“The gate is over there.” to guide whispered.
“Thank you” Pelkan replied only to be grabbed by the man as was walking away.
“Sir may I say you are the bravest man I have ever known, it would have been an honour to have served with you, I will not forget you.”
Pelkan smiled before leaving the bushes and walking towards the soldiers who were on guard duty
“WHO APPROACHES!” shouted one of the soldiers pulling his sword.
“I must speak to your commanders.” Pelkan replied strongly.
“Who are you?”
“I am a smuggler who escaped you this morning.”
“Be on your way you drunk.” replied the guard starting to laugh.
“I don’t think you heard me I wish to speak to your commanders!” said Pelkan only this time more loudly.
The soldiers stopped laughing and grabbed a hold of him.
“So you wish to play games then do you.”
Pelkan was then pushed to the floor where the second soldier grabbed him by the throat and began marching him into the gate.
“You want to mock the Imperial guard do you? I’m going to teach you a lesson in manners you will never forget.”
Pelkan surrendered himself without resistance as the guard marched him by the collar into the castle.
“Where are you taking me?” Pelkan asked.
The soldier told his companion to return to his duties before turning to Pelkan.
“You say you’re a smuggler! Well you’ve smuggled yourself into a dungeon now!” The soldier then led Pelkan across a courtyard to a door where another soldier was standing
“What’s this?”
“A drunk! He wants to see our commanders.” replied the soldier leading Pelkan who spoke with a sinister smile, the guard laughed as unlocked the door knowing full well what was going to happen as he knew that the soldier with Pelkan was a well-known bully who was excited at teaching Pelkan a lesson and gaining some exercise at the same time.
“You better gag him, try not waking the whole castle up.” he added as he let them in.
It then dawned on Pelkan that they thought he was a drunk and that he was being led for a beating as a form of entertainment so Pelkan went along with it and began to act drunk.
“Be careful with him.” the guard joked to the soldier.
For a short moment Pelkan thought that maybe he could find his men and escape but it was short lived as the door was bolted behind him.
“Get in!” the soldier growled as he pushed him hard along the corridor looking in the flaps in the cell doors to find an empty cell, as he lifted one flap Pelkan saw that it contained some of his men.
“Here we are!” the soldier said as opened an empty cell, the soldier then pushed Pelkan up against the wall and Pelkan again made out that he was drunk, it worked as the soldier took his eyes from him just for a moment and that was all Pelkan needed to swiftly strike the soldier and then grab him from behind and break his neck. The soldier let out a loud scream before falling to the floor and knocking over a table en route which alerted the other guards. Pelkan quickly ran to the cell where he saw that his men were being held, as he entered the cell he could smell the bodies of his dead companions, Pelkan choked before running over to the survivors. Pelkan pulled down there gags and placed a leaf into each man’s mouth.
“For Zachania.” he whispered while doing so.
Pelkan could now hear soldiers making their way to the cell so quickly placed a leaf into his own mouth and pulled the men together.
“We make this sacrifice in the name of Apollo and our Zachania.” he whispered pulling the men close together, Pelkan then watched each man swallow before swallowing himself.
“I will be with you soon my Lord Apollo.” was Pelkan’s last thought as he passed into death.
When morning broke the castle of Zanlia was full of commotion, General Krustov came to see General Sanda who had been questioning the prisoners and the conversation was beginning to become very heated.
“Get the door!” Krustov said angrily at Sanda.
“General there is a wizard here to see you.” a soldier said to Sanda.
“Well don’t just stand there man, bring him.” said Sanda before turning back to Krustov.
“That’s quick I only sent word yesterday.”
General Krustov’s eyes opened wide as the door suddenly swung open and into the room walked Grarlin the Imperial wizard Grand, Krustov raised to his feet immediately.
“Your highness!”
Grarlin looked across at General Sanda who was also on his feet.
“Was it you who sent for me.”
“Yes your highness.”
“I have ridden all night, take me to the prisoners.”
General Sanda blushed as he thought of how he would break the news then reluctantly he spoke.
“Your highness I have bad news, I am sorry to inform you that the prisoners are no longer with us.”
“What do you mean no longer with us?” asked Grarlin now with his face in a frown.
“They were murdered last night.”
“By who?”
“By another prisoner your highness” replied Sanda now feeling very uncomfortable as
Grarlin’s face then turned to a snarl.
“By another prisoner! Take me to this prisoner.”
“He is dead too!” Krustov snapped in a nonchalant tone as if throwing the blame on Sanda.
Grarlin moved his black eyes back at Sanda and with a swift move he grabbed him and picked him forcefully up with one hand.
“I have travelled all night for this! Stop wasting my time and tell me what is going on!” as Grarlin finished his sentence he released Sanda who fell to the ground and then told the wizard the whole story.
“So a man broke in the dungeon last night and killed all the prisoners, where were the guards.”
“That’s what I have been asking.” interrupted Krustov.
“Take me to the cells.” demanded Grarlin.
