Zachania (39 page)

“May I address
the Generals?” he asked his Grandfather.

“Of course you
may.”

Talon then
pulled out his sword and slammed it onto the table.

“This is the
sword of Apollo! I am Talon the Zararhakzar! The way of Korvak is
dead and this house is now the house of Zalon, anyone who wishes to
repel the King’s wish can speak now! What Korvak did and the
actions of his wizards has put shame and dishonour on all who
reside in the house of Korvak, I am here to give you the
opportunity to rid this shame that has been subjected to your
families, join this cause and show that you are true men of
Zachania”

The Generals
all looked at each other in shock but remained tight-lipped.

“Do you
understand and do I have your allegiance!”

Slowly and one
by one the Generals acknowledged Talon.

“Good.” Talon
added relaxing his voice.

“Now I have
heard rumours that there is a growing unrest at the councils
orders, well I am here in person to tell you all that if anyone has
any idea’s then I will run them through with this sword, don’t
think I will not know what is going on, I am the Zararhakzar and I
know what you are going to do before you have even thought it.”

One of the
Generals rose to his feet and answered warily.

“Lord Korvak
was my closest friend, it is true that I have taken his fate hard,
but I swear here now in front of you all, that I will obey the King
and my new Lord, Lord Zalon.”

Talon nodded
his thank you to the General’s brave and honest remark.

“All of
Zachania is in change, all of our lives will now have new meaning,
now leave us and await your orders.” added Talon as the Generals
almost ran from the room.

“Grandfather”
Talon said warmly once the General’s had left to his still shocked
grandparent who he then embraced.

“Talon what was
that all about?”

Talon sat down
before answering.

“I was told
that some men were still sympathetic towards Korvak, Heikan told me
he knew that in their hearts the Generals were honourable men so I
wanted to speak to them direct and show them the honour they are
due, it was I after all who killed their wizards.”

“Good Talon,
show an honourable man honour and he shall respect it” interrupted
Graval who had just entered the room and overheard Talon’s last
remark.

“It is good to
see you my friend.” Talon said rising to his feet.

“And you my
Lord.” replied Graval.

The two men
embraced before Talon turned to face his Grandfather.

“Is this the
way you welcome your Grandson, at the Palace we give our guests
ale! Talon said.

Zalon roared
loudly laughing as he grabbed a hold of Talons head before speaking
proudly

“It’s good to
see you Grandson!” he laughed before shouting out for a soldier who
then suddenly appeared.

“Send for a keg
of ale, no bring me two kegs of ale, tonight we celebrate!” he
shouted before sitting back down next to Talon.

“So you have
come all the way from Zachra to tell me how to run my castle.”
Zalon added, making all the men break into smiles until Talon
composed himself and answered.

“I bring word
from the council.”

“How are things
in Zachra?”

“They are good
Grandfather; we will be ready for war in under a fortnight.”

Zumal then
broke into the conversation.

“Lord Zalon we
understand that the ships are on schedule but we have no report
about your army, the Prince requires an accurate account on all the
great houses strengths and abilities.”

Zalon rubbed
his beard and then answered to Talon.

“We can be
ready whenever you need us.”

Talon looked
across at Zumal.

“That’s good
enough for me.”

“Excuse me Lord
Talon but I have been asked for a definite date when the army can
march.”

“My army could
march today if the council wishes.”

“Zumal my
Grandfather will be ready” interrupted Talon.

Zumal nodded
his head before changing the subject.

“Can you give
me a day when the ships will be completed?”

“Ten days!”

“Good!” snapped
Zumal just as two soldiers returned bringing them the ale.

“Let’s drink!”
Zalon barked dipping tankards into the brew and handing them
out.

The men toasted
before they drank now feeling safe in the knowledge that the great
houses of Zachania were all on schedule for their attack on Kratos.
Tonight both Zachania and Kratos both rested in relative peace but
it was now only a matter of time before both were going to be
thrown into chaos and war.

