FARHAYVEN: VENGEANCE

by S. K. Ng

  “Welcome _ you are of this to Castle Greenbloom, Serene, or whatever that is left of it. Conditions _ how are of these of Prince Patrum and Rod?” said Ray.

  “Arrive _ Prince Patrum and Rod have safely done of this at Fallsgreen Citizen Healing Centre, Minvian Iddell. Conditions _ theirs of these is that Prince Patrum is recovering well but Rod is still in critical condition. Blood _ he has lost a lot of this. Shin bone _ his of it will heal, though, but it will take a long time,” reported Serene.

  “Good _ it is as of this as it can get under these circumstances. Know _ how well do you of this of Secretary Romar?” asked Ray.

  “Background _ hers of this is not complicated. Born _ she was of this to a middle income family, received a complete education from Royal Fallsene Educational, surprisingly enough; and then she was hired by the Council of Ministers on behalf of the king and was assigned to Prime Minister Trex five years ago. Habits _ of hers, she is quiet and homely and does not appear to have many friends. Finances _ with regards to hers of these, I have sent a few Sollenthars back to Fallsene City to investigate,” answered Serene.

  Serene had said something that Ray did not understand. It was something that only a person who had grown up in Fallsene City would understand, but unlike Serene, Ray grew up in a monune far away from there.

  “Mean _ what do you of this when you said ‘surprisingly enough’?” he asked.

  “Meant _ what I did of this was that normally someone like Secretary Romar, whose family was not extremely wealthy or well tied to the government, would not be able to get a place in Royal Fallsene Educational. School _ that of it only accepts selected students based on the financial or political standings of their family. Afford _ besides, she would not be able to of this of the school fees and the related expenses, for they are three times more than Fallsene Brightshield’s and five times more than the average school in Fallsene City. Sponsor _ she must have had one of him, I think, for I see no other way she could have done it,” answered Serene.

  “Sponsor?” asked Ray.

  “Sponsor _ certain wealthy or politically connected individual may choose to do of this to a student in exchange for a contract of employment. Sponsor _ normally one would do of this if one sees great potential in the student and wants the student to work for oneself when the student graduates. Consider _ you may of this of it as an ‘early employee booking system’ of sorts,” explained Serene.

  Ray was quiet for a while. He was trying to process what Serene had told him.

  “Sponsorship _ is the practice of this common in Fallsene City?” he enquired further.

  “Sponsorship _ of this, it is a common practice. Ask _ why do you do of this?” asked Serene in response.

  “Sponsor _ did the prime minister do of this to her, considering the fact that she is now working for him?” asked Ray.

  “Sponsor _ maybe he is the one of him, but it could also be anybody on the Council of Ministers, because it was the council who hired her, not the prime minister specifically,” answered Serene.

  “Sponsorship _ hers of this needs to be investigated, such as who the sponsor is, how he first met her and why he chose to sponsor her,” answered Ray.

  “Information _ what is it of this do you hope to get?” asked Serene.

  “Information _ of this, I hope to get her motive for helping the Shadow Deathmerchant Clan, if she is indeed guilty of it,” explained Ray.

  Serene was beginning to see Ray’s logic. If they understood Secretary Romar’s background and in particular, her attributes that earned her a sponsorship from the Council of Ministers, not only could they find out what was her motive for helping the Shadow Deathmerchant Clan, but also the clan’s motive for recruiting her. This would help build a profile of the clan’s mentality and mode of operation, which would be useful in identifying other spies whom the clan may have placed inside the government.

  The sudden realisation that the Shadow Deathmerchant Clan may have other spies in the government sent a shiver down Serene’s spine.

  “Spies _ do you think that the Shadow Deathmerchant Clan has others of them in the government? Do _ what do we of this now?” asked Serene.

  “Spies _ yes, of them, there maybe more! Do _ of this, we follow as what I have planned, which is to track her every movement and investigate everyone she comes in contact with. Location _ what is hers of this?” said Ray.

  “Location _ hers of this is currently at Bamboowall Town, about a day’s horse-ride from here. Monitor _ 1st and 2nd Stream, 5th River are doing of this to her now,” answered Serene.

