FARHAYVEN: VENGEANCE

by S. K. Ng

  Unbeknownst to all, a winged figure sat on a mountain top nearby and was witness to all that had happened. It shook its head in disappointment. Then stretching its leathery wings, it flew off silently.

  Two days later, Servian Tile Nieven guided Minvian Genox, Convian Sayson and a river of their comrades to where the remains of Minvian Jussette and 3rd Pond lay and retrieved their bodies for a proper burial.

  A silent sorrow engulfs the once proud Fort Eastguard and shatters the irreplaceable joy of comradeship that the men and women of 1st Lake, 3rd Ocean once shared. The setting of the sun mirrors the gloom in their hearts, as they mourn the comrades they have recently lost.

  CHAPTER NINE

  WINDSWEPT FOREST

  Drops of mushroom soup drip off Novice Elementhar Lance Arman’s chin as he half chews and half swallows a bite of soup-soaked bread. Simple food has never tasted so good to him, especially after being kept a prisoner for the past week. However, he feels strange to be sharing the breakfast table with fierce-looking soldiers who, just up to a day ago, had held him, Ray and Spirit captive and semi-starved them.

  Lance stole a glance at Ray, who ate his meal in casual silence. Perhaps Ray’s life experiences has made him oblivious to the irony of the situation, whereby the captor became the rescued, the captive became the saviour and all hostilities were erased as though all of it had never happened. The situation was still too confusing for Lance. Spirit gobbled down his food at the speed of lightning. He did not like the metal cage that he was in and he liked the soldiers sitting around him even less.

  The Fallsian soldiers ate their meal in sorrowful silence. Minvian Serene Genox sat next to Ray, her facial expression was no longer fierce. It was very subdued instead.

  “Go _ of this, where will you?” she asked.

  “Go _ we shall do of this southwards, into Windswept Forest, turn southwest at Three Rock Falls, exit Windswept Forest and make our way to Fallsene City,” answered Ray.

  “Reason _ what is yours of this to be there?” she asked further.

  “Reason _ ours of this is to attend a gathering of Ordered Elementhars, called the Grand Conference, at Monune Grand in Fallsene City,” answered Ray.

  Minvian Genox nodded her head. Convian Rod Sayson looked confused. He gave a questioning look to her, but she just held her palm up and asked him to wait.

  “Believe _ I do of this that they will be glad to realise that not all Fire Elementhars perished 15 years ago,” expressed Minvian Genox.

  “Believe _ I do not of this, as they know of my existence and had refused the request I made 15 years ago to investigate, capture and punish the perpetrators of my order’s massacre. Order _ mine of this was left un-avenged and the fire discipline was abandoned for extinction,” expressed Ray.

  “You are bitter, Elementhar Iddell. I can understand why. But you must not blame your fellow Elementhars for inaction. 15 years ago, when I held the rank of servian, I was part of the investigation team who investigated your order’s massacre. We had investigated for months, but could not find any clues as to the identity or whereabouts of the Shadow Deathmerchant Clan, let alone the perpetrator who hired them. I doubt your fellow Elementhars could have done any better. We stopped the investigation after six months and concluded that all Fire Elementhars were dead. This is the reason why we did not believe you earlier on,” interrupted Convian Sayson.

  Ray banged his fist on the dinner table.

  “Irrelevant _ it is of this as the other orders were obligated to pursue this matter until conclusion, as the Law of Elementhars dictated it! Vengeance _ my dead brother and sister Elementhars require of this, deserve of this. Justice _ it is their right to obtain of this, even from the grave, and I shall deliver it for them or die trying,” expressed Ray angrily.

  “Justice? Hah! What a foolish sentiment! There is no justice in this world and there will never be! Many of my fellow soldiers are dead. Men and women I worked with, whom I can almost call family, are dead! Just like your brother and sister Elementhars, they are dead. But what do we do about it? Nothing. Not a single thing! So where is my vengeance? Where is my right for justice? Nowhere! Nowhere, because it never existed,” expressed Convian Sayson.

  Ray shook his head in disagreement.

