Zachania (53 page)

“Give me fifty
thousand warriors and I will conquer the whole region.” added Talon
once the moment passed.

“THEN IT IS
AGREED?” King Arun snapped more of an order than a request of
approval from his council.

“Agreed!”
replied the Lords of the council almost together.

“Lord Talon,
you have the approval of the council, both you and Ganasis are free
to discuss preparations with Lord Heikan on your own later.” said
the King before turning back to address all the man again.

“My fellow
Zachanian’s, I now want to ask you all to join me at the front
line, as this war proceeds we will have to hold many council
meetings where many decisions will be made. It is important that we
are all together, in three days’ time our place of strategy and
military headquarters will be at Death Valley…… Gentlemen there is
no turning back now, we are at war!”

The council
meeting continued long into the evening where many plans and
discussions were examined, Talon and Heikan however excused
themselves early as they went to Heikan’s castle to make
preparations for Heikan’s army to attack the south.

As morning
broke in Zachra, the King, Ganasis, and Lord Zargar once again made
journey to Death Valley, Lord Zalon went back to Zafra where he
would continue to build ships and Lord Talon and Heikan finalised
plans in Heikan’s castle.

The castle of
the house of Heikan was amongst the most splendid fortresses in all
of Zachania, out of all the Lords, Heikan was the most war like.
His family roots reached back centuries, where his forefathers and
clan had been involved in countless battles and wars. The castle
was a shrine for this and everywhere there were reminders of the
heroic deeds that Heikan’s ancestors achieved.

Last night
Talon had Heikan had agreed that Heikan would supply his own army
for the incursion into the south, these were men that Heikan
trusted and knew, men he knew would not let him down or be found
wanting if the battles become severe.

When Talon woke
he was taken to Lord Heikan in the castles weapon room where the
Lord was picking some of the ancient Zachanian fighting tools to
accompany him into battle.

Heikan smiled
as Talon entered with one of his captains who quickly reported to
Heikan that his army were ready to set forth.

“Talon did you
sleep well my friend?” Heikan said after he excused the captain,
only for Talon to just nod back as one of the weapons Heikan was
holding caught his attention.

“This is a
KLAFBOZ!” Heikan said noticing Talon’s interest.

The Klafboz was an
ancient yet deadly Zachanian fighting tool, made in the shape of a
cross with one of the arms wrapped in twine for a firm grip, the
other three arms were crafted to form spikes on the end of them,
the spikes would be dipped in poison and the weapon was used for
throwing at the enemy.

“I have heard
of this.” Talon sighed as Heikan let him hold it.

“Don’t cut
yourself Talon, the points are stained with a deadly poison” joked
Heikan

“It’s light.”
added Talon.

“We make them
like that so they spin fast and travel far, all of my men carry
them.” added Heikan before being interrupted by the sound of
someone entering the room, Talon turned to see a very strong
looking young man walk over and bow his head before them both.

“What is it?”
barked Heikan.

“Father, I
bring you the news that the men are ready to march.” he replied
though still keeping his eyes on the ground showing great
respect.

“Talon, meet
one of my sons Kraal, he is a good man and a good soldier, he will
not let us down and do not let the fact that he is my son hinder
you in your commands, if you want him to do something then tell him
so, he is no stranger to orders.” snapped Heikan.

“Do you hear me
boy! You will do whatever Lord Talon commands you to.”

“Yes father”
replied Kraal still with his head bowed.

“Where is
Kinlan” Heikan then asked referring to his champion and most
trusted soldier.

“He is in the
courtyard readying horses for you and Lord Talon.”

“Good, then
tell him we will be with him shortly” replied Heikan excusing his
son.

“I am very
proud of him Talon, he possesses a maturity much beyond his years”
added Heikan once his son had left.

Talon smiled
and then affectionately slapped Heikan on the back.

“Time to leave
my friend.”

Heikan nodded
and then stopped as he took one last look at the room.

“It may be a
long time till I see this room again.”