Krustov and Sanda led Grarlin down to the dungeons where Grarlin questioned the man who had led Pelkan the previous night who was now himself under arrest. The soldier was terrified when he saw Grarlin and he apologised profoundly.
“I am so sorry, I was just having some fun with the man, I never for one moment thought something like this would happen, I am sorry.”
“So you were just having some fun.” growled Grarlin looking at the man with disgust
“Well!” snapped Grarlin before raising his hand and thrusting it into the man’s face, the soldier suddenly screamed a most terrifying scream until he dropped to the floor still screaming in horror.
The soldier desperately felt his face and when he looked up Krustov the General winced at the sight of the man, his face was all distorted, his ears now drooped down to his shoulders and his lips and nose were fat and magically deformed, he looked like he was half man half donkey.
“So you wanted Fun!” Grarlin snapped.
“You were an Imperial soldier, well fun is what you will have, now every day you can live with fun, every day when someone looks upon your ugliness they will make fun of you, now get out of my sight before I end your pitiful life.” added Grarlin.
General Sanda heaved at the sight of the man, the General was no stranger to the cruelty of the wizards but the sight of the guard turned his stomach.
“Does this bother you General?” asked Grarlin noticing the look on his face.
“No your highness.”
“Good, let it be known that this is what happens when Imperial soldiers neglect their duties, now leave us I wish to be alone with Krustov.”
“Krustov, something very strange happened here, men do not break into a dungeon to kill and then kill themselves unless there is a very strong reason, this man wanted something hidden, there is a secret here more powerful than life itself.”
“What secret could be so important your highness?”
“That is what we w
ill have to find out.”
“Some of my soldiers noticed some strange tattoo’s on some of the dead men, they have not seen nothing like it before.”
“Do all you can Krustov, I will be returning to Death Valley but if you find anything out send for me immediately.”
Lord Falkan fearing that his friendship with Zachania had been discovered thought it prudent to leave his home for a few days until he knew for certain whether he was safe or not. He was taking refuge with his good friend Osto, Perad and the two other Zachanian soldiers were also with him.
“Do you miss him Perad?” Falkan asked as the men sat down in the gardens of osto’s home.
Perad looked up to the sun and paused a while before he replied.
“General Pelkan was a good man and good soldier, in all the years I have known him he has only made one mistake and for that he gave his life for, I miss him but I feel Zachania will miss him more, warriors like him are not born everyday”
“I think he has a good friend in you Perad, his death must be honoured and I am sure you are the man to see that through.”
Osto then broke in as he joined them.
“Falkan I have the information you asked for.” he said handing Falkan some documents which Falkan flicked through.
“It’s brand new! There’s information on the Empires boats, army’s, outposts” added Osto joining them by sitting on the ground.
“Osto have you found a boat and crew to return Perad.” asked Falkan.
Osto scowled to show it has been difficult.
“It’s too dangerous at present, no one will set sail, the seas of Zanlia are constantly patrolled and as you know yourself the smugglers have all hidden their boats.”
“Osto this will not do, it is imperative that we get these men home.”
“Falkan I would go myself but I can’t ask my men to come, they have suffered enough and I can’t ask them to risk their lives anymore, they are in no mood to set sail at such troublesome times.”
“Then I will give ten thousand Krasos to the crew who returns Perad to Zachania, maybe this will encourage their moods.”
Perad and Osto both looked at Falkan in surprise.
“I am sure the Prince will reward you fully Lord Falkan.” Perad said.
“No Perad! I do not want the money back, I promised Pelkan I would honour his wishes” snapped Falkan before turning back to Osto.
“See what you can do.” he said to Osto knowing full well with such an amount on offer someone would take the bait.
“I will be back in a few hours” Osto said getting up and walking away.
Perad watched Osto walk away before turning to Falkan and asking him another question
“Lord Falkan I feel embarrassed at the trouble we have already caused you but I must ask you for more information, my Prince has asked what assistance you can give us once the attack begins.”
“Not much I am afraid! I have spoken to my good friend Kasoon and most of what we can offer your Prince is our friendship, as you know we have no armies but we will try to disrupt the Empire as much as we can.”
“In what way?”
Falkan opened his hands and shrugged before answering.
“Sabotage! we can damage bridges, light fires, anything that will cause the Empire disruption.”
The two men threw ideas back and forth for a couple of hours until Osto returned giving away his news by the large smile on his face.
“It’s done! The boat will be ready by nightfall.”
Falkan leaned over and patted Perad’s arm.
“You’re going home my friend.”
When nightfall came Perad said his farewells to Falkan and his men, and just as Falkan promised, the boat set sail into the calm dark waters. Perad sat on the boat looking back as the land disappeared and thought of his friend Pelkan and all the other men who should have been on this journey with him. Perad stood up and clenched his fists.
“Goodbye for now Kratos…but be warned the next time I set foot on your soil I will come to make war.”
Grarlin the wizard Grand of the Imperial wizard guild once he returned to Death Valley was looking over the Empires encampment checking the Imperial soldiers. He walked amongst the soldiers just as he did all those centuries ago looking for anything that was not to his liking. He wandered up to the beginning of the valley and looked at the narrow entrance and the vast mountains that was Zachania in the distance.
