Zachania (30 page)

“I’m sorry but
I must rush my father awaits me.”

Talon stood up
and called out to the Princess as she walked away.

“Can we speak
again?”

Su-Maria turned
and smiled but spoke no words and for the rest of the afternoon
Talon sat enjoying the sunshine just thinking of the Princess.

The following
day just after dawn Talon, his Grandfather and the Prince walked
towards the Palace stables where Graval and two of his gladiator’s,
Neo and Golia were waiting with a horse for Talon.

“I should come
with you Talon.” Zalon said as Talon climbed on the horse.

“Riding through
the mountains of the west is a journey for the young my friend.”
Prince Arun said jest fully but sincerely to Zalon.

“I shall see
you soon Grandfather.”

“The young! I
could you ride you all into the ground.”

“Grandfather I
need you here, Korvak’s wizards must be slain and the Prince needs
you” added Talon looking over at Arun.

“Farewell
Zararhakzar…may the gods return you safely to us.” added the
Prince.

The Prince and
Talons Grandfather watched as the men rode off into the distance,
both their faces shared the same anxiety.

“We could lose
him Zalon, his quest has many dangers.”

“Ha!, he’ll be
back.” replied Zalon to reassure the Prince and himself.

Prince Arun
turned and ushered Zalon to follow.

“Come we have
much to do.”

“Are we going
to Korvak’s castle?”

“Not now, first
we go to the border and then we will deal with Korvak.”

It took Talon
two days to cross the fabled Zachanian Mountains, he had been given
maps of the secret routes but still the journey was painstakingly
arduous. The men were all feeling the pace but they decided not to
rest until they reached the western town of Zabac, the town under
the control of the house of Zargar.

When they
reached the outskirts of the town Talon noticed that Graval was
being troubled by something.

“Graval you
look like you have something on your mind, will you share it with
me?”

Graval suddenly
snapped out of his thoughts.

“It’s the mists
Talon! They trouble me; no one has ever entered them and
lived.”

“Ganasis did!”
replied Talon.

“Ganasis was a
wizard Talon, he had his magic to guide him and anyway we do not
know that he is alive.”

“Zumal senses
that Ganasis lives Graval, and so do I, anyway you’re not
frightened are you?” Talon replied changing his voice to a playful
mock.

Graval spun his
head around slightly angered at Talon’s jest.

“I am afraid of
nothing!” he said proudly and with a definite tone to his
voice.

Talon laughed
as Graval then realised he was being played with so along with the
other men he broke into laughter.

“It’s not the
mists Talon, it’s the unknown, if I was going into battle then I
know what to expect and how to prepare myself and make no mistake I
would gladly die fighting by your side, but this is different, It
is the not knowing what is waiting for us.” Graval added once the
laughing died down.

“Look there’s
the castle.” Talon said pointing.

“We’ll get some
food and rest we all need a sleep.” added Talon realising that the
journey and lack of rest was playing with the men’s minds.

Upon reaching
the castle they were welcomed and treated to a full table of food,
Makros Zargar had left strict orders for his men to see that Talon
received whatever he wanted and that he would join him later that
evening. Talon and his men feasted on chicken and soup with freshly
made bread and some of the finest ale in Zachania

Talons
gladiator Golia was a big man nearly twice as heavy as most men but
even he filled himself till he could eat no more.

“Talon if I die
tomorrow then it would have been worth it just to eat this feast.”
he said rubbing his belly.

The four men
laughed until they were interrupted by the sound of fast marching
footsteps, Graval put down his jug of ale and quickly pulled his
sword readying himself for whoever was marching towards them.

“Relax Graval
we are Zargar’s guests” Talon said grabbing the gladiators arm.

Graval shrugged
off Talon and stood in front of him.

“Forgive me
Talon but I am sworn to protect you.”

Four senior
looking soldiers then entered the room and Graval pointed his sword
at them and shouted a demand.

“Make yourself
known before you approach any further!”

