Araman

by R.M.S

  Chapter Nine

  To Kassen’s dismay, he was told by Zea Dergen at his door, soon after he had returned to his room, that the Araman Raliena would not be attending the tour around the castle, as she had told the King she had a desperate need to visit her mother’s grave that morning.

  The King had of course released her, knowing how it felts to lose a loved one, and had instead volunteered Lady Nanerter to accompany them.

  “It is one thing that the King will not be subjected against.” Dergen had explained and Kassen couldn’t help but feel that the adviser was indignant about it.

  Kassen had hoped that his meeting with Raliena that morning had eased the tension between them, but perhaps he had made things worse, revealing that he knew she had healed him. In any case he would not mention it again and continue on as if she was merely the Araman who would help him catch a Unisayan and become a knight of Verxia and not the beautiful, mysterious angel who had saved his life.

  “What did you say to her?” Scolded Sherin in a hushed voice, so as not to be heard by Dergen, when she found out Raliena would not be joining them.

  “What do you mean?” Kassen tried to deny it. “Sa Raliena is visiting her mother.”

  “Only because you scared her off!” Confirmed Sherin. “I saw you sneak out this morning. Where else would you be going in a castle you are not familiar with?”

  Kassen had forgotten how perceptive the Princess could be, especially concerning him.

  There was no other opportunity to talk privately with Sherin the rest of the morning, as Nanerter clung to Kassen and tried to keep his attention by telling him all about the architecture of the castle. And Kassen had to admit, it was easy to lose yourself in the beauty of it. The magnificent ball room with painted ceiling, curved balcony and long windows framed by golden curtains, which caught the sun and bathed the room in warm hues.

  The many curved stairways that led to many more rooms and corridors, all lavishly decorated, but the most impressive were the gardens. Even Sherin went quiet, and Derio and Sitnen stared in awe at the sight.

  They were stood at the top of a curving set of stone steps, overlooking the most beautiful and elaborate garden they had ever seen. Leading off from the steps was a wooden pathway that helped form a wide bridge, hovering over a grand cascading waterfall. It toppled over the edge from a slow moving lake that extended deep below the castle, grassland on either side. In the centre of this lake was a majestic statue depicting a Unisayan stood on its hind legs, its horn triumphantly pointing upwards as if it could pierce the sky. It was white and looked as smooth and perfect as marble; breathtaking.

  They all followed Dergen and Nanerter onto the bridge and gazed around them. This vantage point showed the expansive forest branching out from the castle grounds and through the winter mist you could just make out the Jikili Mountains many, many leagues away.

  “It must look even more beautiful in summer time.” Sherin finally broke the tranquil silence, over the roar of the waterfall below. The thought of it made everyone sigh in agreement.

  The wealth of Verxia was most evident there.

  “You can see things in great detail very far in the distance.” Dergen said indifferently. “And the castle can be seen in much the same way.”

  Kassen thought that this was a strange observation to make and wondered if the advisor was hinting at a lack of security for the castle. It was true that any possible invader could easily find a way to the castle via these gardens if they found a way around the waterfall and river leading off from it. The King must have numerous patrols through the forest to counter this.

  Kassen was now keen to look at the training grounds of Verxia. Sherin was less than enthusiastic and instead wanted to see what kind of horses they kept.

  “You will have to get used to the overseeing of the training of soldiers if you want to be a good Queen someday Sherin.” Kassen teased.

  “That is what I have you for,” she retorted and smiled sweetly at him.

  “Lady Nanerter can take you to the stables while we visit the soldiers.” Dergen said and looked at Nanerter who was about to protest, but something in Dergen’s eyes made her stop and nod in submittal.

  “Sitnen, please come with me,” Sherin whispered clinging to his arm.

  He looked longingly at Kassen but in the end relented. King Baynil had given Princess Sherin a personal group of guards from his own watchers so that she was well guarded, but Sitnen did not want to leave the Princess and Nanerter alone together, they might end up killing one another and his bets were on Sherin.

  The group split up on the bridge and Kassen eagerly followed Dergen back towards the courtyard; but this time they went the other way round the castle and through an alcove that ran through the middle of it. Then they left the high castle walls and continued across a long field before they came to a dip in the landscape which created an open bowl where lay the training grounds.

  It had a small wooden hut to one side of it, a circular sand pit marked out with rope, a couple of practice dummies that were beaten up already and an archery range, with the targets close enough to hit with your eyes closed.

  Kassen tried not to gape at the lack of training material there were, despite the size of the field. Derio held no such reserves.

  “Is this it?”

  “Impressive isn’t it.” Dergen replied sarcastically, with an almost amused smile on his face as he started down the dip towards the two men standing in the sand pit.

  Kassen turned to Derio who wasn’t trying to hide his disappointment.

  “Maybe they have good swordsmen?” Derio said light-heartedly.

  Kassen hoped so, if this was all Verxia had by way of defence, an alliance between it and Attashar was not only an offer of peace, it was vital for the Kingdom’s survival.

