FARHAYVEN: VENGEANCE (37 page)

     Thorn assesses the overall situation. Should they succeed in repelling the raiders, he knows that the Serpentians will not be able to launch another raid as they will have depleted their resources. But if Fort Eastguard falls to Serpentian hands, there will be no point in defending the village after this battle, as the Serpentian force which will be sent later to secure this village will be so large that to resist them will be virtually pointless and suicidal; though he is sure the villagers will fight on to the end, nonetheless. Too many factors to consider, yet not many are within his control
!

     As expected, the Serpentians appear on the main road marching in three straight files. They stop about 600 paces from the barricades. The Serpentian commander assesses the situation. Thorn can make out that the Serpentians look alert and cautious. Thorn realises that this is going to be a very tough battle. Then the Serpentian commander gives the order to march forward. Step by step they close the distance between them and the villagers.

    
Whoosh!  Whoosh!  Whoosh!
  Three arrows cut into the Serpentian files, causing two Serpentian raiders to fall in agonising pain. The third arrow lands on the ground harmlessly. The Serpentian commander shouts out commands for his archers to stop and attack while his swordsmen march on at a fast pace. A frenzy of arrow exchanges occur between the Serpentians and the villagers.

     Thorn’s heart skips a beat, for he now knows that the battle is lost. Unlike the previous raiding party, these Serpentian raiders did not scatter in panic, thus avoiding the numerous bamboo stake traps in the surrounding field. One by one, the village archers fall onto the ground either injured or dead. Thorn shouts out orders for the villagers to throw as many spears as possible at the Serpentian files. Several dozen Serpentian archers and swordsmen fall to the ground with wooden shafts protruding from their bodies. But it is not enough
!
Approximately 180 Serpentians still threaten the village. And they march closer and closer to the barricades.

     Then the inevitable happens
!
The Serpentian commander orders his swordsmen to charge. The villagers throw spears and various projectiles at the raiders as fast and as accurately as they can in order to stop them. Thorn shouts out a command to the villagers and all of a sudden, dozens of spears protrude from the tiny holes in the barricades and impales a number of the charging raiders. The rest of the Serpentians jump over the outer barricade and a bloody battle ensues. Swords clash with pitch forks, machetes, axes and sickles. Shouts of anger intertwine with the screams of pain, fear and frustration in a chaos of violence and bloodshed.

     Swinging his left hand, Thorn Sayvion slams his shield onto the head of a Serpentian who is trying to jump over the barricade. He thrusts his sword forward to stab the Serpentian who follows behind the first. Pulling his sword from the second raider, he swings a Horizontal Cut to knock away the sword of another raider and swings the edge of his shield horizontally into this Serpentian’s neck, breaking it. Thorn steals a glance at Caramel, who with the help of two village women, is engaged in battle against a raider. She seems to be holding her own as a warrior, but still, he would have preferred it if she had chosen to go into hiding with her parents.

     More and more Serpentian raiders jump over the barricades. Though fierce combat still occurs at the outer barricade, the Serpentians have managed to penetrate into the village hall itself. The villagers fight as best they can, but are no match for the well trained and stronger Serpentians. Village men fall at the hands of the Serpentian as easily as a hot knife cuts through butter. Some of the village men and most of the women folk are knocked unconscious. Thorn steals another glance at Caramel, but panic consumes him as he sees a Serpentian punching her in the stomach, which causes her to collapse onto the ground.

     “You’re too
pretty
to die, darling. We’ll find a better
use
for you,” remarks the Serpentian.

     Without a single thought of sensibility, Thorn rushes towards her; but a wall of Serpentians stands in his way. He charges, hits, swings, cuts, blocks and manoeuvres, but to no avail. A solid thud at the back of his head and Thorn Sayvion’s vision darkens. The ambient noises become silent and only his heartbeat can be heard. Then there is nothing but silence and darkness, except for one word. This one word repeats itself over and over again in his mind
!
Failure! Failure! Failure! Failure! Failure! …

     Meanwhile, back at Fort Eastguard, Elementhar Ray Iddell slams one end of his silver staff into a Serpentian’s face. As the Serpentian falls to the ground, a Fallsian swordsman finishes him off with a stab to the torso. Ray engages another Serpentian, trying to keep him out of the prison building where Lance and Spirit are being held. The border fort is close to being overrun as the fighting reaches the western wall itself. Then the sweetest sound to a Fallsian soldier’s ears can be heard.

