An hour after lunch, they could clearly see that these mountains were jagged, ice-encrusted, and very beautiful. An hour after sunset, they set up camp within a fertile valley at the base of those mountains.
At about eleven that night, Stormea and his two top officers arrived at the command tent. Both Humonus and Cheo had just begun to take off their battle armor.
After snapping a salute that was immediately returned by Humonus, Stormea reported, “Ruling-General Humonus, the grand total of casualties that we have sustained since having traveled through the desert these last two months is one hundred eighty-eight, sir. Most of the accidents came as a result of the horseback riding accidents while your forces were riding blindfolded at a full gallop, but per your order, I had the support team spread out our columns into rows of one as we rode directly behind the entire length of the assault team. Fortunately there was only one fatality, six life threatening injuries, thirty-four major ones, and all the rest were minor…sir!”
“Excellent work, Commanding-General,” Humonus commended.
Cheo, who was lying down in his bunk, snapped his fingers once.
Humonus glanced over at Cheo, and asked, “Yes, King Cheo?”
Cheo quickly signed something to Humonus, who interpreted, “King Cheo agrees with my commendation of ‘excellent job!’”
Stormea proudly replied, “Thank you Ruling-General Humonus and King Cheo!”
At a normal tone of voice, he next asked, “What are your next orders for traversing through these Bospa Mountains, which you vaguely mentioned before, sirs?”
Humonus answered, “We are going to divide the assault team into two sections with three columns in both sections—the first half will lead the formation through the mountain passes, while the second half will trail at the rear—in between we will place the support team—in columns of two. As for you and the command wagon, you will ride at the rear of the support. Now remember that trouble could arise at any time, so keep your soldiers on yellow alert—understand?”
“Yes, sir!” Stormea said just before he snapped a salute, which was returned by both Humonus and Cheo.
Stormea then departed, along with his two top generals—meanwhile, Humonus and Cheo ate their dinner of dried rations that the soldiers had just brought to them, and then they went fast to sleep in their bunks.
The next morning, just after a very colorful sunrise, Humonus called for formation through his megaphone. Then and there he briefed the same information to the army that he had shared with Stormea the night prior. Through his vocalized commands, he next re-shifted his entire army around until they were now in the new formation. Finally, together, as a single unit with he and Cheo in the lead, the army traveled through the summery warm valleys…
Six afternoons later without a single encounter, incident, or even a chilly night, the army finally arrived at the borders of Valakan, which lands consisted of all the fertile valleys surrounded by jagged mountain peaks around here. Most of these soldiers had never seen “beautiful landscape” such as this—not even Cheo, whom had come a different route through the mountains.
The only person who did not pay much attention to the scenery was Humonus, as his focus strangely remained locked on the road ahead—about an hour later, relief finally crossed his face upon discovering that the town of Valakan itself, consisting of hundreds of giant-sized log-cabins of all styles, was entirely unscathed.
Thankfully, the giants of the village, mostly ranging from seven-foot to nine-footers, were now running out of their cabins and uniting together—however, all bore alarmed expressions, and all wore metallic armor, helmets, shields, and possessed at least one weapon! The women and children stayed inside the cabins.
As the army drew within fifty feet of the first cabin, Humonus lifted up his left-armored fist into the air, and called out loudly to his forces through his megaphone, “Halt!”
The troops stopped in perfect synchronicity. Meanwhile, the giants had just finished forming themselves into the shape of a triangle—in the very next second, the giants not only simultaneously slammed their shields together on the ground around them, yet also over their heads, which instantly formed “a massive shield fortress!”
A second later, a door/shield in the top of the fortress disappeared right near the front, and “the leader of the pack” stood to his feet, which revealed everything above this ten-foot tall, six-hundred pound giant’s waist—a man who Humonus instantly recognized as Yaush, one of his close friends.
He had also observed that this giant’s massive hands not only possessed an equally massive steel bow and arrow, which already had an arrow “locked and loaded.” A very intense look was in his eyes as he carefully analyzed the size of the arriving army, while simultaneously looking for any and all people who looked like high-ranking officers.”
