The First Five Days: of the Lionean Saga

by John O.

  “It is about your brothers, Tisamp and Schneel. At about midnight, the two princes raped your father’s favorite servant girl to near death. At the moment, she lies unconscious in the healers’ ward. The ordeal lasted for two hours. Many palace guards including myself witnessed it firsthand.”

  Prince Reign was intrigued by this piece of information. If he played it carefully, he could eliminate his brothers with one decisive move.

  “Tell me, how many of you witnessed it?”

  “About seven of us.”

  “And you are certain they would not change their story, if called to testify?”

  “Not if the heir apparent was the one who brought the case before the king.” he replied with a cunning smile.

  This was why Reign had so much affection for the man. He was as wily as a fox, always aware of opportunities that may be useful to the prince.

  “Thank you, Janes. Leave me to ponder my next move. Rest assured that I will use this information wisely.”

  Janes held his gaze with the Prince for a few counts as if to impress a point before leaving as he was bid.

  “Farewell foolish ones called Tisamp and Schneel; for your demise is at hand,” muttered the heir apparent to the throne of Norwaland as he set about to plan.

  Surita awoke to find herself in what appeared to be a dugout. Disoriented, she tried to stand up only to find she lacked the strength. Whatever happened to me? she wondered. The last thing she remembered was fleeing from the Main Farm amidst the sound of sword fight. Had Sido also escaped? Were they being hunted? Where was Sido?

  She looked around but could see no sign of him. Panic gripped her very being as she realized she was alone. With renewed determination, she summoned all the strength she could and arose from the floor. She had to kneel in one spot for a few moments in order for the associated vertigo to abate. She then crawled out of the hole and realized that dawn was breaking. Preparing herself for the next wave of dizziness that would follow, she took a deep breath before attempting to stand to her feet. Her first attempt was a fiasco as she found herself collapsing entirely. Exhausted, she rolled over and lay on her back with her eyes closed. After about five minutes, she opened her eyes to find a bruised face staring right at her.

  “Sido! Good heavens you’re alive!”

  “I am. You on the other hand will soon be dead if you don’t allow yourself to recover.”

  Returning to her kneeling position, she asked “What happened? Where are we?”

  “You lost a lot of blood. You passed out as we escaped the fray. I had to lift you with my bare hands without stopping to see if you were alive or dead.” Sido continued, “You scared me, Surita. Imagine my relief when I felt your pulse after we had gotten far enough from the battleground.”

  Surita sighed before replying, “We are at the coast then? I am in no shape to ride, it would seem.”

  “You are definitely in no shape to ride. We have to wait this out until you’re fit enough for us to proceed.”

  “We cannot stay here, Sido. I am an officer of court remember? The HN will be sure to send scouts around the wider perimeter of the farm.”

  “Now that the fight is over, wouldn’t that be a good thing? Isn’t your objective to inform the HN of what you have learned?”

  “How will I explain the cut on my shoulder? Or the fact that I am travelling with a man who hails from the closest extra-provincial settlement to the Main Farm which happened to be attacked?” interrogated Surita.

  “By now he should know you’re missing! To find you here now would not be so far-fetched, would it?”

  “What if a Sentor recognizes me from the incident? It would surely cast doubt on the veracity of my claims. What is to stop them from believing I am somehow in on the attempted kidnap? My colleagues go missing and all of a sudden, I’m involved in what has led to the deaths of a sizable number of Sentors. Don’t forget I could not recover my knives. They would recognize them as Spyinme and, as such, I will be doomed before I am able to share my story.”

  She took a deep breath to calm herself before continuing; “The only way this will work is if I show up at the Helesp on my own terms. That way, I get to reveal what I know before digging into the sordid details. And in case you are not aware, understand this now: I intend to be silent on our part in the Main Farm assault. As far as I am concerned, it never happened.”

  Sido wasn’t convinced. “Surita, I understand the point in showing up on your own terms. But if the HN comes to find out about our involvement at the farm without you telling him yourself, you will lose all credibility before him. You risk too much!”

