Zachania (34 page)

Heikan noticed
that his men were taking casualties so he ran out of the protective
blanket of shields to his men ramming the gate and grabbed a hold
of the tree with them.

“PUSH!” Heikan
shouted as he strained with them.

“Did you forget
me?” Talon said as he joined on Heikan’s shoulder.

Then there was
aloud splintering noise as the gate shattered, Heikan’s men cheered
as they gave it one more push and the gate broke in two. The
soldiers ran into the castle led by Heikan and Talon where Talon
saw a row of Korvak warriors waiting with their bows, thinking
quick Talon pulled Heikan to the side where he found the shelter of
a cart.

In their
keenness Heikan’s warriors ran straight into the volley of arrows,
they fell in their dozens. There was a short pause as Heikan’s men
now being led by Kinlan and Zalon prepared another assault only
this time they entered with their shields held high to shield them
from the arrows, but still Korvak’s men attacked and still Heikan’s
men fell, but by now Kinlan had ordered everyone to attack and by
sheer volume of warriors, they over ran the bowmen.

Swords were
drawn and Korvak’s soldiers were slain in all directions, Talon was
fighting himself but he carefully tried to injure and not kill
Korvak’s men.

Talon and
Heikan with a few warriors began making their way to the tower
where they knew Lord Korvak and the wizards would be, as they
approached it Talon noticed that Korvak’s men were beaten behind
them and were laying down their arms in surrender. He then saw
Prince Arun and his soldiers who had entered the castle from the
north.

“The battle is
won.” Heikan beamed proudly to Talon.

Lord Heikan’s
men soon turned on the tower door where it was smashed off its
hinges then Kinlan with a few warriors led the way into the tower
followed by Talon and Heikan, there were a few guards still loyal
to Korvak who tried to fight but Kinlan and his warriors killed
them quickly and before long Kinlan smashed down the door where
behind it hid Korvak, his two sons, and the wizards of Zanlia.

“How dare you
attack my castle!” Korvak shouted at Kinlan.

“If I was you
I’d plead for your life.” Kinlan replied just before Heikan entered
through .where the smashed door once stood and pulled his man to
the side.

“HEIKAN! You
treacherous leech!” Korvak shouted.

Heikan pulled
his sword and advanced menacingly towards his fellow Lord.

“Heikan!” Talon
shouted.

Lord Heikan
stopped in his tracks and frowned obviously disappointed that he
was made to stop but he obeyed Talon’s order.

Korvak looked
confused as he saw Heikan being ordered by this stranger.

“Who are you?”
he said angrily.

Graval who had
now entered the room answered for Talon.

“HE IS THE
ZARARHAKZAR!” he shouted loudly and proudly.

“You’re just a
boy.” Korvak replied.

Talon just
smiled before looking over and snarling at the wizards who were
cowering.

“I have come
for you wizards of Zanlia” he said with grit in his voice which
made the wizards cower even more.

“So you are
responsible for this attack?” Korvak added only now pulling his
sword

Talon turned
back to the Lord.

“Are you so
eager to die?” replied Talon looking at Korvak’s sword.

“Then fight me
man to man.” Korvak added but with no conviction in his voice.

Graval walked
forward to Talon’s shoulder.

“Let me Talon.”
he said.

“No Graval this
is my duty.” answered Talon as he pulled Graval back.

Talon then
advanced towards Lord Korvak where both men swords drawn circled
each other.

“I am going to
cut out your heart.” Korvak said just before he swung wildly at
Talon which Talon moved almost effortlessly out of the way of.
Talon then swung his own sword which caught Korvak just above the
elbow severing the Lords arm off, both sword and arm dropped to the
ground as Korvak screamed in agony, Talon walked over and grabbed
his hair and then raised his sword ready to strike.

“Do you yield?”
Talon shouted at him.

Korvak was in
too much pain to answer as he howled holding what was left of his
arm trying to stop the blood which was gushing out, but from
somewhere he found strength to rise to his feet where he spat at
Talon.

“Kill me!” he
yelled in a defiant tone.

Talon raised
his sword above his head and was just about to strike when Ganasis
entered the room and screamed at him.

