was
Zachanian, then this pendant must also be Zachanian ....... But
why?” he gasped “why? What puzzle is unfolding before my eyes.” he
added as he leaned himself back and gazed up at his ceiling. Talon
tried to clarify his thoughts yet nothing made sense, he went on to
read how all the Zachanian’s were killed but he was given a
Zachanian pendant in a mysterious dream by a Zachanian warrior
“what can this mean?” he wondered over and over again.

For the next
few weeks Talon could concentrate on nothing else apart from this
strange puzzle that had presented itself, he finished reading the
book and returned it to its cabinet, then whenever he got the
chance he would take other books from the cabinet, for days on end
he would sit engrossed by these forbidden books where he read
detailed stories on the Zachanian and Zanlian war campaigns. He
discovered everything there was to know about the wars and how the
Empire massacred thousands of the Zachanian’s, it became an
obsession for him, he became enchanted by the tales of the
Zachanian warriors. And was driven by a frantic desire to
understand why and who had given him the pendant that he wore.

Every night
Talon would fall asleep gazing at it, it filled his whole being,
then one night he dreamt of his childhood, his dream began with his
Grandfather arguing with his father, his Grandfather was yelling
over and over again that they were Zachanian’s and that Talon
should be raised as one, and that he had the right to know of his
bloodline, the words Zachanian were repeated over and over again
growing louder every time until they forced Talon to violently wake
from his dream and sit up abruptly with a loud sigh. Talon dripping
in sweat turned in the moonlight of his room and lit the candle on
the table next to his bed; he then sat up against the wall and
wiped his face and hair with his blanket.

“What is
happening to me?” he sighed as the vividness of his dreams
increased each night

He rubbed his
face and head a few times before returning to lay down when
suddenly he was struck with a memory of his past. One where he was
twelve years old when his Grandfather and father had argued
fiercely, it felt strange that that day had never before held much
importance but now mysteriously it felt that that day had great
meaning, it was like a strange unknown force was altering Talons
mind, expanding his awareness. He felt a shiver of fear as an
intense feeling of reality swept over him, he could almost feel the
blood draining from his cheeks as it struck him that he was in fact
a Zachanian, his first thought was panic, he thought that everyone
would discover his secret.

“What should I
do?” he gasped silently.

He clenched his
fists tightly and gritted his teeth as he concentrated deeply on
calming himself. Suddenly his whole life seemed different; he felt
like the hunted, living in the home of the hunters! He also felt
rage, rage at the Empire, a rage so powerful it brought fear. He
tried again and again to clarify his thinking as a thousand
thoughts raced through his young mind. Yet every time he calmed
himself he returned to the thought that the Empire would kill him
if his Zachanian roots were discovered. He could not believe how
this secret had been missed by the Empire or how his father could
have lied to him; he was from a hunted race, a race butchered by
the very hand for which he now served.

He also knew
that these strange discoveries had totally changed his life, how
could he serve this Empire now, how could he possibly subdue these
feelings of anger he now had. Talon thought of his Grandfather and
thought of how proud he was at his origin and how the Empire had
slaughtered thousands of his people “MY PEOPLE” Talon said as he
looked up to his door where his uniform hung, the splendour of it
now sickened him, it belonged to his bloods enemy. “Never again can
I wear that with pride.” he spat.

Talon now knew
that his destiny lay elsewhere, he could feel it calling to him, he
knew he must escape, he had to leave, his whole awareness told him
so. But to just walk out on the Empire was not an option. He was
deep in the Palace land now where everywhere one travelled, one had
to have passes, this land was just as hard to escape from as it was
to enter. Talon would have to continue in his studies until he
found an opportunity, he would have to hide his secret, burying it
deep in his sub consciousness. This thought alarmed Talon as he
knew it would be difficult not to show his contempt and his newly
found eagerness to escape.....This indeed was now a time of great
caution.

It was only a
few days before Talon’s opportunity presented itself, everything
now seemed to be gathering momentum in Talon’s young life. It was
if his destiny had taken on a life in itself as if Talon was being
driven by some unexplained force which had hijacked his being and
was pulling him along as a companion. Still unsure just how he was
going to leave the Palace land, Talon remained alert to every
avenue that might deliver him to what he sought.

