Cheo instantly stood up and signed, “No… I know they can be killed! I killed a half dozen of them before I was finally taken down—they wear only leather armor and black capes! If you strike at them around their armor and penetrate their flesh, they die like anybody else.”
Brishava stood up, looked on over at Baltor, and asked doubtfully, “So your ultimate destiny is to destroy your anti-soul, whom you believe to be a black dragon from another dimension?”
“I believe that it is—yes…”
Brishava, compromising, asked, “Well, how about this? You need to lead the bulk of your army to victory, so that they can see you in action—no one has a question about that, not even you!
“How about you first reclaim Lasparus, conquer the capital city of the Vispano Province, but instead of just stopping there, make your way southeast until you can face and decimate the dark army led by your anti-soul that you claim to be a dragon?
“Maybe by then you’ll have produced the solution to creating magical weapons, or Humonus and Cheo can simply steal the magical weapons themselves—if all this business about magic and myths and dragons are actually true!
“No matter, by the time you arrive, Humonus and Cheo and twenty thousand of our best cavalry should minimally have already taken a good-sized chunk out of them, which obviously can be done, and even better, you’ll be strategically outflanking the enemy army from a completely different direction…”
After extending her left index finger into the air to indicate she had one more thing to say, she concluded, “Last but not least, you will face your dragon, and your destiny, at the right time…allow Fate and God to decide when the times are right, as it has done with everything else within our lives, okay?”
Baltor agreed, “You’re right. Anybody else have anything to add?”
Humonus stood up, and said, “Yes, my Sultan. Your cavalry, King Cheo, and I will not only ride east to destroy the dark army, yet we can hopefully save the villagers of Valakan by having them hastily retreat to Pavelus, as soon as possible!”
A look of worry instantly crossed Baltor’s face—in the next moment, he pointed at Humonus with his index finger, along with a nod to his head, and then said, “Extremely good point. Anybody else have anything to say?”
Cheo stood up, and signed, “Thank you all very much… from the bottom of my heart, mind, and soul!”
This time, everyone cocked his or her head from side to side for a few moments, indicating the affirmative.
Baltor asked, “Anybody else?”
Chelsea asked, “I hope it doesn’t sound like a ridiculous question, but…what’s going to happen to Vaspan’s four sons? I know you made them into all into nobles last night as they’re still your family, but are you going to actually send them back to Mauritia, or keep them here?”
Brishava answered, “In three nights from now, when our army is ready to go their separate ways, General Hawkins will be going to Mauritia, but he will not be going alone. Accompanying him will be a guide-on bearer holding the flags of both Empires high into the air, a commanding general to lead thirty-five thousand of our most loyal troops, and finally yet most importantly, my youngest and most trustworthy cousin, Lord Bradmir…
“As for my other lordly cousins, they will comfortably reside in separate yet lavish homes in the upper class neighborhoods of Pavelus, and be both guests and collateral—that way, there will be no accidental rebellions! That’s the plan with them,” Brishava concluded just before she sat back down.
Baltor asked, “Anybody else?”
Everyone said or signed, “No…”
A few moments later, they all began to rise to their feet—before stepping away from the table, Baltor said, “And so this’ll be the battle plan we tell our armies tonight at nine.”
After Baltor and Humonus had verbally briefed the “battle plan” to all the assembled troops, which briefing took a half-hour, they then began to do all the “field promotions.” Statistically, Baltor only had one promotion to incur, which was Hawkins, who was promoted to governor.
Humonus, however, had thirteen general-ranked promotions to do, including Thorn … twenty minutes later Humonus finished the last.
It was then that Baltor declared through his megaphone, “Forces of the Sharia Empire, before I allow Ruling-General Humonus to dismiss you all for the night so that you can get your much-needed rest, I am going to say right now that you better get your sleep tonight, and that in the morning, you better eat a hearty breakfast. For, come seven a.m., we have formation right here.”
