BOOK II OF III: The Reign of the Sultan (22 page)

Without waiting for an answer, he added,
“Once this war is over, I promise I will return home, as my heart,
mind and soul belongs to the Order of the Vispano Knights.”

Even though Valiante’s eyes fell to the
ground, yet he did not immediately give an answer … a few moments
later, he looked back up with scrunched-up eyes at Baltor, and
asked, “You said that this army might be traveling in other
directions, as well? Do you know how many this army has in their
ranks?”

After shrugging his shoulders, Baltor
answered, “To answer to your first question, yes, it is quite
possible. As for your second, no I don’t know how many, but I heard
millions. They’ve at least destroyed one powerful kingdom
containing two thriving cities—perhaps many more by now!”

Valiante replied, “I see. Yes, Commander
Barquoth, you may accompany the Sultan, and return when you are
done.”

Barquoth was about to reply with a “yes sir,”
but Valiante unexpectedly snapped his fingers before pointing his
index finger up into the skies, indicating to his commander to
remain silent.

Only a few moments later, Valiante half-sang,
“Actually, I change my mind, Commander. If Your Sultan agrees to my
little idea, I think that it’d be a better idea if we all, the
Vispano Knights, along with Your Sultan and your forces, all deploy
for Parthway…

“By coming along with us, Your Sultan, you
can personally relay your message to my Duke that this army you
speak of may soon become a dire threat to the Vispano Province! Do
you concur, Your Sultan?”

After pondering his idea for about a
dozen-or-so seconds, Baltor nodded and answered, “Your idea is
ideal, Commanding-Knight Valiante! In fact, this common enemy may
be the key ingredient to reestablishing our trade and peace between
our two nations. So my answer is, yes…let’s go.”

With a smile, Valiante replied, “I
agree.”

Thus, the following day, all of Valiante’s
forces began the trek northeast on the main dirt road between
Lasparus and the Vispano Province’s capital city called
Parthway.

Following behind them were fifty thousand of
Baltor’s soldiers, as well the man himself. During the night hours,
he led in the front of the ranks on his stallion, while Thorn led
in the rear of the formation.

During the daylight hours, they both slept in
the backs of different bunk wagons. Meanwhile, Han oversaw the
riding formation for an additional three-to-four more hours, just
before halting the army behind Valiante’s just-halted army, in
order to make camp, eat chow, and get six-or-seven hours of sleep
until it was time to wake up in the evening hours and start a
brand-new day.

As for those ground forces assigned to remain
in Lasparus, so as to not scare the Duke of Vispano—twenty thousand
soldiers. As for the vast fleet of marines, sailors, ships, and
catapulting machines, Baltor had half of them return to Pavelus—the
other half stayed in Lasparus’s harbor.

Finally, shortly before the splitting up of
the forces of the Sharia Empire, Baltor field-promoted Thorn to
major-general, Petrol to commanding-general, Ray to
brigadier-general, and Han to governor of Lasparus.

The very first charge given to Governor Han
was for him to write and deliver a message by his fastest frigate
back to Pavelus, relaying all the successful news about their
mission, to date. His next-and-final charge was for him to govern
the city effectively and productively, as well as the troops—this,
Han swore to do with his mind, heart and soul for the glory of the
empire.

Back in Pavelus—6 weeks and 1 night
earlier…

Through most of this first night of traveling
that passed, Hawkins and Bradmir rode on their horses to the left
side of the army without conversation.

This army had just begun the long journey
southeast where they would traverse through one thousand, one
hundred seventy-six miles of desert, always during the nighttime,
and depending upon travel conditions, to arrive at their final
destination approximately six to seven weeks later—the city of
Mauritia.

In the lead were the infantry soldiers who
donned chain mail armor, helmets, and swords—thirty thousand
soldiers who marched in columns of ten.

Following right behind the infantry were the
two divisions of cavalries—the “assault division” consisted of four
thousand elite soldiers who rode on camels, horses, or upon
horse-drawn chariots.

The “support division” consisted of one
thousand soldiers that rode on, or in the back of, seven hundred
fifty horse-drawn covered wagons, which wagons were stocked with
food, water, tents, supplies, etc.

