FARHAYVEN: VENGEANCE (103 page)

     “Check _ you have to do of this with Master Iddell,” said Lance in a ‘matter of fact’ sort of tone.

     “Fine. I shall speak the olden tongue
!
Done _ of this, are you with your practise, for I request your company in loitering by the riverside, so that my parents cannot find me and force me to do my homework
!
” Iron surrendered.

     “Homework
?
Yuck
!
Race _ I shall do of this to you to the riverside. Go
!
” yelled Lance as he burst into a sudden sprint.

     Iron gave a ‘I have just been cheated’ look and chased after Lance. Spirit chased after both the boys. Someone had got to keep eye on these pups, he thought
!

     Meanwhile, in a torch-lit secret underground lair, Lord Destiny sat frowning in his throne-like chair. An old, fragile hunchback man dressed in worn-out robes approached him and afforded a humble but weak bow.

     “What troubles you, my lord
?
” asked the old hunchback.

     “Wischen, my plans are falling apart
!
Damn that Elementhar Ray Iddell
!
” expressed Lord Destiny as he slammed his fist on the arm of his chair.

     “The Elementhar is just a minor obstacle. Do not let such trivial factors bother you, my lord,” advised Wischen.

     “Minor obstacle
?
Are you blind, Wischen
!?
One of my best agents is now in prison because of him
!
It took me much time and effort to acquire her and it took me even more to put this plan together, but now it is coming undone
!
Undone, by this insignificant, wandering insect
!
” Lord Destiny pointed out.

     Wischen shook his head and smiled, exposing his rotten teeth in the process.

     “The plan is still viable, my lord. All is not lost
!
The Shadow Deathmerchant Clan is still trying to assassinate the prince. Their Lead Assassin has managed to escape and may still complete her mission. But even if they fail, it does not matter. The prince is just an obstacle. If we cannot remove him, then we shall just have to go around him. Keep your eyes on the big picture. Operation Serpent Smoke is still coming along nicely and when it is put into effect, it will tie the prince up and keep him out of the way. Then you, my lord, can make the killing move. To take what is rightfully yours
!
” he said.

     “Operation Serpent Smoke
?
I was planning to abandon that plan
!
It is very costly
!
To give the Serpentians a whole Fallsian province as a reward is too much of a sacrifice
!
Are you sure that this will work
?
Is it worth it
?
” asked Lord Destiny.

     Wischen shook his head again. Then he spoke slowly and clearly.

     “The reward is irrelevant, my lord
!
When you have achieved what you deserve, all you have to do is grab the province back from them. The Shadow Deathmerchant Clan or others like it will be useful in weakening them. Then you go in for the kill, and take all that is theirs, Fallsian province and all,” he explained.

     “They are not easily betrayed and harder still to defeat, Wischen
!
” objected Lord Destiny.

     “They are corruptible, my lord
!
They are highly competitive and jealous of one another’s power. Divide them, and conquer them one by one
!
Instigate conflict amongst them. Get them to kill each other. Then you go in and kill whoever that is left. It may take a few years, but in the end, all will be yours, my lord
!
” insisted Wischen.

     “Are you sure, Wischen
?
We are crossing a line here that we cannot turn back from. What if they betray us before we betray them
?
Or what if they do not stop at one province but instead proceed to take all
?
What guarantees are there that things will turn out the way we want them to
?
” questioned Lord Destiny.

     Wischen gave Lord Destiny another gentle, assuring smile.

     “Fear not, my lord
!
King Fangstrike needs you more than you need him. Without your support he would lose his crown and the head it sits on in an instant
!
The Serpentian battlelords would all challenge him for the crown through their Trials of Worthiness. He would be fighting for his life every single day. How long do you think he will last
?
He cannot afford to betray you. How else would he get the money to pay off the spies and saboteurs he has planted amongst his battlelords
?
And who else would send assassins to kill off his potential challengers on his behalf
?
And as for the Serpentians as a whole, they do not have the sufficient resources to take even one province on their own, let alone the entire kingdom
!
If they could, they would have already done so, but they have not, because they cannot
!
They need the information on Fallsian military strength and strategies, and you will only be providing for that one province alone, not the rest. They will also rely on you to ‘mismanage’ the Fallsian military logistics for them. Without your contribution, they will fail. They need you more than you need them, my lord,” answered Wischen.

     Lord Destiny took in a deep breath and paused for a while. He thought about what Wischen has said. He conceded that Wischen had some strong, valid points.

     “And what of the Elementhar
?
What if he interferes
?
” asked Lord Destiny.

     “We shall have to make sure that he does not. Let him share the prince’s fate. If he does not get killed then at least he will be preoccupied and out of the way,” replied Wischen.

     “And what of our ‘other friends’
?
” enquired Lord Destiny.

     “They, my lord, are totally loyal to you and will do your every bidding,” assured Wischen.

     “Are you sure you can control them
?
” checked Lord Destiny.

     “Absolutely, my lord
!
” guaranteed Wischen.