Only a second later, Humonus realized that Yaush certainly wouldn’t recognize him with the helmet on, so he took it off with one hand, and while waving his other hand through the air, he said one of the dozen or so sentences that he had learned how to say in Valakanese: “Visha blaka, Yaush!” (1)
Both of Yaush’s thick eyebrows rose in surprise, recognition and happiness—all at the same time. In the very next second, he lowered his bow to the ground, while his very loud and booming voice greeted back, “Visha blaka fe mao, Humonus… Jaosaim!” (2)
It was then that Humonus instantly remembered that the Valakanese word “jaosaim” meant, “friend.” He asked, “Jaosaim, mensa sahu mao?” (3)
“Visha! Mao?” Yaush answered with both enthusiasm and happiness in his voice. (4)
Just as enthusiastically, Humonus answered, “Visha!” (5)
He did not understand the semi-lengthy thing that Yaush said next, (6), but he did notice that the giants right away began to relax their shields, while simultaneously rising to their feet as they had been kneeling, though they did not move from their current location.
A second later, Humonus spoke aloud the name of the only seven-foot giant he knew that could fluently speak twelve languages, including that of Thoriumite, which he could also speak, “Salami?”
Humonus had first met Salami during his last one-month stop in Valakan, which was but nine months ago in fact. During this wonderful visit, Humonus, Chelsea, Baltor, and Brishava had all been traveling westbound from Chao-chu-sha-maen to Pavelus, so that Baltor and Brishava could inherit the Sharia Empire, which they did.
Again, Humonus asked the old giant’s name in the form of a question, “Salami?”
This time, Yaush turned around, looked amongst the crowd of giants, but after a few moments without success in locating Salami, he boomed out loud and clear, “War sahu mao, Salami?” (7)
Salami, now possessing a completely white beard and a very wrinkly face, hobbled his way on a cane through the group of giants with a bow and arrow strapped onto his back.
He yelled out in the language of Thoriumite, “Hold on there. Even though I’m not as good of hearing as I used to be, ya young whippersnappers, that doesn’t mean I can’t see the both of you!”
All of Salami’s “s” sounds were more like “shh” sounds. Upon completing his sentence, Salami then began to cackle an old man’s laughter!
With a nod, Humonus greeted, “Visha blaka fe mao, Salami.” (7)
Once Salami had hobbled his way over to Yaush and Humonus’s position, about three minutes later, he immediately greeted with a toothless grin, “Good morning to you, Humonush!”
Yaush said something to Salami. Salami then interpreted, “Yaush wants to know what brings you out in our direction, especially with this huge army following behind you, which is obviously is under your command?”
Humonus answered, “Though I am one of the two main commanders of this army, this army isn’t mine. They belong to Baltor and Brishava. I sincerely hope our arrival hasn’t frightened anyone, especially the women and children around here, but we—the army, King Cheo, and I—are traveling eastbound toward the Jungles of Galgaa.”
Instead of interpreting Humonus’s answer into Valakanese, Salami looked quite excitedly around as he asked, “Where are Baltor and Brishava, those blessed children?”
Yaush politely reminded Salami to interpret with a tap on his shoulder.
Now remembering that he was the interpreter, Salami cocked his head around to look at Yaush, who began to interpret Humonus’s answer in Valakanese.
Once done about fifteen seconds later, Yaush said something to Salami. Humonus detected the words “Baltor” and “Jaosaim” used in the sentence, remembering that jaosaim meant “friend.”
Salami straightened his head to look at Humonus once again, and then asked, “Yaush also wants to know where Baltor and Brishava are?”
Humonus answered, “Baltor is traveling with the bulk of his army—more than a one hundred ten thousand elite soldiers—to fight against another army that has just stolen a city of the Sharia Empire.”
With disbelief clearly in his voice, Salami asked, “Did you say one hundred ten thousand elite soldiers? Wow!”
