Zachania (47 page)

“Yes sire, my
apologies sire, I did not mean to offend and may I iterate that my
loyalty to you is absolute, as was my loyalty to Lord Heikan when I
served him, my personal regard for the Lord never interfered with
my duties.”

The King was
still feeling short tempered as the ants and the missing Ganasis
and Talon and now this General’s impertinence was taking its
toll.

“Lagain do you
think the King is a fool as well.”

“No sire.”

Arun shook his
head tired now of him.

“See to your
duties and remember what I said.”

The General
turned and walked away with an air of arrogance as if the
conversation did not even take place, King Arun turned and laughed
to himself thinking of the General calling Heikan a fool ‘ I
suppose you can be a fool at times’ he said under his breath.

The King’s
attention was then drawn to the sound of soldiers advancing with
the burning logs, soon the logs were being pushed onto the ants
with long sticks and it didn’t take long for the King to see that
the plan was working as the ants burned in their thousands.

The past two
days had been very tiresome and frustrating for Ganasis and Talon
still trapped on the cliffs of Death Valley. Other than just sit
there they had been trying to make their way back to Zachania
across the mountain ledges high above the valley but their progress
had been slow and exhausting.

“That’s it
then!” Talon sighed as they found themselves looking at a three
hundred foot crevice and no way around it except the valley
below.

“We could fly.”
Ganasis added smiling trying to lighten the mood.

“Damn it
Ganasis! We can’t stay on this mountain forever; I am starving and
now out of water.”

“There is water
back there.” replied Ganasis pointing out a spring waterfall they
had passed earlier in the day.

“Back there!
But I want to go there Ganasis” Talon snapped pointing to Zachania
“it has just taken me half a day to get here and you want me to go
back!” he added before picking a rock up and throwing it down into
the valley onto the ants.

“Ganasis I am
not staying on this mountain one more night! Surely there is
something you can try.”

“Talon how many
times can I tell you I have nothing with me, I cannot conjure a
spell nowhere near the power unless I have artefacts.”

Talon sighed in
anger as he leaned back against the rocks, he then thought of the
Talisman and how Ganasis told him that its magic came from the hair
of Apollo so Talon pulled out his knife and cut some of his own
hair off.

“Here Ganasis,
use this for your magic.”

Ganasis
smiled.

“It won’t work
Talon.”

“Damn it
Ganasis try! You used Apollo’s hair to make the Talisman, if I am
what you say blessed by him then maybe just maybe this will
work.”

Ganasis held
out his hand and took the piece of Talons hair.

“It won’t work
Talon.” the old wizard added only for Talon to lose his temper.

“Damn it
Ganasis you will try! If it doesn’t work then all we have lost is a
little hair and a little effort.”

Ganasis sighed
heavily.

“Alright.” he
added sounding tired.

Ganasis then
took the hair and fastened it to a small rock and then got up and
stood at the edge of a ledge and held out the rock and muttered
some words in wizards tongue. When Ganasis finished he then tossed
the rock down into the valley and into the ants. Talon walked over
to the ledge and looked at where the rock had landed, they both
watched with anticipation waiting for something to happen.

“You see my
friend.” sighed Ganasis after a short while where nothing changed
and he walked back off the ledge to sit down leaving Talon still
gazing at the valley.

“It seems were
still trapped after all.” he sighed sitting down.

“Ganasis come
here.” Talon suddenly said as he thought he saw smoke coming from
the place where the rock landed.

“What
Talon.”

“Ganasis
something is happening.” added Talon wiping his eyes and getting
excited

Ganasis pulled
himself up and joined him.

“Look, where
the rock landed.” Talon pointed.

Ganasis
suddenly gasped as the smoke began to increase and then he could
see fire

“By Apollo.” he
gasped.

The flame grew
steadily then like an explosion which made both Talon and Ganasis
cover their faces from the heat the flames consumed the width of
the valley and then like a giant wave they started to travel down
the valley towards Zachania incinerating the ants as it did so.

