Eliath leaned back in his chair and breathed out a long sigh. "I’ve been watching you all day. Is everything all right with you?"
"Just like you to answer a question with another question." Lucian looked away from Eliath's probing eyes. "I'm fine, just tired that’s all."
Eliath raised an eyebrow. "Tired you say? Very well then, if that is what you wish me to believe. You will tell me when you’re ready I suppose." He folded his arms and rested his head back against the wall. A small grin was set on his face.
Lucian just shook his head at his long time, all knowing friend. He looked up to see Tarriel glaring down at them.
"You two are a strange pair,” she said with a scowl.
Lucian wanted to reply with a snide remark, but just ignored her instead. When the door opened it wasn't the messenger that came through, but a man who had to be the Sanjeeran leader, followed by the Ganthian Ambassador.
"This could prove interesting," whispered Lucian. He felt Tarriel bristle up next to him.
The Sanjeeran leader was tall and slender, with a thick reddish brown mustache and curly hair of the same color. He wore simple non expensive clothes but well-made none the less. Lucian thought that he carried himself well. He looked important but not so much as to cause normal people to bow before him in reverence. Lucian had met the leader of Sanjeera before, and this man was not him. He feared that the same thing had happened here as what appeared to have happened in the rest of Southern Los.
The Ganthian Ambassador was slightly taller with the same build. His icy blue eyes were as bright as any other Ganthians, and showed the glint of intelligence. His short cropped hair was the normal Ganthian snow white. He had the look of a man who was impatiently waiting for an answer.
"Welcome to Sanjeera. You are all honored guests while in our city. My name is William Ethelholm and I am the appointed Governor of Sanjeera."
He took a moment to clasp wrists with the men in the room and kiss the hands of the women. Which, being Culdoran women, they found it to be quite odd and disturbing behavior.
"This is Jornian Kelbourne, an envoy from Ganth" said William gestured to Jornian. The room was in a stand still.
None of them greeted Jornian and he made no move to greet them either. He simply stood, with his fists held tight to his sides and glared at the warriors from Culdora. He must not have recognized them as Culdorans at first, but there was no doubt that he did now.
The Culdorans returned their own glare at him, which looked much more deadly. To them, this man represented a tribe that needlessly tried to slaughter the lot of them.
Jornian leaned over to William and spoke softly but could still be heard by the others. "Honored governor, this is an outrage. These barbarians should be taken outside and hanged!" His face was turning red as he stabbed a pointed finger toward the floor to stress his request.
Tarriel started to move but Lucian stepped ahead and put his hand out to the side to stop her. He thought she may just knock his arm away and go straight for the ambassador’s throat. But she stayed still, giving Lucian a chance to speak.
"With your permission governor," His eyes fixed on William's. "I would like to speak my peace, for myself, and for the Culdorans that stand here with me."
Jornian started to object, but William held up his hand, silencing him. "I have heard your side of the story Ambassador Kelbourne. Now I would like to hear theirs."
"But how could you listen to what these savages have to say?" Jornian pleaded.
William turned and faced the ambassador, fixing him with a hot glare. "If I am to provide aid with my kingdom, than I wish to know both sides of the story." He looked into Jornian's eyes a moment before continuing. "If you wish my Tribe’s assistance in any way, you will kindly indulge my curiosity."
Jornian's eyes darted over to Lucian and the Culdorans behind him, and then back to Governor Ethelholm, "As you wish it, Governor." He lowered his head and looked back to Lucian with narrowed eyes that might have well been the sights on a crossbow.
Lucian ignored him and thought of what to say. "I’m going to have to start from the beginning Governor, so that you can understand how I have come to be here now. First of all, I am from Yavasura, and I have traveled here often in the past. I do not recall you being the Governor during my last visit, not one year ago. Has Governor Thorenath been removed from office?" he paused, giving the Governor time to explain.
Ethelholm looked to the ground for a moment and sighed. "Unfortunately, three weeks ago, we found the late Governor lying in his room with his throat cut." he bowed a moment in respect. "Not only he, but several others were assassinated on that night, including the General of our forces and his wife. We also found two families murdered and each had one small child missing."