  In tears now, Surita replied, “We had no choice. Dressed in black like the thieves, there was no way the Sentors would have had the time to listen to me if I tried to tell them who I was. Not in that chaos. Their only instinct was to obliterate the intruders. There was nothing I could do but fight on the side that did not consider me a hostile. I had no choice!”

  Sido realized what the root cause of her distress was; guilt. She had murdered her own comrades in an attempt to survive. He could not begin to imagine what she was going through. As a result, he let the matter drop for the time being. All he wanted to do now was to make her pain go away. With care, he placed a loving hand on her shoulder as she bared her soul through brimming tears.

  20

  It was one hour past the Hen’s Hour and activities in the Helesp had kicked off in full swing. A light knock on the door, which indicated the arrival of his breakfast, made Yosi realize just how hungry he was.

  “Please come in,” he called out in anticipation.

  Maya Sint emerged through the door with a tray of food carrying an aroma that seemed to taunt the man even further. “Good morning.”

  “That greeting doesn’t seem to hold true in light of the news I received only moments earlier. Nevertheless, good morning to you too. I am famished.”

  “What news? Forgive me; settle into your meal first. I will return later if you wish to discuss it with me.”

  “You may sit with me. After a few mouthfuls I should be able to manage a few words or so.”

  Maya laughed and set the food on the table. She watched with wonder as the HN ate his meal with the speed of a man who hadn’t eaten for days.

  “Why so hungry, brother?”

  “To be honest, it beats me. Perhaps I am more stressed than I can feel; this is my body’s way of telling me to take things easy,” He drank from his cup of water and continued. “Affairs of State seem to keep piling up before me. Only this morning, I received word of a robbery at the Main Farm. From what the Sentor who brought me the news gathered, the guards were distracted with an attack, which claimed a number of lives, while the storehouses were being looted. I have dispatched Dan Thorne and the Sentor, Raiden Ni, to investigate our losses as well as possible leads that will help to apprehend the perpetrators.”

  “Outrageous! At a time when the Norwans may be preparing to strike? Those storehouses were the lifeblood that sustained the Island during the last war!” Maya exclaimed

  “In addition to that, about twenty Sentors perished in the skirmish. To lose that many able fighters at a time like this further puts us in a precarious position.”

  “Still on the issue of these Norwans, did Raiden Ni provide further information on the situation within their shores?”

  “Your fears were well founded, Maya. As it stands, our agents in Norwaland have all gone dark. Raiden believes it is safe to assume they have been purged.”

  Maya closed her eyes in contemplation. After a few counts, she opened them and said, “We must find a way in, immediately.”

  “I know.”

  “Do you have a plan yet?”

  “Not entirely. But an idea has come to me. It is still in its incipient stages however. By the end of the week, I should have it concluded.”

  “That is good to hear. Meanwhile, it’s the third day since the three Spyinmes I sent to the Ispris have disappeared.”

&nbs
p; “Technically, if I discount the day they went missing, it is the second day,” Yosi replied. He didn’t think he was ready to investigate this issue, not with all the more pertinent problems at hand.

  “My girls are becoming worried and restless. Remember the girls who disappeared in the Ni province four years ago? Nothing was done about it. If anything was, the populace didn’t get to hear about it. If this happens again without visible investigation from the Helesp, how relevant do you think the girls would feel? If they are so dispensable, then there is no point in them risking their lives for the Island. You have to act, Yosi.”

  “It’s not that I don’t want to act on it, but the Ishe has just been murdered. Our storehouses looted, a good number of Sentors slaughtered. My hands are full.”

  “Then you delegate! I am more than capable to handle this situation. Give me the authority of full investigation and dedicate one of your Leades to aid me. More specifically, I wish to interrogate Loila Even. I also want the area where you found the dead men combed for clues.”