The soldiers
stopped dead in their tracks looking surprised as Macros Zargar
dressed regally in his family’s uniform walked out into view from
behind them.

“I am Makros
Zargar and you are my guests!” he said looking slightly angered at
Graval’s posture.

“Where is the
Zararhakzar?” Zargar added strongly.

“It’s ok
Graval.”

Talon said
pulling Graval to the side to reveal himself.

“It’s good to
see you again Lord Zargar.” Talon said smiling as he walked towards
Zargar and greeted him with an embrace.

“You honour my
castle Talon.” replied Zargar before both men sat down and Zargar
poured some more ale.

“How was your
journey?”

“Tiring but we
made good time.”

“Did you enjoy
the food; I left orders to feed you the finest stocks we have.”

“Lord Zargar
your hospitality has been immense; my friends will be talking about
this feast for many years.”

“Good!” Zargar
replied pleased with himself.

Talon then
poured himself another jug of ale before turning to Zargar more
serious,

“Lord Zargar
tell me more of the mists, I have heard of the myths but is it true
that you can spit and before the spit reaches the ground it will
turn to ice.”

“The mists, I
am afraid I cannot be too much help Talon, yes they have always
been there, it never moves both day and night it sits over the
landscape like a blanket of death, it is so dense that once you are
within then you cannot see your hand in front of your face and the
cold is like nothing you could imagine.”

“Have you ever
been inside the mist Lord?”

“Once a long
time ago, but we had to turn back after a short while.”

“Why?”
interrupted Talon.

“It was so cold
it froze our horses.”

Talon sat back
as a feeling of dread crept upon him as he realised just how
difficult penetrating the mists was going to be.

“Are you having
second thoughts?” Zargar added noticing the concern in Talon’s
face

“No Lord
Zargar, second thoughts are for women and children, I just didn’t
realise how impregnable the mists actually were.”

“I do not envy
your task my friend.”

“Cold you say,
then I will need supplies of furs.”

“Whatever you
need.”

Lord Zargar
then asked Talon to join him at the other side of the room away
from his friend’s ears.

“Talon why are
you going yourself, why not send your men.”

“The prophecy
Zargar.”

“The prophecy
says the Zararhakzar walks hand in hand with Ganasis but it doesn’t
say you have to find him.”

Talon shook his
head.

“No Zargar it
must be me, I will not send a man to endure something that I am not
prepared to do myself, anyway I am confident in my strengths and if
a am to be called the Zararhakzar then adversity is going to be my
companion for a very long time.”

Lord Zargar
looked deeply into Talons face and noticed his conviction and
strength.

“You must be
the one” Zargar silently thought to his self.

“That we will
have to see” Talon suddenly snapped reading Zargar’s thoughts and
causing the Lord to lean back in shock.

“How did you
know what I was thinking?” replied Zargar still amazed.

Talon smiled
before raising his jug of ale to his lips and took another sip.

“It’s just a
family trick.” he added.

Suddenly Zargar
felt a strange unease.

“Do not worry
my Lord I will not delve into your thoughts any more.” added Talon
warmly.

Zargar sighed
deeply still astounded at what Talon had just done.

“I did not
realise your ability Talon, it is unnerving that a man can reach
into another’s secret thoughts and read them as if they were
spoken.”

“Lord Zargar I
apologise if you have been offended but I see you are a true and
honest man and that needs no apology.”

“Come now my
Lord, lets enjoy the rest of this ale, tonight I am warm and
comfortable I doubt I will feel the same tomorrow” added Talon
smiling reminding the Lord of the mists he will set forth for in
the morning.

Back in the
royal town of Zachra Prince Arun and Talon’s Grandfather Zalon was
busy arranging for more soldiers to travel to the border with
Kratos for fear of the Empire invading Zachania.

The Prince was
instructing his loyal General Pelkan,

“I want you to
take this letter to General Kosh and assist him sending fifty
thousand soldiers to the border.”

“Yes sire will
you be coming to the border yourself.”

“Not at the
moment Pelkan, I have important things here that need my
attention.”

