The First Five Days: of the Lionean Saga

by John O.

  Smiling once again, Zach Sen replied, “I will be rusty, I must warn. Last I played, I was barely fourteen.”

  “Making excuses already?” she teased.

  “Nothing of that sort. I accept your challenge.”

  Rahel had long nurtured plans to woo Zach Sen and it seemed she had finally found an opportunity to make a first move. With excitement, she hurried off to retrieve her Strag board.

  Leade Roy Ni rode his horse down Hinary rock in a direction west of the Helesp, with Rosi Lite a few deer-runs behind him. He detoured onto the inner main road, passing by the gates of the Sen and Fiten Provinces as he headed for the Even Province Gate. Rosi, on the other hand, took the dirt path in the woods opposite the Sen province, moving southwards to avoid being seen. Despite the slower pace that the trees constrained upon him, he knew that he would arrive in time to see if Roy Ni went directly to Ruck Ludo’s or not.

  Roy Ni approached the Even province gate protected by two guards. “Who goes there?” one of them asked.

  “I go by Roy Ni, a Leade of the Helesp. I am here to see a merchant who goes by Ruck Ludo.”

  “How long will you be?”

  “Roughly under an hour,” Roy answered.

  “We’ll be waiting,” one of the guards remarked as he opened the gates.

  Roy rode in as the gates closed behind him.

  Minutes later, Rosi Lite cantered through the province gates, having told the guards that he would be roughly twenty minutes long, for he was only there to deliver a message. He stopped at the base of a tree near the Even training hall, shortly after which Melly Eifel appeared without making a sound.

  “What brings you here?” she asked

  Impressed at her soft-footedness, he replied, “I am here on the HN’s business. Tell me, did Lector Stev Even ride out of the province recently?”

  “Yes. He rode out alongside some of his Studes. It has been roughly forty-five minutes now.”

  “What of Leade Remy Ni? Was he with them?”

  “No he wasn’t. However, they left about twenty minutes after Remy rode into this very hall. I have not seen him leave though.”

  “I see. I must leave you now. Keep close watch on Roy Ni. If he rides into this hall, be sure to send word to the reconnaissance officer.”

  With that, he rode for Cemetery Street while Melly returned to her post.

  Yosi Sint contemplated whether or not to return to the Helesp through Cemetery Street. There was no telling what had occurred, leaving dead horses and missing Spyinme. Remembering his earlier plan to visit the Ispris, he decided to head towards her direction instead. She was not far off and it would not pay him to return to the Helesp now in any case. Turning his Horse around, he began for the Ispris residence, with the hypnotic lull of the hooves against the cobblestones luring him back into his reverie.

  “You did well to solve my puzzle boy, but if all I had need for were men with brains, I would not have ridden out here to find you. Time to test your swordsmanship,” Ruki bellowed as he threw a sword towards Yosi, who adeptly caught the sword by the hilt.

  “Lad, take Ron and Rosi here to the courtyard where you will face them both at once,” He ordered. “Take heed boy. You may be a year older than both, but they are first-rate Leades. The holy ones pride themselves on their ability with a sword but I guarantee that your training here is nothing compared to what is available at the Helesp.”

  Out in the courtyard, Ron drew his sword first. Right-handed, Yosi observed. Rosi on the other hand stood with an uninterested look; his sword safely sheathed in its scabbard. Then Ron suddenly attacked. With impressive speed, he struck with murderous intent. Yosi parried the attack as he leapt sideward only to see another sword dangerously come close to decapitating him. Too late to parry, he skillfully dodged it by twisting his body at an untenable angle.

  When did Rosi draw his sword? Yosi wondered, exhilarated at the fact that he faced worthy opponents. He decided to play with them some more. Launching no attack, he dodged, sidestepped and parried as a rain of attacks came down from all sides. ‘These Leades are good,’ he thought in admiration. Likewise, the Leades admired the speed and aptitude with which Yosi handled their attacks. Yosi, upon getting bored, decided to accelerate. One moment, the Leades had him cornered, the next he was behind them both, staring intently as if waiting to see their reaction to something. Ron was still struggling to comprehend Yosi’s ethereal speed when he felt a warm fluid trickle down his face. To his dismay, he realized he had been cut in the cheek. Switching his gaze to Rosi in surprise, he saw that Rosi was also bleeding from his shoulder. Then he heard the voice behind him.