“TALON
,NO!”

Talon stopped
and backed away from the Lord who once again dropped to his knees
howling in pain.

“You do not
want Korvak’s blood on your hands Talon.” added Ganasis placing a
hand on Talon’s sword arm lowering it.

The wizards of
Zanlia seemed to freeze in fear as they saw Ganasis arrive; Ganasis
felt their shock and fear and looked at them with a smile on his
face.

“I have waited
a long time for this day.” he said.

“Ganasis” one
of them sighed as if in disbelief.

“Yes Ganasis it
is I, returned from that living hell you put me in and returned to
see your doom.”

As Ganasis
finished talking Talon nodded at Kinlan who then with Graval
grabbed hold of the wizards and forced them to their knees. Talon
and Ganasis then walked over and stood in front of them.

“Show them the
sword.” Ganasis said to Talon who paraded the sword before them
making them both wince in fear.

“Now tell
everyone what you told me all those years ago” Ganasis snapped.

“Ganasis please
show mercy.”

“Mercy like you
showed me, tell them all what you told me or Talon will bring his
sword down upon your necks.”

Both wizards
knew that Ganasis wanted them to confess their crimes and they were
not stupid enough to admit them as it would surely mark their
deaths so they both bowed their heads and remained silent.

Ganasis waited
till he turned to Talon and nodded to him where Talon brought down
his sword and thrust it into one of the wizard’s chest straight in
the heart killing him immediately. The room fell into sighs at what
they had just seen, the death of a wizard by the hands of a mortal,
the remaining wizard cried out in fear at the sight of his
companion falling to the floor.

“Now speak
wretched traitor, speak your crimes and maybe you will be spared,
or you can join him on the cold stone floor.” yelled Ganasis.

“Yes, yes I
betrayed Apollo and Zachania, yes I did it.”

Prince Arun who
had entered the room silently and had been watching the proceedings
suddenly ran forward and spat at the wizard.

“TRAITOR!” the
Prince shouted.

Ganasis then
moved forward and placed a hand upon the wizard’s head and began to
read his thoughts then after a few moments Ganasis scowled and
pushed the wizards head.

“Zac! It was
given to you by Grarlin, it was supposed to kill us, and together
you conspired to kill every living Zachanian.”

The Prince
turned to Talon.

“Zac” he
murmured only for Talon to nod silently back to him.

Ganasis then
turned to Talon and the Prince.

“It is more
dire than expected, this thing still speaks with Grarlin through
crystals, the Empire will be aware of all this.”

Ganasis then
turned back to the wizard.

“Is Grarlin
aware of this attack.” he snapped.

The wizard
nodded saying that he was.

“Then Grarlin
will be disappointed when you can speak to him no more, kill this
thing Talon!” Ganasis answered to him before turning to Talon.

Talon raised
his sword and quickly ended the wizard’s life.

Kaan Korvak was
still on the floor holding his severed arm in pain and was now
being aided by his sons but he was shocked at what he had just
heard and saw, Prince Arun walked slowly over to him and Korvak
looked up fearing that he was also about to die.

“Spare my
sons.” he asked the Prince.

“Korvak you
violated the sanctity of the council and refused a request from
royalty, your title of Lord is revoked and both you and your sons
will accompany me to Zachra where you will be thrown in the
dungeons for your crimes.”

Graval and
Kinlan then ordered some soldiers to take Korvak and his sons
away.

Prince Arun
then walked over to Talon who was cleaning the blood from his
sword

“Talon I give
you Korvak’s castle and all of his possessions.” he said placing
his hand on Talon’s shoulder, Talon placed his hand on top of
Arun’s hand and replied,

“Sire I cannot
accept.” he said softly.

“Take it!”
snapped Ganasis.

Talon shook his
head.

“I decline let
my Grandfather take it.”

Prince Arun
looked confused but complied with Talon’s wishes.

“If that is
what you wish Talon but why do you not want this yourself, you will
become a Lord of one of the great families of Zachania.”

Again Talon
shook his head only this time he smiled.

“My path will
take me in a different direction sire, and I must give my loyalty
to all Zachanian’s, having my own army will distance me from the
other houses.”