Lucian caught movement from the Ganthian Ambassador. He seemed surprised more than the others.
"Since that fateful day,” continued Ethelholm. “We held a new election, in which I was chosen to represent the people, and I humbly accepted the position. I hope that my being new to this station does not dissuade you from believing that I am capable of such a duty."
Lucian shook his head in a gesture to say that he thought no such thing. "The people appointed you. It is they who know what will be good for them and would choose wisely. I place trust in their decision." He bowed his head to the Governor who returned it in kind. "But this news is not shocking to me, or the others. The same thing has been happening all over Southern Los." Lucian gestured to Jornian. "As I am sure the Ambassador would agree."
The Governor looked to Jornian, but he only stood there with a distraught look on his face. Lucian went on before a battle of questions could break out. "My family was murdered by an assassin almost three weeks ago." The governor gasped but didn't interrupt. The ambassador looked even more confused. "I will not say just yet, but I knew where the man had come from, so I left on a journey to that place, to find out who he was and why he was sent to kill me and my parents."
The Ambassador interrupted. "You say he was sent to kill you, and your parents?" He let out a cynical laugh. "How is it then that you are here today? These assassins were remarkable killers."
"I stand here today because this man behind me," he gestured to Eliath, "killed the assassin and took off his head. And if you must know, the man was of Ganth."
The Ambassador started to protest, screaming that it was all a lie to make Ganth out to be criminals, but the Governor held up his hand, silencing him.
"I wish to hear the rest of the story. Do you think me so narrow-minded, as to believe that I would judge all of Ganth for the actions of one man?" asked Ethelholm as he stared at Jornian.
The Ambassador looked to the ground, humbled, and the Governor motioned for Lucian to continue.
"In my travels I was taken by the Culdorans for passing through their lands. I found that they too had suffered an attack on their leaders. This is Tarriel, High Commander of their forces. She can tell you the truth of it. When the elders of Culdora heard of my quest, they sent Tarriel, along with the others here, to protect me, a man they had never met and had no reason to help."
The Governor looked interested in hearing the rest of the story.
The Ambassador looked to be catching fire.
Lucian continued on. "After leaving Culdora we tried to skirt the borders of Averule but I was captured yet again." Lucian left out the others being captured on purpose. He wanted to keep the mystery of Averule intact. The Governor and the Ambassador both looked shocked about the news of his capture from the cannibals. "It seemed that they too, had suffered an attack on their village. Their leader was slain, and some children were taken. They believed also that Yavasura or possibly even Sanjeera, since we all look alike, was responsible for the raid and meant to boil me alive or something even worse. I told them of my parents’ murder and also of the raid on Culdora. Much to my surprise, they took pity on me and gave me passage through their lands to Ganth." This news seemed to shock the two men even further.
>
Lucian's anger started to rise as he remembered what had happened in Ganth. His voice turned more menacing and he turned his attention to the ambassador. "When we arrived in Ganth, I entered the city alone and left the Culdorans behind, except for Tarriel here, so as not to appear threatening. I spoke with your elder and found that your city had also been attacked, but they believed that Culdora was responsible."
The Ambassador started to speak but Lucian raised his voice and cut him off. "It was not Culdora. I tried to explain to your fool Head Counselor, that the Culdorans are a female dominant society, all their best warriors are women."
The Governor raised his eyebrows and looked back and forth between Lucian and Kelbourne, obviously confused. Lucian picked up on the look and explained.
"The Ganthian counselor told us that a small group of barbarian men attacked the city. The Culdorans would never send only men on an assignment like that." Lucian pointed at Tophin who was standing behind the women warriors. "That is Tophin, the only man of Culdora to make it as an elite warrior. The men in Culdora may only make up two percent of their entire fighting force. If it had been Culdora that attacked Ganth, then you would have seen women fighting your soldiers, like these women here." Lucian then let his hand sweep back, gesturing toward the Culdorans behind him.
