Zachania (23 page)

“So be it!” he
sighed disappointed.

“Well give me
one thing monk, when you have finished running around the island
doing this monk work you will at least think about joining me one
day.”

Talon nodded
with a smile.

“I will see you
again my Lord that much I can promise you.”

“GOOD! Then you
will be a rich man.”

“Talking of
riches Lord, your men took one thousand Krasos from me.”

Lord Akraf
clapped his hands loudly causing a soldier to come over.

“Get this man’s
belongings and bring him two thousand Krasos.”

“My Lord.”
Talon interrupted “my money totalled a thousand.”

“Then I will
double it for you, triple it if you like.”

“No two will be
most generous.” laughed Talon.

“And tomorrow
morning I will give you one of my finest horses with all the food
and supplies you can carry but tonight, tonight we feast and
drink!”

The two men did
as the Lord said and feasted and drank until their bellies felt
like they would burst and as the night went on Talon grew towards
the Lord as he realised that Akraf was not such the dictator that
he had heard he was, Akraf was indeed a fair and wise men which
made Talon realise that it was the men who carried out his orders
who did so with sometimes more aggression than needed.

It was a lesson
of leadership for Talon “A man cannot always be judged by the ways
in which those beneath him act.” Talon thought to himself

ZANLIA

General
Krustov’s secret army were now firmly mixed into the lifestyles of
their fellow Zanlian’s, they had taken jobs as farmers, fishermen,
shepherds, builders and carpenters and every other kind of trade
that they could.

Meanwhile for
months on end the rest of the army under strict orders from
Generals Sanda and Torenus conducted a vindictive hand of tyranny
upon the people of Zanlia.

The Empire
excelled at these tactics, send soldiers to infiltrate and then
send in an army to terrorise, people would be split, rumours and
plans would then be more audible to the men who were hidden, every
night more people were taken from their homes and tortured, the
town was in a grip of terror and everyone feared for their
lives.

However General
Krustov was still frustrated, he had his orders but it still
troubled him as to why the emperor had ordered such a persecution
on the people of Zanlia. For months now he had overseen the torture
of hundreds of Zanlian’s yet still he had no evidence of a
resistance movement. The Empire had arrested countless thieves and
vagabonds and cleaned up the city of its local crime but still
there was nothing, a few rumours here and there of some people’s
contempt or anger of the Empire, but nothing convinced him that
this town was on the brink of rebellion.

Yet Krustov’s
orders remained the same ‘find and destroy any signs of
resistance.’ maybe his orders were to break the spirit of these
people or to show them just how powerful the Empire was, just in
case there was any thought of rebellion.

It had taken
Talon five days on horseback to reach the Zanlian Mountains.
Totally unaware of the iniquities that were taking place in Zanlia,
Talon felt excited that just one more day would see him enter the
ancient holy city. He had once again put on his monks robes over
his clothes as it would be much safer travelling as a monk.

By morning
Talon entered the outskirts of the city and could not believe what
he saw, it looked like the city was under siege as besides the road
were thousands of camped Imperial soldiers, for a moment Talon
thought that he had come back to Kallick Town the military presence
was so great.

Warily he
approached a roadblock; he had shown his monk papers to couple of
soldiers in the mountain pass where he was waved on with no
problems so it gave him a feeling of confidence as he neared the
city’s entrance.

After a short
inspection the soldiers waved Talon through, he rode into the town
and was struck with how subdued the people seemed, on every corner
there were soldiers and the people went about their business
clearly showing signs of being under scrutiny.

Talon asked one
of the townsfolk directions to the temple only to be totally
ignored; the man seemed terrified to talk to stranger.

A nearby
soldier noticed and walked over to Talon who was now dismounting
his horse.

“You there,
what are doing?” asked the soldier sternly.

“I am asking
directions to the Pangkor temple sir.”

“Who are
you?”