     “Royal Guards
!
One cavalry pond approaching
!
Royal Guards
!
One cavalry pond approaching
!
Royal Guards
!
One lake approaching at a distance
!!
” shouts one of the sentries on top of the western wall.

     Every Fallsian soldier’s heart leaps with joy. Their fighting spirit reignites.  The large gate of the western wall swings open slowly and like a loud burst of thunder, a lone horseman, in shiny silver armour and wearing a crowned battle helm, charges through, leading 311 galloping horsemen behind him. The Royal Guards waste no time in joining the fray. The fort’s defenders, further inspired by their horse-mounted comrades, charge forward to push the remaining Serpentians back towards the eastern wall. Hundreds of Serpentians fall victim to the Royal Guards, whose horses wear armour equipped with thick metal spikes that can stab at galloping speeds or break bones upon a brushing impact. Cavalry archers of the Royal Guards shoot off volley after volley of arrows at the Serpentian archers who control the eastern wall, sending them to their deaths.

     A Serpentian scout strains his eyes into the distant western horizon, then rubs them in disbelief. He strains his eyes again and finally accepts what he sees, tall wooden structures making their way towards the fort. He recognises these wooden structures to be Heavy Catapults. The reinforcement lake of Fallsian soldiers march steadily ahead of these catapults. Serpentian runners at the frontline relay hurried messages to each other and moments later, a Serpentian runner informs Battlelord Constrictor of the latest developments. To the Serpentian commander, there is no doubt in his mind that the result of the battle has already been revealed. He has approximately 3,500 able-bodied soldiers left and this figure is extremely insufficient to overcome the reinforcement lake of Royal Guards and their Heavy Catapults, especially since he no longer has catapults of his own.

     Though his pride makes it hard for him to do so, Battlelord Constrictor signals the retreat. Serpentian signallers blow horns in long slow rhythm, sending the signal of a general retreat. The Serpentians who are in the fort are trapped and get cut to pieces. The Serpentians outside the eastern wall make a fighting retreat, with groups of archers leap-frogging backwards to cover the retreat of their swordsmen comrades. With an expression of cold indifference, Battlelord Constrictor turns around and marches the remnants of his columns into the eastern horizon.

     Convian Genox made her way to the lead horsemen of the Royal Guards.

     “Convian Serene Genox, acting commander of 1
st
Lake, 3
rd
Ocean, reporting, Your Highness
!
” said Convian Genox as she bowed.

     “Prince Eagle Patrum, commander of 1
st
Ocean. Proceed with your report, convian
!
” replied the silver armoured horseman, as he removed his crowned battle helm, revealing a handsome young man of Serpentian ancestry.

     “Your Highness, Orgavian Ram Deffs and the other minvians were killed in battle, mainly by shadow-archers. The only other surviving minvian left is Minvian Eggle, who is a reinforcement officer from one of the town garrisons. Most of my soldiers are dead or severely wounded. The eastern wall is severely damaged. All of my Heavy Catapults are destroyed. The town of Timberstock and most villages along the border have been raided, Your Highness,” reported Convian Genox.

     “Most unfortunate,” expressed the prince as he shook his head in sadness.

     Prince Patrum turned to look at Convian Genox again.

     “Convian, I am promoting you to the rank of minvian. You and your soldiers are to tend to those who are injured and also to bury the dead. Strike Force 3 is a quarter of a day’s march away. When they arrive, this fort will be placed under their responsibility until further notice. They will be responsible in rebuilding the fort. As soon as you and your soldiers have completed your tasks, you will assist Strike Force 3 in rebuilding the fort. Replacements will be sent here to reconstruct 1
st
Lake in due time. Are my instructions clear, minvian
?
” continued Prince Patrum.

     “Yes, Your Highness,” said Minvian Serene Genox.

     “Battle commendations, minvian
?
” asked the prince.

     “Verallvian Rod Sayson, Your Highness. He saved my life twice. He took temporary command of our soldiers while I was unconscious. He provided sound military advice and acted calmly and bravely in combat,” replied Minvian Genox.

     “Accepted, minvian. You may inform the verallvian he is promoted to convian. Anything else to add, minvian
?
” said Prince Patrum.

     “No, Your Highness,” replied Minvian Genox.