  “Taking your eyes of me was your first mistake. Be advised, turning your head by a fraction at this time will send you to the goddess.”

  It was only then that Ron noticed he was at sword point.

  “If you love him as you would your own brother, you’d stand down,” Yosi said to Rosi who appeared to contemplate an attack that would release Ron from imminent danger.

  “Magnificent!” Ruki Sen barely whispered as he clapped his hands in awe. This boy was no ordinary one, he realized; for he could barely follow his movements as he watched the spectacle. If anything, the Ispri had downplayed his abilities.

  “You truly are something indeed. Prepare yourself, Yosi Sint. For I have just made you my aide-in-field. You shall act as my secret hand of justice from time to time. That should give you more experience of the real world than this temple can ever afford you.”

  Detouring unto Ispris Street, Yosi smiled as he remembered the looks on Ron and Rosi’s faces when he bested them. None had displayed any sign of envy and that told him much. Focusing on the present, he began to think about what he would discuss with the Ispris.

  Stev Even and his Studes arrived at Cemetery Street to find it strewn with the corpses of three horses. From what Remy had told him, the HN rode in solitude. It therefore meant that these horses belonged to others who might have met an ill fate as they traveled along this route. He cursed under his breath realizing that if Yosi had seen the corpses on his way to the cemetery, there was a good chance that he had retreated, or changed his route. The Lector’s only hope was that whatever occurred had happened long after the HN had passed by, such that he would have no reason to change the course of his return.

  “Hide the dead horses among the trees!” he ordered his Studes as they scrambled along. “As soon as you are done, spread out and conceal your presence.”

  They did as he bade them, after which the wait began. When it was becoming apparent that the HN would not be coming by for a while, a group of carrier pigeons, which Stev recognized as those used by Spyinmes, flooded the street. Irritated, Stev Even dashed out and retrieved the message bound to one of the pigeons. Wide-eyed, he couldn’t fathom how the covert service group had figured out his intentions.

  “I should never have trusted that Remy Ni would be smart enough to have covered his tracks,” he thought aloud angrily.

  “We have been found out!” he announced to his Studes. “Nothing in this message directly implicates us, so we probably have some time to return and ensure we have alibis, should the HN decide to investigate this. Quickly now!”

  To his dismay, as they tried to make their way through the bushes in order to avoid detection, poisoned darts began to fly in their direction.

  Perplexed, Stev Even ordered his men to retreat unto the Cemetery Street and ride instead for the gates to the Foté Province. This meant that they would risk being seen on Cemetery Street, but for a short while before they detoured onto the Outer Main Road. He could figure out a suitable story later should there be an inquisition. For the moment, survival was all he could think about.

  The men who attacked Ziri Lenny, Julya Rose and Surita Stone had to launch what was left of their poisoned darts at the men who rode towards them in the bushes. They had long expected their comrades to return with the other Spyinme who was still alive. When this didn’t happen, they decided to go bac
k for them, only to discover this group of armed men riding after them. The fear of poison seemed to have worked, for the men had retreated just in time. Relieved at what was a close call, they also decided to retreat, taking solace in the fact that they had at least captured one of the three Spyinmes.

  Rosi Lite rode into Cemetery Street half expecting to see the remains of a battle. For the most part, the street was quiet, the only noise being made by carrier pigeons that perched along the road. Zach Sen’s warning likely got there in time, he reckoned upon recognizing the pigeons as those used by the Spyinmes. Why, then, had he heard the sounds of multiple hooves head down in the Foté Province direction of what must have been the Outer Main Road? Yosi Sint has to know that there is no succor for him there, he reasoned. Perhaps it was Stev Even and his men? It didn’t make any sense. It was more likely that they would return to the Even Province through the bushes. What was he to do now? Follow the sound of the hooves or return to the Helesp and await the return of the HN?

