Zachania (68 page)

“What is the
average age of your race?”

“Four hundred
of your years.”

“Tell me
Quankow what do you know of the Empire?”

“Not much,
Apollo told me centuries ago that a mighty civilisation from a far
off land was now in Kratos, he told me they formed an alliance with
our sworn enemy the Degrain and together they was killing the
descendants of Tusaria.”

“You know of
the Tusarian’s” asked Ganasis hearing there name mentioned.

“Yes they were
our friends.” replied Quankow.

“Ganasis you
also know of the Tusarian’s?” interrupted Talon.

“I am Tusarian,
Talon.” replied the wizard.

“Most
Zachanian’s are of Tusarian origin, the Tusarian’s found safety in
Zachania when they were defeated by the Degrain, when they reached
Zachania they were welcomed by the original tribes of Zachania,
over the centuries the Tusarian’s grew proud of their home and new
way of life so they became Zachanian’s themselves. King Arun’s
bloodline can be traced back to the original Zachanian tribes, the
Heikan family however have their ancestry from Tusaria, as does
Lord Zargar” added Ganasis before turning back to Quankow.

“When Apollo
saved you Quankow, what did he tell you to do?”

“He told me to
travel to the south-west where I would find a forest, in this
forest I would find solitude, there I should remain and multiply my
race.”

“Your race was
called the Kesain, yes.”

“That was our
ancient tribal name.”

“I was told the
Kesain’s was extinct Quankow, never did I imagine that the beasts
in the forest of Deceit were Kesain.” added Talon which made
Quankow laugh.

“The Forest of
Deceit! We found much humour when you told us what you call our
home.” Quankow thought back still laughing.

Ganasis smiled
and waited for the Kesainian leader to stop laughing before turning
to him with a serious look on his face.

“Quankow, will
your people come with us to Zanlia?”

Quankow turned
and looked at Talon before answering.

“If it is the
wish of Apollo then we will come with you.”

“Apollo wishes
it Quankow; together the Zachanian’s and the Kesain’s must free the
land of this evil Empire.”

Quankow nodded
his large head which made some of his matted hair drop over his
face.

“So be it, we
are together then.” he replied before turning back to Ganasis.

“So you are
thinking of going to Zanlia” he added with a strange look on his
face as if he was distracted by another thought.

“Does that
concern you Quankow?” asked Ganasis noticing his concerned
look.

“It is not
concern, the foothills of the mountains of Zanlia were once my
home, it is where we lived before we were conquered by the
Degrain.”

“Then you will
be going back home.” Ganasis replied smiling as he tapped the
Kesain affectionately on his giant arm.

Quankow smiled
again and then looked up at the sky.

“It is getting
late Ganasis, I must return to my kin.” he thought getting to his
feet.

“We will speak
again tomorrow Quankow.” added Ganasis.

Talon rose to
his feet and gave the Kesain an embrace before he and Ganasis stood
silent as he walked off into the night back to his race that were
camped in Death Valley, Ganasis then turned to Talon and place both
his hands on his shoulders.

“Well, you did
it, how do you feel.”

Talon smiled as
for the first time it began to sink in just what had happened.

“I have mixed
emotions Ganasis, half of me wants to shout to the stars, but then
I feel so tired, I feel like sleeping for a week.”

Ganasis
laughed.

“That is what
war does to you Talon, but whatever else, remember this moment, and
remember that it was you who made this happen.”

“No Ganasis it
was all of us.” replied Talon sincerely.

Ganasis again
smiled and made a fist where he playfully pushed it against the
chin of Talon.

“So let us
celebrate tonight, tomorrow we think of Zanlia.”

“So soon
Ganasis.”

Asked Talon
surprised.

“The council
wants us to leave straight away Talon.”

“It makes
sense……the Empire will be in disarray, do you think we will meet
much resistance.”

“Some but I
don’t think we have much to fear after what we have just been
through here, personally I think the Empire will give Zanlia up and
regroup their strength at Kallick Town. But I fear that they will
not leave Zanlia until they have massacred the Zanlian’s.”

“Massacre!”
replied Talon showing concern.