  “Justice _ you have none of this because you do not go and seek for this, for you are bound by laws and loyalty. Tied _ your hands are of this but mine are not! Forgotten _ you seem to have of this of the natural law of cause and effect, the one law that engulfs everyone and the one law that nobody can escape from,” clarified Ray.

  “Perhaps you are right. But I have not seen justice for such a long time that I truly doubt if it had ever really existed,” said Convian Sayson dispassionately.

  The mid-morning sun shone brightly on the 23rd Day of Second Month of Wet Season as the trio set out from the battered Fort Eastguard. Lance felt it safe to ask Ray questions about the soldiers whom they had left behind.

  “Apologise _ of this, master, why do they not do so when they had found out that we were not spies? Hostility _ of this, why does this suddenly change to friendliness as though the imprisonment never happened?” asked Lance.

  “Attitude _ the soldiers’ of this is that they are already dead when they became soldiers, therefore for them, there is no past or future, only the present. Actions _ therefore theirs of these show no remorse, regret or gladness; and no sense of accountability to their conduct, for they do not dwell long enough on the past to develop regret and remorse nor do they think far enough into the future to be concerned with its repercussions Attitude _ of this, it is necessary in their line of work as they face death every day and normal emotions would hamper their effectiveness. Humanity _ however, they have lost theirs of this; although it does not have to be, but the military has chosen this way because it is the fastest and the easiest, even though it is not the correct way,” explained Ray.

  Spirit was not concerned with the conversation between Ray and Lance. He was just glad to be free from the metal cage and to be able to feel the cool breeze and warm sunlight on his body once again.

  It was cool and windy in Windswept Forest that afternoon on the 25th Day of Second Month of Wet Season. Practice of Elemental Sorcery had gone well with Lance, as he could now execute the Heat Burst Spell. However, the quality of his spells was not as solid and as consistent as Ray’s.

  Evening came and the trio set up camp for the night near a small stream. They lit a small bonfire. Then Ray continued teaching Lance how to read and write. Lance started his own copy of the Vanguard Manuscript, copying from Ray’s.

  The first part of the Vanguard Manuscript contained the personal history of Pioneer Elementhar Nova Vanguard. It told of her life, her discovery of Elemental Sorcery and her eventual defeat of Lord Desolator. It also told of the men and women who had joined her in her war against demonkind. It also described the founding of the Grand Order of Elementhars. It took Lance nearly five hours to complete this part of the manuscript.

  Then Ray told Lance to put his book down. Ray opened his own copy of the Vanguard Manuscript and verbally taught Lance the second part, with the plan that Lance would then copy it on subsequent nights.

  Ray began by explaining the terms and definitions involved in Elemental Sorcery. He explained that a Novice Elementhar was any person who had no prior mastery of any of the elemental disciplines and who had agreed to take up apprenticeship under a Master Elementhar. A Master Elementhar was a person who had mastered at least one of the elemental disciplines, even though that person may have taken up apprenticeship in another discipline. A High Elementhar was a Master Elementhar who had been selected based on seniority, skills, knowledge and experience to be the leader of an order and was automatically given a seat at the High Council of Elementhars. A Grand Elementhar was a High Elementhar who had been selected to be the leader of the High Council of Elementhars and was the overall leader of the Grand Order of Elementhars.

  Ray continued to explain to Lance about th
e Law of Elementhars. According to Ray, it was divided into two categories. The first category was known as the Law of Elementhar Conduct, and had the following contents in order of priority:

  Knowledge _ a Novice, Master, High or Grand Elementhar must always strive to improve of this within himself/herself and perfect his/her skills for as long as he/she may live.

  Justice _ a Novice, Master, High or Grand Elementhar must always act in the interest of this and also of truth, irrelevant of any surmounting pressure or consequence.

  Self-defence _ a Novice, Master, High or Grand Elementhar must not use his/her knowledge or skills to cause harm to anyone unless it is absolutely required of this or for upholding justice.

  Modesty _ a Novice, Master, High or Grand Elementhar must always act of this and never provoke or challenge any person with the intention to prove his/her capabilities.