The Ganthian Ambassador looked at the muscular women, all with the same steel gaze, standing in the room to represent Culdora. He looked as though he wanted to deny it all but the evidence stood there staring him boldly in the face.
Lucian wasn't finished just yet. He gave the Governor a solemn look. "But I am afraid that the relationship between Ganth and Culdora, along with my tribe, has suffered a terrible blow." He shifted his gaze to the Ambassador and then back to William. "While we were being escorted from the city, after being thrown out by the Head Counselor, the Ganthians attacked the Culdorans that waited for us at a nearby camp." The Ambassador moved closer to object, but Lucian looked over his shoulder and fixed him with such a glower that it took the ambassador’s voice away. "Three of the Culdoran warriors were killed in the senseless attack.” He turned and looked into the Ambassador's eyes. "More than thirty Ganthians died and a dozen were left severely injured."
Kelbourne looked as though he would fall backwards. He stood on wobbling legs, gaping at Lucian.
"I am sorry Ambassador,” said Lucian. “Sorry that your people had to die needlessly, because your leader failed to see the truth."
Kelbourne stared into Lucian's golden eyes. He wanted to scream and lash out at him, but his eyes held a genuine remorse. He found himself believing Lucian against all his will. Finally he willed himself to speak. "If not Culdora, then who attacked our city?" The question had a hint of sarcasm laced in.
Governor Ethelholm spoke up. "I think I may have an answer for that question.” All eyes shifted to him. “A week after our Chieftain and his family were murdered, a merchant came to the city and spoke of a large army that was swallowing up the northern kingdoms. I sent a spy to find out what he could. He returned just yesterday." William signaled to the guard by the door and the man left the room. A few minutes later he returned with another soldier.
"This is Collin, the spy. Why don't you tell us what you saw to the north soldier?" Ethelholm waved for the man to come forward.
Collin stepped up and gave a short bow of his head to Ethelholm before beginning. "I rode hard to the north, and even harder on the way back. I stayed off the main roads and I’m glad that I did. I narrowly avoided an ambush just north of Vorea. What I saw, I could hardly believe. A huge army is massing in the north, around the Oharnian palace in the desert. The numbers were greater than I had ever seen, ever heard of for that matter. It seems that every northern tribe has united. They look as though they plan to move on Vorea.”
The Governor watched as the Ambassador exchanged worried looks with Lucian and the others. He nodded and gestured for the spy to continue.
“As I passed through a small village south of Oharna, I spoke with some of the merchants that traveled the northern kingdoms often. They told me that the leader of this great army, Thaluzont, has been sweeping the northern tribes like wildfire. They said that he conquered them either by forcing them to join his cause, or trampling them under the foot of his army. They say he plans on taking all of Los.”
All the men, with the exception of the Governor who had already heard the news, stood gaping at the young spy.
It was Lucian who spoke first. “We must do something, we must help Vorea.”
“Why should we do that?” asked Kelbourne, who was looking at Lucian as if he had three heads. “We should return to our homes and prepare our defenses, protect ourselves!”
Lucian stepped closer to the ambassador, shrinking him under the heat of his golden gaze. “Vorea is the crossroad of trade for all of Los. Not only that, but they have the largest standing army among all the tribes. If Vorea falls, than what chance does Ganth hold against such a force? This horde from the north will easily sweep the rest of the southern tribes up in its wake. Divided, we have no chance of defeating such a large army.”
“Who is to say that this northern force can defeat Vorea? Their walls have stood the test of time for ages.” said the Ambassador.
The spy spoke up as if in answer to Kelbourne. “This army seized Oharna without losing a single man. It is said that the leader of Oharna was killed in front of all his people, yet because of the size of Thaluzont’s force that stood at the walls of their city, they did nothing but watch as their King was murdered. After it was over, the army of Oharna joined with Thaluzont. I did not have to get close to the army, because I could see it from miles away. It stretched across the plains of the desert like a blanket of ants.
