Zachania (32 page)

“Why would they
betray you?” asked Golia.

“Because they
betrayed Apollo in Zanlia, I was too close to Apollo and they knew
I would find out…When they imprisoned me, they told me all they had
done and what they was going to do, they told me how when I am out
of the way the emperors magic would crush Zachania.”

“But they never
conquered us, our ancestors drove them back” added Graval
proudly.

“NO?” replied
Ganasis sounding relieved.

“Then it
worked.” he added smiling.

“What?” asked
Talon?

“I had a
feeling that something might happen to me, so I left a Talisman
blessed with a spell and hid it at the entrance of our land, the
Talisman would block all the emperors’ magic.”

Talon smiled at
Ganasis.

“Yes old man
your Talisman worked.”

“Why didn’t the
Zanlian wizards just kill you, why go to all this trouble surely a
blade through the gut would have been much easier.” asked
Graval.

“A wizard kill
a wizard! It’s impossible; the wizard would be cursed for eternity
if he did such a thing.”

“But can’t you
wizards talk to each other with your crystals.” Graval suddenly
said.

“Yes we can but
I did not have any crystals.”

Ganasis then
rose to his feet as if tired of these questions.

“Come we have
no time to waste, you must take me to Korvak castle.”

“The Zanlian
wizards” replied Talon.

“It is vital I
find out what they know.”

“What’s the
urgency?”

“I have sat in
that cave for centuries my young friend, believe me there is plenty
I wish to do.”

Talon smiled as
suddenly the frail old man he met a few moments ago was suddenly
full of energy, Talon noticed that there was now even youthfulness
in the old man’s moves.

“Give me your
knife” Ganasis all of sudden asked Graval who in turn handed him
one and then watched as Ganasis grabbed his beard which was down to
his waist and cut it off near his chest.

“Damn thing!”
he cursed which made Graval smile.

“There are
places in Zachra that will do a much better task of that for you.”
added Graval still smiling.

“You mean a
parlour! You still have such places, Argh there for women and
merchants I am a battle wizard and I groom in the field.” added
Ganasis as he handed the knife back to Graval and then motioned for
him to cut his hair which was way down his back.

Talon laughed
slightly as he thought to himself.

“I like this
wizard.”

Graval then
pulled Talon to the side and commented on the point of Ganasis
saying he wanted to question the Zanlian wizards.

“Prince Arun
and Zalon are on their way to kill the Zanlian’s.”

“What’s that
you’re saying?” Ganasis snapped showing obvious signs that he did
not like people whispering around him.

“My Grandfather
and the Prince are on their way to kill the wizards; they may have
done so already, I was already aware of their betrayal.”

“You knew of
what they done.”

“I discovered
their secret in a Pangkor temple, a scroll written by Apollo.”

“So this was
not a secret.”

“Not from me”
added Talon.

Ganasis
suddenly looked very concerned.

“You must take
me to Zachra immediately; if you are correct then we have more
traitors.”

“More traitors,
who!.”

“When the Great
War turned against us Apollo sent me back to Zachania, but Valsa
stayed with him up until the day he died, if you say Apollo wrote
of the Zanlian wizard’s betrayal then why did Valsa not know
this?”

“The scroll is
back in Zachra and I have Apollo’s sword” added Talon before
reaching over and showing Ganasis the sword who in turn gazed at it
deeply and remembered it’s once owner Apollo, Talon noticed a tear
in the old wizards eye.

“Then Valsa
betrayed us too, come we have no time to waste.” replied Ganasis
shaking his head and snapping from his thoughts.

The men
gathered their belongings and climbed the mountain which led them
back into the mists, Talon said to Ganasis that the mists were
treacherous and showed concern that he was not dressed
appropriately but Ganasis replied not to worry as he would clear a
path across the mist.

Back across the
Zachanian Mountains, just outside Korvak’s town of Zafra Prince
Arun and Zalon had joined Lord Heikan who had laid siege to
Korvak’s castle. Lord Heikan requested numerous times for an
audience with Lord Korvak all of which had been refused.