  Respect _ a Novice, Master, High or Grand Elementhar must do of this, to a reasonable level, of local laws and customs.

  Consideration _ a Novice, Master, High or Grand Elementhar must make decisions and take actions with careful of this of all factors and possible consequences; and accept full accountability for those decisions and actions.

  Theft _ a Novice, Master, High or Grand Elementhar must not do of this or to take that which does not belong to or is deserving of him/her.

  Lie _ a Novice, Master, High or Grandmaster Elementhar must not do of this or to engage himself/herself in falseness of any kind.

  Meat _ a Novice, Master, High or Grand Elementhar must not consume any form of this, and also of alcohol or any intoxicants; and to avoid as much as possible the use of fur and leather.

  Celibate _ a Novice, Master, High or Grand Elementhar must be of this at all times.

  Learn _ a Novice Elementhar is responsible to do of this as much as possible from a Master Elementhar, who in turn is responsible to do of this as much as possible from a High Elementhar, who in turn is responsible to do of this as much as possible from a Grand Elementhar; and a Grand Elementhar is responsible to teach as much as possible to a High Elementhar, who in turn is responsible to teach as much as possible to a Master Elementhar, who in turn is responsible to teach as much as possible to a Novice Elementhar.

  Mastery _ a Novice, Master, High or Grand Elementhar shall not seek to do of this of more than two of the elemental disciplines, unless there is a dire need to do so.

  The second category was known as the Law of Elementhar Administration, and had the following contents in order of priority:

  Agreement _ no Novice, Master, High or Grand Elementhar and neither the Grand Order of Elementhars nor the High Council of Elementhars are allowed to come to any of this, conduct discussions with or negotiate with any being who is a demon or an accomplice to a demon.

  Learn _ no Novice, Master, High or Grand Elementhar shall be allowed to do of this of any demonic teachings or to attempt to acquire demonic powers.

  Right of Speech _ no Novice, Master, High or Grand Elementhar shall have of this if he/she is not or is no longer a member of the Grand Order of Elementhars.

  Politics _ no Novice, Master, High or Grand Elementhar shall be part of any act of this, or to interfere with or be involved in any form of administration by any local government.

  Duel _ no Novice, Master, High or Grand Elementhar may challenge another Novice, Master, High or Grand Elementhar to a mortal of this in order to prove or disprove a breach in the Law of Elementhar Conduct or the Law of Elementhar Administration, unless all alternative solutions are exhausted; at which, the refusal to accept such a challenge is deemed as an admission of guilt.

  Interfere _ no Novice, Master, High or Grand Elementhar shall do of this in a mortal duel between two other Novice, Master, High or Grand Elementhars.

  Justice _ no order of the Grand Order of Elementhars or even the Grand Order of Elementhar itself, may refuse to do/provide of this for any Novice, Master, High or Grand Elementhar, especially if he/she is not able to do so for himself/herself.

  Trial _ no Novice, Master, High or Grand Elementhar can be deemed guilty of breaching the Law of Elementhar Conduct or the Law of Elementhar Administration, unless he/she is given a fair and unbiased one of this.

  Punishment _ no Novice, Master, High or Grand Elementhar, after being deemed guilty of breaching the Law of Elementhar Conduct or the Law of Elementhar Administration, can be given of this unless it is pronounced, defined and executed by the High Council of Elementhars or its appointed representatives.

  Protect _no order of the Grand Order of Elementhars or even the Grand Order of Elementhar itself, may refuse to do of this of any Novice, Master, High or Grand Elementhar unless such a person has breached the Law of Elementhar Conduct or the Law of Elementhar Administration.

  Administration _ no Novice, Master, High or Grand Elementhar and no order of the Grand Order of Elementhars is allowed to go against the High Council of Elementhars’ of this and its policies, unless it is deemed unfair, in which case the matter will be settled through a duel between the complainant and a representative of the High Council of Elementhars.

  Favours - no Novice, Master, High or Grand Elementhar and no order of the Grand Order of Elementhars is allowed to give or receive of these or of any preferential treatment of any kind.