  Yosi considered her request for a few minutes as silence reigned between brother and sister. When he was done, he replied in a calm voice, “You have my authorization to interrogate Loila. Have Ron Riten with you when you do, that will make her uncomfortable enough to start talking. Remember, we only suspect she’s involved. There’s no conclusive evidence to that effect. Hence, let me be clear: torture is not an option. I intend for Zach Sen and Rahel Ni to visit the Ispris today. I will instruct them to search the area on their way back.”

  Maya was more than satisfied with his response. However, the part about Zach and Rahel visiting the Ispris could only mean one thing. Sighing, she replied, “Thank you for granting my request.”

  She paused before continuing, “I see your suspicions concerning the unsolved murders are still centered on Prisca. Are her powers consistent with your thoughts around how Ishe Fiten was assassinated?”

  “Indeed they are. I need to see if Rahel will sense something from her.”

  “Not a bad idea. However, it is my sincere hope that she senses nothing. Having not spoken with Jessamine in ten years, Prisca is essentially the only sister I have.”

  “I hope for that, just as much as you do. In any case, you and Jessamine need to sort out your differences,” he remarked.

  “That is a discussion for another time, Yosi,” Maya said as she began clearing up after him. “Hope you enjoyed your meal, despite all this unpleasant talk.”

  “I did. That’s why I hurried the meal before opening discussions.”

  Maya laughed, “Liar! Your ravenous appetite was due to hunger and not out of consideration.”

  “You think?” Yosi laughed with her before saying, “Lest I forget, I have some letters that need to be dispatched. Which one of your trusted Spyinmes will you have deliver them for me?”

  Maya thought for a moment before replying, “Mila is the one I trust most among the girls. But I need her here so perhaps I will entrust the delivery to Lily Bent.”

  “Very well then, take the letters with you.”

  Maya reached for them, said her goodbyes and departed the room.

  “Wake up! Its morning already,” Jin tapped Set who was fast asleep with legs stretched out on the deck, head and back leaning against the bulwark.

  “Oh my! You mean I passed the night here?” Set replied as he opened his eyes to find that he was not in his cabin. “It is like they say, nature cannot be cheated,” he muttered to himself as he sat up.

  “Where are the others?”

  “They’re all in the deckhouse,” Jin replied.

  “Good. Allow me a moment to refresh myself and I’ll join you there to address everyone.”

  Jin nodded and proceeded towards the cabin on the highest deck of the ship. A few moments later, Set walked into the cabin, his presence prompting the men, ten in number, to chorus in greeting.

  “Good morning,” Set replied as he looked from one man to the other. Smiling, he began, “I remember when I first met each one of you… all in unique circumstances…”

  Looking at Jin, he continued, “I first met Jin about eight years ago, not long after I escaped from Lionea and took refuge in Gale. Fourteen years of age at the time, having been orphaned by war, I found him doing menial jobs for a living. What intrigued me was that there seemed to be no trace of greed, anger, or hatred in him despite the cruel hand life had dealt him.” “Unfortunately, we live in a ruthless world where apathy isn’t enough to avoid being dealt punishing blows. One fateful night, I was on my way to a brothel when I saw three men beating up the poor boy. The men challenged me when I asked them for their reasoning behind treating him that way. That was the worst decision they had ever made, for I then beat them to stupor,” Set smiled.

  “In this world, it is foolish to remain weak. Having rescued Jin, I decided to launch a campaign to defend and train weak boys who will, in turn, defend and train others who are oppressed. As fortune would have it, I met Sin, a successful artist who agreed to fund my campaign. Today, the rest of you stand here as a result of our efforts.”

  The men clapped their hands in appreciation before Set continued, “We have come a very long way, having saved lives and equipped many with the necessary skills to defend themselves in this wicked world. Alas, it has not been all rosy; we have also lost many men along the way. Some have died on the battlefield, some due to the far-reaching arms of organized crime, and others to their excessive lust for women and wine. Nevertheless, I was and am still satisfied with what we have accomplished, and by embarking on this journey to Lionea Island, we bring our campaign to a fitting end. Many of you seek better lives on the Island. Others accompany me out of a feeling of indebtedness. Whatever the case may be, you all need to know why I left the Island in the first place. Also, you need to understand my decision to return and what my current plan is.”