  Ray nodded his head in approval. He was impressed at Serene’s efficiency. Apparently she had not wasted any time in setting up the surveillance on Secretary Romar.

  The light splatters of rain provided little comfort to either Ray or Serene as their minds worried about the health and well-being of their comrade, Rod, and of the mysterious motive and plans of Royal Secretary Verbena Romar.

  Thorn breathed in the fresh morning air as he stretched his back and arms. He had felt well enough to leave the infirmary at Garrison Crystalflow and took a short stroll around the inside of the garrison. As he walked past the small courtyard he saw the faces of the young soldiers of the garrison, some eager and high-spirited as he was when he was at their age while others had a vacant, innocent-like expression. He looked for scars and injuries amongst them. There were none. These young men and women had not seen battle! Crystalflow Town was not attacked by the Serpentians!

  Just at that moment Minvian Prodence appeared with four soldiers in tow.

  “Minvian Sayvion, I have orders to take you into custody. These orders came directly from ocean headquarters. Please come with us,” he said.

  “On what charges?” asked Thorn.

  “Desertion,” answered Minvian Prodence.

  “That is…,” said Thorn as he stopped mid-sentence. He had just remembered the inconvenient fact that he did desert his post at Fort Eastguard.

  Thorn smiled briefly, looked down at the ground and then nodded at Minvian Prodence, signalling his willingness to co-operate. He was then escorted away by Minvian Prodence and his subordinates. He knew that there were going to be consequences for his decisions. And he accepted them. The only consolation for him was that being in a Fallsian prison would be far better than being in a Serpentian labour camp.

  Minvian Clover Genox sat opposite a very weak Dawn Breven in the infirmary at Castle Greenbloom on the quiet evening of the 6th Day of Fourth Month of Dry Season. Ray was eavesdropping just outside the closed infirmary door. Clover stared coldly at Dawn. The female assassin returned the stare with a blank one of her own.

  “Killed _ you have done of this to many of my comrades,” said Clover coldly.

  “You’ve killed a fair number of mine as well,” retorted Dawn.

  “Kill _ why do you do of this, I mean, why become an assassin? Know _ we do of this about your villages and how the government deserted you in the time of need and I, too, felt it unfair that such a betrayal had befallen you and your people; but is not rebellion, and more so, rebellion funded by illegal and immoral endeavours, an extreme and unjustified reaction?” asked Clover.

  “You don’t understand. We were starving. We had nothing! Nothing left! We’ve tried all legal recourses. We desperately needed food, medicine and other necessities, but we just couldn’t get them. Our people were dying. You don’t understand the pain of this treachery. It has cut us deep. Too deep for patience or forgiveness,” answered Dawn.

  Although Clover had read the related reports, she had a hard time believing the picture of desperation that Dawn was painting for her.

  “Assassin _ how does becoming of her help your people?” asked Clover pointedly.

  “Simple answer, soldier! It’s money! Money is power! Money is life itself! Money is everything! One of our leaders discovered the trade of assassination by accident. He was made an offer to kill someone for 400 gold coins. And with that 400 gold coins, we bought food, me
dicine, clothing and all manner of necessities, even the freedom of my uncle from jail. We would’ve all died if not for that 400 gold coins. Then it became clear to us, this path to our salvation. So what if one man loses his life if in him doing so hundreds will live? Clearly, soldier, even you can’t argue with this logic, can you? So we, the survivors of the Ten Betrayed Villages, swore an oath of kinship to each other, became a clan and trained ourselves in the many ways of killing,” explained Dawn.

  Clover’s facial expression was neutral. In truth, she felt nothing but disgust!

  “Killer _ highly skilled of her are you indeed that you can sneak into this heavily guarded castle on your own, without any help,” she conceded.

  “Heavily guarded? You government lackeys are stupid and pathetic! The secret passageway wasn’t guarded at all and the two guards whom you posted in the hallway were practically dozing off,” commented Dawn.

  “Know _ how did you do of this with regards to the existence of the passageway?” asked Clover casually.