“Yes sire I
will see to this immediately.”

“Pelkan.”

“What my
liege.”

“Take care my
friend; there are many things that have yet to reveal
themselves.”

Once Pelkan
left Zalon turned to the Prince.

“I thought we
were going to the border Prince.”

“Pelkan is
capable enough Zalon, anyway Korvak’s wizards need our full
attention, that matter must be handled very delicately for if
Korvak feels threatened then he may send his army against us.”

“That would be
insanity Prince, he would be massacred.”

Prince Arun
nodded in agreement.

“Exactly we
need every soldier we can get our hands on, if we fight amongst
ourselves, then what better gift could we give to the Empire on the
eve of their invasion.”

“It sounds like
you have everything planned my liege.”

“Yes it’s time
to set a trap for Korvak’s wizards, come now Zalon we leave in the
morning!”

When Talon and
his men first laid eyes on the mists they brought their horses to a
standstill and all of them just sat speechless mesmerised by the
sheer size and presence of it.

“By Apollo! I
have never seen such a fearful sight” Graval said.

Talon reached
over and squeezed his arm.

“Come now our
destiny awaits us.” replied Talon digging his heels into the horse
making it advance.

Once they
reached a couple of hundred feet they tied their horse and gathered
their supplies, they never said a word as they helped each other
put on their furs.

Soon they stood
just a few feet away and already Talon could feel the mists bitter
cold

Talon then
turned to face his men.

“My brave
friends…My brave Zachanian’s. In a moment we will enter this void,
what lays ahead is unknown, we might even meet our deaths and if we
do, then we will die men of honour, men of courage and desire,
desire to avenge our ancestors, it’s in our hands now whether we
succeed or not but if we doubt ourselves then this mist will surely
beat us. I for one will not be afraid of this, Ganasis we are
coming for YOU! Zachania must be free.”

Talon then
turned and stepped into the mist followed by Graval and his two men
Neo and Golia with a rope tied between them so they would not lose
anyone.

As Talon took
his first breath he felt a pain as the cold air attacked his lungs,
they walked slowly as Talon could only see a foot in front of him,
it was very strenuous on the legs as the ground was slippery and
full of rocks.

“Talon I am
cold!” Graval shouted out.

“We must keep
moving, it will keep us warm if we continue.”

“I can’t feel
my hands.” Neo shouted.

““Walk faster!”
Talon replied trying to quicken the pace.

After a few
hours Talon stopped.

“I think we
should change direction.” Talon sighed before setting the pace
again.

They walked
further into the mists till nightfall when everything fell into
complete darkness, Graval grabbed Talon’s arm.

“Talon I cannot
take much more of this, there is nothing here but death.”

“Don’t dare
give in Graval, if you stop you will die, we must continue.”

The next few
hours were agony, they were lost and freezing cold as their bodies
began to fail, Neo was the first to fall and they only realised
this when the rope tied to Neo pulled on them.

“What’s wrong”
Talon shouted from the front.

“It’s Neo!”
shouted back Golia.

The three men
pulled themselves together by the rope and then pulled themselves
to Neo who was lying still on the ground, Talon knelt down beside
him and grabbed his head

“NEO! NEO!”

Neo was barely
conscious but he managed to muster up enough strength to point to
his legs

“It’s my legs
Talon I can’t feel them.”

“Can you feel
this?” answered Talon squeezing one of them.

“No.”

Talon then
pulled a bag of supplies and gave it to Graval.

“What are you
doing?” Graval said grabbing Talon.

“I will carry
him!”

“Talon you’re
too weak yourself.”

“I won’t leave
him.” added Talon reaching down to pick Neo up.

“Help me Neo,
pull yourself onto my back.”

“No Talon save
yourselves.” Neo cried out only for Talon to ignore him and pull
him onto his back.

The next few
hours were agony as sometimes they walked and sometimes they
huddled together for warmth during small rests, the cold now was
unbearable and it soon got the better of them as Talon collapsed.
Talon grabbed hold of Neo.