Zachania (29 page)

“Have you gone
insane!” the Prince replied raising his voice.

“We will find
out the truth!” Korvak angrily replied.

Lord Heikan
suddenly decided he could hear no more as he threw a mug of wine he
was drinking against a wall.

“This is
outrageous! I will not be spoken or accused in this way and I will
resign my seat on this council before I dishonour myself and my
family to Korvak’s wizards, I am Bolson Heikan and if my word and
standing is not enough for you then I spit on you and your family
Korvak!”

Prince Arun was
next to rise.

“What you ask
is totally unacceptable, you have insulted the integrity of this
council and I demand an apology!”

Lord Korvak sat
strangely calm as the other members of the council waited for his
reply.

“I will
apologise to those who pass the truth crystal.”

“I warn you
Lord Korvak you cannot take this stance with the council.”

The Prince then
waited for Korvak to answer but when the silence became apparent he
spoke again.

“Either you
apologise to the council or you will no longer be welcome.”

Some of the
other wizards stiffened at Arun’s demand.

Zumal abruptly
touched the Prince’s arm asking for him to listen.

“Sire you must
not break the seal of the council. There has always been a Korvak
present.”

The Prince
turned towards his wizard and calmly said.

“Zumal it is
not I who breaks the seal, Korvak has insulted us tonight, he must
redeem himself or leave.”

Zumal then
approached Korvak.

“Please Lord
Korvak you must express regret. The seal of the council must not be
broken.”

“I have said
all I have to say.” replied Korvak as he rose to his feet removing
his council crest.

“We’re
leaving.” he said ordering his wizards to follow.

Zumal went back
to the Prince once again asking him to stop Korvak who was now
walking out of the meeting.

“Sire” Zumal
pleaded.

“Let him go
sire.” Lord Heikan added.

After Korvak
left there was short silence as almost disbelief set in, Heikan
once again broke the silence to address the Prince.

“Sire I
apologise to you and to this council but I will not stand here and
be insulted with such disrespect.”

“We all
understand and accept your apology Lord Heikan. The way Korvak
behaved tonight was astonishing and way beyond any acceptable
boundaries for such distinguished men as your-selves.” replied the
Prince.

Bokli Krazmos
was next to address the council.

“What are we
going to do about him sire? He has a very powerful army and I am
telling you all, that I will not stand idle if he approaches me
with his accusations.”

Arun raised his
hand.

“We will do
nothing for now, let us see if he can see sense, but if he causes
any disruption in this land then it falls to me to take care of him
and I promise you that I shall.”

As the Prince
finished he was suddenly approached by two of his guards who had
entered the room he got up to meet them half way.

“Sire excuse me
but there are men at the gate demanding to see you.”

“What men!”
Arun interrupted .

“They say they
are the men responsible for the Zac.”

“Bring them
here now.” replied the Prince.

The soldier’s
left and Arun returned to the table.

“It seems men
are on their way to enlighten us about the fields of Zac.”

“What men?”
added Heikan.

As Talon
entered the room he was surrounded by six of the Kings royal guard,
the council looked at him wondering who he was but the wizards
mouths dropped open when Zalon and the ten gladiators came into
view following Talon and all dressed in ancient Zachanian fighting
suits.

Talons
Grandfather pointed out the Prince to Talon who then walked towards
the Prince and dropped on one knee before him.

“My royal
Prince Arun Von-Kui-Samui, I am the man you seek, I am responsible
for the destruction of the Zac.”

“Who the damn
are you!” the Prince ordered feeling slightly shocked at the
manners and arrogance of the man before him.

“My name is
Talon of Tallasian.”

“Tallasian, in
Kratos?”

“Yes sire.”

“You have
travelled here from Tallasian to burn my fields of Zac.”

“I am a
Zachanian who was born in Tallasian; I have come home to fulfil my
destiny.”

“Your destiny”
replied the Prince still puzzled “and this destiny entails the
burning of my fields of Zac.”

“Yes that was
the beginning.” replied Talon still with his head bowed.

“The beginning!
The beginning of what?”