  Dawn began to speak, but hesitated. She realised her mistake a little too late. She had spoken too much.

  “Help _ who gave you of this for you to enter the castle?” asked Clover rather firmly.

  Dawn was silent.

  “Discover _ we shall of this of your accomplice, you know this, right? Time _ it is only a matter of this,” said Clover.

  “It matters not. Her information was faulty and unreliable anyway,” muttered Dawn absent-mindedly, but Clover had heard her clearly enough, and afforded Dawn a hollow smile and left the infirmary.

  Ray met Clover in the hallway and together, they walked out of the keep and into the barracks where Ray had set up a temporary office and command centre. Ray sat down on his seat and Clover sat herself down across the desk facing him. A servian-ranked Sollenthar came in with a tray laden with a pot of tea and some snacks. He placed it on Ray’s desk, then bowed politely to both Ray and Clover and left the office.

  “Think _ what do you do of this, Clover?” asked Ray, clearly in reference to the interrogation that Clover had conducted.

  “Think _ of this, I am sure that she had an accomplice, master. Taught _ someone must have done of this to her about the layout of this castle and how to get in,” answered Clover while she poured some milk into her tea.

  Ray took a sip of tea from his cup and so did Clover. Both of them were in deep thought. Interrogating criminal suspects was never part of their training as Elementhars, so they were both still new to this. But Clover had the advantage of being a graduate of Fallsene Brightshield Educational, where she was taught some basic techniques of interrogation. Since she became an Elementhar, she never thought that she would ever put these techniques to use.

  “Think _ do you of this that if we continued with the interrogations that she will finally break and give-in?” asked Ray as he poured some tea into his mug.

  “No. Strong-willed _ she is too of this,” answered Clover.

  There was a knock on the office door and Minvian Serene Genox came in.

  “Nature’s wisdom _ may the both of you have of this, Minvian Iddell, Clover!” greeted Serene as she walked into the office and bowed.

  “Nature’s wisdom _ may you have of this, Serene! Sit _ please do of this and have some tea,” replied Ray as he got up and reciprocated Serene’s bow.

  “Nature’s wisdom _ may you have of this, cousin!” replied Clover as she too got up and reciprocated her cousin’s bow.

  Serene took a seat next to her cousin. She poured herself a cup of tea.

  “Report _ do you have one of this, Serene?” asked Ray.

  “Report _ mine of this, Minvian Iddell, is that Secretary Romar had a meeting with a man in a restaurant in Bamboowall Town two nights ago; whom, upon cross-referencing with the local soldiers, we have confirmed to be a well-known and highly skilled criminal, specialising in smugglings, robberies and kidnappings. Conversation _ theirs of this was not clearly heard as the suvian who was tailing her could not get too close without raising suspicion, however, he managed to hear enough to conclude that she was hiring him for a dangerous job,” reported Serene.

  “Job _ of this, what is its nature?” asked Clover.

  “Job _ of this, cousin, is as yet unknown, however, she arrived at Castle Greenbloom this afternoon with that criminal disguised as her carriage driver,” answered Serene.

  Serene’s answer surprised both Ray and Clover.

  “Location _ of this, they are here!?” reacted Ray.

  “Location _ of this, they are here! Arrest _ should we do of this of the both of them now?” said Serene.

  “Arrest _ no, we should not do of this of them now, for it is too premature. Proof _ we require absolute and undeniable of this of her guilt and we do not yet have that,” said Ray.

  “Intention _ what do you think hers of this is, Serene?” asked Clover.

  “Intention _ I think hers of this is to assassinate the assassin Dawn Breven before Dawn incriminates her,” answered Serene.

  “Intention _ what do you think hers of this is, Clover?” asked Ray as he sipped his tea.

  “Intention _ I think hers of this is not to assassinate Dawn but to facilitate her escape somehow,” answered Clover.

  “Unlikely _ it is highly of this, cousin, for Dawn is too well guarded,” said Serene in disagreement.

