“The archers are for protection only,” said the mage.
Maya and Theodore exchanged a glance. Whose protection? Theodore wanted to ask. Were the archers meant to protect the mage from them? What was going on? The fact that the king was already monitoring the activity in the pass, and had already established an army camp near the entrance to his kingdom, showed that he expected trouble. The question remained; with whom did King Amber mean to ally?
“What’s your name?” asked Maya.
“Baahir.”
Introductions over, they rode north. Izba was a country blessed with natural bounty; fields upon fields of corn, rice, eggplant and potatoes lined the dirt road that led to Aba. Farmers, wearing turbans over their head to protect from the sun, cultivated the land. Ditches had been dug from canals to give water to the fields.
At night they camped under the grove of a tree. The archers sat around a fire, and although they shared the food they cooked, none chose to talk to Maya or Theodore. Baahir kept himself aloof, choosing to neither join the archers nor them. The next morning they were off again at the break of dawn. Near afternoon they stopped at an inn for lunch. After a brief hesitation, Baahir joined them at their table while the archers sat separately.
“Your country is beautiful,” said Maya as she broke off a piece of bread. “Where were you born?”
“In Itha. It’s a tiny village near to the west of the country,” Baahir said, looking uncomfortable as if he wasn’t sure he should share anything with them.
Theodore shifted a little. “When would we reach Aba?”
“If we keep up this pace, we should be there by tomorrow afternoon.”
“Have you been to the king’s court before?” asked Maya.
“I went there a year ago,” he said.
The archers stood, indicating the end of their meal. The group set off again. This close to the city, the area was widely populated and tiny villages dotted the land. At night, they stayed in an inn, and were off again in the morning. As predicted by Baahir, they reached the city of Aba near early afternoon.
Despite having heard tales of the grandeur of the city, Theodore was flabbergasted as they crossed the bridge over the moat and entered through the wide, oak doors. The moat was at least fourteen feet wide and circled the entire city, or at least that is what Baahir told them. Inside the city gates, their horses were taken, and Theodore and Maya were led through the paved lanes by two guards along with their designated company of archers.
Maya gazed admiringly at the stone buildings and shops that lined the streets. “I’ve never seen the likes of this before,” she whispered.
“The construction of the city was inaugurated by King Amber’s grandfather, and completed by King Amber recently. Stones were quarried from the mountains and brought here by elephants. The design of each building and shop was personally approved by the king’s council before construction began,” said Theodore.
Baahir frowned. “You’ve been here before?”
“I’ve heard tales. Aba is known as the greatest city in all of mainland.”
“That it is,” Baahir agreed with a smile. “The first time I saw it, I was filled with awe. It has taken three generations to build this city, and it is our greatest achievement. The city is built on two concentric circles around the palace. The inner circle contains the houses of lords, and the outer circle contains houses and shops that belong to the kingdom’s richest traders and merchants.”
“And where do the ordinary folks live?” Maya asked.
Baahir smiled, sensing the irony in her question. “They live in villages outside the city.”
The palace was built with white marble, its dome was constructed with magnificent red stone. Tall marble spires rose up from the two sides, on top of each was built a large crescent-shaped, solid gold replica of the moon. Izba was a kingdom rich in gold. It was said that the king’s coffers were filled with the yellow metal. It was sold to the other kingdoms that lay to the north, as there was a huge demand for gold among the nobles and rich land lords and their wives.
At the inner gate of the palace, two guards, dressed in ornate livery, blocked their path. The archers remained behind, while the mages handed over their weapons. Maya had a silver knife, Theodore had a dagger. Mage Baahir carried a long, thin knife which he gave to the guards for safekeeping.
“It’s a precaution really. The king is too well-protected for anyone to harm him by physical or magical means,” he told them.
The palace corridors were lined with rich, soft carpets. Murals, paintings, and gilded mirrors adorned the walls. They were made to wait outside the throne room while a guard announced their presence. After a long wait, Baahir was summoned inside, while Theodore and Maya waited in the company of the royal guards. A long while later, they were told to enter the throne room.
The throne room was a large, rectangular hall. Ornate mirrors, each the size of a large door, were hung on two walls. An intricate, colorful mural covered the entire wall at the back of the throne. The king’s seat was made of solid gold, and stood on a large, two foot high platform that was covered with a thick, ruby-red carpet. King Amber sat on it. He wore a crown of thick, hammered gold on his head. To Theodore’s amazement, on his right were three more chairs on which sat two men and a woman, all wearing crowns indicating their royal status. In front of the platform, nobles and lords sat in less ostentatious, wooden chairs. Theodore and Maya were not given chairs. Instead, they stood to one side behind Baahir.
“Who are all these people?” Maya whispered. She looked awed to be in the presence of such an august company.
“We seem to have interrupted a council of kings and queen of all the kingdoms of the north,” Theodore said grimly. This wasn’t a good omen. Why would all the fours royals be present in Izba unless they were deciding on the fate of the northern mainland?
Theodore noted the guards that stood behind each king and queen.
Theodore and Maya bowed. “Your royal Majesties. We bring to you greetings from King Seve,” said Theodore.
