King Reydaren objected, “Provoke? Tsk-tsk—I have done nothing to provoke you and your people.” He then remarked under his breath, “Idiot.”
Lady Alina took her hand from her mouth and, after gaining control of herself, blurted out, with amusement resonating in her voice, “The Idiot King.” She began chuckling to herself again.
King Pallan’s scribes winced and turned to each other in confusion.
King Pallan compressed his lips and growled, just audibly.
King Reydaren, pivoting slightly toward his daughter, remarked between laughs, “Yes, the Idiot King has come, seeking an alliance.” He then shot forward in his chair and asked, “How is the game of gavan going, if I may ask? Shoot some bolts as of late? Eat your pie to a sordid melody? Hmm, my good king?” As he began to sit back, King Pallan responded.
“I believe we have a misunderstanding. I have come—”
“Oh, there’s no misunderstanding, friend.” King Reydaren shook his head, spittle flying from his mouth.
King Pallan interjected, “I can offer you many things—treasures beyond compare.”
King Reydaren fired back, “You can offer me nothing; begone, you and your followers. You are soiling my royal carpet; I find your presence distasteful.” He motioned with flicks of his hand for King Pallan and his delegates to leave.
King Pallan, looking desperate, made several steps forward, pleading, “But what of my people?”
King Reydaren answered composedly, “They are your concern—in a spirit of leniency, fairness, I shall permit your troop to leave Ked, unharmed. I have no interest in anything you could offer me—you have lost your kingdom, and it is no concern of mine. Your weapons will be restored to you after you depart my land. Now be off. I have music to listen to, poetry to read. Grapes to eat!”
King Pallan, after gazing at King Reydaren briefly with an air of disappointment, gestured for his scribes and guards to follow Regaan and his men out of the room. In the background, all the while, King Reydaren and his daughter taunted, “The Idiot King; King Pallan. The fool from Paladia.”
King Pallan turned back toward King Reydaren slightly before leaving and said, “I shall remember our discourse …”
King Reydaren shot back, “Oh, tsk-tsk; do be gone, you and your minion.”
King Pallan and his men were led out of the mansion by a silent Regaan and his guard. In the courtyard were the rest of the Paladian refugees; some were sitting, others standing and talking. Many of the soldiers doubtlessly paced from a lack of need, rendered impotent without their weapons.
King Pallan asked, “Were any of you hurt—have you been mistreated in any way?”
Several of the Paladians got up and dusted their hands off. The general reply was no.
An elder named Riddel came to King Pallan and said, “No, not in any way, My Lord; they have rather let us alone. Some were even given some biscuits and water—the tired and sick ones.”
King Pallan bobbed his head as his lower lip was curled; his expression revealed greatly controlled anger. “Good. Tell the people that we are leaving.”
Riddel challenged him. “So soon, My Lord? We have only just arrived.”
King Pallan looked back at the magnificent estate and faced Riddel again. “So soon—we are not wanted here. Tell the people we are leaving.”
Riddel attempted a bow, shaking a little. “At once, My Lord.”
Jaegar whispered in King Pallan’s ear, “The treatment you were given—we should storm this residence now. Jardarah and I estimate that we can reach King Reydaren before—”
King Pallan protested softly, “Before what, Jaegar?” He shook his head. “No, no; it’s too risky. Moreover, with what weapons? We do not have any … let us go. For now, they have won. Rally the people and let us leave Ked, this miserable land.”
Jaegar seemed very disappointed at the order. “Aye, My Lord.”
Hadara, Olish, and Yarek came before King Pallan, Hadara wearing a look of dismay. “Sire, we are greatly displeased with the way you were treated. Perhaps King Reydaren will listen to us, on your behalf. Be open to proposals.”
King Pallan’s mien showed unmistakable fury beneath a veneer of composure. “Perhaps not. There is nothing more to be gained here. King Reydaren is a—” He pressed his lips together tightly and stormed off, the scribes watching him go with worry.