He added, “Following the formation, we will all need to give one hundred percent in prepping the Forces of the Sharia Empire for deployment!”
Before handing Humonus the megaphone, he concluded his briefing, “Ruling-General Humonus, you may dismiss the troops for the night whenever you are ready...”
For nearly ten seconds, Humonus remained silent. Finally, he broadcast, “See you right here at seven in the morning… Forces, dismissed!”
The soldiers, without hesitation, headed to their recently-assembled tents just outside the city walls, and went to bed.
Come morning at seven, following formation, all of those soldiers designated to deploy began the process of packing up their personal gear, sharpening their swords, polishing their armor, etc., etc.
The soldiers selected to stay in Pavelus all assisted with the process of packing up and preparing absolutely everything else. Just about all of them were disappointed that they would not be riding off to war, but they understood the importance of defending the city, especially against a dark and powerful army that could already be heading in their direction!
Precisely at nine, three nights later, Baltor, Brishava, Humonus, Chelsea, Cheo, and Hawkins gave “one final inspection” as they rode on horseback before the two hundred, twenty-eight thousand assembled troops. Prior to that inspection, during dinner, the group of six had already delivered their warm farewells with each other.
Once the inspection was met with “satisfactory results,” about an hour later, and the six were once again seated on their horses or chariots in front of the ranks, Baltor called out through his megaphone, “Forces of the Sharia Empire. I have said everything that needs to be said, but two important pieces of information… One, trust in your leaders’ decisions, and I promise you that we shall all ultimately succeed!”
After taking a deep breath, he added, “And two, I’m not much good at saying goodbye nor do I like saying it, so let me say this instead… Until we meet again, in this life or the next—I shall always do everything for the honor and the glory Sharia Empire. My question for you now is this, will you?”
Everyone fervently chanted back, “Yes, Sultan!”
After securing his megaphone to his saddle, Baltor unsheathed both swords in one quick movement, holding them high over his head and crossed. He yelled, “For the honor and the glory of the Sharia Empire!”
“For the honor and the glory of the Sharia Empire,” they chanted back.
Baltor cast his eyes to his left, where Humonus sat on his horse, and commanded, “Ruling-General Humonus… Execute your battle plan!”
“Yes, Sultan,” Humonus replied. Using his own megaphone he commanded, “Cavalry—rear face!”
They did.
He looked back at Baltor, and then ever so quietly said, “God’s luck to you, Baltor…my Friend and Sultan!”
Humonus turned his head to look ahead, and was about to snap on the reins in order to spur his horse on, so that he could ride to the left side of his troops, but then he heard Baltor excitedly reply, “Wait…I’ve got something for you!”
Humonus relaxed his grip on the reins, looked back over, and then asked in surprise, “What is it?”
“Actually, it’s something that you gave to me a long time ago—a good luck charm that I feel will best serve you now, as it did me…as I found out, it truly does make impossible things become possible!” Baltor said, while extending his closed hand out.
Already, Humonus knew what the object was … the gold necklace with the gold arrowhead pendant—the very arrowhead that had gotten lodged into Baltor’s left forearm during one of his special tests to become a thief as a young boy; later, Humonus had transformed it into this elegant piece of jewelry that had rarely ever left Baltor’s neck!
Humonus replied, “I can’t take that—who knows, maybe you’ll still…ah, yes, thank you my Sultan!” Even though there was a bit of hesitation to his movements, he did extend his right-gloved hand to take the necklace.
After having put it firmly into Humonus’s hand, Baltor added, “Trust me…you’ll need it! This magical charm has saved me from destruction too many times to count, but I want it back when it’s all over, and that’s an order.”
Humonus, who had just finished taking off his helmet with one hand and donning the necklace around his neck with the other, replied with a wistful tear in his right eye, “Yes, my Sultan!”
Baltor spurred his stallion a couple of steps, quickly swiped the tear with his left index finger, and rubbed it on Humonus’s head in a circular motion.