  “Unlikely _ although it is highly of this, but it is still possible. Forget _ let us not of this that Dawn is a master assassin, and that she is still valuable to the Shadow Deathmerchant Clan for she could not be easily replaced, judging by what we have seen of her skills and determination. Assassin _ besides, the criminal whom Secretary Romar has hired is not one of him, so it is most unlikely that killing Dawn was ever the intention,” reasoned Clover.

  Serene was silent for a while. She nodded her head slightly, acknowledging that Clover’s argument could have a valid point. Ray, on the other hand, felt that both theories were equally sound. But he concluded that killing Dawn was the simpler of the two plans.

  “Method _ what do you think hers of this will be?” asked Serene curiously as she sipped some tea.

  “Method _ hers of this could be to smuggle some sort of small, concealable tool or weapon to Dawn so that Dawn could escape and fight her way free, most likely to be used during her transportation to Fallsene City tomorrow,” answered Clover.

  “Stop _ how do we do of this to her, Clover?” asked Serene.

  “Stop _ we do not do of this to her!” said Ray, before Clover could answer Serene’s question.

  “Intention _ will it be yours of this to let Dawn escape, then?” asked Serene as she sipped more tea.

  “Intention _ it is not mine of this to let her escape, but Secretary Romar must be allowed to carry out her plan to completion in order for us to get sufficient evidence against her,” answered Ray.

  Both Clover and Serene nodded their heads. They understood just as well as Ray that Secretary Romar was the bigger threat, ‘for a traitor that stabs from the back is more damaging than an enemy that stabs from the front’. Therefore it was strategically sound for them to sacrifice having Dawn so that they could eliminate Secretary Romar.

  Ray sipped his tea absent-mindedly. He was deeply troubled by the situation that had been forced upon him.

  “Precautions _of these, what shall we take?” asked Clover.

  “Precautions _ of these, we need to have all of the castle’s entrances secretly watched from concealed positions and we need to set up concealed observation posts on all roads, bridges, villages and towns in North-western Falls and Southern Falls,” explained Ray.

  “Concur _ I do of this, master,” expressed Clover.

  “Concur _ I do of this too, Minvian Iddell, and I suggest that we keep some part of Dawn’s clothing so that Spirit could have a reference when he sniffs her out later,” suggested Serene.

  “Mask _ hers of it would be sufficient, and unsuspicious,” suggested Clover.

  “Agreed! Despatc
hes _ send of these to all the town garrisons involved, Clover. Surveillance _ Serene, you are to continue of this of Secretary Romar,” instructed Ray.

  “Understand _ I do of this, Minvian Iddell. Suggest _ may I of this that a few random observation posts be set up in Eastern Falls as well, just in case she manages to escape and runs there?” said Serene.

  “Agreed,” said Ray.

  The trio continued to sip their tea in silence. The sound of crickets chirping serenaded the trio as they took a moment’s rest and reflected on the day that they had just spent.

  She lay chained to her bed frame, the assassin Dawn Breven, with a sad look on her face. The shackles that bound her hands and feet were thick and heavy, but not as heavy as the weight of emotions that pressed down on her heart. Sadness, for the loss of her comrades and friends; disappointment, for the lies and treachery of her clanmaster; hopelessness, for her physical condition and current captive status and finally, a weird sense of comradeship with, of all people, her enemies; these emotions crushed her to the point of breathlessness. The cold, calculative, professional-minded assassin began to cry. All sense of control was gone and she broke into a silent outpour of tears.

  Gone was the cold-blooded assassin and what was left was a little girl, helpless, sad and scared. There was no comfort for Dawn, no refuge to offer her protection and solace. Not a single shoulder to cry on. Her life was hollow. And in that hollowness she lived..., nay, survived; but just barely. She began to wonder how her life would be like if things were different. If her village was not destroyed all those years ago, how would she have turned out today? Would she be a farmer or would she be employed in a sophisticated job in a big city? Would she be a career-minded woman, or a housewife, or both? Would she be at the moment cooking dinner for a loving husband and many adorable children instead of lying wounded and broken in an infirmary? Would she be as cold and empty as what she was feeling at the moment!?