FARHAYVEN: VENGEANCE

by S. K. Ng

  Clover pulled the metal object out of her arm. A spray of blood spurted out of the wound. Ray wrapped his hand around the wound and exhaled. A sudden flash of flames appeared around the wound and she gave scream of pain. He removed his hand. Her bleeding was stopped.

  “Scar _ this wound will have of this,” he said Ray.

  “Scar _ it is better to have of this than dying,” she replied.

  The warrior walked up to Ray and Clover.

  “Kind sir and madam, it seems I owe you my life,” said the warrior.

  Spirit growled in disgust.

  “My apologies, wolf, I am indebted to you as well,” added the warrior.

  “Gratitude _ you need not give us of this, for we were only interested in capturing an assassin of the Shadow Deathmerchant Clan and not specifically to save your life,” replied Ray.

  Ray’s words shocked the warrior.

  “I apologise, then. But the fact is that you did save my life, and I owe you my gratitude whether you wish it or not. Please, allow me to introduce myself…,” insisted the warrior.

  “Identity _ yours of this is Prince Eagle Patrum, Crown Prince of Free Falls, Your Highness!” interrupted Clover before the warrior could finish his sentence.

  Ray showed no emotion. Clover, meanwhile, was excited.

  “Yes, madam, I am who you say I am; and I shall ensure that you are justly rewarded for your brave deeds, all of you, even your wolf friend,” assured Prince Patrum.

  “Elementhars _ we are of them, and do not require any reward from you, so thank you anyway; we shall be on our way soon and so should you,” expressed Ray.

  The prince was somewhat taken aback by Ray’s coldness. Then it dawned on him as to the reason why.

  “Ah! Yes! The cold, apolitical view of the Elementhars! I have heard of this. You do not recognise the legitimacy of any king or form of government and you see not yourselves as citizens of this or any other kingdom, instead, you see yourselves as the citizens of a wider universe. Very well, I shall have to respect this, seeing that you did save my life! Well then, may I enquire as to where you are going?” said the prince.

  “Fallsene City,” answered Ray.

  “Fallsene City! Why do you not travel with me, for I am returning to the capital as well? Do you have a place to stay in Fallsene? You are most welcome to stay at the palace for as long as you wish,” offered Prince Patrum.

  “Travel _ perhaps it is a good idea that we do of this together, for there are many bandits in this forest and your offer of lodging is highly appreciated and accepted,” said Ray, signalling for Lance to join them.

  Clover twitched in nervousness. Her next few words were difficult to say.

  “Forgive _ please do of this to me as I am not able to treat you with the full respect befitting royalty, Your Highness; for although I come from a military family and I am compelled to acknowledge your royalty, I am now an Elementhar and I am supposed to be apolitical,” said Clover.

  “Yes, there is something familiar about your face. Let me guess, you are a Genox. Your grandfather is Retired Orgavian Boulder Genox, hero of the 3rd Liberation War. Your father is Recavian Hammer Genox, hero of the Pridejoy Siege. Your uncles are Orgavians Castle and Arrow Genox. And you have a cousin who serves at Fort Eastguard, Minvian Serene Genox, am I right?” guessed Prince Patrum.

  “Right _ you are of this, Your Highness,” said Clover, slightly nervous.

  “Do not worry, Elementhar. I understand,” said the prince.

  Clover felt relieved. It was easy for Ray to be apolitical for he never had dealings with the government or royalty, but Clover’s family shared a deep history with the Patrums dating back to the founding of Free Falls, so it was not easy for her.

  At that very moment, a thunderous sound of horses echoed in the forest as a pond of war chariots and cavalrymen appeared from the opposite direction.

  “Your Highness, are you harmed? Are you injured?” said the leader of the pond as he leaped from his chariot and kneeled before the prince.

  “I am fine, Minvian Farhan. A few cuts, but I shall survive,” said the prince to the charioteer.