“Our destiny
sire, Zachania’s destiny.”

“Are you a
madman?” Bokli Krazmos suddenly added.

Talon now rose
and looked the Prince in the eye.

“Do I look like
madman sire?”

Prince Arun
raised his eyebrows still baffled by this stranger before him.

“Since all our
destinies are in your hands Talon of Tallasian, would you tell the
council what you have planned for Zachania.” the Prince added in a
mocking tone of voice.

“All in good
time sire but first I want to speak to the head of the house of
Korvak.”

The wizard
Zumal had stayed silent just studying the young man before him and
as the council wondered why Talon would wish to speak with Korvak,
Zumal walked closer where he circled Talon looking him up and down,
Talon noticed this and turned towards him

“Do I interest
you wizard?” Talon said quietly.

“Yes you do I
have not seen this garb for hundreds of years, why do you wear
it?”

“I dress the
same as my ancestors.”

Zumal resumed
his examination of Talon as the council looked on intently then
swiftly the wizard reached into his garments and produced a crystal
which he pointed at Talon.

“Your truth
crystal will not work on me.” Talon calmly said moving towards him
looking casual and full of confidence, Zumal straightened his arm
as if trying to touch Talon with it, as Talon opened his arms
offering the wizard to try.

Zumal walked
closer and held the crystal just a few inches from Talon’s face,
soon the wizard began to strain as Talon half smiled at him, Zumal
strained harder gritting his teeth as he tried to pull the thoughts
from Talon’s head but Talon easily pulled his thoughts back again.
Zumal now grabbed the crystal with both hands and began to shake;
the old wizard’s hair fell into his face as his arms shook
violently.

Prince Arun and
the rest of the council were looking on in disbelief then as the
wizards breathing became heavy, Talon suddenly growled and thrust
himself forward and the wizard shot backwards dropping the crystal
and colliding into the table and two other wizards exhausted with a
look of terror on his face.

Prince Arun
turned angrily at Talon.

“WHO ARE YOU!”
he shouted.

Zumal having
been helped to his feet grabbed the Prince’s arm and slowly spoke
between gasps of air.

“I saw Apollo.
I saw the face of Apollo!” he sighed still looking terrified.

“Apollo!”
replied the Prince now looking startled as well.

Talon sensing
the moment pulled his sword from his sheath and raised it above his
head

“Behold! …The
sword of Apollo!”

Some of the
council members who were not already standing suddenly rose as they
looked on speechless full of shock and awe, Prince Arun looked to
his wizard for some support or for something to say but Zumal was
transfixed just staring at Talon.

“Zumal.” the
Prince said nudging him.

“ZUMAL!” added
the Prince louder “Zumal could he be the one.”

Wiping his hair
away from his eyes the wizard paused for a moment.

“He could be
sire, I am not sure.” he answered quietly.

Unhurriedly
Prince Arun moved towards Talon.

“If you are the
one, the Zararhakzar then you have my obedience.”

Bolson Heikan
who was standing nearby looked like he had made up his mind as he
moved towards Talon.

“I have seen
all I need to see, never have I seen a wizard humbled in such a
way, whoever you are…….. You are significant.”

As Lord Heikan
finished Talon’s Grandfather stepped forward and pulled out the
scroll Apollo had wrote and placed it on the table besides the
wizards.

The Prince now
with his clarity of thought returning pleaded to Talon.

“We have seen
what you can do, but will you allow my wizard to observe you with
the truth crystal.”

Talon thought
silently for a moment before facing the council.

“If the council
wishes this then I will comply.”

So once again
Zumal stepped forward and raised his arm holding the crystal, this
time the wizard did not shake as Talon allowed him to read his
thoughts then as suddenly as the experiment began it ended with
Zumal lowering his arm and bowing his head as if paying reverence
to Talon.

Prince Arun
stiffened as looked at his wizard’s actions.

“The
Zararhakzar” Arun sighed before walking over to kiss Talon’s
hand.

“THE
ZARARHAKZAR!” Arun shouted now looking elated.

Heikan quickly
followed his Prince and kissed the back of Talon’s hand before
offering the other heads of family to do likewise.