Without pause, he cocked his head back to Yaush, and interpreted Humonus’s answer ... in turn, all of the giants either whistled aloud, or made some other type of “astonished noise.”
Once Humonus saw that Salami was looking his way, about twenty seconds later, he added, “Yes, the numbers are true. As for Brishava, she remains back in Pavelus with a ton of unbelievably important tasks to accomplish, as there is yet another army heading our way—yes, we have many enemies. In case you haven’t figured it out yet, Baltor has successfully become the Sultan of the Sharia Empire, and Brishava the Sultaness!”
Salami breathed out in awe, “Really? So their plan really succeeded?”
Humonus answered with a smile, “Yes…so far.”
Yaush politely tapped Salami on the shoulder, in order to interpret—Salami did.
Though a mixture of emotions crossed Yaush’s face as he listened to the interpretation, a wide smile crossed his face upon hearing the conclusion!
As soon as Salami had finished interpreting, Yaush immediately commenced to say something else, which sounded like a question by his slightly uprising tone of voice.
Upon completion of Yaush’s question, many of the other giants began to boom out the word, “Gav,” while nodding their heads up and down.
Salami interpreted, “Yaush offers his congratulations to both Baltor and Brishava for their wonderful successes—all of us want to know, however, why they are sending your army through our lands?”
Just then, coincidentally enough, Cheo had just gotten off his chariot and now stood to Humonus’s right.
Humonus first pointed at Cheo, and then explained, “This man here is the King of Chao-chu-sha-maen, which as you know based off Baltor’s history, is a friendly nation that lies to your east deep within the Galgaa Jungles. They are also your neighbors…
“Tragically, Chao-chu-sha-maen was attacked not too long ago, and destroyed by a dark and evil army that is making their way west toward your direction…your new-new neighbors! Before I continue, I will break here so you, Salami, can translate what I’ve said so far, okay?”
“Okay…” Salami said. He next looked over at Yaush, and interpreted. As soon as he had finished, many of the giants began grumbling toward each other.
As for Yaush, he nodded his concerned-looking face at Salami but said nothing—at that, Salami looked back at Humonus, and said, “Continue on, please.”
Humonus first cocked his head to the ride side, before yelling out to the soldiers behind him, “At ease!”
The troops assumed that far more comfortable position.
Speaking at a normal volume, Humonus next said, “Most especially, King Cheo is Baltor and Brishava’s friend and ally—it has been commanded of me to destroy the enemy army, or at least slow it down until Baltor and his reinforcements arrive.”
After Salami interpreted, Humonus continued, “Moreover, if you will allow us to help you, we can even give the citizens of Valakan a ride to the fortified walls of Pavelus that are six-hundred-foot high by one-hundred-foot thick. That is, before the dark and evil army arrives on your very doorsteps, which is almost certain to happen any day now!”
“I see,” Salami said. He turned to Yaush, and interpreted.
Following that interpretation, all of the giants, too include Yaush and Salami, immediately began to talk both loudly and angrily amongst one another, while many of them began to shake their weapons and shields around, which caused quite a chaotic ruckus for about two minutes!
Meanwhile, Humonus related to Cheo the gist of what had been said. Some of their troops began to worry that the giants might actually be getting angry with them. Once the last of the giants had quieted back down, perhaps a minute later, Yaush said something to Salami.
Salami turned his head to Humonus, and interpreted, “Yaush said that he has many questions, but his most important one is if there’s anything more you can tell us about this…dark and evil army!”
Looking over at Cheo for a second, Humonus answered, “Yes. However, I will let King Cheo tell you, as he has firsthand experience dealing with them. I will have to interpret for you what he says as he cannot speak either of our languages, but only use sign language. Okay?”
Salami answered, “Okay…but let me first tell everyone what you just said.”
With a nod to his head, Humonus answered, “Okay.”
Once Salami had finished translating what Humonus had just said to all the giants who remained silent, he looked over at Cheo, and said in Pavelian, “Go ahead, King Cheo.”