     “Carry on
!
” ordered the prince.

     Minvian Genox bowed and left.

     Prince Eagle Patrum dismounted from his horse and proceeded to assign his men to set up the temporary defences of the fort while the newly promoted Minvian Serene Genox and Convian Rod Sayson, assisted by Minvian Eggle, proceeded to carry out their tasks. Tears of sorrow flowed down their cheeks as they took in the sight of carnage and destruction that lay before them and as they identified amongst the dead, close friends and comrades whom they would never see again, or whose voices, jokes and laughter they would never hear again.

     Unbeknownst to all, a winged figure sat on a mountain top nearby and was witness to all that had happened. It shook its head in disappointment. Then stretching its leathery wings, it flew off silently.

     Two days later, Servian Tile Nieven guided Minvian Genox, Convian Sayson and a river of their comrades to where the remains of Minvian Jussette and 3
rd
Pond lay and retrieved their bodies for a proper burial.

     A silent sorrow engulfs the once proud Fort Eastguard and shatters the irreplaceable joy of comradeship that the men and women of 1
st
Lake, 3
rd
Ocean once shared. The setting of the sun mirrors the gloom in their hearts, as they mourn the comrades they have recently lost.

WINDSWEPT FOREST

     Drops of mushroom soup drip off Novice Elementhar Lance Arman’s chin as he half chews and half swallows a bite of soup-soaked bread. Simple food has never tasted so good to him, especially after being kept a prisoner for the past week. However, he feels strange to be sharing the breakfast table with fierce-looking soldiers who, just up to a day ago, had held him, Ray and Spirit captive and semi-starved them.

     Lance stole a glance at Ray, who ate his meal in casual silence. Perhaps Ray’s life experiences has made him oblivious to the irony of the situation, whereby the captor became the rescued, the captive became the saviour and all hostilities were erased as though all of it had never happened. The situation was still too confusing for Lance. Spirit gobbled down his food at the speed of lightning. He did not like the metal cage that he was in and he liked the soldiers sitting around him even less.

     The Fallsian soldiers ate their meal in sorrowful silence. Minvian Serene Genox sat next to Ray, her facial expression was no longer fierce. It was very subdued instead.

     “Go _ of this, where will you
?
” she asked.

     “Go _ we shall do of this southwards, into Windswept Forest, turn southwest at Three Rock Falls, exit Windswept Forest and make our way to Fallsene City,” answered Ray.

     “Reason _ what is yours of this to be there
?
” she asked further.

     “Reason _ ours of this is to attend a gathering of Ordered Elementhars, called the Grand Conference, at Monune Grand in Fallsene City,” answered Ray.

     Minvian Genox nodded her head. Convian Rod Sayson looked confused. He gave a questioning look to her, but she just held her palm up and asked him to wait.

     “Believe _ I do of this that they will be glad to realise that not all Fire Elementhars perished 15 years ago,” expressed Minvian Genox.

     “Believe _ I do not of this, as they know of my existence and had refused the request I made 15 years ago to investigate, capture and punish the perpetrators of my order’s massacre. Order _ mine of this was left un-avenged and the fire discipline was abandoned for extinction,” expressed Ray.

     “You are bitter, Elementhar Iddell. I can understand why. But you must not blame your fellow Elementhars for inaction. 15 years ago, when I held the rank of servian, I was part of the investigation team who investigated your order’s massacre. We had investigated for months, but could not find any clues as to the identity or whereabouts of the Shadow Deathmerchant Clan, let alone the perpetrator who hired them. I doubt your fellow Elementhars could have done any better. We stopped the investigation after six months and concluded that all Fire Elementhars were dead. This is the reason why we did not believe you earlier on,” interrupted Convian Sayson.

     Ray banged his fist on the dinner table.

     “Irrelevant _ it is of this as the other orders were obligated to pursue this matter until conclusion, as the Law of Elementhars dictated it
!
Vengeance
_ my dead brother and sister Elementhars
require of this
,
deserve of this
.
Justice
_ it is their
right
to obtain of this, even from the grave, and I
shall deliver
it for them or
die
trying,” expressed Ray angrily.