The final two thousand soldiers, all riding
on horseback on the outskirts of the entire procession, were the
officers; they continuously scanned all their horizons for any
possible dangers.

Of course, there was the guide-on bearer,
which made thirty-five thousand and one, who rode to the left of
Hawkins and his commanding general named Rumsfield, which made
thirty-five thousand and three.

The last individual that rode along at their
side, but wasn’t tabulated into the total number of troops, was
Bradmir. This seventeen-year-old’s most striking feature were the
dozens of small freckles upon his very boyish face—in fact, the
only hair he had at all on his head were his thick red eyebrows, as
well his curly red hair that stopped short of his shoulders.

Most of Bradmir’s hair was hidden by a
red-brimmed hat with a feather of the same color sticking out of
it. He also wore a tight red trench coat and pants that both had
gold seams, a white cotton tunic with furls at the neckline and
sleeves, black pants, and a pair of black boots.

During this first night of travel, which
lasted until shortly before sunrise, everyone remained steadfastly
silent, focusing on the road ahead…

That is, until about six o’clock in the
morning, Hawkins finally ordered, “Commanding-General Rumsfield,
order the soldiers to stop and begin the process of setting up camp
and the temporary stables, as well making us up some hot chow,
before we retire for the day.”

After nodding, Rumsfield looked to his right
side, and called out through his megaphone, “Forces, halt!”

The army halted in their tracks.

Rumsfield turned his horse to the right
ninety degrees, so that his horse’s head now faced the troops. He
then called out, “Left face.”

The army did.

Rumsfield next ordered, “You heard the
governor’s orders—set up camp, the stables, and of course, hot
chow. Remember this, Forces: The sooner we get done, the sooner we
can get some sleep. Now execute.”

While the army did as ordered with a
quickness, the guide-on bearer hopped off his horse, pulled out the
flag holder stored in a saddlebag, and set both flags into the
holder about thirty feet away. He then left to assist the other
soldiers.

Meanwhile, Rumsfield looked over at Hawkins
and said, “Governor Hawkins, if you will please excuse me, I need
to personally oversee the troops…sir?”

With a nod to his head, Hawkins answered,
“Carry on.”

“Yes, sir,” Rumsfield said, just before he
left to do his duties. Five seconds later, he disappeared in the
masses of troops now setting up camp, or cooking breakfast.

Already, a sergeant and his dozen privates
had just arrived in order to begin the process of setting up the
large command tent directly behind the crossed flags.

It was then that Hawkins decided to try to
converse with the boy, if possible. Thus he asked what hopefully
would be an ice-breaking question, “So, Lord Bradmir, how was your
trip this evening?”

Bradmir, who continued to gaze at the
construction of the command tent, snottily answered, “Fine.”

“I see,” Hawkins calmly replied, “Well let me
get right down to business, okay? My name is Governor Hawkins,
though I was one of the commanding generals of both the current
Sultan, as well the last Sultan for the last seven years of my
life…

“For the last thirty years, I have always
been an honorable and respectful soldier as I worked unbelievably
hard to earn my way from the rank of lieutenant to the rank of
governor…

“I do ask, respectfully, that you use my
hard-earned title when answering my questions—okay, Lord
Bradmir?”

Bradmir looked over at Hawkins with an
annoyed look on his face, and replied just as snottily,
“Whatever—the only people I now serve are Sultan Baltor and
Sultaness Brishava. After all, I am their cousin, and that still
makes me royalty!”

Hawkins sighed, “I see…”

With that, he hopped off his horse, and only
two seconds later he grabbed the collar of Bradmir’s shirt with his
right hand and yanked.

Before Bradmir could snap the reins and spur
his horse away, he was slammed hard to the ground, which caused his
hat to fly off his head and reveal his striking red hair!

He tried to react by drawing the dagger in
his belt, but Bradmir felt the tip of Hawkins’s sword already
pinched lightly up against his neck—Hawkins kept a hold of the
young lord’s twisted-up collar!

Hundreds of soldiers saw and heard the
spectacle, and though all stopped in their tasks to watch, none
interfered, or even so much as said a word. However, if the second
came that they sensed their governor was in danger; they would be
on Bradmir like flies on dung.