On this
specific day Talon was walking through an outside area of the
military school called the Houndsware section named after the
legendary General Vlad Houndsware, Houndsware or hounds alley to
which it was more commonly known as was an Imperial recreation
centre. Built around a natural hot springs there now stood a
magnificent building known as the bath house where soldiers could
relax in the natural steam and bath in hot waters. Outside the bath
house were many taverns and inns which were scattered around the
tight pebbled roads that weaved there way round the grand
building.

As Talon walked
the pebbled streets a placard caught his eye pinned to the wall
outside one of the taverns, the placard was advertising a local
Gladiator school located a few miles east. The thought of once
again training in a gladiator school seemed appealing, he also knew
that the rigour of training would help tune his mind and sharpen
his reflexes.

That night back
in the school Talon asked to see captain Hesk, he asked for
permission if he could finish his studies early twice a week so
that he could then train at the gladiator school. Hesk saw no
problem with this as long as it did not affect his education and
granted him his wish.

When Talon
visited the school, he discovered it to be very much like his
father’s gladiator school back in his hometown of Tallasian, it
enjoyed the same atmosphere and smell that they all did. Talon sat
down and began to observe the fighters train, his initial thought
was of the excellent quality of the fighters he saw, it was obvious
that this school was of the highest calibre.

Talon sat for
about an hour before he was approached by one of the
instructors.

“Welcome sir, I
see you have interest in the art of fighting.”

“Ever since I
could walk.” Talon smiled “my father is the overseer at a gladiator
school in Tallasian.” he added

“Tallasian.”
the instructor replied with familiarity “I have fought many times
in the arena there, which school doe’s your father teach?”

“The school of
Tallonus.”

“That’s your
father?”

“Yes.”

“I have seen
him in combat; he was very good, great with the axe.”

“I was too
young to witness with my own eyes but I have heard many a tale.”
Talon proudly added as the instructor sat down next to him.

“Do you fight
young man?” The instructor asked noticing Talon’s chiselled
physique.

“I am trained
in all the arts but I have never fought in the arena.”

“Well your
still young my boy and you look very strong.” the instructor warmly
replied as Talon smiled back at his comment, “your men look very
sharp.” added Talon as he pointed to them.

“They better
bloody be! We are travelling to Kallick Town next week where we
challenge the royal guard.”

The name
Kallick Town hit Talon like a bolt; this could be my chance to
escape the Palace land he thought.

“My name is
Talon.” he warmly replied as he extended his hand.

“Savarta!”
responded the instructor shaking his hand.

Talon’s mind
was now racing; if he could travel to Kallick Town with them, then
he would be free to escape the Empire.

But how could
he join the party “I must hide the importance of this.” he thought
silently.

“So next week
you fight the royal guard................. Judging by the look of
your men that will be some contest.”

“Ah you have
seen the royal guard then.” Savarta answered.

“Yes, many
times I saw them while I was posted in Kallick Town, they are
excellent fighters.”

“Besides us,
they are the best!” Savarta Replied with an authoritative tone of
voice.

“I think my
father might have something to say about that.” jest fully remarked
Talon.

“Arr Talon
........ The fighters of the north have always been more superior
from the men of south” said Savarta looking at Talon who just
smiled to himself before answering.

“Maybe we could
find a way to test your theory Savarta.”

“In what
way?”

“Well you’re
looking at it Savarta, I am from the south, if you agree then I
would dearly love to train amongst you, I could do with the
competition as my training of late has been neglected by my studies
...... And who knows maybe I could teach your boys of the north a
thing or two.”

“That my friend
would be sight worth seeing!” Replied Savarta teasingly.

“Then it is
agreed! If I can convince my General to allow me to train here then
you have no objections.”

“If you get
permission then it will be my pleasure to have you train with
us.”

Talon and
Savarta chatted for a while before Talon left giving his thanks and
farewells. As Talon walked back to his school he spent the walk
rehearsing in his mind what he would say to his General. He now had
the basis of a plan to escape the Empire and convincing his General
to allow him to train with Savarta was a vital ingredient.

Later that
evening General Koolga called for his guard to open his door, when
the guard opened it Koolga was surprised when he saw Talon standing
outside,

“What is it
Talon!” Replied Koolga as he waved with his hand for Talon to
enter.

“I wanted to
thank you and captain Hesk personally for allowing me permission to
attend the gladiator school this afternoon sir.” answered Talon
after standing to attention in front of Koolga.

“Go on.” Koolga
replied as noticed a look on Talon’s face as if he was not finished
talking.

“I would like
to request that I conduct my own personal training there on a
regular basis sir.”