The entire camp was led back the same way they came, under guard. Nearing sunset, the Paladians were ordered to set up camp near a shantytown called Revin. As a precaution, they were surrounded, completely by Keden soldiers. Early the next day, King Pallan and his servants were marched back to the footpath that led into Ked. Coming to it after a few hours, Regaan came to the head of the column, where King Pallan was.
“I have decided to allow you and your men to have your weapons; it was not an easy decision. Rest assured, I am, technically, violating orders by allowing you this. My king is known to change his mind … from time to time.”
King Pallan stopped and turned to Regaan, who was flanked by two stoic-looking guards. Jaegar and Jardarah observed their king with marked reticence. King Pallan stepped toward Regaan and then froze. After several moments of icy silence, he said, “Thank you.”
Regaan nodded to him slowly. “A man named Caron will be waiting for you at the end of the footpath. Your weapons are deposited in piles near the gate.” Regaan was about to walk away. He offered the faintest hint of a smile. “I pray you will not attempt anything foolish.”
King Pallan cracked a grin. “I will not.”
Regaan’s smile widened. “Good. For now, I bid you farewell. Perhaps some day we can be friends, your people and mine.”
A barely audible grumble came from King Pallan, like the sound of a sickly bear deep within a cavern. “Let us hope.”
Regaan made a slight bow and left with his men.
The Paladian column followed a winding trail across several hills, before coming to the rise where the footpath wound around and then led down at a continuous slope to the sentry post. As before, two guards, with their backs to the Paladians and arms crossed, looked straight ahead, as if they were stone statues, seemingly placed there like scarecrows to ward off would-be intruders. There was a mass of armed soldiers gathered nearby, in case the Paladians revolted.
With a slight turn of his head to Jaegar, King Pallan commanded, “Have the men gather their weapons; at no time display any assertiveness. However, if the opportunity should arise, if this is some kind of massive ruse, a game, to slaughter us in one shot, and we need to defend ourselves, then you have my blessing—cut them down to the last man.”
Jaegar nodded cautiously and said in a muted tone, “Aye, My Lord. I shall give the men your directive.”
King Pallan responded as he looked ahead, “Good. Be ready for anything …”
A man came forward from the rest of the Keden soldiers and announced, nearly shouting, “I am Caron; Regaan has permitted you your weapons.”
King Pallan did not answer him until they came closer to the footpath’s end. “Yes, I am aware. Thank you. My men will disperse quietly and in orderly fashion, to retrieve their weapons. We will then leave, never returning here.”
Caron made a bow of his head. “You will be watched at all times.”
King Pallan said under his breath, “I know, worm …” He then said more loudly, for Caron to hear, “We will give you no problems.”
The Paladian civilians were made to stand in a group as the Paladian soldiers sifted through the piles of bucklers and swords, bundles of bolts, and associated items of war as their Keden masters stood over them, warily. As an incentive for compliance, the Paladian civilians were guarded by warriors with swords drawn.
The process took several minutes, and although some of their equipment was slightly damaged, by way of scratches on shields and some snapped arrows, King Pallan’s men were able to retrieve their armaments.
“We have collected our weapons.” King Pallan approached Caron, who eyed
him with reserved mistrust and a lowered brow.
Caron took his hands from behind his back and met King Pallan. “Good. To prevent you from retaliating against us, you and your soldiers will leave. After you have made your way through the hills, we will release the rest of your people.”
Hadara ran up to them, venting, “This is outrageous. They promised we could go.”
Caron turned to him; he had placed his hands behind his back once more. “We made no such promise.”
Hadara, somewhat winded, objected, “That is not true, sir. You—”
King Pallan cut in angrily, “Let it go, Hadara. You will be fine. Do as they say.”
Hadara quieted down; he appeared apprehensive.
King Pallan said softly to Hadara, “Go back to them. We will be waiting for you near Caros.”
Hadara bowed weakly and clambered for the civilians, Olish, and Yarek, who were huddled together, many displaying worried looks.
King Pallan gestured with a motion of his head for his men to move out. Garan approached Caron. Waiting for King Pallan to be out of earshot, he then threatened, “Rescind on your promise—harm any there yonder—and I promise, you shall be the first to die by the edge of my sword. You shall fall without making a sound.”