  After deliberating for around ten minutes, Rosi decided to head for the Ispris’ residence. For to him, it only made sense that the HN would head in that direction upon receiving the warning from the pigeons. As he made his way, he hoped for the sake of the Nation that he was right.

  5

  The task of the reconnaissance officer was as risky as it was sensitive−if a breach of information occurred, and it could be verified that it was a result of poor coordination and not misinformation from the field agent, the Spyinme’s life would be forfeit. For this reason, Loila Even had had no choice but to dispatch the pigeons for Cemetery Street as was ordered. Not that she was interested in seeing the HN hurt, for whether he lived or not was inconsequential to the Great Cause as far as she knew, but there was the risk that the plan to capture her comrades would be foiled. If that happened, it would not only prove to be a cog in the wheel of the Cause, but it would also point to her complicity in a plot on her fellow Spyinmes.

  She impatiently waited for word from the Icasa on whether or not the girls had been duly captured. The information resident in each of their minds would prove invaluable once the high priestess was able to reconstruct them into a whole. In the days leading up to Ishe Riva Rosento’s assassination, Ziri, Julya and Surita had each been posted to the Ishe’s palace. Individually, they took no notice of the foretelling signs that were sure to have been present. After all, if dark arts were involved, it would be next to impossible for a mere Spyinme to detect. But if their memories could be stripped from them, it would be beneficial in helping the Icasa figure out who was responsible. Now it was true that progressive assassinations of the leaders were in many ways paving the way to usher in the Great Cause. However, the responsible party was an unknown entity and it would be most unwise to not understand the motives of this apparent godsend. At a time when the Icasa were finally ready to make a move, it was absolutely crucial that they obtain this information to avoid being caught unawares.

  It had been one year since Riva’s assassination, yet the opportunity never presented itself to capture all three at once. To take them one by one would have raised undue suspicion. This was why as soon as Loila discovered that Maya had dispatched the three for the Ispris’ residence, she quickly sought to inform her handler of their good fortune. She felt no pity as she imagined what would be left of the girls, post-extraction of their memories: they would be rendered brainless. She had only just witnessed its effects a few years prior when the high priestess had punished a man who had laid hands on a poor servant girl. It had been ugly, with death being the better option in comparison. She had gotten along with the three girls well enough, but she was, nonetheless, jealous of their beauty. Her adjusted image rivaled them, true, but they didn’t have to go through as much pain as she did to maintain theirs.

  Not to worry, she thought while calming herself. If her calculations were correct, the girls would have been long taken before the arrival of the pigeons. Forcing her mind off the subject, she decided to mull over the information she received on the possible attack on the HN. So soon into his rule, it was barely a half-day since he assumed the role, she thought scornfully. “This false system Hinary Rosento instituted will fall on its head all by itself with or without the Great Cause.” she laughed aloud. What else did they expect? How could an entire Nation be entrusted to just one man and his blood family? It was rather unfortunate that to sit idly by while watching the system destroy itself would also lead to the destruction of the Icasa. Hinary Rosento had seen to that himself by the way he had interwoven the fate of the two peoples.

  Focusing on Stev in particular, her thoughts further raced. That Stev Even of a man is quite a hothead. To avenge his brother, more thought will have to be put into taking out a man like Yosi Sint, if accounts of what transpired in the Helesp were true. Besides, to launch an attack so soon would immediately rouse suspicion on him and Johatsu Foté. With the information she had received on the whereabouts of Johatsu, it would be easy to identify Stev as the culprit. Folly at its highest, she concluded as she shook her head, for patience is everything in this game.

  Leade Roy Ni walked into the manor of Ruck Ludo to meet three men reveling in boisterous mirth in front of a table laden with wine.

  “It is barely after the Sun’s Hour and you’re already drunk with wine,” Roy Ni said in greeting.

  “Good day to you too!” Ruck replied in false scorn, “Come join us, good man. There’s plenty to go around.”