Even though there were unabashed tears now flowing from Cheo’s eyes as he looked at Salami, he signed out fervently with his hands while Humonus verbally interpreted, “Yes, all that General Humonus has said is true! They destroyed my two villages mercilessly, and even less merciful, they did not kill me but let me go because they knew I would find Baltor, who they know is the Sultan of the Sharia Empire!”
Cheo took a lengthy pause so that Salami could interpret to the giants what Humonus had just said.
Once Salami had completed the interpretation, he then looked back over at Cheo, and nodded his head.
Cheo continued to sign, while Humonus interpreted, “This very evil army that numbers in the millions fights with magic, believe it or not, both from their weapons and from their fingertips! Not only do they like to fight at night, yet they have pitch-black skin that is vastly darker than mine, and very pointy ears!”
Humonus continued to interpret, “Sultan Baltor Elysian and I both firmly believe that the army are not humans, but evil gnomes, and that their just-as-evil leader is a giant black dragon that flies, breathes out fire, and has magical capabilities!”
At this point, Salami actually began to cackle out in laughter as he heard the absurdity of these “fairy tales about gnomes, magic and dragons” being true, which caused everyone in the vicinity to cast “strange looks” at him—giants and human leaders.
Salami tamed back his laughter a few seconds later, especially upon seeing that pissed-off look coming from Cheo. He immediately explained, “I swear that I was not laughing at what happened to you and your nation, King Cheo, but there must be a logical explanation, perhaps even a different type of human race never before discovered! Then you mentioned dragons? Next thing I’ll be hearing, there are vampires somehow involved too in this crazy little tale, right? I shouldn’t have asked that question—sorry! If you took my laughing offensively, King Cheo, I sincerely apologize.”
During the course of Humonus interpreting Salami’s answer, Cheo’s face slowly relaxed from anger to calm.
Following another tap on his shoulder by Yaush, Salami interpreted all that Cheo had said, even though Salami obviously continued to sound disbelieving.
Yaush, on the other hand, replied something to Salami in Valakanese, which instantly caused a fearful look to cross Salami’s face.
Salami immediately asked a question in Valakanese. A few mome
nts later, when Yaush finished his answer, this caused yet another fearful look to cross Salami’s face.
Salami asked yet something else, and a moment later, upon hearing Yaush’s answer, a third look of fear crossed Salami’s face.
With fear in his voice, Salami looked at Humonus, and revealed, “Yaush says that what you just said can be partially confirmed. Three evenings ago, he says that he saw something flying in the sky to the east of Valakan! He says that he guesses he is not going crazy, after all…” At this point, he stopped talking and stared off into space.
After feeling chills that ran up and down his back, Humonus was the first to ask perhaps five seconds later, “What did Yaush see?”
Salami answered, “That’s what I asked him. He said something to the effect of: ‘While I was returning home from my unsuccessful hunting expedition, just after sunset but before night took over, I was extremely tired from the long and boring day without so much as a single kill. I thought I was imagining things when I saw a very-very-very large shadow fly in between two of the mountain peaks to my southeast. It was there for no more than a second!’”
Salami continued, “So I asked him, ‘Are you sure it wasn’t a large bird you saw, Yaush?’ Yaush answered, ‘I don’t really know what it was, but if it was a bird, it was one freaking big bird without feathers and shiny black skin!”
Meanwhile, even though the army continued to remain perfectly still, the giants continued to talk angrily amongst one another. Some of the giants were even smacking the end of their weapons into the palm of their hands!
Amidst the chaos, Salami instinctively asked in Valakanese, “Larse brothi mersha maotaos prisha?” (8)
As soon as Yaush began to answer, the rest of the villagers clammed up. Once done saying what he had to say, they simultaneously raised their weapons and shield into the air while booming out, “Hoooossshhhaaa!”
Humonus had no idea what that word meant.
Yaush said something else—Salami interpreted, “Yaush said for me to say first that he is really proud of Baltor for deciding to take a stand against an army of might, magic, and myths—one that is most likely led by a black dragon, unless of course we’re all going crazy!
BOOK II OF III: The Reign of the Sultan Page 19