     “Justice
?
Hah
!
What a
foolish
sentiment
!
There is no justice in this world and there will never be
!
Many of my fellow soldiers are dead. Men and women I worked with, whom I can almost call family, are dead
!
Just like your brother and sister Elementhars, they are dead. But what do we do about it
?
  Nothing. Not a
single
thing
!
So where is
my
vengeance
?
  Where is
my
right for justice
?
  Nowhere
!
Nowhere, because it
never
existed,” expressed Convian Sayson.

     Ray shook his head in disagreement.

     “Justice _ you have none of this because you do not go and seek for this, for you are bound by laws and loyalty. Tied _ your hands are of this but mine are not
!
Forgotten _ you seem to have of this of the natural law of cause and effect, the one law that engulfs everyone and the one law that nobody can escape from,” clarified Ray.

     “Perhaps you are right. But I have not seen justice for such a long time that I truly doubt if it had ever really existed,” said Convian Sayson dispassionately.

     The mid-morning sun shone brightly on the
23
rd
Day of Second Month of Wet Season
as the trio set out from the battered Fort Eastguard. Lance felt it safe to ask Ray questions about the soldiers whom they had left behind.

     “Apologise _ of this, master, why do they not do so when they had found out that we were not spies
?
Hostility _ of this, why does this suddenly change to friendliness as though the imprisonment never happened
?
” asked Lance.

     “Attitude _ the soldiers’ of this is that they are already dead when they became soldiers, therefore for them, there is no past or future, only the present. Actions _ therefore theirs of these show no remorse, regret or gladness; and no sense of accountability to their conduct, for they do not dwell long enough on the past to develop regret and remorse nor do they think far enough into the future to be concerned with its repercussions Attitude _ of this, it is necessary in their line of work as they face death every day and normal emotions would hamper their effectiveness. Humanity _ however, they have lost theirs of this; although it
does not
have to be, but the military has chosen this way because it is the fastest and the easiest, even though it is
not
the
correct
way,” explained Ray.

     Spirit was not concerned with the conversation between Ray and Lance. He was just glad to be free from the metal cage and to be able to feel the cool breeze and warm sunlight on his body once again.

     It was cool and windy in Windswept Forest that afternoon on the
25
th
Day of Second Month of Wet Season
. Practice of Elemental Sorcery had gone well with Lance, as he could now execute the Heat Burst Spell. However, the quality of his spells was not as solid and as consistent as Ray’s.

     Evening came and the trio set up camp for the night near a small stream. They lit a small bonfire. Then Ray continued teaching Lance how to read and write. Lance started his own copy of the Vanguard Manuscript, copying from Ray’s.

     The first part of the Vanguard Manuscript contained the personal history of Pioneer Elementhar Nova Vanguard. It told of her life, her discovery of Elemental Sorcery and her eventual defeat of Lord Desolator. It also told of the men and women who had joined her in her war against demonkind. It also described the founding of the Grand Order of Elementhars. It took Lance nearly five hours to complete this part of the manuscript.

     Then Ray told Lance to put his book down. Ray opened his own copy of the Vanguard Manuscript and verbally taught Lance the second part, with the plan that Lance would then copy it on subsequent nights.

     Ray began by explaining the terms and definitions involved in Elemental Sorcery. He explained that a Novice Elementhar was any person who had no prior mastery of any of the elemental disciplines and who had agreed to take up apprenticeship under a Master Elementhar. A Master Elementhar was a person who had mastered at least one of the elemental disciplines, even though that person may have taken up apprenticeship in another discipline. A High Elementhar was a Master Elementhar who had been selected based on seniority, skills, knowledge and experience to be the leader of an order and was automatically given a seat at the High Council of Elementhars. A Grand Elementhar was a High Elementhar who had been selected to be the leader of the High Council of Elementhars and was the overall leader of the Grand Order of Elementhars.

     Ray continued to explain to Lance about the Law of Elementhars. According to Ray, it was divided into two categories. The first category was known as the Law of Elementhar Conduct, and had the following contents in order of priority:

1. Knowledge _ a Novice, Master, High or Grand Elementhar must always strive to improve of this within himself/herself and perfect his/her skills for as long as he/she may live.
   
2. Justice _ a Novice, Master, High or Grand Elementhar must always act in the interest of this and also of truth, irrelevant of any surmounting pressure or consequence.
   
3. Self-defence _ a Novice, Master, High or Grand Elementhar must not use his/her knowledge or skills to cause harm to anyone unless it is absolutely required of this or for upholding justice.
   