“It worked!”
Talon shouted.

Talon patted
Ganasis hard with excitement and noticed a strange look on his
wizard friends face.

“Ganasis it
worked.”

“But it should
not have” added Ganasis.

Talon punched
the air pleased that the ordeal was over but Ganasis grabbed his
arm and turned to him.

“Talon I tell
you that should not have happened.”

“What are you
saying Ganasis.”

Ganasis then
slowly rose to his feet and sided away from Talon as if wary of
him.

“What’s
wrong?”

“Nothing”
replied Ganasis rather unconvincingly.

“Ganasis what
is it?” added Talon noting the look on his face.

“What are
you?”

“What.”

“Who are you
Talon? You possess a power like Apollo himself.”

“I didn’t do
this you did Ganasis.”

“With your
hair.”

“And your
spell.”

“No Talon it
was you, you have a vast presence, I see it now, you are a weapon,
your words are a weapon, your name is and even your hair is a
weapon.”

Talon winced at
what Ganasis had just said to him and held out his hand for
him.

“Ganasis it’s
me Talon, do not be scared of me my friend.”

Hesitantly
Ganasis took Talons hand.

“Come my friend
lets return.” Talon replied.

King Arun had
just drifted into sleep as General Kanyan awoke him shouting at his
door.

“Sire! Sire!
The ants are gone.”

King Arun
quickly woke and ordered Kanyan inside.

“Great news
Kanyan, congratulate the men” replied Arun pulling himself up from
his bed.

“No sire you
don’t understand, it was not us that killed them, we were carrying
out our orders when giant flames flew across the valley, killing
everything, the men were lucky to escape with their lives.”

As the night
closed in, the King sat in the tent delighted that Talon and
Ganasis had returned. While Talon sat drinking endless amounts of
water, Ganasis sat and told the King all about the ordeal of the
last few days.

“So it was
definitely Grarlin who you saw Ganasis?”

“There was no
mistaking him sire.”

“You seem
distracted Arun” Talon suddenly said noticing a caution in the
Kings actions

Arun looked at
Talon and thought about his reply, the King was feeling cautious
and slightly fearful at what he had just seen. It was beginning to
dawn upon him the power they would soon be facing and it troubled
him how apprehensive he felt when Talon and Ganasis were missing,
in fact it crossed his mind that when they were missing, if they
were found dead the King questioned himself if he would have had
the courage to carry on in this war.

“It’s not a
distraction Talon, just cautiousness.”

“If your
concerned about what happened in the valley, I will not let myself
be caught unawares again” added Ganasis.

“What do you
suggest Ganasis?” added the King seeing how confident and relaxed
Ganasis seemed to be.

“I say we
attack, NOW!”

The King looked
across at General Kanyan to see if Ganasis’s remark had had an
effect but the General remained stone faced as usual.

“Why would
Grarlin summon the ants?” asked the King turning back to the
wizard.

“My best guess
is to buy some time, I think he sensed us on the mountain side and
wanted more time to organise his army, this is the reason why I
think we should attack now, remember Arun, Grarlin would still
think that I am imprisoned or dead and he would not have expected
us to deal with the ants so swiftly.”

“If we attack
now we meet him unprepared.” Talon snapped.

The King once
again turned to Kanyan for a reply.

“Ganasis speaks
sense sire.”

“My Lord, if
Ganasis is correct then we cannot wait, if the Empire multiply
there army then it could cost us thousands of life, I say we take
full advantage of this.”

“Sire the army
could be ready by morning” added General Kanyan.

“Have the extra
soldiers arrived.” asked Ganasis.

“We have four
hundred thousand warriors polishing their swords as we speak.”
Kanyan said proudly.

King Arun’s
face half smiled as he got to his feet.

“Write the
order, after centuries of imprisonment tomorrow morning the people
of Zachania will march into Kratos.”

The King then
turned to General Kanyan.

“Send word back
to Zachra, make sure the council knows.”