“Yes but the
next time you see this room let us pray that you see it through the
eyes of a free man.”

Three days
after the Zachania soldiers had entered Kratos there was now no
sight or sightings of the Empire. The Zachanian armies had been
working nonstop with their digging of the ditches which now
stretched as far as the eye could see in both directions.

King Arun was
with Ganasis and Lord Zargar safely at the headquarters on the
Zachanian side of Death Valley which had now been named Fort Arun
by the soldiers of Zachania.

“Talon and
Heikan should reach us today Ganasis.” uttered Arun sitting at the
head of a table in the Fort’s map room.

“If they had
made good time then they should be here by noon.” answered Ganasis
as he lifted his head up from a map which he had been studying.

Just after noon
passed Lord Zargar entered the map room and informed the King that
Lord Heikan’s army were approaching, the three men walked out the
Fort where in the distance they could see the powerful army for
themselves, Lord Talon and Heikan were at the front riding
proudly.

“Greetings
sire” Lord Heikan said once he dismounted his horse.

“Welcome Lord
Heikan.” replied the King before then turning to welcome Talon and
then ushering them inside.

“Talon.”
Ganasis suddenly said as he pulled Talon to one side and then
waited till they were alone to speak.

“It is Lagain
he has fled.”

“That is not
what I wanted Ganasis” added Talon biting his lip in
frustration.

“I know
that.”

“When did he
go?”

“Two days ago,
he was seen riding through Death Valley and then he headed
south.”

“South!” …….
“Why would he head south?” replied Talon.

“Maybe I will
find him when I go there.” he added.

“The King has
ordered his death on sight.” replied Ganasis.

“What! ………. Why
would Arun want that?”

Ganasis took a
slight look around just to make sure they were alone before he
replied lowering his voice.

“Before Lagain
left he wrote two letters, he left them with a guard and instructed
him to deliver them to the King at dawn, when Arun opened one of
the letters he actually went blue in face with rage, I have never
seen him furious.”

“What did the
letter say Ganasis?” interrupted Talon.

“Lagain accused
him of being an unworthy King; he said that Arun was a foolish and
weak young boy who would lead Zachania to its doom.”

“What!” sighed
Talon in shock interrupting Ganasis Again?

“There is more”
Ganasis added.

“Go on.”

“Lagain also
stated that he will come for his revenge for what the King has done
to him, he has declared himself as the future King of
Zachania.”

“He’s gone
insane Ganasis.” Talon said now slightly amused at Lagain’s
words.

“Insane, yes
Talon, his pride has drove all reasoning from him, I dread to think
what he will say about you in the other letter.”

“What other
letter?” Talon snapped back.

“There were two
letters, one for the King and one with your name on it.”

“Then where is
this letter?”

“I have it here
Talon.” Ganasis replied as he pulled the letter from his sleeve and
handed it to him.

“Read it!”
replied Talon not taking it from him, Ganasis unfolded it and
looked around again to see if anyone was near then started to read
out what it said.

‘
To the Zararhakzar
……….be sure that your time of shame and ridicule will soon be upon
you, the people of Zachania will soon discover how weak you truly
are and how your heart is full of doubt, you do not possess the
heart of a Zachanian and that is why you did not have the stomach
to order the deaths of the prisoners …..Every day of my life now, I
will wake and curse your name, my life now is nothing but revenge,
I have no family, no position, no feelings, all I have now is my
vengeance …. Count your days well Zararhakzar for I will be coming
for you’.

“Absolute
nonsense Talon, Lagain has gone completely insane.” barked Ganasis
as screwed the letter up and shook his head. Talon reached across
and put his hand on the wizards shoulder and smiled at him.

“Come let us
join the King.” he added ignoring what Lagain’s letter had
said.

The holy town
of Zanlia was now under strict military rule as General Krustov had
ordered his soldiers to turn the town into a Fortress, all the men
of Zanlia were ordered to remain in their dwellings with only women
permitted to venture outdoors.