“You’ve a message for King Amber?” said one of the lords.
“I also have similar messages for King Jibran, King Saud and Queen Catherine. We didn’t expect to see everyone together here,” he said.
“You may read the message for King Amber in the court first,” said the same lord, without offering an explanation for the presence of the other kings and queen.
Theodore took out the royal proclamation he carried in his pocket. “The message is for the king’s eyes only,” he said, holding the papyrus in his hands.
King Amber shifted on his seat. He was a middle-aged man, with a round belly that showed his love for good food and a comfortable life. His face was lined with wrinkles. “You may read it. All men and women here are trusted advisors.”
After unrolling the papyrus, Theodore began to read. “Greetings to King Amber whom I hold in the highest regard and great favor. As the king must be aware, the world faces a danger unlike anything we have ever faced before. King Vindha has unleashed an army on the southern kingdoms. Thousands of innocent men and women have died in the hands of his fighters. Even now his army marches towards the northern border, eager to deliver the same fate to our northern brothers and sisters. In the light of this imminent danger, I offer King Amber a hand of friendship. The kingdom of Iram is committed to resist the onslaught of Vindha’s army. We offer you a chance to let us ally with you, and together we can fight these abominable monsters that Vindha has created. Together we hold a chance to let the world remain a free place. I look forward to your reply,
King Seve of Iram.”
Murmurings started in the court as soon as Theodore finished reading the missive.
King Amber raised his hand. The lords and nobles who were debating amongst themselves fell silent. “Can we safely assume that the messages to King Jibran, King Saud and Queen Catherine are all of similar nature?”
Theodore nodded. “Yes, they are.”
The king turned to his
right, and consulted with King Jibran who sat immediately next to him. After a brief debate, King Amber turned towards Theodore. “Does King Seve intend to march his army against king Vindha?”
“He does. He is committed to this cause.”
“If the northern kingdoms do not support King Seve, would he still march against King Vindha?” Queen Catherine asked as she shifted a bright blue, wooden baton she carried in her hand.
“Yes, he will.”
Queen Catherine leaned forward. She was youngest of all royals, beautiful, with an easy grace far beyond her age. Her blonde hair fell in ringlets past her shoulders, and her eyes, blue as the sky, seemed to look right through to his soul. “Even knowing that alone he has no chance to defeat King Vindha?”
“Victory and defeat lies in the hands of gods. King Seve will oppose Vindha at all costs.”
Queen Catherine turned to her left and whispered something to King Jibran. Maya shuffled closer to Theodore. “I don’t like this,” she whispered. “Something is not right.”
“King Seve mentions abominable monsters in his letter. What does he refer to?” said King Jibran. He was the oldest of the royals, well past sixty years of age, with silver hair and a matching beard that reached down to his chest. In his hand was a golden scepter, at the top of which was a coiled blue snake.
Theodore was expecting this question. “King Vindha has delved into dark magic by breaking the boundaries that were created by the gods. He has summoned demons from the underworld and forced them into dead bodies of mages. These demon mages are his to command. They answer to his summons, and have tremendous power at their disposal.”
The lords and ladies began to whisper and mutter, and even the kings looked surprised. Queen Catherine was the only one who didn’t look perturbed by this announcement.
“Demon mages?” asked King Jibran as he stroked the head of the blue snake with his jeweled finger. He chuckled. “Where have these rumors sprung from?”
“These are not rumors. Princess Zo fought with one on Jiambra’s soil not a mere two months ago. Who knows how many more of these terrible monsters King Vindha has created? A demon mage is unstoppable. His power is limitless because the demon within is not bound to one element. They have the ability to manipulate all elements,” said Theodore.
“Have you met or seen one personally?” asked the queen.
“No.”
“I see.” Queen Catherine leaned forward, a calculated look in her eyes. “King Seve believes that these monsters…these demon mages are invincible?”
Theodore sputtered. He opened his mouth, and closed it again. The question was loaded, and any answer he gave would probably not serve his purpose. It was apparent that among the royal heads, Queen Catherine was the one who understood the situation best. The problem was that he wasn’t sure whether she intended to use this knowledge to convince the others to join them, or to step away from an alliance.
“They are formidable foes. It remains to be seen whether they can be destroyed or not.”
King Amber looked alarmed. “They are not mortal?”
“The mages whose bodies house the demons are already dead,” Theodore stated. “They can’t be killed with ordinary means.”
“So the only way to destroy these creatures would be to kill their demons?” said Queen Catherine.
“How would one go about doing that?” said King Amber, looking even more worried.
“I am sure we can all sit together and devise a strategy to do so. This is why it is so important that we unite. King Seve is already using his considerable resources to study these creatures. We will find a way to beat them.”
“Yes, I am sure he will do so…eventually, but in the meantime, you claim that Vindha has many of these deadly monsters. If they were to fight with us, wouldn’t these demon mages defeat us easily?” asked King Jibran.
“Not if we have the strength in numbers.”