“How much
longer will this man keep us waiting?” Zalon shouted banging his
jug of ale down on the table while staring at the Prince.

“Zalon’s right
sire, I am growing tired of being polite to Korvak” added Heikan
agreeing with Zalon.

“Gentlemen
please show calm! Kaan Korvak is still an important man, I say we
show patience” replied the Prince trying to bring some reason.

“Sire you are
of royal blood and you do not have to show patience, not to anyone!
I implore you to demand an audience and bring this charade to a
close” answered Heikan getting to his feet.

Arun shook his
head at Heikan.

“Bolson my
friend I will demand nothing at this stage, I do not want to push
Korvak into a corner.”

“We are sitting
on his doorstep with our armies sire, what corner do you not want
to push him into.” replied Heikan rather frustrated.

Zumal suddenly
made his thoughts known.

“The Prince is
right! Korvak must not be forced into retaliating; Zachania does
not need a civil war.”

“Civil war
nonsense! We would crush him!” Heikan shouted only to anger
Zumal.

“CRUSH WHO!
Crush a Zachanian Lord, would this make you feel good Lord Heikan?
Trust me there would be no honour in this fight, no heroes or
victors, only sadness and a shame that we could not deal with this
matter other than with a sword!” replied Prince Arun now raising
his own voice and showing signs of anger and frustration.

Zumal still
standing rested an arm on the Prince.

“You will make
a formidable King my Prince, any leader of men can lead his men
into war but a legendary leader is the man who can win battles
without bloodshed and death.”

Heikan bit his
lip and tried to relax.

“Have you tried
to contact Korvak’s wizards Zumal?”

“I have but
they will not reply.”

The
conversation was then interrupted by the arrival of a tall man of
muscular appearance with only one eye entering the tent. He was
Kinlan Lord Heikan’s most trusted soldier.

“What it is
Kinlan” Heikan asked.

Kinlan bowed
his head and crossed his hands in front of his chest saluting his
Lord Heikan

“There is a
messenger from Korvak sir.”

“Send him
in!”

Kinlan then
called in the messenger who entered dressed in full combat uniform
and he gave the Prince a rolled up letter, the Prince read the
letter before replying.

“Tell Lord
Korvak we will comply with his wishes.”

The messenger
saluted the Prince before turning and leaving the tent.

“Well what did
it say” asked Heikan looking impatient.

Prince Arun
smiled before answering.

“Korvak demands
that our soldiers who lay siege to his castle be dispersed
immediately.”

“Sire this Lord
is hiding traitors to the realm of Zachania, how much more of this
insolence are we going to take!” replied Heikan now angered
again.

Prince Arun
looked at Heikan with a face mixed between rage and
embarrassment.

“We will comply
with his wishes and we will wait and that is final!”

Lord Heikan
stared at the Prince for a moment intently before realising who he
was so he relaxed.

“As you wish
sire.”

As the
atmosphere eased Zumal walked outside the tent and sat alone deep
in thought, he was thinking about his friend and fellow wizard
Valsa, the scroll Talon had produced containing Apollo’s wishes had
told of the treachery by the Zanlian wizards and Zumal could not
stop thinking of how Valsa who remained with Apollo till his death
did not know of the Zanlian wizards betrayal. Zumal’s mind was
tormented by this; he thought over and over again that if Valsa had
known of their treachery, and did not tell the King then Valsa
himself must have been involved. But it was not in Valsa’s nature;
Zumal had known him for centuries and trusted him with his
life.

“I cannot
believe this.” Zumal whispered to himself.

Zumal sat
confused and realised that he would have to confront Valsa on this
matter but Valsa was back in Zachra with the King so he would have
to wait and stop letting his mind play games with him.

As Talon and
Ganasis along with Graval and Golia emerged from the mists they
headed straight for their horses. Their journey out of the mists
had not been as arduous and dangerous as it had been going into it
as Ganasis conjured a spell that kept them warm and found them the
quickest route through.

Talon was
pleased to see that their horses were still waiting for them, so
the men mounted them and rode off into the countryside with Ganasis
taking Neo’s horse.