For the last
three days the Imperial Generals had been worked to the point of
exhaustion by the evil wizard Grarlin who had returned from the
defeat at Death Valley in a fearsome frame of mind.

“Your
highness.” sighed Krustov who had not slept for two days.

“I have just
received word from Kallick Town that five hundred thousand Imperial
Palace guards will be here within ten days.” he added.

Grarlin for the
first time in three days seemed to sigh a sigh of relief, he had
been relentless in giving out his orders to the Generals, the
wizard rose from his chair and walked over to a window where he
looked upon the hills.

“We will show
Zachania, in ten days’ time we will march south with an army so
vast it will make their towns shake, in ten days’ time we will not
leave one Zachanian alive.”

“We will
annihilate them your highness” replied General Krustov.

General Sanda
who was present and silently listening then began to speak.

“What if they
decide to attack us before our armies arrive” he said which made
Krustov turn slightly angered towards him.

“We already
have three hundred and fifty thousand soldiers here General, surely
that is enough to thwart any attack” growled Krustov as he then
banged his hand on the desk in anger.

A silence then
followed as the men gathered their thoughts which was only
interrupted when there was a bang on the door.

“Come.” Krustov
snapped.

Two Imperial
soldiers then entered holding a man as prisoner.

“Sir we have a
prisoner.”

“I AM NO DAMN
PRISONER!” barked the chained man.

“SILENCE!”
Krustov snapped back at him as the General walked closer to examine
him.

“Where did you
find this man?” Krustov asked one of the soldiers.

“Sir he was
taken prisoner near the Zanlian mountains, he was questioned and he
claims he is a Zachanian General,, he has resisted all of our
further questions.”

General Krustov
then looked at the man with intrigue; he could clearly see by the
way he was dressed that he was not just an ordinary soldier.

“Who are you?”
asked Krustov.

“My name is
General Lagain; I am a General in the 7th royal army of
Zachania.”

General Krustov
raised his eyebrows and then started to snigger, slightly at first
then he began to laugh at Lagain which soon had the effect where
all the men present except Grarlin started to laugh, Lagain looked
upon those who were mocking him as a rage began to erupt from
inside him.

“Is this it? Is
this the Generals of the Empire! A bunch of fat old men who snigger
like women, no wonder we defeated you so easily.” Lagain shouted
showing his arrogance which quickly had the effect of instantly
sobering the Generals.

“What did he
say?” General Sanda suddenly said in total disbelief of what he had
just heard.

“I said be
careful who you mock General, for you did not mock me when I killed
fifty thousand of your men” replied Lagain now speaking slow and
very coldly.

General Krustov
was just about to strike Lagain when Grarlin pulled Krustov arm and
walked in front of him.

“Why are you
here?” Grarlin then asked Lagain as he took Lagain’s face into his
large hand.

“I am here to
assist you.”

“And you think
we need your help, why not send your head back in a box to your
precious Zachanian’s.”

Lagain
swallowed deeply as a terror fell over him at the presence of the
wizard before him, he could feel his hands begin to tremble as he
replied in the only way that he could.

“Your army was
beaten at Death Valley, I know why.”

“Then how can
you assist us?”

“I am a General
of the Zachanian realm, I know its strengths and its weaknesses.”
Lagain added as he then shook his head forcefully which released it
from Grarlin’s grip.

“So you are
going to share this with us.”

“I might!”
snapped Lagain now sweating as well as shaking.

Grarlin winced
at the General’s reply before bending down to eye level with
Lagain.

“I could suck
these secrets from your mind and then fry your brain with a simple
touch.” Grarlin said before rising and then circling Lagain, the
wizard studied the General before him and could clearly see his
fear but he could also notice the defiance in him which was not
usually a mix that went with terror.

“You intrigue
me Zachanian ……. I sense a determination in you… I also sense that
that you are telling the truth, but you are reckless and you are
driven by revenge, will that revenge serve us or you.”