  Set had withheld this piece of information for so long that the men had grown weary of prying. Now that he was about to reveal it, the attention in the room was so focused, it was almost palpable. “Some of you are aware that I was once a Leade in Lionea. Although I was one of the youngest among the Leades, HN Ruki Sen put me in charge of the Helesp whenever he was absent. Some of my fellow Leades, especially those who were much older, were not happy with this arrangement. This did not deter me from doing the job expected of me, for other than the HN’s son, Zach Sen, there was no one else who could challenge me amongst them. Zach seemed to have no interest in succeeding his father, preferring instead to live a quiet life as a painter and perhaps succeed his uncle as the Aishe of the Sen province. As a result, I had an ambition to succeed the HN someday.”

  “My curse, unfortunately, was my desire for women. The celibacy rule required of those who reside within the Helesp proved too difficult for me to abide by. For five years, I managed to control my desires successfully by avoiding the Spyinmes altogether. On becoming the HN’s assistant, that strategy was no longer feasible as I had to relate with the women on matters of State. In time, I drew close to a Spyinme called Riya Senet, or so I thought. She was the most beautiful woman in the Helesp as far as I was concerned; blonde of hair and full in all the right places. She looks very much like Jessamine, the lady we painted yesterday.”

  Continuing he said, “During one of our private discussions, Riya confessed that she had long harbored the thought of lying with me. HN Ruki Sen was absent at the time, and she reasoned that since most officers were engaged in the war against the Norwans, no one would discover us if we were careful. Lust got the better of me and I joined her in making plans to rendezvous in the woods by the weapons factory. On the fateful day, as soon as we began the act in earnest, she began to scream, attracting a horde of Sentors who dragged me off her as though I was a rapist. Confused, I attempted to explain that it was consensual but, to my horror and amidst tears, she thanked the Sentors for rescuing her. Stupefied, I allowed myself be arrested while she was taken to the healers.”

  The crowed s
tood in awe, taken by Set’s account of his life before the current journey.

  “I can clearly remember the look on Leade Marc Even’s face as he put me in chains. He was a man who was particularly irked by my position as the HN’s assistant. Meanwhile, I still have no idea how the Spyinme was able to convince two well respected healers that she was indeed raped. By some miracle, she returned to the Helesp with confirmatory reports and my fate thus was sealed. A few days later, the HN returned and summoned us to present our cases before him. After she spoke, even I was almost convinced that I had tried to rape her; that was how good she was at lying. After I narrated my version of the event, the HN gave me such a disappointed look that I wished for the earth to swallow me whole. After a while, he simply said, ‘I thank you for the excellent service you have rendered to our nation and I’m happy to have met you in this life. However, you have broken a sacred oath and are hereby expelled from the Helesp. The Ishe will judge your case from here on. As you leave, remember that mistakes do not define a person. Whatever happens, remain grateful to have lived and served others.’”

  Set took a deep breath as he relived the worst moment of his life before continuing; “I was eventually tried by Ishe Reed who sentenced me to death. I prepared myself for the executioner’s blade as I was led to a special prison referred to as the Grave of Penitence. There, I waited to be executed the next day, but the strangest thing occurred. At the Crow’s Hour, the door to my cell suddenly opened and a man whispered, ‘Hold my hand and come with me.’ I did as I was told and followed him through a dark hall. We descended into hidden tunnels and, before I knew it, I was no longer within the prison’s premises. The man took me to a waiting horse and said, ‘Head for the eastern port. A ship will be leaving for Gale in three hours. Farewell!’”

  Before I could ask him who he was to thank him, the man was gone. I mounted the horse only to discover a bag of gold coins tied to the saddle. That is how I ended up escaping; the first and only man to have escaped a prison in Lionea.”