  “With all due respect, Your Highness, why did you not wait for us? We would have arrived at Fort Eastguard in two days and would have been able to give you safe escort back to the capital. Pardon me, Your Highness, but I must be blunt, for it is part of my job! I have a responsibility to keep you alive! You have a responsibility to stay alive! You should have waited for us!” voiced Minvian Farhan.

  “Yes, you are right, minvian! I should have waited. But everything turned out all right, anyway. These fine people saved me from the assassins,” said the prince as he gestured to Ray, Clover, Lance and Spirit.

  Minvian Farhan turned to look at Ray. He was surprised to see that Ray was an Elementhar. He eyed Ray from head to toe in a disapproving manner.

  “I disagree with your choice in life, but I thank you for saving the prince. I owe you a great debt, Elementhar,” said Minvian Farhan as he bowed at Ray.

  Ray returned the bow silently and with neutral expression.

  Then the minvian took a good look at Clover. Clover tried her best to look casual.

  “I know you! I know your family, Clover Genox! It has been a long time, but, yes, it is you!” said Minvian Farhan, apparently recognising the rebel daughter of the commander of 4th Ocean.

  “Well _ I hope you have been of this, Javelin, since the last time I saw you at school,” said Clover.

  “I have been well, Clover. Thank you! It would have been better for all of us if you had joined us at Fallsian Guards Academy. Your cousin cried for half a year because you were not there with her, did you know that? You caused her a lot of embarrassment and grief, Clover. And you shamed our school greatly. But I guess now you have made up for it. You helped save the prince. When I tell our headmaster and teachers back at the school of what you have just done, then they can be proud again. I think they will forgive you. I certainly will. But I do not know if your family will. What you did to your family was ‘unimaginable’, to say the least,” said Minvian Farhan.

  Clover put her head down and tried to contain a tear. Minvian Farhan’s word cut through her like a knife. Ray was getting upset with the minvian’s behaviour.

  Minvian Farhan gave Lance the same look he gave Ray. But he said nothing to him. Then he walked over to Spirit. Spirit growled. The minvian smiled.

  “This is a cute dog!” said the minvian to Ray.

  “Wolf _ he is of him,” corrected Ray.

  “All right! Cute wolf, then!” said the minvian.

  Spirit growled even louder.

  “All right! Sorry! Sorry! You are a fierce wolf! I am sorry! I owe you a debt too, wolf, for saving the prince,” said Minvian Farhan to Spirit, not sure if his words were understood.

  Spirit calmed down a little. Apparently he understood, much to Minvian Farhan’s amazement.

  Minvian Farhan walked back over to Prince Patrum.

  “Your Highness, we have a carriage for you. This way please,” said the minvian as he gestured to a black carriage similar to the one the prince had travelled in earlier.

  “Let us proceed, minvian. My guests will be joining us,” said the prince.

  “Yes, Your Highness. This way please,” said Minvian Farhan, leading Prince Patrum, Ray, Clover, Lance and Spirit to the other carriage.

  Minvian Farhan opened the carriage door. Prince Patrum boarded the carriage. Then Ray, Clover and Lance boarded. Then suddenly Minvian Farhan blocked the doorway. Spirit growled.

  “Umm, Your Highness, what about the wolf?” asked the minvian in an unsure tone.

  “The wolf is welcome in the carriage, Minvian Farhan, just like the rest of my guests,” clarified the prince.

  “Understood, Your Highness,” acknowledged Minvian Farhan as he stepped out of Spirit’s way.

  The white wolf boarded the carriage and jumped on Lance’s lap. The minvian closed the door and went off to attend to the proper handlin
g of his dead comrades. A quarter of an hour later, the black carriage, with the escort of Minvian Farhan’s pond, started their journey towards Fallsene City.

  Prince Patrum turned towards Ray.

  “Elementhar, I did not catch your name,” said Prince Patrum.

  “Name _ mine of this is Ray Iddell, and this is my novice, Lance Arman; and my companion, Spirit the White Wolf. Sister _ mine Elementhar of her, you already know, Master Elementhar Clover Genox,” said Ray in a tone of casual politeness.