The night sky
over Zanlia was clear with the moon lighting up the deserted
streets. Pelkan and his men were hiding in a doorway waiting to
sneak past two soldiers who were blocking their way having a
conversation.

“I could kill
them both.” Perad said leaning over and whispering into Pelkan’s
ear

“No we will
wait.”

“How much
further is it to Falkan’s home?”

“It’s only a
few more streets Perad.”

“General we
cannot remain on these streets; it’s deserted, where is
everyone?”

“I don’t know,
quick let’s move.” Pelkan replied seeing the soldiers end their
conversation and walking off, they quickly sneaked off into the
night staying close to the walls and hiding in the shadows until
they found themselves at the front of Falkan’s home.

Pelkan banged
on the door as his three companions crouched in the shadows
desperately wanting the door to be opened.

“Who are you?”
a man answered opening the door only to be pushed aside by Pelkan
and his men.

“What do you
think you are doing?”

“Take us to
Lord Falkan!” Pelkan demanded closing the door and grabbing the
man.

“Lord Falkan is
resting I don’t know who you are but you are going to get
yourselves in a lot of trouble knocking here” replied the man
reaching to open the front door again but Pelkan grabbed his arm
and spun him around and pushed his face into his

“Lord Falkan is
my friend and I need to see him now!”

Pelkan then
released the man’s arm and forcefully pushed him towards the
stairs; reluctantly and still being pushed the man led them up the
stairs and down a corridor where they stopped at a large door and
the man called out for Falkan. Pelkan did not wait for an answer
instead he pushed the man aside and entered the room. Lord Falkan
was sitting at his desk attending to some papers and suddenly
jumped up to confront this rude intrusion.

“Pelkan!”
Falkan sighed surprised at seeing the man before him and the state
he was in.

“Pelkan, what’s
wrong?”

The man who had
led Pelkan pushed his way in and began apologising.

“My Lord I am
sorr.”

“It’s ok
Barnsville they are friends of mine, you may retire.”

Barnsville
turned and gave Pelkan an angry look before leaving the room and
closing the door behind him.

“Pelkan your
unexpected, you look terrible!”

“We was
ambushed this morning, we are the only ones to survive.”

“Please come by
the fire and warm yourself and let me fetch you some clean
clothes.”

“Falkan some of
our men have been captured, where would they have been taken
to?”

Falkan’s face
suddenly dropped as he realised the situation.

“Pelkan are
these men aware of me?”

Pelkan lowered
his head and shamefully replied.

“Yes my Lord
they are.”

Falkan sat down
rubbing his head.

“Then we are
all in grave danger.”

“We could
rescue them” replied one of Pelkan’s men.

“Out of the
question! They would have undoubtedly have taken to the castle, we
could not possibly succeed.”

“But we must
try something Falkan” replied Pelkan desperately.

Falkan
instinctively looked out of his window before replying,

“No we must
survive; I will have to leave Zanlia.”

“Falkan I trust
my men to hold their mouths” said Pelkan sounding stern

Falkan shook
his head.

“Pelkan it does
not matter how strong your men are, they will be helpless to resist
the Empires wizards. They will tell, and they will tell everything
they know, that is not in debate.”

General Pelkan
feeling exhausted sat down by the fire and took his head into his
hands.

“What have I
done.” he whispered.

“They will find
out everything about me.” Falkan said slightly angry.

“That’s not the
worst of it.”

“What do you
mean”?

“They will find
out about the invasion.”

“What invasion”
asked Falkan puzzled?

“Our mission
was to report on the Empires strength here in Zanlia as well as
inform you and determine what assistance you can give
Zachania.”

“Zachania is
going to invade Kratos!”

“Yes and now
unless we rescue the men then the Empire will learn of this and we
will lose the element of surprise.”

“Pelkan I do
not know what to say to you.”

“You say the
men will be questioned by wizards.”

“Nothing is
certain but I would say it is a very good guess.”