“Zachania has
waited centuries for you.” Heikan said.

As the room
broke into jubilation and congratulations, Zumal discreetly pulled
Prince Arun to the side.

“Sire we have
traitors in our midst.”

“What.”

“I saw it in
Talon’s mind, he knows who they are.”

“Are you
certain of this Zumal?”

“He is
sire.”

“Then I will
ask him what he knows.”

“Talon!”

“Yes sire.”

“Is it true
that there are traitors among us?” Arun suddenly asked causing the
room to fall silent as the council swiftly paid attention.

“Yes my
Prince.” Talon then paused as looked around the room.

“Which one of
you is Korvak?” he added.

“Korvak.” Lord
Tanaga sighed shocked.

“Korvak was
expelled from the council tonight, why do you ask of Korvak, is he
the traitor?” Prince Arun answered.

“The traitors I
speak of are Korvak’s wizards, the Zanlian wizards they betrayed
our ancestors, they betrayed us to the Empire during the war.”

“How do you
know this?” arum asked startled.

“That scroll on
the table, it is Apollo’s dying words, read it.”

Zumal grabbed
the scroll and buried his head into it then he handed it to Lord
Heikan before turning to the Prince.

“It is true my
liege, all this time and we never knew I feel I have failed you
Prince.”

“Nonsense
Zumal, what shall we do.” added the Prince turning to Talon.

“They die!”
replied Talon.

“I’ll kill them
with my bare hands.” Heikan added.

Prince Arun
then interrupted.

“Zac!” he
said.

Talon looked at
him.

“Zac, it was
Korvak’s wizards who brought Zac to Zachania, this is why you
burned the fields Talon.”

“The Zac they
brought was a poison, intended to kill you, you have been dying
from it ever since”

“Damn the Zac,
Zachania will be better without it.” replied the Prince as he
thought of his father the Kings addiction for it.

Valsa the Kings
other wizard then stepped forward remembering an ancient scripture
written in the holy book of ZARZAR

“Talon if you
truly are the Zararhakzar then there is something you must do
before you lead us into battle.”

Prince Arun
looked up and encouraged Valsa to explain more.

“In the
scriptures it is said that the Zararhakzar will walk hand in hand
with the Jasufika, the Jasufika is Ganasis.”

“Who is
Ganasis?”

“He is the
oldest wizard in Zachania, he was also Apollo’s personal confident
and wizard, he saved Zachania many times.” added Heikan.

“But he is
dead.” said Lord Zargar.

“No he is not
dead, it is said that he lives far in the west, past the western
mountains and the Zachanian mists.” added Valsa.

“It is said?”
replied Arun.

“Ganasis has
not been heard of since the wars, centuries ago.” added Heikan.

Zumal then
replied,

“Yes Ganasis
disappeared centuries ago, just after the Great War; we have tried
many times to find him. Many men have left and not returned but I
have heard people saying he has been seen, I do not believe he is
dead, I would have felt it, Talon! Will you look for him?”

“Do we need
him?” answered Talon.

“Only Ganasis
can match the Emperor’s wizards.”

“Then if he
lives I will find him.”

The council and
Talon talked into the early hours where it was decided that Talon
would travel west to find Ganasis and the Prince and Lord Heikan
would take care of the Korvak’s wizards.

Talon stayed at
the Palace for three days where he and Prince Arun became
inseparable, spending hours talking about the future. Then one day
when Talon was meditating in the royal gardens his concentration
was suddenly broken by the sound of footsteps and giggles so he
quickly turned around to see the most beautiful girl he had ever
seen.

“You must be
Talon.” replied a voice so soft it sent shivers down Talon’s
back

“Yes, who are
you?”

“My name is
Su-Maria, I am Arun’s sister and my brother doesn’t stop talking
about you.”

Talon looked up
at Su-Maria and deeply into her green eyes that shined with
innocence and glistened more fantastic then the finest green
emeralds.

“You’re
beautiful!” Talon just said.

The Princess
began to blush as she rose up her hands to her face feeling
embarrassed.