“I am a monk
sir travelling from the Pangkor temple in Vilsillius.”

Another soldier
soon joined them and began admiring Talon’s horse.

“Are monks now
using Zanlian thoroughbred’s” he asked with a suspicious tone to
his voice.

Talon smiled
trying not to look concerned.

“We breed them”
he answered as he produced his monk travelling passes.

The soldier
looked at the papers and then showed them to the other soldier who
was now stroking the horse’s neck.

“There fine.”
he replied just glimpsing at them.

“This is a
beautiful horse, be sure to treat him well.” he added before giving
the horse a gentle slap and walking away towards a merchant who was
entering the city.

“The temple is
up the hill.” said the other soldier pointing.

“Thank you.”
Talon added.

Upon reaching
the temple Talon banged on its large wooden gate when it was opened
Talon greeted the monk and made it known that he was a monk from
the temple in Varanasa, Talon was greeted warmly and ushered inside
where he was shown somewhere to freshen up while his request to see
the Lord monk was conveyed.

Talon washed
himself and changed his clothes and was given something to eat as
he waited for his audience.

While waiting
Talon kept thinking about his dream where Apollo had told him to
show his pendent to the Lord Monk. Before long two monks came to
fetch him, Talon dropped to one knee when he was introduced to the
Lord Monk and bowed his head in respect.

“Greetings my
brother you asked to see me” said the Lord Monk.

“Yes my Lord, I
am on a quest and I seek your help.”

The Lord monk
straightened in his chair, he was curious before but now he was
intrigued

“What is this
quest.” he answered.

Talon rose to
his feet and walked over to him then reached into his gowns and
pulled out his pendent, the Lord Monk’s mouth gasped open in shock
as he looked amazed.

“Leave us!” he
then ordered the other monks who were in the room.

Then suddenly
and to Talon’s amazement the Lord Monk fell to his knees.

“I am at your
service.” he whispered now kneeling before Talon with his head
bowed.

“I always
wondered if I would be the one.” the Lord Monk added still not
looking up.

“What are you
saying holy one.” added Talon reaching out for the monk to
rise.

“For centuries
the Lord monks here in Zanlia have been told that one day a man
will come. This man will be wearing the sign of Apollo, once this
sign is shown then the Lord monk must take you a room here in the
temple, a secret room, this task now falls to me, I did not dream
that it would be me who would unveil the room of Apollo.”

“The room of
Apollo.” replied Talon puzzled.

“Yes there is a
room here that no one has ever entered; scriptures say that it was
the room used by the Lord Apollo himself when he possessed mortal
form.”

“Are you saying
that no one has ever seen inside this room?”

“No one has
ever entered it, not since Apollo himself, it has been forbidden
for centuries.”

“Take me to
this room.” Talon replied with a stern tone in his voice.

The Lord Monk
led Talon to far part of the temple they walked through many doors
till they reached a large curtain. The monk asked Talon to lend him
a hand, and they pulled the curtain away to reveal an old strong
wooden door. The monk reached inside his gown and pulled out a key
where he unlocked it.

Both men then
pushed the old door open which took both of them to do, it creaked
and dust fell as the heavy door opened, Talon gazed inside and saw
a wooden staircase which was covered in cobwebs and dust.

“I cannot go
any further.” the Lord Monk suddenly said.

Talon nodded
his head and slowly ventured in, the stairs were dark and Talon
tried to wipe away the cobwebs that now covered him, he moved slow
as he descended down into the darkness until he reached a large
stone door, Talon pushed but the door didn’t move.

There fumbled
around till he felt a torch and a tinderbox, he lit the torch and
the flame burnt away the cobwebs.

Talon studied
the door and noticed an indentation, which was like his pendent, he
removed the pendent and pushed it into the door, it was a perfect
fit, suddenly the door rattled and with a puff of dust it creaked
open.

Talon pushed
the door open and entered the room; he lit some candles then looked
around.