Even though a single bloody tear poured from Baltor’s eye, which Humonus easily identified as blood, Humonus quickly swiped that tear with his gloved hand, and rubbed it on Baltor’s head without a word spoken. All the while, Cheo smiled as he instantly recognized the Chao-chu-sha-maen ritual for his two best friends becoming “soul brothers.”
Without another look back, Humonus and Cheo spurred their horse-drawn chariots onward into a prance, but before either could snap their reins, so they could break into a full gallop, Humonus first called out loudly over his shoulder, “I love you, Chelsea!”
“I love you, Humonus, my husband!” Chelsea cried back. “Wait—come back to me for one more second, please, my husband…”
Humonus obligingly turned his chariot around, and rode back to his wife. Cheo, who had been riding alongside, stopped his chariot, as well.
Chelsea had already hopped out of her horse, and was now running toward his direction with arms fully extended!
Humonus took that cue, stopped his chariot, hopped out, and then embraced his wife—she hugged right back. In between all her kisses, she said, “I love and will miss you very much, my wonderful husband!”
Humonus, in between his kisses, replied, “I love you and will miss you too, my wonderful wife! But now, I must really go… I promise that we’ll meet again soon enough, my beloved wife—in this life or the next!”
She gave him one last tender kiss on the lips before letting him go.
Humonus headed back to his chariot, climbed back in, and snapped the reins repeatedly on his horse. Cheo rode alongside him a second after. Once the two were to the left of the cavalry division, Humonus called out over his megaphone, “Forward, ride!”
They did.
Chelsea watched her husband the whole time until he disappeared into the darkness of night.
Meanwhile, Baltor turned to Hawkins, and said, “Good luck in your mission, governor! Your Sultaness and I have put an incredible amount of trust and responsibility into your hands. Please do the best that you can, while always aiming for the peaceful resolution first!
“Oh, the possibility does exist that the dark army may come after Mauritia, sooner or later—alert the forces there of this possibility, and ensure that they always remain on red alert!”
Even though Hawkins sat on his horse, he replied with a bow, “Yes, my Sultan! I swear on my life, and the lives of my ancestors before me, that I shall not let you down—you are the most honorable man and Sultan that I have ever met…and it has been a privilege and honor to serve the Sharia Empire, and also you, my Sultan!”
To his soldiers, Hawkins cried out, using his own megaphone, a moment later, “Attention! About face! Forward march! Column half-right, march!”
Hawkins’ army immediately carried their orders in precision by first marching in the eastern direction.
Slowly but surely, the army angled itself toward the southeast. About fifteen minutes later, the last of these soldiers disappeared into the darkness of night, while going southeast toward Mauritia.
Hawkins had already joined the commanding general on the left-hand side of the army, the guide-on bearer bearing both flags of the Empires, and Vaspan’s youngest son, Bradmir.
Meanwhile, Baltor turned his head toward Brishava, and sighed, “The time has come for us to depart ways now too, my love…”
“I know…my love! But before I let you go, I also want a hug and a kiss from you!” With that, she climbed out of her saddle, and met her husband halfway.
A moment later, Baltor hopped off his stallion, gave his wife a tight hug, and then a very soft and sensuous kiss that lasted nearly a minute. Finally, Baltor pulled away from the kiss, and replied, “I really must go now.”
Brishava said, “Wait, I have a gift for you to remember me by!”
With that, she pulled off the scarf wrapped around her neck, and then wrapped it several times around Baltor’s wrist. With a girly smile, she then cooed, “I spiced it up with that perfume you especially love me wearing—I love you, my husband…goodbye!”
“I love you too, my wife—in exchange, here is that necklace you gave me in Valakan, my love. Let it always remind you of me, and how precious our love really is!” Baltor said, all the while taking off the jeweled necklace and donning it around Brishava’s neck.