Prince Arun
called over Zalon.

“I decree that
from this day forth the land of Zafra and the house of Korvak will
be known as the house of Lord Zalon.”

As the sun set
Talon and Ganasis had walked from the castle and sat under the
stars on a nearby hill, the soldiers were still taking prisoners
away and the rest of Korvak’s army were being questioned and
informed about what had taken place.

“Korvak’s
Generals have sworn allegiance to your Grandfather Talon.”

“They cannot go
against the council Ganasis.”

“I am surprised
at easily they have taken this.”

“Its early
days, my Grandfather will have to earn their loyalty.”

“It’s been a
good day.” Ganasis added smiling.

“You got your
revenge old man” Talon added hinting at the wizard’s death.

“Revenge is for
the young Talon, it brings me no pleasure that it was wizards who
betrayed Zachania, it could weaken my trust amongst the
people.”

“Ganasis do not
speak foolish! You was with Apollo, the people will always trust
you.”

Ganasis
shrugged as a moment of silence fell between them.

“Talon tell me
now we are alone, why did you turn down Korvak’s castle?”

Talon paused as
if embarrassed.

“If I am to be
this Zararhakzar or the leader of all men then I can’t command my
own army. They would feel superior which would breed contempt and
jealousy amongst the armies of the other great houses of Zachania.
That I cannot allow to happen, we are on the verge of war against a
formidable opponent Ganasis, now more than ever Zachania must be
unified and that can only happen if all Zachanian’s are equal.”

Ganasis’s eyes
widened as his face broke into smile.

“I am in awe of
your prudence Talon.”

“When I studied
as a Pangkor and old friend taught me to look at something from all
angles before making a judgement, he showed me a flower of
Vilsillius, from the top and the side it looked beautiful and
inviting but if you pick it and smell it then the poisonous pollen
will kill you.”

“You’re friend
had wisdom Talon.”

“His name is
Chang; he took me in when I was lost.”

“I would like
to meet him one day.”

“So would I
Ganasis, so would I.”

Ganasis then
changed the subject to earlier in the day.

“Do you know
word of you is already spreading Talon, soon every Zachanian will
be talking about you, I looked at the faces of the men in the room
as you killed the wizards, there was much fear, they fear you, they
feel your power and courage.”

“Is that a good
thing that my friends fear me Ganasis, I would rather their
respect?”

“You have that
Talon! But no mortal would dare slay a wizard, yet you killed two
without even blinking, they will fear you because of your
desire.”

“Desire! A
friend once told me not to have desire, he told me desire
corrupts”

“Then that is
your burden young warrior, you must control it, harness it and
unleash it on the Empire with all you’re might.”

“I will not
falter Ganasis, I promise you.”

“Promise me!
Don’t worry I’ll be right next to you, every step of the way,
centuries I looked at the same damn walls now I want some
excitement” added Ganasis breaking into smile as he finished.

“Well you’re
going to get that Ganasis.” replied Talon.

“Prince Arun
seems a good man I have noticed he has great respect for you Talon
and Graval, that man worships you.”

“Graval! He
says he owes me his life.”

“No doubt! And
from what I have seen he would give it to you if you asked for
it.”

Talons mind
then drifted making Ganasis asks him what was on his mind.

“It’s Apollo’s
cave Ganasis, do you know of it.”

“I have heard
of it but I have never been there.”

“In my dreams
Apollo told me to seek it.”

“The cave, it
could be anywhere.”

“Why would
Apollo want me to go this cave Ganasis, you knew him what could he
be thinking.”

Ganasis kind of
shrugged before the answer hit him like a bolt of lightning.

“The spell
book! Legend says that Apollo hid the spell book in a cave.”

“A spell book
Ganasis.”

“Not just a
spell book but the spell book of all spells.”

“What could we
do with such a spell book?”

“It has the
power to change everything.”

“But if Apollo
had the spell book why did the Empire defeat us.”

“The spell book
is just a book Talon, there are treasures and artefacts needed to
make the spells work, legend says that these artefacts are hidden
all over Kratos and only if all the artefacts are brought together
will the spell book work.”