“Immediately
sire!” replied the General before excusing himself to carry out the
order.

“So this it
Ganasis, war is upon us.” added the King once the General left.

“It is the
right decision Arun.” replied Ganasis.

“What about my
Grandfather Ganasis, he will not have time to coincide the attack
by sea.” asked Talon.

“That plan will
have to wait Talon.” added the King.

word quickly
spread throughout the camp of the imminent attack and was greeted
with a mixed response, some soldiers cheered and rejoiced and sang
songs of victory, while other soldiers mostly the men with family’s
held their own company and thoughts, some preyed to the gods while
others tried to sleep thinking about loved ones back home.

As Talon walked
amongst the men he felt the relief that finally something was going
to happen but although it was not spoken Talon sensed a strong
feeling of apprehension, when he returned to the tent he looked up
at the stars and hoped his own cautiousness would allow him to
sleep on this hot and balmy night. As he entered he saw Ganasis and
the King still busy looking at maps and after asking them if he was
needed he lay down in the corner and tried to get some rest.

Talon at first
lay staring into the darkness where his mind began to wander, for
some reason he thought of his father and how proud he was when he
packed him off to be a member of the royal guard of the Empire.
Talon then began thinking of what was now expected of him by all
who had named him the Zararhakzar, the fabled name of the saviour
of Zachania ‘I hope I have the strength to see this through.’ he
silently said.

Talon then
thought of the battle that was coming in the morning and of all the
deaths that were to follow ‘I must lead the attack.’ he said again
silently as if trying to reassure his courage before finally
drifting into sleep.

Even in his
dreams Talon thought of battle, all through the night, until
morning when Ganasis woke him up.

“Talon it is
time.” Ganasis said giving him a hard nudge.

Talon rolled
over and opened his eyes, the morning light had not yet fully
arrived and the room was still quite dark.

“Ganasis.”
Talon said.

“Come on Talon,
its time.” Ganasis repeated.

Talon sat up
and felt his sleep ebb away and was soon overwhelmed by a strange
sense of anxiety, everything seemed as if he was still dreaming he
pulled himself from the warm covers into a world of horror. He
shook his head trying to rid himself of any negative thoughts as he
slowly got to his feet.

“Wash yourself,
I will be back in a moment.” Ganasis said leaving the room.

Once Talon had
washed he opened his bag and pulled out his Zachanian war suit and
the sword of Apollo which was wrapped in a silk cloth, he dressed
and then walked out into the morning air. The sun was now rising
and Talon saw soldiers everywhere, he looked around and took a deep
breath and pinched himself that this was really happening.

“Lord Talon we
have prepared a horse for you.” a soldier said walking over.

Talon looked at
the horse, a fine white horse.

“The King chose
him personally for you.” added the soldier.

Talon checked
the horses saddle before getting on him, he pulled the horse left
then right to steady himself before heading over towards where he
knew the King would be, Talon tied his horse and walked through the
crowds of soldiers who were all looking frantic, shouting orders at
each other to a hut where he found the King.

Ganasis was
also with him as were General Kanyan and General Lagain; they were
busy going over the maps again.

“Ah Talon come
join us.” Ganasis said while noticing that Talon was wearing the
ancient Zachanian war suit of his ancestors, the wizard greeted him
with a warm smile.

“Today seems a
good day!” snapped General Kanyan looking full of eager
anticipation.

“Good morning
Lord Talon, we have not yet been introduced, I am General Lagain, I
have heard many good things about you.”

“Then you have
me at a disadvantage General.” replied Talon looking deeply into
the man’s eyes where Talon opened his mind and sensed a deep
respect that the General had for him.

The King then
began to speak only for Talon to politely interrupt him,

“Sire I want to
lead the attack!” he said with conviction which made the King look
up quickly as if to say no. Talon sensed the King’s feelings and
tried to use his powers to alter the King’s mind; he thought of his
Grandfather’s teachings and silently thought of the King agreeing
with his request and tried to push the thoughts into the King’s
head.