4. Modesty _ a Novice, Master, High or Grand Elementhar must always act of this and never provoke or challenge any person with the intention to prove his/her capabilities.
   
5. Respect _ a Novice, Master, High or Grand Elementhar must do of this, to a reasonable level, of local laws and customs.
   
6. Consideration _ a Novice, Master, High or Grand Elementhar must make decisions and take actions with careful of this of all factors and possible consequences; and accept full accountability for those decisions and actions.
   
7. Theft _ a Novice, Master, High or Grand Elementhar must not do of this or to take that which does not belong to or is deserving of him/her.
   
8. Lie _ a Novice, Master, High or Grandmaster Elementhar must not do of this or to engage himself/herself in falseness of any kind.
   
9. Meat _ a Novice, Master, High or Grand Elementhar must not consume any form of this, and also of alcohol or any intoxicants; and to avoid as much as possible the use of fur and leather.
   
10. Celibate _ a Novice, Master, High or Grand Elementhar must be of this at all times.
    
11. Learn _ a Novice Elementhar is responsible to do of this as much as possible from a Master Elementhar, who in turn is responsible to do of this as much as possible from a High Elementhar, who in turn is responsible to do of this as much as possible from a Grand Elementhar; and a Grand Elementhar is responsible to teach as much as possible to a High Elementhar, who in turn is responsible to teach as much as possible to a Master Elementhar, who in turn is responsible to teach as much as possible to a Novice Elementhar.
    
12. Mastery _ a Novice, Master, High or Grand Elementhar shall not seek to do of this of more than two of the elemental disciplines, unless there is a dire need to do so.
    

         The second category was known as the Law of Elementhar Administration, and had the following contents in order of priority:

1. Agreement _ no Novice, Master, High or Grand Elementhar and neither the Grand Order of Elementhars nor the High Council of Elementhars are allowed to come to any of this, conduct discussions with or negotiate with any being who is a demon or an accomplice to a demon.
   
2. Learn _ no Novice, Master, High or Grand Elementhar shall be allowed to do of this of any demonic teachings or to attempt to acquire demonic powers.
   
3. Right of Speech _ no Novice, Master, High or Grand Elementhar shall have of this if he/she is not or is no longer a member of the Grand Order of Elementhars.
   
4. Politics _ no Novice, Master, High or Grand Elementhar shall be part of any act of this, or to  interfere with or be involved in any form of administration by any local government.
   
5. Duel _ no Novice, Master, High or Grand Elementhar may challenge another Novice, Master, High or Grand Elementhar to a mortal of this in order to prove or disprove a breach in the Law of Elementhar Conduct or the Law of Elementhar Administration, unless all alternative solutions are exhausted; at which, the refusal to accept such a challenge is deemed as an admission of guilt.
   
6. Interfere _ no Novice, Master, High or Grand Elementhar shall do of this in a mortal duel between two other Novice, Master, High or Grand Elementhars.
   
7. Justice _ no order of the Grand Order of Elementhars or even the Grand Order of Elementhar itself, may refuse to do/provide of this for any Novice, Master, High or Grand Elementhar, especially if he/she is not able to do so for himself/herself.
   
8. Trial _ no Novice, Master, High or Grand Elementhar can be deemed guilty of breaching the Law of Elementhar Conduct or the Law of Elementhar Administration, unless he/she is given a fair and unbiased one of this.
   
9. Punishment _ no Novice, Master, High or Grand Elementhar, after being deemed guilty of breaching the Law of Elementhar Conduct or the Law of Elementhar Administration, can be given of this unless it is pronounced,  defined and executed by the High Council of Elementhars or its appointed representatives.
   
10. Protect _no order of the Grand Order of Elementhars or even the Grand Order of Elementhar itself, may refuse to do of this of any Novice, Master, High or Grand Elementhar unless such a person has breached the Law of Elementhar Conduct or the Law of Elementhar Administration.
    
11. Administration _ no Novice, Master, High or Grand Elementhar and no order of the Grand Order of Elementhars is allowed to go against the High Council of Elementhars’ of this and its  policies, unless it is deemed unfair, in which case the matter will be settled through a duel between the complainant and a representative of the High Council of Elementhars.
    
12. Favours - no Novice, Master, High or Grand Elementhar and no order of the Grand Order of Elementhars is allowed to give or receive of these or of any preferential treatment of any kind.