     “Good
!
Then let us carry on with Operation Serpent Smoke. Send out the messengers and make all the necessary arrangements. This had better work, Wischen, or I shall have your head
!
” threatened Lord Destiny.

     Wischen did not reply. He gave a feeble bow and excused himself. But as he approached the doorway on his way out, he turned around to face his master.

     “And what of the woman, my lord
?
” he asked.

     “It is better that she is silenced
!
Arrange for that as well
!
” answered Lord Destiny.

     “Very well, my lord
!
I know an independent operator. He
will
get the job done,” said Wischen as he turned around again to make his way out.

     Lord Destiny sat on his throne-like chair, continuing to frown and stare blankly ahead, his mind wandering in search of some hidden answers that eluded his intelligent, egotistical and corrupted mind.

     The
16
th
Morning of Fourth Month of Dry Season
saw a hive of activities at the Fallsene City courthouse, plainly named Courthouse Fallsene. Located near Palace Liberty, the courthouse was used not only for civilian cases but for military ones as well. It consisted of a huge, multi-storey ‘U-shaped’ building with surrounding gardens and tall, solid steel perimeter fences. Serene and a limping, crutch-supported Rod sat themselves down in a large courtroom packed with comrades and friends from Fort Eastguard. All of them were seated on the defendant’s side. The prosecution side, meanwhile, was totally empty.

     A side door to the courtroom opened and five Royal Guards marched in with Thorn in the middle. Immediately, Serene and the others stood up and bowed to their accused comrade. Thorn could only nod his head in appreciation without breaking the rhythm of the march. His hands and legs were shackled and made metallic clanking sounds as he was marched up to the defendant’s seat and sat down. Then one of the Royal Guards unshackled him. Next, the prosecution team marched in. They consisted of one minvian-ranked Royal Guard and two convian-ranked ones. Serene’s face lit up in anger when she recognised the minvian-ranked prosecutor, for it was none other than Sky Proest. She wondered what he had done to deserve his promotion.

     “All rise to honour Orgavian Gust Scallern, presiding judge for Fallsian Military court-martial case three one one zero zero
!!
” commanded one of the Royal Guards escorting Thorn.

     All present in the courtroom stood up and bowed, though Rod did so much slower and clumsier than the others. Orgavian Scallern took his seat.

     “Prosecution, identify
!
” commanded the orgavian

     “Minvian Proest, Convians Flax and Norren, Your Justice
!
” announced Sky as he and his comrades stood up and bowed.

     “Defence, identify
!
” commanded Orgavian Scallern.

     “Minvian Sayvion and none other, Your Justice
!
” announced Thorn as he too stood up and bowed.

     “Prosecution, specify charges
!
” directed the orgavian.

     “Charges are one count of insubordination and one count of desertion against Minvian Thorn Sayvion, Your Justice
!
” said Sky.

     “Defence, against these charges, how do you plea
?
” asked the orgavian.

     “Defence pleads guilty to both charges, Your Justice
!
” answered Thorn.

     The courtroom burst into a buzz of shock and disbelief. There were a significant number who pleaded with Thorn to change his stance. But Thorn just stood calmly and stared the orgavian straight in the eyes. Orgavian Scallern slammed his little hammer to silence the crowd.

     “Minvian, are you sure of this
?
” he asked.

     “Yes, Your Justice
!
The Defence pleads guilty to both charges
!
” Thorn clarified.    

     “Very well. Although your service record is reasonably excellent, but the seriousness of your transgression is unforgivable. Minvian Thorn Sayvion, you are found guilty of insubordination and desertion. I sentence you to death by hanging. Sentence will be carried out on the 1
st
Day of Second Month of Wet Season, the year 1201 of the Known Era, at midday
!
” pronounced the orgavian.

     Thorn swallowed his saliva and nodded his head. He had expected this, but still, it was not easy to accept. Then he reminded himself of the higher purpose that he was trying to achieve and found his courage.

     “Do you have any final words, minvian
?
” asked Orgavian Scallern.

     “Yes, I do, Your Justice
!
As a condemned man, do I not get one final wish before I am hanged
?
” asked Thorn.

     “Yes
!
What is your last request
?
” answered the orgavian.

     “Your Justice
!
I request that the Fallsian Military launch a Liberation Raid into Serpentian territory to rescue our fellow Fallsians who are
rotting away
in slavery and abuse; and that you allow me to command, or at least partake in the raid, before my sentence is to be carried out. I give you my word as a warrior that I have no intention to escape and
will
present myself for execution even if I have managed to survive after the raid has been completed,” said Thorn.

     Orgavian Scallern dropped his hammer in surprise. The courtroom burst out with expressions of shock. Even Convian Norren fell back onto his chair.

     “This… This is unprecedented, minvian. You are asking for a miracle
!
” said Orgavian Scallern finally, upon regaining his composure.

     “Regardless, Your Justice
!
This is my final request as a condemned man. Will you fulfil it
?
” insisted Thorn.