There was a
large table with two chairs and next to it were four large wooden
chests Talon walked over to the table bringing the candles with
him, upon the desk was a large leather-bound book. Talon sat down
and paused a moment before opening the large book and beginning to
read what was written on the first page.

By now I have already
spoken to you, this quest is now at its beginning I have foreseen
that my time is now limited and I Apollo have chosen you to fulfil
my work, I have left you this book and weapons that will assist
you. You are of Zachanian descent and therefore you will already
have hatred in your heart.

After the Great War
between the Zachanian’s and the Degrain’s the gods decreed that
they would never again involve themselves in between these two
great tribes.

I saw that it was the
Degrain’s who wanted war so I defied my fellow gods and helped the
Zachanian’s, I could not help them as a god so I took mortal form
and fought by their side but I was betrayed and killed by the
Degrain’s.

The gods discovered
this and sent a plague to kill all life on Kratos, I was exiled for
my punishment; the plague reaped a terrible toll where countless
died; only when the brave monks of Pangkor pleaded for mercy did
the plague end.

Then a new enemy known
as the Empire came from a far off land Kalitash, a land ruled by
evil gods and magic and when they found Kratos they found an island
that was ravaged by war and plague, the Empire easily conquered the
weakened Degrain’s who swore allegiance to escape annihilation.

Together with the
Degrain’s they turned their attention towards Zachania, thousands
of men women and children were killed without mercy, I pleaded from
my exile for the gods to help but my fellow gods stood firm never
to interfere in Kratos again.

I did not approve of
this so I disobeyed them freeing myself from exile once again I
took mortal form, we battled hard winning many battles but we was
betrayed by our own Zachanian wizards.

As I write this now all
is lost, the Empires armies are approaching Zanlia from all
directions, my Zachanian warriors are all but defeated, we are
ravaged from a plague sent by the Empire and delivered by our own
wizards.

I have sent an order
for my people back in Zachania to be ready for the years ahead, my
life here is at an end and I must sacrifice myself.

May the gods have mercy
on me and I will plead with them for my punishment not to be
severe.

If this letter is being
read then centuries have probably passed and my punishment would be
what I expect.

I have left you secret
maps and routes into Zachania and when you reach there you must
lead the Zachanian’s to their freedom, but pay heed the gods have
forsaken Zachania, your destiny is in your own hands.

I have left you many
secrets in a cave in Zachania, you will find this place yourself as
this place will soon be in the hands of the Empire and I cannot
guarantee its safety here.

Zachania must be
free.

Talon read for
many hours reading about the wars and the battles that had just
taken place. Apollo wrote many letters about the Empire and the
emperor.

Talon read that
the emperor was over a thousand years old and was a son of an evil
god on Kalitash.

Talon also read
about the history of Zachania and of its hero’s and warriors, its
towns and families.

When he
finished he closed the book and opened the nearest chest ,Talon
froze in awe as inside was the finest sword Talon had ever seen, he
blew away the dust and picked it up, it looked heavy but it was
very light. It was etched with the finest detail one could imagine
and the blade was so sharp Talon cut his finger touching it.

“How can
something be so sharp?” Talon sighed wiping away the blood.

“This must be a
sword made by the gods.” he added.

Talon then
opened the other chests, inside them he found more books as well as
scrolls and maps; he also found some gold and gems.

One of the maps
was Zachania and all the Zachanian towns it also mapped a secret
route through a cave on the eastern coast.

Talon read that
the only way to reach this cave was by small boat, the sea of
Zanlia was deadly where cliffs on Zachania sometimes rose as high
as 1000ft and the sea was often rough with strong winds causing
countless boats to be crushed against the rocks and cliffs.

But by small
boat the route could be navigated to a cave carved out centuries
ago by smugglers.

Talon then read
another scroll about Zachra, the largest town on Zachania and also
about Zachania’s two other large towns Zabac and Zafra.