17 Chapter 17. A King Left Behind
As the light began to seep through the windows and slowly chased the night shadows across the wooden floor. King Zehan grew worried for he had waited for General Ryas' return all night but with dawn approaching and still no word he feared something might have happened.
This trip to the North was Zehan's first outside of the Kingdom and through the Ethereal Forest. He had just succeeded the throne with the death of his Father, and the Northern King had already started asserting his authority summoning Zehan to the North. Without General Ryas he feared that they would not be able to return home safely.
He was to keep a low profile while Ryas was away because they could not risk anyone knowing that he was in the North. That was how they ended up at the Lunar Inn. A semi-decent place on the outskirts of the city of Vane. Although Zehan had the largest room at the inn, it still smelled of must and dirty clothes. A smell that would take getting used to along with a more modest way of life. The only luxury was the balcony. It had a view overlooking the market below. Walking out onto the balcony Zehan could hear the street rousing with activity as vendors began to set up shop. His mind was still on his General, worried that something might have happened to Ryas, when Zehan noticed it, off in the distance.
It was on the horizon, rising with the sun, almost hidden among the golden glows of dawn. Two crimson wings were beating powerfully through the air, gliding at an astonishing speed, and heading straight towards him. Zehan could see that it was one of General Ryas' courier birds. The ones that came with him from the Ethereal Forest. He recalled what Ryas had told him that they were still juvenile, even though they had been alive longer than him. Zehan watched as the bird soared through the air effortlessly until it reached him and then drew its wings back it flapped quickly, sending bursts of wind onto his face. Ryas had told him this one was named Khasai which meant, fire, in Geneoshi tongue. For when she fluttered her wings and hovered as she did now, her crimson red and golden feathers made her look like a fire.
He stretched his arm out to Khasai who then gently touched down. She kept her sharp talons upwards and away from Zehan's arm. Immediately Khasai bent her head down and Zehan could see tied around her neck was a container, and inside, a piece of paper rolled up. He quickly removed the message and read its contents. "There's been a complication. I'll meet you outside of Murai four days from now." That was all Ryas wrote.
"So there had been a complication," Zehan thought to himself as he walked inside, and then held the message over the flame of a candle. He made sure there was nothing left but ashes. Relieved that nothing serious had happened to Ryas, but he was curious for this was not typical of his General to run into problems. Ryas usually carried out his tasks smoothly and without hindrance. Zehan wondered what had happened, but for now, he had to create a cover for Ryas.
He called two of his top Captains and told them. "I need you both, to ride for the camp and then onto Murai. Wear your cloaks and keep your faces hidden when you're in the city. If anyone stops you, one of you will answer as General Ryas. Leave right now," he ordered them.
The captains left right without delay or questions, which made giving instructions easier for Zehan. He knew that when it came to General Ryas, the soldiers were loyal and did as told. He only had a few of his elite soldiers with and it was a relatively quick process, to inform the remaining captains when they would leave. Zehan would give the two Captains a three-hour head start to make his plan look more convincing in case King Taeyer, had eyes on them. With the rest of his soldiers stationed outside of the city, he knew they could not afford to make any mistakes now.
When the sun was at its highest point in the day, Zehan and his soldiers headed out of the city. Forged from white stone the Northern Kingdom's gates stood like giant pillars at the entrance carved into their emblem. Zehan could see the white stone pillars off in the distance, and as they drew closer, a band of soldiers suddenly surround Zehan and his Men. The soldiers rode on black horses, dressed in white, and on the chest of their armor, they bore the emblem of the Northern Kingdom, a golden Serpentine. The Northern soldiers formed a tight circle around Zehan and his men cutting off any chance of them breaking out. Then in the front, a few of the soldiers parted sideways allowing enough space for a single rider to emerge. He came out on a white horse, and Zehan recognized this Man's face right away.
"King Taeyer. I'm alarmed to see you here like this. Your soldiers have surrounded us. Is there a problem here?" Zehan asked King Taeyer who did not answer immediately, but he only looked at him with a blank expression.
"I'm here to make sure that you and your soldiers leave safely," King Taeyer stared at Zehan still with no expression on his face. "Come. I'll escort you to your soldiers' camp," and he nodded at his soldiers. Who then broke from their formation opening up a path that allowed Zehan and his soldiers to move ahead.
As both groups of riders began to move forward, King Taeyer tells Zehan, "There was an incident at my Advisor's Manor sometime last night. A highly skilled man attacked the Biah Manor. He set fire to their homes, tried to kill their son, and even kidnapped their son's bride." King Taeyer's eyes looked right passed Zehan and onto his soldiers.
Zehan noticed that King Taeyer's eyes had quickly scanned his group of soldiers before turning his gaze back to him. "This must be the complication Ryas' had mentioned," Zehan thought. Not wanting to rush or sound involved he paused to frowned his face before he gave a response. "That is a terrible thing that happened. I hope that your Advisor is alright." He tried to sound as convincing as possible.