  “You are very skilful, Master Iddell. As a matter of fact, you all are. Have any of you considered working for the kingdom and for the government?” asked Prince Patrum.

  “Elementhars _ we are of them, and are required to be apolitical and therefore are not allowed to work for any king or government,” replied Ray.

  “But you helped us at Fort Eastguard, did you not? That was you, was it not? I have read the battle reports. You helped us once, why not help us again?” asked the prince.

  Ray shook his head slowly and firmly.

  “Situation _ that was a different one of this, for I was forced to help the soldiers at the fort because if they had lost, my apprentice and my wolf companion would be in severe danger; so as you can see, I had no choice,” explained Ray.

  “Yes, I understand that. You care for your apprentice and your companion, but do you not care for the people of Eastern Falls, or for the entire Free Falls? Although you lived in isolation, but surely, deep down inside there must be some feelings for them. Are you really that cold and unemotional? Perhaps you are more similar to a soldier than what you might think! Help me help them! Join me, help me form a pond of Elementhar warriors, this way we could repel the Serpentians once and for all. We could remove the fangs and the poison from the serpent and never be threatened by them again. Being an officer in the kingdom’s military has its benefits as well. You would have at your disposal considerable resources and support in your hunt for the Shadow Deathmerchant Clan. Forget not, these assassins are criminals in the government’s eyes as well; and their capture or eradication is also on our agenda, especially now that they have tried to assassinate me,” pleaded the prince.

  Ray shook his head again. Clover looked down at the carriage floor, refusing to commit herself.

  “Laws _ours of these are very clear,” stressed Ray.

  “Very well, then. But I know that you are no longer truly part of the Grand Order of Elementhars. The High Council has failed you. Why do you still follow their laws? I urge you to reconsider my offer, or more appropriately, my request,” surrendered the prince.

  “Think _ I shall do of this of your request, but know this, first of all, I am still a member of the Grand Order; and secondly and most importantly, the Law of Elementhars is not a law of the High Council of Elementhars, it is the law laid down by our founder, Pioneer Elementhar Nova Vanguard and it is not easily put aside,” explained Ray.

  Clover was quiet. A part of her wanted Ray to say yes. The part of her that was, is a Genox. She could be his apprentice and assistant. She would be in the ranks of the military just like the rest of her family. To make her parents, uncles, aunts and cousins proud of her. To stop being the black sheep of her family. That would be like a dream come true. Yet the part of her that was an Elementhar forbade it. What Ray had said was true. The Law of Elementhars was to be respected and obeyed at all times, even though it may have seemed strange and the reasons behind it were unknown or not easily understandable. Besides, the discipline of an Elementhar had already been fused into her soul. Ray’s dilemma was, in a way, her own dilemma as well.

  Lance was not even listening to the conversation, he was too busy wiping the blood off Spirit’s face and fur. Spirit seemed to be enjoying riding in the carriage, a gigantic novelty for a wild wolf. And it felt good to have all that sticky dried blood wiped away from his face and fur.

  Finally, Ray excuses himself from the conversation with Prince Patrum and goes to sleep. His body is tired and so is his mind. The prince does not mind, for he lays back and goes to sleep as well. With closed eyes, Ray’s mind drifts back to that fateful night. And just like the night before and the other nights before that, his mind always drifts back to that fateful night.

  CHAPTER TEN

  THAT FATEFUL NIGHT

  The heat of the bright midday sun causes Ray Iddell to sweat profusely as he walks the lonely path leading up to the top of a hill. It is the 26th Day of Fourth Month of Wet Season in the Year 1185 of the Known Era. As he reaches the top, he is greeted by a wide circumference of hedges broken only by a pair of open, large iron doors. He looks up at the gate that is before him and smiles. He is finally home.