Queen Catherine stroked the arm of her chair with a delicate hand. “Hmmm…yes, it seems King Seve plans rely heavily on using the resources we all have. His own army would certainly not be enough to fight Vindha, especially, as you claim, if his demon mages prove to be aggressive opponents. ”
“Unity is our biggest strength. Alone, we will all fall. Together, we can strive for success,” said Theodore, mentally seething inside. Queen Catherine was deliberately undermining King Seve’s idea. Was it because she was pro-alliance with Vindha?
Or was she simply being realistic?
“If we ally with Vindha, we can avoid a war altogether,” said King Saud, offering an opinion for the first time. He was young, tall, and thin. One of his hands was missing. The skin on the stump was white and puckered. It was obviously an old injury.
Theodore bristled with anger, but years of diplomacy in a court had taught him to shield his emotions well. “King Vindha offers no alliance. You can choose to submit to his will and offer your kingdom to him and his minions to do as they choose, or you can fight for your rights.”
Queen Catherine muttered something in a barely audible voice, making sure her words reached only the other royals. The kings nodded as if giving approval.
King Amber raised his hand. “You may leave these letters with us. We will discuss this matter farther. In the meantime, you can choose to reside in our beautiful city, and enjoy the festivities that have been specially planned for our visiting guests. We will give you an answer in a week’s time to carry to your king.”
A week? Theodore nearly gnashed his teeth in annoyance. It would be frustrating to remain here for seven long days. He longed to go back and join his companions who were surely preparing to march. King Seve had estimated they would have until the end of month of Lyson to engage in battle with Vindha. That was a mere two months away. The army would have to start its march in a month’s time in order to position themselves at the pass. Any later, and Vindha would have already crossed the pass and entered Izba.
Once he entered Izba, it would be impossible to trap him in a narrow place where the battle could be turned in their favor. In a huge battlefield, with plenty of room to escape and maneuver, a larger army would always have an advantage. The pass was the perfect place for a trap and an attack from two sides.
And yet, Theodore couldn’t share all this with the royal audience until he got their nod for alliance. His instructions were clear; make sure the kings and queen agreed to bring their collective army to bear at the head of the pass where they would meet Vindha head on. Until they agreed to fight Vindha, he had no option but to wait for an answer.
Theodore bowed to the royals. “Thank you for your time, your majesties.”
As he raised his head, his eyes met those of Queen Catherine. He was surprised to see a grin of triumph on her face, almost as if she had achieved something important only she was privy to. Out of all the royals, the queen was the only one who watched them exit the room. The others had turned to other matters at hand, even before Theodore and Maya left the court.
It would be a while before Theodore realized that the queen had gently directed the conversation to achieve exactly what she wanted, and that was his forced stay in the kingdom until he received an answer to take back to his king.
Chapter Ten
Kayleb stood under a banyan tree and breathed in the familiar smells of his childhood; the slightly sweet scent of figs, the ripe tang of fertile earth, and a spicy citrus whiff of spicebushes that covered the ground.
He was back in his kingdom. Asanya was his home, and forevermore, now denied to him. He gazed longingly at the tiny yellow flowers on the spicebushes that grew only in this part of the kingdom. The local farmers harvested the crop, the crushed leaves were stored in small clay pots, and carried over by wagons to other parts of the kingdom. Rice, infused with this particular spice, were a regular staple at the dinner table in almost each house.
By now, these bushes should have been harvested. But after the defeat of the royal army, most farmers fled the area. This year the crop wo
uld be wasted. He glanced at the distant horizon where the sun was a yellow patch in the west. His hometown lay in that direction.
With deliberate care, he turned his back on all that he had lost and walked back to Alicia. They had made their camp at the bank of a river, under a grove of trees. The horses were tethered nearby.
It was hot and humid; there had been no rain for the past two days. The air was still, not a leaf moved on a tree or a bush. Kayleb dropped beside the river bank, and splashed water on his face and neck.
Alicia passed him two oat cakes, and a handful of salted meat. “Is it safe to move on?”
Since it was possible that Vindha might have stationed patrols to monitor the conquered kingdom, they were being cautious in their approach. Kayleb planned to skirt the boundaries of Asanya and enter into another kingdom, from where they would have to cross a river before they could gain entrance to the mountains.
“No one seems to have passed this way for a long time,” he said, biting into the stale cake. The tribal people offered them a portion of their meager supplies, but Alicia had refused to take much. And now, unable to find farmers in this deserted land, they were down to the last rations. If they didn’t find a place to buy food in the next couple of days, he would have to hunt.
Silence reigned. Overhead an owl hooted, indicating its readiness to resume its nocturnal activities. Kayleb watched a lizard slither out from under a pile of yellowing leaves. As he watched, its color changed from yellow to coal black as it blended in with dark of the night.
Alicia watched the lizard as it disappeared behind the trunk of a tree, its color now changing to match that of the bark. “Did you see that? We don’t have these color changing lizards in our country.”
Kayleb took another bite of the cake. “They are common in these parts. When I was young, my friends and I would capture a few and put them in the room. We would then take turns finding them. Whoever found the most in a stipulated time won the game. They change their color within a blink of an eye. It’s hard to locate them because they blend in well with their surroundings.”
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