Taeyer sighed, "Yes my Advisor and his family are fine, but this man made off with General Wey's daughter."
Zehan almost burst out into a laugh at the thought of Ryas' making off with someone's woman. That'd be a sight he would like to see. Knowing General Ryas' temperament running off with a woman would be the most challenging situation for him to face.
"You remember General Wey right?" Taeyer asked.
"Oh yes. I met General Wey the other day," Zehan replied. He didn't want to say too much to avoid King Taeyer becoming suspicious.
"Speaking of Generals. Where is your General by the way? I don't see him anywhere. Isn't he supposed to be here guarding you like a good guard dog?" King Taeyer's eyes scanned Zehan soldiers again.
Zehan laughed trying to make light of the situation. He could tell from Taeyer's bitter tone that King Taeyer must still be angry with Ryas. "General Ryas left already this morning. He went ahead to check on the troops stationed outside of the city."
"I see." King Taeyer nodded his head.
Although King Taeyer had responded to him, Zehan could see that he seemed lost in thought. "Is that how you see my General? He is more than a guard dog. General Ryas saved my people and didn't he save yours as well?" Zehan paused and waited for Taeyer to answer.
"Just because your General saved us does not mean we bend to his will. Kings should rule their lands and people how they see fit. A General serves his King and should know his place. A good General will do what his King asks of him." Taeyer's voice became an arrogant tone.
Zehan could feel the tension building between them, as he felt slighted by King Taeyer's disdain manner and words. He wanted to remind Taeyer of his more humble beginnings. That since the birth of the second world all the Kings in the Northern Kingdom, were born from the bloodline of peasants, but he knew this would only send Taeyer's temperament over the edge. Now was not a time to lay words with the Northern King, so Zehan decided to change the subject instead. He could tell Taeyer was a very vain man who probably believed himself to possess more merits and status then he had. "Tell me more of your plans to build an alliance with the Nomens. How were you able to get those brutes to listen to you?"
King Taeyer smiled at Zehan for the first time since they met this day and for the entire trip to Zehan's camp he talked about his plans and achievements how he had summoned the Nomen Head without any fear and negotiated a possible treaty between them. All the while Zehan wondered if this were all true, how come he would not risk going to the South, but instead called Zehan to the North.
Finally, they had reached the camp, and not a moment too soon. Zehan silently breathed a sigh of relief for he became tired of King Taeyer who only talked about himself for the entire trip. He quickly bid farewell to the Northern King and left.
Once the Northern King left he immediately ordered his captains to gather their soldiers and ride for Murai.
This trip to the North was Zehan's first outside of the Kingdom and through the Ethereal Forest. He had just succeeded the throne with the death of his Father, and the Northern King had already started asserting his authority summoning Zehan to the North. Without General Ryas he feared that they would not be able to return home safely.
He was to keep a low profile while Ryas was away because they could not risk anyone knowing that he was in the North. That was how they ended up at the Lunar Inn. A semi-decent place on the outskirts of the city of Vane. Although Zehan had the largest room at the inn, it still smelled of must and dirty clothes. A smell that would take getting used to along with a more modest way of life. The only luxury was the balcony. It had a view overlooking the market below. Walking out onto the balcony Zehan could hear the street rousing with activity as vendors began to set up shop. His mind was still on his General, worried that something might have happened to Ryas, when Zehan noticed it, off in the distance.
It was on the horizon, rising with the sun, almost hidden among the golden glows of dawn. Two crimson wings were beating powerfully through the air, gliding at an astonishing speed, and heading straight towards him. Zehan could see that it was one of General Ryas' courier birds. The ones that came with him from the Ethereal Forest. He recalled what Ryas had told him that they were still juvenile, even though they had been alive longer than him. Zehan watched as the bird soared through the air effortlessly until it reached him and then drew its wings back it flapped quickly, sending bursts of wind onto his face. Ryas had told him this one was named Khasai which meant, fire, in Geneoshi tongue. For when she fluttered her wings and hovered as she did now, her crimson red and golden feathers made her look like a fire.
He stretched his arm out to Khasai who then gently touched down. She kept her sharp talons upwards and away from Zehan's arm. Immediately Khasai bent her head down and Zehan could see tied around her neck was a container, and inside, a piece of paper rolled up. He quickly removed the message and read its contents. "There's been a complication. I'll meet you outside of Murai four days from now." That was all Ryas wrote.
"So there had been a complication," Zehan thought to himself as he walked inside, and then held the message over the flame of a candle. He made sure there was nothing left but ashes. Relieved that nothing serious had happened to Ryas, but he was curious for this was not typical of his General to run into problems. Ryas usually carried out his tasks smoothly and without hindrance. Zehan wondered what had happened, but for now, he had to create a cover for Ryas.
He called two of his top Captains and told them. "I need you both, to ride for the camp and then onto Murai. Wear your cloaks and keep your faces hidden when you're in the city. If anyone stops you, one of you will answer as General Ryas. Leave right now," he ordered them.