  “General Kassen!” A skinny man with broad shoulders and a nervous grin across his rosy round face, came rushing over to them. He held out one muscular arm to shake hands, it was the only impressive thing about him.

  Kassen returned his iron grip.

  “I had hoped you would be visiting. Unfortunately we didn’t have many men spare to present to you. Most are on guard duty.” The man was apologetic and wrung his hands self-consciously.

  “General Kassen this is Samde, our current General.” Dergen introduced him, as Samde had not offered.

  General Samde looked uncomfortable at the mention of being the ‘current’ General.

  “It is a pleasure to meet you, General.” Kassen said brightening the man up.

  “Would you like to meet one of our best swordsmen?” Samde offered.

  “Lead the way.”

  They followed Samde to the sand ring to the far side of the yard. It was marked out with rope and very small compared to the one they had in Attashar.

  A man was stood waiting patiently and looking very nervous.

  “General this is Farno. He has been with the Verxian guards for little over four winters now and will soon be receiving a knighthood.” Farno looked proud at this but fiddled with the hem of his shirt anxiously. “He would have been the one catching a Unisayan with Sa Raliena, if it had not been for the alliance. Not that it is at all a bad thing.” Samde added quickly, not wishing to offend anyone.

  “May we have a demonstration of your skills, soldier Farno? If you do not mind sparring with my guard, Derio?” Kassen indicated to Derio who looked eager. He would have fought the man himself, but it was easier to see his skills as a spectator.

  Farno glanced at Derio who was much larger than him in both weight and height.

  “Yes, that would be alright, General Kassen.” He squeaked and Kassen wondered if it was such a good idea to risk humiliating the man in front of his own General.

  “Let’s get started then.” Derio said picking up one of the larger wooden practice swords resting in a rack by the ring. Far
no had already chosen one that was considerably smaller.

  “When you’re ready men.” Samde announced once they were both in the ring.

  Derio lunged first, when it appeared Farno was not going to, and the man caught his sword at the last moment.

  The fight was very clearly one sided and Kassen tried not to shake his head at all the mistakes Farno was making. He also knew Derio was going easy on him.

  Eventually, Derio tired of chasing him round the ring and it looked like he had him pinned when Farno swapped sword hands and twisted to the side to make a shot for Derio’s open chest. But the Attashar soldier was too well trained, and even caught unawares by the move, managed to block it by turning right round and catching Farno’s parry with his sword.

  They balanced themselves again and threw a few more hits towards each other, Derio adjusting to Farno now using his left arm, but eventually he overpowered him and Farno was on the floor, with the wooden sword at his throat.

  “Yield?” Derio asked.

  Farno nodded.

  “What arm do you normally fight with?” Kassen asked an embarrassed looking Farno, as Derio helped him off the floor.

  “Uh, both, General.” He replied, stumbling forward slightly when Derio slapped him on the back in friendship.

  “Can all your men fight with their left arm?” Kassen asked Samde, intrigued.

  “Yes, it is part of their training.”

  “You will have to tell me how you manage it. All our new recruits go through left arm training, but always resort back to using their natural arm, once the training is complete. None could use their left arm the way this soldier has.”

  Farno smiled shyly at the compliment, and General Samde unconsciously straightened his shoulders with pride and smiled. “It would be an honour sharing training tactics with you, General Kassen.”

  Kassen smiled back. This way Samde would not be offended when Kassen had to completely retrain Verxia’s troops and Attashar’s army would learn how to fight with both hands. He thought he might suggest a training swap once the alliance was secured, sending Samde to Attashar while Kassen stayed in Verxia.

  It would also mean more time with Raliena, he thought and then brushed it from his mind. He could not let her distract him from what he had come to do.

  “If you’re looking for a challenge, I suggest visiting the ring in the village,” Farno said, brushing himself down once he had sheathed his sword. “It’s just off the edge of the forest; any local could direct you there.”

  “The General does not want to fight just anyone who comes along. He is more skilled than that.” Samde scolded.

  “He’s not one to pass off some fun though. What is the ring?” Derio asked enthusiastically, ignoring Kassen’s disapproving glare.

  “It’s where the local men go to fight, but there is one man there who always wins. If you hurry you might catch him.” Farno said.

  “Sounds like it’s worth a look.” Derio said to Kassen who only looked mildly interested, he was busy thinking.

  “I would accompany you gentlemen, but I’m afraid I have business to attend to. The King, however, has given you free run of the castle and village.”

  “Thank you, Zea Dergen,” Kassen replied coming out of his musings.

  It struck him as odd that King Baynil was so keen for them to see so much of Verxia and its weaknesses. He was either keen to show his trust in Attashar or he was so ignorant to a threat, he had not even considered that Attashar may turn against him and take over Verxia instead.

  Neither prospect boded well for the Kingdom, but perhaps there was a third element to consider; how loyal Verxia’s people were to their King. Would they as easily take up arms against Attashar if it were to overthrow him?

  “I think we will visit the ring, as I am also keen to see the village.” Kassen concluded, deciding there was only one way to satisfy the enigma that was Verxia’s lack of military.