“For the Sharia Empire, my Sultan,” Brishava said before giving one final quick kiss on Baltor’s lips.
Baltor concluded in a command tone, “For the Sharia Empire, my Sultaness!”
He next looked over to the bulk of his army, calling out through his megaphone, “Attention! Right face! Forward, march!”
Baltor rode to the left of his troops, alongside the guide-on bearer bearing the flag of the Sharia Empire, his commanding general, and Thorn, of whom carried a lit torch in his hand.
Once Baltor had nodded at Thorn, he waved that torch high into the air, which was the signal that the other forty thousand troops—navy sailors and marines waiting readily upon seven thousand ships—to begin sailing north. Besides the troops, the ships carried catapulting and siege machines, food, and water.
Brishava looked over at Runas, who was her commanding general. She ordered, “Bring our forces back into the city.”
“Yes, my Sultaness,” Runas replied. After turning to face those thirty-five thousand, twenty-eight soldiers that still remained, he then called out through his own megaphone, “Forces of the Sharia Empire, about face! Forward, march!”
Together, with Brishava, Runas, and Chelsea in the lead, they either marched or rode their way back into the city gates of Pavelus.
CHAPTER VIII
Baltor, and his one hundred, ten thousand and four forces, all traveled their way north to Lasparus, by land and by sea.
His army consisted of fifty thousand infantrymen that marched in columns of one hundred—side by side. Behind them, five thousand soldiers who rode on camels, horses, or in horse-drawn chariots, which he labeled the “assault cavalry.” Five thousand additional soldiers, also on horses or chariots, were the “support cavalry.” The final ten thousand horseback-riding soldiers were the “officers.”
The most important officer within Baltor’s forces was Commanding-General Han—he was in charge during the day as Baltor slept. The next-in-line was Admiral Bryce, who was in charge of all the naval forces. Behind him was Major-General Petrol. Thorn was the fourth-in-command as a brigadier general.
During the course of these next six weeks, the army marched by night and slept during the day—other than the three hundred swordfish sleuths that patrolled all around the fleet, the rest of the navy purposefully went as slow as the army.
While camped, Baltor slept within the command tent that Jamar had specifically designed so that no sunlight would ever enter.
Right after sunset each night, Baltor woke up, bathed, and put on his underwear. He would then call in a
couple of his soldiers to assist him into his battle armor that had proven to be as “comfortable” as clothes, as well attach his sheathed swords to his back.
While a few soldiers brought in dinner for their Sultan and his top-generals, the remainder began unsetting camp. Once dinner was over, these leaders exited the command tent and issued the command for the army to “form ranks.”
Baltor’s next mission was to train his troops—army and navy—in his “master martial arts fighting skills.” Most of the time, Thorn was the dummy … although there were the infrequent occasions when Han would volunteer.
Once that training was complete, sometimes several hours later, they would then march, ride, or sail north—that is, until thirty minutes before sunrise when camp was set up again…
Six weeks later, and not coincidentally an hour before sunrise, Baltor’s forces arrived just one mile south of Lasparus. It was then and there that he ordered the men to set up camp ... they did.
When Baltor had awoken just after sunset, he went through his normal routine. So far, there had been no reports of enemy movements.
An hour later, just as he was just finishing his dinner alone, Han entered the command tent.
Han reported, “My Sultan—the advance scouts have reported seeing the enemy ranks forming outside the city walls of Lasparus, by the glinting of their armor off the lights from both moons in the night sky! We suspect that they may either be intending either a night attack, or the pre-battle talks—we don’t know which!”
After delivering a short nod, Baltor replied, “Perfect, either way. Commanding-General Han, assemble the men into formation outside.”
“Yes, my Sultan,” Han said, just before he snapped a salute, exited the command tent with all his generals following right behind, and once standing in the midst of the soldiers, he lifted his megaphone to his mouth and called out, “Form ranks!”
BOOK II OF III: The Reign of the Sultan Page 14