The captains left right without delay or questions, which made giving instructions easier for Zehan. He knew that when it came to General Ryas, the soldiers were loyal and did as told. He only had a few of his elite soldiers with and it was a relatively quick process, to inform the remaining captains when they would leave. Zehan would give the two Captains a three-hour head start to make his plan look more convincing in case King Taeyer, had eyes on them. With the rest of his soldiers stationed outside of the city, he knew they could not afford to make any mistakes now.
When the sun was at its highest point in the day, Zehan and his soldiers headed out of the city. Forged from white stone the Northern Kingdom's gates stood like giant pillars at the entrance carved into their emblem. Zehan could see the white stone pillars off in the distance, and as they drew closer, a band of soldiers suddenly surround Zehan and his Men. The soldiers rode on black horses, dressed in white, and on the chest of their armor, they bore the emblem of the Northern Kingdom, a golden Serpentine. The Northern soldiers formed a tight circle around Zehan and his men cutting off any chance of them breaking out. Then in the front, a few of the soldiers parted sideways allowing enough space for a single rider to emerge. He came out on a white horse, and Zehan recognized this Man's face right away.
"King Taeyer. I'm alarmed to see you here like this. Your soldiers have surrounded us. Is there a problem here?" Zehan asked King Taeyer who did not answer immediately, but he only looked at him with a blank expression.
"I'm here to make sure that you and your soldiers leave safely," King Taeyer stared at Zehan still with no expression on his face. "Come. I'll escort you to your soldiers' camp," and he nodded at his soldiers. Who then broke from their formation opening up a path that allowed Zehan and his soldiers to move ahead.
As both groups of riders began to move forward, King Taeyer tells Zehan, "There was an incident at my Advisor's Manor sometime last night. A highly skilled man attacked the Biah Manor. He set fire to their homes, tried to kill their son, and even kidnapped their son's bride." King Taeyer's eyes looked right passed Zehan and onto his soldiers.
Zehan noticed that King Taeyer's eyes had quickly scanned his group of soldiers before turning his gaze back to him. "This must be the complication Ryas' had mentioned," Zehan thought. Not wanting to rush or sound involved he paused to frowned his face before he gave a response. "That is a terrible thing that happened. I hope that your Advisor is alright." He tried to sound as convincing as possible.
Taeyer sighed, "Yes my Advisor and his family are fine, but this man made off with General Wey's daughter."
Zehan almost burst out into a laugh at the thought of Ryas' making off with someone's woman. That'd be a sight he would like to see. Knowing General Ryas' temperament running off with a woman would be the most challenging situation for him to face.
"You remember General Wey right?" Taeyer asked.
"Oh yes. I met General Wey the other day," Zehan replied. He didn't want to say too much to avoid King Taeyer becoming suspicious.
"Speaking of Generals. Where is your General by the way? I don't see him anywhere. Isn't he supposed to be here guarding you like a good guard dog?" King Taeyer's eyes scanned Zehan soldiers again.
Zehan laughed trying to make light of the situation. He could tell from Taeyer's bitter tone that King Taeyer must still be angry with Ryas. "General Ryas left already this morning. He went ahead to check on the troops stationed outside of the city."
"I see." King Taeyer nodded his head.
Although King Taeyer had responded to him, Zehan could see that he seemed lost in thought. "Is that how you see my General? He is more than a guard dog. General Ryas saved my people and didn't he save yours as well?" Zehan paused and waited for Taeyer to answer.
"Just because your General saved us does not mean we bend to his will. Kings should rule their lands and people how they see fit. A General serves his King and should know his place. A good General will do what his King asks of him." Taeyer's voice became an arrogant tone.
Zehan could feel the tension building between them, as he felt slighted by King Taeyer's disdain manner and words. He wanted to remind Taeyer of his more humble beginnings. That since the birth of the second world all the Kings in the Northern Kingdom, were born from the bloodline of peasants, but he knew this would only send Taeyer's temperament over the edge. Now was not a time to lay words with the Northern King, so Zehan decided to change the subject instead. He could tell Taeyer was a very vain man who probably believed himself to possess more merits and status then he had. "Tell me more of your plans to build an alliance with the Nomens. How were you able to get those brutes to listen to you?"
King Taeyer smiled at Zehan for the first time since they met this day and for the entire trip to Zehan's camp he talked about his plans and achievements how he had summoned the Nomen Head without any fear and negotiated a possible treaty between them. All the while Zehan wondered if this were all true, how come he would not risk going to the South, but instead called Zehan to the North.
Finally, they had reached the camp, and not a moment too soon. Zehan silently breathed a sigh of relief for he became tired of King Taeyer who only talked about himself for the entire trip. He quickly bid farewell to the Northern King and left.
Once the Northern King left he immediately ordered his captains to gather their soldiers and ride for Murai.
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