“That is what
they done in the last war, they killed everyone, regrouped in
Kallick Town and then returned in vast numbers.”

“Then we have
no choice other than to get there as quick as we can, we must help
the Zanlian’s, I will call a council meeting now.” answered Talon
now showing signs of urgency.

“Calm
yourself!” Ganasis snapped grabbing Talon by the arm.

“We will do all
we can for the Zanlian’s, but tonight our men need to rest, I
suggest you do the same Talon, tomorrow we will make our
plans.”

Celebrations
went into the early hours of the morning as the Zachanian’s drank
themselves dry on an abundance of ale, morning came late for most
of the Zachanian’s as they woke closer to noon rather than dawn.
When King Arun woke he was greeted by Ganasis and Zumal who had
been busy working through the night, the King pulled on a gown and
looked at the two wizards with dread as he saw those carrying
armfuls of scrolls for him.

“Morning sire,
the sun is high in the sky and victory wafts in the air!” Zumal
said sounding full of energy.

King Arun
rubbed his head and tried to wipe away the sleep from his eyes, he
yawned loudly as the wizards threw down the scrolls onto the table,
Ganasis laughed as he noticed the King looking worse for wear as a
result of all the drinking he had done last night.

“HA!…you men
drink and drink and never give thought to the consequences the
morning will bring, come my young King, we have work to be done.”
Ganasis snapped.

“Could you at
least speak quietly.” Arun replied still yawning which made Ganasis
laugh as he slapped a large scroll onto the table and opened
it.

“I have the
numbers of our casualties sire.” Ganasis sternly said as he reached
for two goblets and placed them onto the scroll to keep it from
closing.

“I will start
with your army Arun, total deaths, two hundred and sixty thousand,
injured over seventy thousand, ninety nine thousand ready for
battle, Lord Krazmos’s army, total dead eighty two thousand,
injured, just under ten thousand, eight thousand ready to fight,
Lord Tanaga’s army, total dead one hundred and forty thousand,
injured, ten thousand and twenty thousand ready to fight, Lord
Heikan’s army lost sixty two thousand men, injured, twelve thousand
leaving one hundred and sixty thousand ready for battle, Lord
Zargar’s army is still at full strength, eighty thousand warriors,
the grand total of casualties is five hundred and thirty six
thousand and one hundred and two thousand injured warriors who will
be nursed back to health.”

King Arun
sobered immediately as he heard Ganasis read out the figures, he
sat down at the table and looked up at his wizard, his face looked
distraught.

“By Apollo
Ganasis, we have paid a terrible price for victory.”

“That is war
Arun.”

“By Apollo, do
you not have any feelings Ganasis!” the King snapped back.

Ganasis sat
down next to the young King and grabbed his arm.

“Arun the
morning after the victory always brings its pain.” he said trying
to sound sincere

Zumal then
placed another scroll down in front of the King and began to read
out aloud.

“The journey to
Zanlia will take approximately two to three days, may I be so bold
as to suggest you order Lord Heikan and Lord Zargar armies
accompanied by the beasts Kesain to leave for Zanlia today……myself
and Ganasis have discussed this at great length and we both agree
that whatever remains of the Empire in Zanlia will be no match for
these warriors.”

King Arun
grabbed the scroll and began to study it, moments later he turned
to Ganasis.

“Do you not
think it wise to send scouting parties first?”

“I would say
let the armies advance first and then send scouting parties ahead,
I do not think the Empire will stay in Zanlia.”

“What makes you
think they will leave Zanlia?”

“There are a
number of reasons Arun, firstly Zanlia is very hard to defend and
secondly there is no strategic worth for the Empire to risk losing
more life’s, thirdly the Empire know that there is resentment for
them in Zanlia, they will not want thousands of their soldiers tied
up doing little else than keeping order.”

“It would be a
terrible blow to their morale if they were to lose It.” replied The
King.

“Arun the
Empire has no ego, they care little for what people think,
strategically it is the thing to do, and their strength is in
Kallick Town and the Palace lands not in Zanlia, they will want
their soldiers in the battlefield, not fighting resistance
fighters.”

“If you are
correct Ganasis then I fear for the people of Zanlia, the Empire
will try to crush them before leaving.” answered the King.