Caron made a weak attempt at a smile. The corner of Garan’s mouth turned up. Making a low growl, he then left the Keden warrior, whose complexion was turning fainter.
King Pallan and his soldiers walked the distance to Caros or very near to it. They made no attempt at treachery, for the Kedens held captive their wives and children, the three scholars King Pallan required for negotiating with other kings.
Jaegar peered into the distance. “No sign of them, sire. We have followed their instructions to the letter.”
King Pallan rubbed the back of his neck and rotated his head with a lift of his shoulder, to stretch the upper part of his back and neck. “Yes, we have followed their mandates, Jaegar.”
Jardarah shot over to his king and complained, “What do we do now?”
King Pallan looked in the direction of Ked, past the hills. “We wait.”
Jardarah pressed, “For how long?”
King Pallan stopped near him as he had taken a few steps closer to Ked, as it were, and then retreated. “Until the captives return.”
Jardarah pressed harder, “But what if they do not return?”
King Pallan walked away without answering.
Jaegar caught up to their lord and said, “Sire—Conrad is quite fatigued.”
King Pallan stopped and turned to him. “Is he alright?”
“Yes, My Lord, I think; but he is very weary. We must stop here.”
“Luckily, that was the plan. Thank you for notifying me of this. I shall go to him to see how he is getting along.”
Jaegar tapped his chest. “Yes, My Lord.”
Garan came alongside King Pallan as he headed for Conrad, who was seated on the ground, head bowed, chest swelling and collapsing, his wrists resting on his kneecaps.
“Conrad, how are you fairing?”
The aged knight raised his head by degrees, squinting. “Oh, just a little tired, laddie.” Through droopy eyes, Percival looked up at Garan and King Pallan, who now stood close to him and his master. “Oh, Percival been a’keepin’ me company like he always does.”
King Pallan asked more fervently, “Are you certain you are alright?”
Conrad laughed. “Oh, I’ll be fine, laddie; just a’real tired, that’s all. I’ll be alright. Tend to your men, laddie; me and Percival got the forward watch.”
The Paladian king smiled at him. “Let us know if you need anything.”
“You bet, laddie! Don’t worry—if I read those soldiers right—your people should be returnin’ here soon!”
King Pallan nodded. He and Garan left the two.
Garan remarked, “The old man appears sick. How long has he been in your camp?”
King Pallan continued walking a bit. “Since the fall of my kingdom; he was once a knight of Paladia. He now lives alone in the Resh Woodlands.”
Garan mused on King Pallan’s words for a short while. “He is a good man.”
King Pallan looked at Garan as they were walking. “He is; I am glad to have sought his help.”
“His help?”
King Pallan chuckled for an instant. “Indeed, my Kae’lem warrior—his help. With his assistance, we were able to flee the Resh Woodlands from King Ibren. It was then we headed for Kae’lem.”
“Aye!” Garan peered at the ground for a time. “This King Ibren—who is he? I have heard of a warrior king from the west—Ibren the Red!” Garan’s recall of the treacherous king hit him like a bolt of lightning. “Aye, a complete scoundrel; not to be trusted.”
“So, you know of him?”
“Aye, My Lord, I do; my people call him Gydees.”
King Pallan seemed intrigued. “What does that mean?”
“It is a saying of my people, in the old tongue, meaning one who gorges himself too much. A cunning pig …”
King Pallan began to laugh. “A cunning pig; indeed. King Gydees, the cunning pig—the fiend who has usurped my kingdom.”
Garan’s countenance displayed delight, though subdued, in winning King Pallan’s approval, in making light discourse with him. It was not to be the last time.
The Paladian escapees returned to the resting soldiers, who had set up a type of camp in preparation for them, toward late afternoon, as the sun’s powerful light began to ebb, its rays growing ever more indirect.
“Sire-sire! They have returned and appear in good health,” a clamouring Jaegar exclaimed.