Lucian looked back at the ambassador. “I believe that this Thaluzont sent assassins down to the southern lands months ago. His plan was not only to kill our leaders and cripple us in that way, but to also make us fight amongst ourselves. He knew it would weaken us. He could then sweep in and destroy us one at a time with little to no resistance.”
Kelbourne rubbed his pointy chin as he thought about what Lucian had said. He looked over at the Culdoran women that stood like iron rods in the back of the room. His eyes searched the floor for a moment and then closed as he shook his head. “What a grave mistake we have made.” He looked up and walked over to Tarriel.
She moved her feet apart, widening her stance.
As the Ambassador came within a couple feet from her, he clasped his hands together and bowed. “Forgive my people for the wrong we have committed against Culdora.” His voice was sincere and passionate.
Tarriel looked down at him like an eagle looking down at prey. She didn’t know whether to knee him in the face and split his nose, or slam her elbow into the back of his head and knock him unconscious. Luckily, Lucian stepped up and drew her attention in with a look of warning.
“Tarriel lost a close friend in the short fight against the Ganthian soldiers. But she also has made the mistake of accusing the wrong people for the attack on her village,” said Lucian pointedly as his eyes shifted to Tarriel briefly.
Tarriel relaxed her posture at the memory of the nearly disastrous mistake. Lucian had a way of making people see the other side of things. That part of him intrigued and frustrated her to no end.
Lucian placed his hand on Kelbourne’s shoulder, urging him out of his shameful bow. “And we apologize to you, Ambassador Kelbourne, for the Ganthians that lost their lives in that melee.”
Kelbourne looked into Lucian’s eyes for a moment and smiled. “You are quite an amazing man, Lucian of Yavasura. I will remember your name.”
Lucian turned to the Governor. “We must send out messengers to the other tribes. Everyone must unite to face this threat from the north.”
Governor Ethelholm leaned back against the wall, staring at the floor in thought. Lucian could see the doubt in his eyes when he looked up. “How could we possibly accomplish such a feat? Even if we sent couriers to
all the southern tribes, why would they believe what we tell them? The relationship between the tribes has been shifty for some time, they will want to see it for themselves, they will send out their own spies and many suns will pass before they return. By the time all the tribes agree to come together, Vorea will have long since been destroyed. There hasn’t been a union of tribes such as this since the Great War of Panathuria” He was shaking his head as he spoke, already convincing himself of the hopelessness of it all.
Lucian smiled at him. It was a smile that was more convincing than any words he could have spoken. “You already have messengers from three different kingdoms here in your office that would vouch for your word. We will convey the message to our leaders. They will believe.”
“And you have one more kingdom that is willing to join the fight,” rang a loud voice from outside.
A messenger came spilling into the room followed by three men, two of which were massive, and covered in shining armor. He stumbled up to Ethelholm.
“Sir, this be the leader of Ortsk,” the messenger said, as he gestured to the shorter man in the middle, standing between the two hulks.
The Governor couldn’t help but look surprised as he looked over the messenger’s shoulder at the three men that had entered the room. Lucian and the others shared similar expressions.
The man who had been named leader of the Ortsk people, stood eye level to Lucian and was obviously the one who spoke from outside. The air of authority was all over him. His head was shaved, and tattooed along the top, and sides with symbols that Lucian didn’t recognize. The same symbols ran down the side of his neck. His outfit looked comfortable and loose yet extremely well made and of high quality. The tunic he wore, over his white pants and sleeveless shirt, was also a crisp white, with the same strange, beautiful runes embroidered in gold down the side and around the collar.
Unlike the fully armored men at his side, a pair of gauntlets was all the armor or weaponry that the leader wore. They looked to be made of a finer metal than Lucian had never seen. They were exquisite pieces. There were more of the same symbols etched into the gauntlets and inlaid with gold. Lucian had never seen such fine craftsmanship. The man’s broad shoulders tapered down to a narrow waist. If not for his bare arms, the baggy clothes would have hid his tone, muscular physique. His eyes were calculating yet kind, set in a handsome face that looked chiseled from stone but held warm features. Aside from his peaceful look, there was no mistake that this man was quite deadly.
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