  Lance set about memorizing what Ray had just explained to him. The Law of Elementhars seemed strict and unforgiving, but Lance knew that it had to be so in order to be effective. Ray had also explained that the Law of Elementhars or any law, for that matter, was required to be absolutely fair; otherwise it could not be considered a law.

  Lance had no idea what the time was, although he was quite sure that it was way past midnight. He bid Ray and Spirit goodnight and went off to sleep in his tent. Spirit lay down beside Ray in Ray’s tent and fell asleep. But Ray could not sleep. Reading through the Vanguard Manuscript and teaching Lance about the Law of Elementhars had focussed his thoughts on the past once again.

  Ray remembered an event almost 20 years ago. He was walking along the corridors of Monune Ruby, having a deep conversation with his mentor.

  “Monune _ Master Santlyn, I am hesitant to leave ours of it. Mistake _ what if I make of this when I am there at Monune Brown Diamond? Novice _ I am not one of him anymore and they would have a high expectation of me, yet I know nothing of their discipline,” said Ray.

  “Monune _ you must leave ours of it to further your studies of Elemental Sorcery, for you are a gifted young man and it is not often that the High Council of Elementhars grants its approval for an Elementhar to take up a second discipline. Mistake _ it is only human to make of this, so do not worry too much about it. Remember _ but you must do of this, for this is very important. Mistake _ never make the same of this twice,” said Grand Elementhar Santlyn.

  “Mistake _ never make the same of this twice, I shall make it a point to forever remember this,” accepted Ray.

  Ray tried to hold back a tear in his eyes. Failing to do so, he closed his eyes instead. The memories of his mentor and his brother and sister Fire Elementhars were too painful to bear. He opened his eyes to the burning embers of the bonfire. ‘Mistake _ never make the same of this twice’ echoed in his mind, for he had made a mistake; in his rush and eagerness to pursue the assassins of the Shadow Deathmerchant Clan, he had jeopardised the safety of his young novice. He then made a resolution to ensure that this would never happen again.

  The 26th Noon of Second Month of Wet Season saw Battlelord Constrictor and his serpenest arriving at Castle Cobra. Together with them they brought their spoils of war. Standing atop the front gate, King Fangstrike scanned Serpenest Constrictor as it stood at attention outside the castle. Battlelord Constrictor approached the king, bowed and presented his report.

  “King Fangstrike, I’m sorry to report that the raid was a failure. Fort Eastguard is badly damaged, but it still stands. I’ve lost approximately 3,000 soldiers and I’ve approximately 1,300 wounded. Of the spoils of war, I’ve managed to get 9,000 slaves, thr
ee cartloads of precious gems, four cartloads of gold and six cartloads of silver. Approximately 200 cartloads’ worth of grain had to be abandoned because Fort Eastguard wasn’t taken, therefore no road was available for us to travel through to get back,” said Battlelord Constrictor.

  King Fangstrike shook his head and gave Battlelord Constrictor a disgusted look.

  “I’m disappointed in you, Constrictor!” he said.

  “King Fangstrike, I apologise for my failure!” said the battlelord.

  “Your next failure will result in your execution! Do you understand?” warned the king.

  “I understand!” acknowledged Battlelord Constrictor.

  “Leave 200 women, the pretty ones only, for my harem; and 800 strong men for my mines. Divide 3000 slaves equally amongst the other battlelords. Half a cartload of each type of treasure you’ll pay to me and half a cartload of each type of treasure you’ll divide equally amongst the other battlelords. The rest you can keep. Now, you’re dismissed!” instructed King Fangstrike.

  Battlelord Constrictor bowed, turned around and walked away upset. The high ‘taxation’ was a punishment for his failure to destroy Fort Eastguard. He had lost 3,000 soldiers and wounded his pride and all he got for his efforts were 5,000 slaves, two cartloads of gems, three cartloads of gold and five cartloads of silver, all of which he had to divide amongst himself and the rest of his serpenest. The family of the dead soldiers would get a major share of the spoils as compensation. In the end, there would not be much of the spoils left for him. A truly unprofitable undertaking!