It took them
three days to reach Zachra. They rode straight to the Palace and
were welcomed in. Ganasis asked to see Zumal but was told he was
away but Valsa was in the castle observatory so Ganasis told Talon
he must see Valsa alone and proceeded alone to find him.

When Ganasis
arrived he did not knock on the large wooden door, he just burst in
making Valsa turn first in anger which soon turned to amazement
when he saw the old wizard.

“Ganasis.”
Valsa finally said making his way over to greet him.

“After all this
time you’re alive.” Valsa added looking delighted.

“You look
surprised!” Ganasis answered straight-faced.

Valsa stiffened
at the directness and lack of emotion on his old friends face.

“Ganasis.” he
sighed.

“We have to
speak!”

“About what,
what is it troubling you?”

“I want to know
about the instructions Apollo gave you.”

Valsa stopped
in his tracks at what he heard.

“Where have you
been Ganasis? We were told you went to the west.”

Ganasis did not
answer Valsa’s question instead his voice deepened and again he
asked about Apollo.

“Did you hold
back any information Valsa?”

“What, what are
you saying.”

“DID APOLLO
TELL YOU ABOUT THE WIZARDS OF ZANLIA? Think carefully Valsa for if
I do not like your answer.”

“Ganasis what
are you asking, I was your student and I was not aware of any
treachery by the Zanlian’s, if I were I would have informed the
King” interrupted Valsa now raising his voice.

“But you were
with Apollo when he died, why did he not share this with you?”

“No Ganasis I
was not with him when he died, I was sent to Zafra three weeks
before his death.”

“Is this the
truth Valsa?”

“You ask me
this Ganasis, where has your memory gone, I was tutored by you and
I stood by your side and Apollo’s side when all those deaths were
happening.”

“Apollo sent
you to Zafra.”

“No I was sent
by the wizards of Zanlia.”

“But I told you
to stay with Apollo, you disobeyed me.”

“Ganasis I was
your apprentice, when the Zanlian’s ordered me how could I question
their authority.”

Ganasis paused
for a moment as he rubbed his forehead.

“Why did you
not come to me when you came back to Zachania?”

“I looked
everywhere for you but with all the confusion and fear no one could
help, I was told you was at the border so I waited at the Palace
until my escort arrived to take me to Korvak castle.”

Ganasis then
calmly approached Valsa then quickly placed a hand on his forehead
to feel his thoughts.

“I owe you an
apology Valsa you speak the truth.” Ganasis sighed after a few
moments.

“How could you
doubt me Ganasis?”

Ganasis smiled
warmly before embracing his long lost apprentice

“It’s good to
see you Valsa, in my heart I never doubted you but there are
powerful forces at hand, I had to be sure.” he added placing a hand
on his head and pulling him to his shoulder.

“I understand
Ganasis and once again I am your humble servant.”

They held the
embrace for a moment before Ganasis grabbed a chair and sat down;
Valsa looked at him and saw a look of vulnerability.

“Valsa I have
been away for so long, I have missed you so much.”

“Ganasis the
wisest of the wise I have missed you too.”

“I feel like a
student again, I have so much to learn about what has passed while
I was imprisoned.”

“Imprisoned?”

“Yes by those
damn Zanlian wizards!”

Valsa next
kneeled down and looked Ganasis sincerely in the eye.

“Ganasis I
offer you my mind and memory.”

Ganasis leaned
back surprised at Valsa’s offer.

“I can’t accept
that Valsa, the ordeal could kill you.”

“Ganasis I am
old enough now to know the risks, you are my teacher and my closest
friend, would you not do the same for me” Valsa interrupted.

Ganasis shook
his head still refusing.

“To learn so
much of your mind Valsa is too much, I have centuries to read, no
one has mind read so much.”

“You can do it
Ganasis, I know you can, only you can.” added Valsa.

“I’m sorry
Valsa but I will not put you through this.”

Talon who had
been secretly listening to the conversation outside the door
suddenly made himself known.

“Do it
Ganasis.” Talon said firmly as he walked in.

Valsa then
grabbed Ganasis’s hand and placed it on his forehead.