Ganasis smiled
at the King before he answered.

“You are wise
my young King, that is exactly what they will do.”

King Arun
quickly rose from his chair as he spoke now with much more urgency
and importance.

“Ganasis! Ready
the armies, find Heikan and Talon, we march for Zanlia today!”

Fires blazed
across the Zanlian sky, smoke could be seen for miles around as the
holy city burnt, just as Ganasis had suggested the Empire had
withdrawn from the city leaving only a few hundred suicide soldiers
who’s task was to destroy the holy town.

Two days had
now passed since the Zachanian’s monumental victory at Death
Valley, Talon leading the armies of Lord Heikan and Lord Zargar
accompanied by the Kesain’s reached the outskirts of Zanlia just as
night was beginning to fall, Ganasis immediately noticed the smoke
in the distance and sniffed loudly on horse next to Talon.

“Do you smell
it?” he asked Talon and Heikan.

“Yes” answered
Talon looking troubled.

“They are
burning the city.” added Heikan.

Talon looked
around looking to see if he could see any Imperial soldiers, he had
to make a decision, enter the city now to save the Zanlian’s where
he could walk into a trap or wait till morning to attack where
countless life’s could be lost.

“I do not think
we will meet much resistance Talon.” said Ganasis guessing what
Talon was thinking.

“Shall we
attack now?” Talon asked Heikan.

“Why not.”
replied the Lord smiling.

Talon smiled
back at him and moments later he kicked his heels into his horse
and galloped towards the city followed by Heikan, Zargar, Kinlan
and Ganasis with thousands of warriors charging on foot behind.
Talon and Kinlan rode into the cobbled streets of Zanlia first,
everywhere they found townsfolk in a state of panic frantically
trying to extinguish the fires. Talon quickly jumped from his horse
and pulled his sword, he could see in the distance that his army
were closing, then he heard the screams of women coming from a
nearby building which was heavily on fire, Talon ran into the
building with Kinlan following where they found two women hiding at
a far wall screaming in fear, Quickly Talon ran to help them,
together with Kinlan they picked up the women and ran back out into
the street.

The women
thanked Talon and Kinlan before both men started to walk towards
Lord Heikan and the first of his army that had just arrived.

“Have the men
help to put out the fires!” Talon shouted to Heikan.

“Where is the
Empire?” Heikan shouted back getting off his horse.

Talon was just
about to reply when he out of the corner of his eye he saw an
Imperial soldier standing in a window of a burning shop front,
Talon’s eyes opened wide as he noticed the soldier was pointing his
bow at him, an eye blink later Talon felt an arrow tear into his
chest, Talon let out a loud sigh of breath as he felt the pain run
through his body, he then felt dizzy as he struggled to keep his
balance, a moment later he slumped to the ground.

“TALON!” Heikan
shouted as he ran to his aid and Kinlan followed by a group of
Zachanian’s ran to kill the soldier.

Talon looked up
to see Heikan now cupping his head, he could see the Lord screaming
his name but he could not hear his words, the pain was increasing
and so was his sense of where he was, then he coughed blood and
moments later he fell into darkness.

Talon opened
his eyes and struggled to focus, he tried to move but felt an
intense pain shoot through his body, blinking hard he till he
cleared his eyes he looked down and saw that he was lying in a bed
with his chest heavily bandaged, Talon struggled to move his arm to
his face as he became aware that he was not alone and that there
was a man sitting at the end of the bed, Talon reached out towards
the man and felt the hot sun rays on his hand coming from the
window next to the bed.

“Ganasis is
that you?” he struggled to say.

Suddenly the
man at the end of the bed jumped up and hurried over to Talon,
Talon smiled as he saw Ganasis lean over him and touches his
forehead.

“Stay still
Talon.” Ganasis said like a loving father trying to comfort a
son.

“Ganasis.”
sighed Talon feeling safe now he was with him.

“I thought we
lost you Talon….rest now, you are going to be fine.”

“I would not
leave you and the King yet …. We still have things to do.” sighed
Talon just as he fell back into sleep and did not wake again until
the next morning where he opened his eyes to find Ganasis was now
accompanied by Lord Heikan.