  Ray had been travelling by foot for almost a month. He could have ridden a horse to get back, but chose to do a Travelling Patrol instead. Master Calnen had recommended it, saying that it would teach Ray patience. So Ray complied. His feet felt sore, as did the rest of his body. Yet as he took the final few steps through the open gate of Monune Ruby, he felt neither exhaustion nor pain. He felt fresh instead. He felt invigorated. Somehow, being back at Monune Ruby after being away for almost a year had recharged his soul.

  He approached the porch of the main building. There was a master Elementhar sweeping the floor, no doubt cleaning up the monune in preparation for the celebration. He also saw many others scurrying around to carry out their chores. Realising that they were very busy and preoccupied, he decided not to distract them with his presence. He was about to head for the living quarters when the Elementhar who was sweeping the floor looked up and noticed him.

  “Back _ Ray Iddell, you are of this! Nature’s wisdom _ may you have of this, and welcome home!” greeted the master Elementhar.

  “Nature’s wisdom _ may you have of this, Thunder Humbold! Good _ it is of this to see you, too! Things _ how have of these been since I was gone?” greeted Ray in return, offering a bow.

  “Things _ of these, for the most part they have been the same, except master’s health is failing slightly,” answered Master Elementhar Thunder Humbold after bowing in response.

  “Master _ of him, why is his health failing?” asked Ray.

  “Master _ of him, his health is failing due to exhaustion and old age; for he seems to be travelling a lot these days, often convening meetings at Monune Grand, meeting the High Elementhars in private or meeting government officials in Fallsene City,” explained Thunder.

  Ray’s curiosity was sparked. He had not heard anything about this when he was at Monune Brown Diamond.

  “Why?” was Ray’s simple question.

  “Issues _ certain of these have arisen. Worry _ do not of this at the moment for you must be weary from travel, and most likely thirsty and hungry too. Food _ there is still plenty of this left in the mess hall,” answered Thunder.

  “Hungry _ I am not of this, for I am overjoyed to be back; but I must admit, I am surprised to see that you are still here; for I thought you had decided to leave the order so that you can get married and start a family,” said Ray.

  “Issues _ as I have said, there are of these,” said Thunder.

  Suddenly Ray felt a hard slap on his shoulder.

  “Slide Moltox! Nature’s wisdom _ may you have of this, old friend!” said Ray as he turned around and lightly punched a large, well-built Elementhar in the arm.

  “Nature’s wisdom _ may you have of this, old friend! Arrive _ when did you do of this?” asked Master Elementhar Slide Moltox, smiling.

  “Arrived _ I did of this just only,” answered Ray.

  Slide looked at Ray with an eager expression.

  “Tricks _ well, of these, did those Earth Elementhars teach you any new ones?” asked Slide.

  “Tricks _ yes, they did teach me a few of these, and I shall show you one right now,” answered Ray.

  Ray drew in a deep breath and started moving his hands in a series of horizontal circles as though he was gathering something towards him. Suddenly dirt, dust, dead leaves and broken branches from all
over the monune began to pile up in front of him.

  “Cool! Sense _ it makes of this, for organics are definitely of the earth element,” remarked Slide.

  “Arrive _ why could you not do of this sooner? Sweeping _ you would have saved me one whole morning of this!” commented Thunder while giving him a funny look.

  Ray and Slide burst into laughter and so did Thunder. Pretty soon, other Fire Elementhars began showing up, attracted by the sound of the loud, uncontrollable laughter. All of them, including Feather Wilzen and Cutter Merrin, welcomed Ray warmly; for he was one of their own whom they had not seen for almost one full year.

  After much effort to politely excuse himself from the crowd of ‘brothers’ and ‘sisters’ surrounding him, Ray finally arrived at his room. It was dusty, for it had been kept untouched for almost a year. But he did not have time for housekeeping. He wanted to see his master as soon as possible, both as a sign of respect and also because he was concerned for his master’s health. He set out to the bathroom for a refreshing and long overdue shower. He wanted to be more presentable when meeting his master.