King Pallan looked up quickly; he was seated near a fire with Garan, roasting some meat.
“They have been released.” Jaegar came to a halt, rocking somewhat from stopping so suddenly.
King Pallan rose. “Very good; have everyone assemble.”
Jaegar slapped his breastplate. “Yes, My Lord.”
“Have Jardarah, along with Genray, go over the releasees. Anything of note, however trivial, anyone injured or an item missing, make record of it; it will be added to King Reydaren’s account. A most heavy debt, to be sure.”
“At once, My Lord.” Jaegar bowed swiftly and shot away to look for Jardarah and Genray, a soldier noted for his bravery and cunning.
In a period, shorter than it takes to clean several plates and utensils, the Paladians had formed a long line. Jardarah and Genray interviewed each, briefly, to see if they were harmed. After about half an hour, Jardarah brought his findings to an expectant King Pallan. “Sire, no one was injured; nothing of note was stolen, save for a bracelet or two.”
King Pallan dipped his head to Jardarah. “Good; let us be gone from this place.”
Jardarah inquired, “But what of the bracelets?”
King Pallan hesitated for a second. “I shall forgive King Reydaren of his men’s impudence; the matter is a small one. However, his debt to me remains …”
“Yes, My Lord.” Jardarah glanced at Jaegar and Garan, who stood alongside King Pallan.
“To where will we go, sire? These lands are strange to us.”
King Pallan’s eyes narrowed as he surveyed the landscape around them. “We will head for the Dy’axalom Summits, the mountains to the south of here. Hitherto, we have made little progress in finding what we have set out to uncover.”
Jaegar challenged him lightly. “And what can we expect to find there, My Lord, in those mountains?”
After scanning the horizon a few seconds longer, King Pallan replied, “Answers—and shelter. Tell the scribes of my intentions. We leave tomorrow.”
Jaegar made a solemn bow of his head. “At once, My Lord.”
King Pallan retreated to his tent, the fire there still burning away.
VIII
The Paladians made for the Dy’axalom Mountains. Leaving Caros far behind, they came to a region of untapped wilderness. As the distant summits grew, the land itself inclined markedly,
the trees beginning to thin. To the north were the grasslands, which appeared as undulating sheets of honey with traces of fuzziness from the swaying grass. The land gave up its covering and became rocky in places, revealing a hardened ground with mosses dotted here and there. The air, too, began to thin and became colder as the elevation increased. There were no signs of villages or other settlements in any direction, and the burden of civilians was becoming more pronounced to the well-trained warriors. A decision would need to be made as to what to do with them, for some could not carry on much longer, and Conrad’s condition had worsened.
“Sire, the elevation continues to rise; may I suggest we set up camp here?” Jaegar scanned the trees ahead with intensity. “We have reached the base of the summits …”
King Pallan stopped and placed his hand on his elevated knee, his other leg straight on lower ground. Completing a brief survey of the rising land, he said, “The beginnings of the Dy’axalom Mountains … we will set up camp here.”
Hadara came up and said nervously, “Sire, we cannot continue—the terrain is becoming hard to navigate. Many are becoming too weak to go on.”
King Pallan dropped his head somewhat, making a sigh. “Yes, I am aware, Hadara; that is why we stopped. Tell Olish and Yarek that we will remain here a few days, or until everyone has rested and is capable again of walking.”
Hadara was visibly apprehensive. “Yes, My Lord. I will tell them.” He nodded at King Pallan and hurried off for his associates, who were debating as to how best to set up a tent.
King Pallan asked Jaegar, “The dangers here, what are they? Any enemies we know of …?”
The soldier consulted a map briskly, and then some worn parchments. “Not that we know of, My Lord; these mountains go on for miles. Little is known of them, save for some wives’ tales.”
King Pallan shifted his weight; his expression remained composed. “Then we will need to prepare for the unknown. Be ready for the unexpected.” He took his hand from his knee and walked away.
Jardarah remarked, as he had been standing near King Pallan and Jaegar (along with Garan), “I am not certain it was so wise to come here, to these mountains. What can we hope to discover here?”
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