  “You know as well as I do that we Leades do not engage in such vain activities.”

  “No women, no wine. Are you sure you’re still alive?” Ruck joked as he and his fellow revelers laughed uproariously.

  “I can assure you that you will be dead if you do not come speak with me in private.”

  “Alright. Alright. I’ll soon return boys. Allow me teach this Leade a few manners,” Ruck said as he gathered himself and made for his room, Roy following closely behind. As soon as they were safely locked in, Ruck asked, “What ill wind brings you here at this hour; shouldn’t you be training away or something?”

  “I need to pass a message to my brother. He is within the training hall of Stev Even as we speak. I would have gone straight there myself but I can guarantee I am being watched.”

  “What trouble have you two gotten yourselves into now?” questioned Ruck.

  “If you call avenging the death of Marc Even trouble.”

  “Marc is dead? Who on Earth killed him?”

  “Someone who poses quite a danger to your province.”

  Noticing that Ruck was not satisfied with his answer, Roy pleaded, “That is all I can say for now. It is in your best interest to not know the details for the sake of plausible deniability. In time you will hear of it and deduce the rest.”

  “I see,” said Ruck. “The wife of that drunk on my couch happens to be a server in the Even manor. Perhaps if you scribble something down, I can give it him to pass on to his wife.”

  “Wouldn’t it be unusual for him to ride to the manor at this hour? If I’m being watched, his sudden departure soon after I arrived might set off an alarm of sorts.”

  “That depends on whether his wife is already in the manor. She may still be at home, and there is nothing strange about a man riding for his own home at this hour. Let me get him. You scribble your note as I drag him over here.”

  Roy Ni quickly scribbled down his warning message as Ruck left the room. Just as he was sealing it, Ruck returned with the man.

  “Greetings. I believe you can help me deliver this message to my brother through your wife,” suggested Roy

  “It depends on how quickly I can return to my home; for she should be leaving any minute from now for the Even manor. Your brother is there, I have been told.”

  “Yes he is. If you leave now, will you be able to arrive home in time?”

  “It depends on how anxious you are for your message to be delivered,” the man said with a smile.

  Understanding the man’s meaning,
Roy retrieved a gold coin from his purse and handed it over along with the note. “You must hurry. The edges are sealed, so dare not tamper with it, as my brother will know. Leave with the others so as not to draw suspicion. Ensure that you complain loudly of the interruption I caused as I demanded my debt from Ruck.”

  “Debt?” Ruck said before he realized Roy’s meaning, “Oh I see, that must have been your cover story. In that case, take this coin bag and stuff it with stones from the back yard. That should paint the perfect picture.”

  “Genius!” Roy said, grateful for the suggestion while hurrying along in accordance with the plan.

  Remy Ni was about to begin his meal at the Even dining hall when he noticed the sealed sheet of paper placed neatly under his plate. Slowly, and with caution, he opened it and read its content. Cursing under his breath as he realized he’d been discovered, he knew he could not afford to waste any more time at the Even manor. Somehow, he needed to return to the light shrubberies around the court garden. There, he could pretend to have been training his birds right after feeding them. According to the note, Roy would position them in a hidden location nearby before returning to the training hall. He hadn’t thought Zach would have noticed his prolonged absence so easily; after all, it wasn’t unusual for a Leade to wander off to care for personal business every now and then. Yet, under the current circumstances, to be without an alibi could prove fatal. Owing to his brother’s quick thinking, perhaps he now had a chance at survival. Apologizing to his hosts for his sudden necessity to depart, Remy made his way towards the rear exit of the manor.

  Zach Sen forced himself not to contemplate her beauty as Rahel Ni frowned deeply at his recent effort. It would not be the first time he had thought of her in this way, but he had worked hard to feign indifference and he was determined to keep as such. Returning his focus to the game, he found that he struggled with anticipating her next move. She’s good, he thought. They had been playing Strag for nearly an hour, and yet, they were still square. For a brief moment, their eyes met, causing him to lose his balance, though he gave nothing away.