Over the years he had grown accustomed to the calm that had reigned across Kratos but he felt alarm of certain things that had happened over the last few months, his old and wise mind told him that something was at foot, all there was to do now was to make sure he put everything together and realise the signals.
He sat down in the foothills and found himself thinking about a man he had tortured and killed back in Tallasian some time ago, he thought over and over about the man’s last dying words “I am a Zachanian, I am a Zachanian.”
Grarlin began to wonder and he realised that since that man’s death many strange things had begun happening. There was Talon who escaped from the guard, the loss of contact with the wizards of Zanlia and now the prisoner’s deaths at the Zanlian castle. Grarlin seized on the thought of Talon and remembered a prophecy known to the wizard guild about a Zachanian who was reared outside of Zachania but would one day return and lead a great army against the Empire.
Grarlin tried to picture Talon and under his breath as he looked at the mountains of Zachania in the distance he spoke to himself.
“Farewell Kratos…but be warned the next time I set foot on your soil I will come to make war.” When Grarlin returned to the camp and walked amongst the thousands of Imperial soldiers he felt a slight ease. He could see that the might of the Empire was an impressive beast waiting to be unleashed, and then he returned to a tent where he told the guard outside that he was not to be disturbed. Once inside Grarlin sat down and placed a pyramid shaped crystal on the table in front of him and before long the crystal began to glow. A spinning gold object seemed to grow inside the crystal, the spinning and light increased until the whole tent lit up from the emanating light until as quick as it began the light and spinning stopped and the crystal turned into a dull red glow and a strong and powerful voice came from the rock
“Yes.”
“Emperor, my apologies for summoning you.”
“What do you want Grarlin!”
“You’re highness I am afraid that the prophecy may be upon us, I seek permission to take matters further.”
“What do you intend Grarlin?”
“I fear an uprising in the Zanlia and Zachania and I want your permission if the need arrives to take the armies into Zachania.”
“Grarlin I gave you absolute power to do whatever you felt was necessary to stop the prophecy from coming true, I am not pleased with your progress, you have brought me nothing except your apprehensiveness to act. If you or your guild is not capable, then I will have you replaced.”
“Yes my Emperor I will not fail you.”
“Good! Now do not disturb me again with your worries.”
Ganasis sat with a troubled look upon his old face, sitting in the grand hall of the. King’s Palace, he barely took notice of the talks before him between Talon and Prince Arun who had been going over and over old maps of Kratos. Talon caught a glimpse out the corner of his eye that the wizard was deep in thought and asked him about his distraction.
“Is something bothering you Ganasis?”
Ganasis snapped out of his thoughts and looked at all the maps and documents sprawled out across the large table and then rose to his feet picking up one of the maps then throwing it back down again.
“Maps! Plans! Maps and more maps! All of this could mean nothing!”
Prince Arun screwed up his face in confusion as he turned to Talon and raised his hands as if to say what!
“What’s wrong?” Talon asked Ganasis who had sat back down again but quickly turned to address the Prince.
&nbs
p; “Prince Arun! Our time of revenge is fast approaching, we have the will, we have the armies, we even have the right weather, but what we don’t have is a King!” Ganasis snapped while holding an intent stare at Arun.
“We have a King Ganasis!” snapped back the Prince sounding defensive.
“No my Prince, we have a man who wears the crown but he is no King.”
Prince Arun jumped to his feet and raised his voice in anger.
“That is the King you speak of and my father you insult Ganasis.”
Sensing the growing heat of the conversation Talon interrupted and tried to calm matters.
“Arun, my friend, what Ganasis said has merit and in your own mind you know it makes sense, I respect you for defending your father but the truth is our soldiers need a man to look up to.”
Prince Arun who was clenching his fists suddenly relaxed as Talon’s words had an effect on him.
“How can I ask him to abdicate? How can a son show such dishonour?” he said quietly as he sat back down.
“That Prince Arun is a matter for you, I can only advise you what I think needs to be done, how you do it is your concern.” Snapped Ganasis.
“Do you think I am worthy to be King?”
“You will make a great King Arun, a King the men will love and be proud of” added Talon trying to bring some confidence to the conversation after Ganasis’s directness.
Ganasis then pulled himself closer to the Prince and took a hold of his hand and spoke more sincerely.
“Arun…Respect has already started to fade for your family, I have noticed that the soldiers are now looking to Talon for their inspiration; it is imperative that Zachania has a strong King! A King who can rouse the pride and honour in his soldiers, they must love their King where they would be willing to die for him, the King is not just a man, he is the conscience of the nation. A weak King will make a weak nation while a strong warrior King will bring out the fighting spirit in them.”
Prince Arun’s face told a thousand stories, as he knew that Ganasis and Talon were speaking truthful but the thought of what he was being asked troubled him dearly, he loved his father and he loved his King but the thought of asking his father to stand down was a task he did not relish.
Ganasis sat back and waited for the Prince to reply and after a short moment of silence Arun looked up.
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