Nearly thirty seconds later, Hawkins hissed,
“Repeat this sentence verbatim, nicely, and I will let you live:
‘After all, I am their cousin, and that makes me royalty, Governor
Hawkins!’”

Bradmir slightly wet his trousers as he tried
to gulp down his fears. With fear still in his quivering voice, he
repeated, “After all, I am their cousin, and that makes me royalty,
Governor Hawkins!”

Hawkins slowly released his grip on the young
lord’s collar, took a step back, and sheathed his sword—Bradmir
continued to look up at the governor in both suspicion and fear, as
he assumed a sitting position.

Once again in a respectful tone of voice,
Hawkins informed, “Sultan Baltor Elysian is an honorable man with
whom I take great pride in serving. Even though I did not have the
opportunity to witness his duel with your father, I had my own
important missions to oversee: One, protect Pavelus. Two, welcome
the ‘victor’ back into the city as the Sultan of the Sharia and the
Vaspan Empire, regardless of the winner.”

Even though Hawkins took a thirty-second
pause at this point, Bradmir continued to listen as he assumed a
more comfortable sitting position.

When Hawkins finally did continue, he said,
“Still, even though I was not there, I did hear the ‘same story’
from just about everyone who did have that extremely fortunate
opportunity, too include General Thorn via his toast at the victory
celebration. In fact, the only people I didn’t hear talk about that
night, ever, are you and your three surviving brothers.”

Bradmir opened his mouth to speak upon this
pause, but Hawkins interrupted, “Hold there, Lord Bradmir. Please
let me finish, and then you may speak.”

Bradmir remained silent.

Ten seconds later, Hawkins continued, “The
story that I heard, which I know you’re fully aware of, is that
your cousin gave his uncle many chances to ‘peacefully rule
together as a royal family’ during the course of their duel to the
death! Now I’m sure the ‘royal family’ would have included you and
your four brothers!

“After all, I have come to learn and know
without question that my Sultan is not only ambitious and peaceful,
yet equally, honorable and generous.”

Bradmir didn’t try to speak when Hawkins
paused at this point.

Perhaps thirty seconds later, Hawkins finally
did continue, “Whether you like to hear it or not—the truth is that
your cousin won the duel honorably, while your father lost the duel
dishonorably.”

At this point in the conversation, the
soldiers that had been watching now believed that their governor
was safe from Bradmir because of the fact that the young lord
continued to listen in a relaxed sitting position on the ground.
They recommenced to working…

Hawkins continued to say, “Even more
honorable is the fact that my Sultan and Sultaness have graciously
allowed you and your three brothers to live and to even have
‘lordly titles,’ despite your eldest brother’s failed assassination
attempt against the Sultan of both empires! Both he and the
Sultaness are very honorable rulers, if you ask me.”

Hawkins added, “However…if it had been left
up to me, I would have had you all executed because of your
brother! Should I go on? Why, yes, I should…please, let me finish
with what I say before you speak—I swear that I will let you know
when it is your turn, Lord Bradmir.”

Even though Hawkins took a pause that lasted
nearly twenty seconds, Bradmir didn’t say a word but continued to
listen.

After clearing his throat, Hawkins added,
“What makes my Sultan and Sultaness the most honorable people of
all is that they even graciously bestowed upon you, Lord Bradmir, a
golden opportunity to prove your loyalty, your honor, and most
especially, your love…because you guys literally are a family by
blood!

“Yes, Lord Bradmir, you are the key
ingredient to the route with which our mission becomes successful,
which it will become successful one way or the other, ultimately.
I, Governor Hawkins, can promise you that!”

A few seconds later, Hawkins extended the
index finger of his right hand up into the air, and said, “Now, if
you choose to remain truthful and honorable when we arrive at
Mauritia, tens of thousands of lives will be saved from both sides
of the battlefield! This is the route of truth, honor, and even
peace.”

Hawkins’s middle finger joined his index
finger before he continued, “The second route consists of lies,
deceit, war, and death, which will result if you are not successful
in your mission, or even worse, become a traitor in your own lust
for power!”