“Then they will
find the truth.”

“Yes they
will.”

Pelkan sat in
silence for a moment until turning to Falkan with a solemn look on
his face

“Then there is
a favour that I must beseech you.”

“Go on.” Falkan
replied to Pelkan who paused again before answering.

“I will need
you to give these men the information we seek and then return them
to Zachania; I will also need some poison.”

“Pelkan are
your saying what I think you are.”

“It is worth a
try.”

“What is worth
a try?” interrupted Perad.

Pelken
swallowed deeply before answering.

“I will
surrender myself; hopefully I will be taken to our men where I
will.”

“No General!”
Perad interrupted getting to his feet.

Pelkan put his
arm on Perad’s shoulder.

“Perad you were
correct my friend, we should not have made sail but in my haste we
are now in this situation, what I do, I do for Zachania, we cannot
allow the Empire to discover our plans.”

“But poisoning
yourself and the men, where will that get us?”

“It was my
mistake and now I must pay for that mistake, if a few life’s save
thousands then it is my fate.”

“But sir.”

“What else is
there to do Perad? If the Empire discover our intentions we could
lose this war, the King, Talon, the leaders of all the great houses
could all die, do you think I could live my life with that kind of
guilt.”

“Pelkan the
Empire may already know.” Falkan calmly replied.

Pelkan
nodded.

“Yes they may
but can we take that risk.”

A cold and
eerie silence over the room until Lord Falkan broke it grabbing
Pelkan by the arm.

“You do not
have to do this my friend; the King would surely understand what
has happened here.”

Pelkan smiled
sincerely where after a few thoughts he answered.

“My mind is
made up, I am a soldier and soldiers sometimes die but soldiers can
decide how they die and if I die with honour protecting my King and
land then that death will be something to celebrate, come now my
friends we must make haste”

An hour passed
before Falkan returned to meet Pelkan and Perad who was waiting by
the gate quietly deep in their thoughts. Lord Falkan walked over
and handed Pelkan a small pouch.

“These are the
leaves of the spinal tree, one leaf placed in the mouth will be
enough, death will come quickly for you.”

Pelkan smiled
as he took the pouch and placed it safely behind his belt, Lord
Falkan then introduced the man who was standing beside him.

“This man will
take you to the gates of the castle.” he said with a voice full of
sorrow.

“It’s time
then” snapped Pelkan turning to Perad trying to sound brave.

“Take care, my
friend.” he added embracing him.

“General
Pelkan! Your name will be remembered for a thousand years” replied
Perad speaking into his Generals ear before releasing him for
Pelkan to see a tear in his friend’s eye.

“For my King
and Zachania.” Pelkan smiled.

“For Zachania.”
replied Perad.

General Pelkan
then turned an embraced his two other soldiers before turning to
face Falkan.

“Falkan my
friend I ask you to be the bearer of my dying wish.”

“Of course my
friend.”

“Give Perad the
information he needs and make sure he gets back to Zachania; don’t
let me die without fulfilling my mission for my King.”

“I swear that I
will, I swear this will be done.”

With that they
embraced until Pelkan abruptly broke away.

“Let’s go we
have no time to waste.” he said ushering himself away with his
guide towards the door. The other men looked as their General
walked away they felt full of sorrow and respect for the man who
was on his way courageously to honour the greatest sacrifice anyone
could give to his King and country.

As Pelkan
reached the door he suddenly stopped and turned

“Perad my only
regret is that I won’t be alive to see our Prince lead the armies
into Zanlia, seeing the Prince on his white horse leading the men
will be a sight to see” Pelkan then smiled and walked out of the
door.

Lord Falkan’s
guide did his job and directed the General to the castle where they
hid amongst some bushes.

“The gate is
over there.” to guide whispered.

“Thank you”
Pelkan replied only to be grabbed by the man as was walking
away.

“Sir may I say
you are the bravest man I have ever known, it would have been an
honour to have served with you, I will not forget you.”