“We did not lose one life my Lord! The King will be pleased, we have won a monumental victory today” Kinlan said to Heikan.
“The men were magnificent Kinlan” replied Heikan.
Talon then asked Heikan a question about the Klafboz which he saw Heikan’s army use earlier to such devastating effect.
“Heikan, today I saw the men use the Klafboz with my own eyes and you are correct, it is a deadly tool of combat but what happens if the Klafboz is picked up by the enemy and thrown back at us.”
“Yes what you say is truthful; there is a degree of danger if it is thrown back at us.”
“A degree of danger, I have just seen with my own eyes what the poison can do and I do not like the thought of it being picked up and their poisonous tips flying towards us” Talon said emphasising the word us.
Heikan gave a slight smile before he answered.
“The poison will not work on us Talon ….. Our wizard Zumal invented the poison and he also invented a tonic that makes us immune to it.”
Talon then stiffened as he listened to Heikan.
“I hope you have some of this tonic left for me.” added Talon smiling with wit in his voice.
Lord Heikan smiled back at him and apologised before sending his son Kraal to fetch Talon one of the vials of tonic, Talon drank the tonic and then turned back to Heikan.
“Better late than never.” he joked.
Lord Heikan’s army soon entered the centre of Vilsillius to the fears of the locals who looked on in fear and confusion at the sight of this mighty collection of warriors. Some of Heikan’s men were carrying flags with his house of Heikan colours upon them and a massive flag with the royal crest of Zachania emblazoned upon it.
The townsfolk were cowering away as the army advance, everywhere there was bewilderment as they wondered who this army were.
When they reached the towns square that led to Lord Akraf’s castle, Talon called the army to a halt; he could see in the distance that Lord Akraf’s own army were frantically trying to put up barricades at the entrance of the castle.
“What is wrong?” Heikan suddenly asked him as he noticed that Talon was in deep thought.
“Hold the army here, I will enter the castle alone.” Talon replied which made Lord Heikan raise his eyes in surprise and concern.
Talon noticed Heikan’s concern and looked him squarely in the eyes.
“Trust me” he said with a voice full of confidence and conviction.
“I will come with you.” Lord Heikan replied.
Talon nodded back at him and the two men rode towards the barricades where they stopped a few paces away as four soldiers from Akraf’s army rode out to meet them.
“Explain your business here in Vilsillius!” snapped one of the soldiers on horseback.
“What I have to say is for Lord Akraf.”
The soldiers looked at each other before one of them asked Talon to follow them, the barricade was opened and Talon and Heikan entered the castle.
“I hope you know what you’re doing” Heikan whispered as they dismounted the horses and a group of soldiers came to escort them to Lord Akraf who was in the main hall with his family and Generals.
As Talon and Heikan entered the hall they felt all the eyes that were focused upon them, as they walked past the soldiers Talon caught the eye of a man he recognised, it was Akraf’s champion, the man Talon had fought in the arena when he first came to Vilsillius. The champion gladiator recognised Talon immediately and gave him a slight nod of the head in acknowledgment of the respect he had for him. Talon gave a slight nod back before walking towards Lord Akraf who he could see also recognised him.
“I know you.” were the first words that Akraf uttered as Talon stood before him, Talon then gave the Lord a smile as if he was meeting along lost friend.
“You were the gladiator, the Pangkor monk.” added Akraf speaking with uncertainty.
“But what are you now?” he added as he looked at Talon’s Zachanian war suit and the golden sword of Apollo at his side.
“I have come to offer you my hand in friendship.” Talon replied.
“With an army of warriors” answered Akraf pointing towards the window.
“Those warriors are not here for you Lord Akraf.” replied Talon which made Lord Heikan look at him wondering what Talon was doing as Heikan knew that this Lord and his army was no match for the army that was on his doorstep.
Lord Akraf looked at his Generals and family before turning back to Talon and speaking
“And what am I expected to do for this hand of friendship.”
Talon looked at the Lord, the same Lord who had helped him and tried to answer him sincerely.
“I am here with fifty thousand Zachanian warriors, believe me Lord Akraf it is with a heavy heart that I tell you I need Vilsillius.”
“NEVER!” came a shout from one of Akraf’s General’s which made Heikan stiffen and turn towards him, Lord Akraf raised his hand at the General telling him to remain calm before he spoke to Talon again.
“And what if I refuse?” he asked Talon who then changed his look and voice to one of determination.
“Then we will take it.”
The room then broke into roars of anger at Talon’s arrogant threat; Lord Heikan placed a hand on the butt of his sword in case someone attacked them and then Lord Akraf rose to his feet and called for silence from his men.
“Thank you Lord Akraf.” Talon then said acknowledging the Lords action.
Lord Akraf then walked closer to Talon and spoke to him sincerely; the Lord knew full well that if he did not surrender then he would be dead by the evening.
“Why do you do this to me?……….. I helped you, I once gave you my hand of friendship, I gave you money, a horse, passes to travel freely and do not forget I also spared your life, now you return to me and you are not here showing me the same hand of friendship I showed you, you are here wielding a fist of aggression.”
“No Lord Akraf I have not forgotten the help you gave me and this fist of aggression you call it is not here for you.”
“But if I refuse then my family and friends will be killed, what friendship is that” replied Akraf.
“It is out of friendship that I offer you this choice.”
Lord Akraf was then disturbed by one of his Generals who had returned from the castle wall and surveyed the strength of the army outside, the General glimpsed at Talon before whispering in his Lords ear, Talon then noticed the look of fear on Akraf’s face, it was a look of knowing that he was defeated, the Lord then reached across and grabbed his wife’s hand and looked at her almost apologetically before turning back to face Talon.
“It seems we are at your mercy, we are up against insurmountable odds.” the Lord sighed.
“We do not wish to fight you Lord Akraf.” Talon sighed back which made Akraf become rigid.
“Well believe me when I tell you that I wish I could fight you.”
“Lord Akr…” Talon suddenly interrupted him only for Akraf to hold up his hand and interrupt Talon.
“If you came to me in my youth with this army then the fearless man you would be meeting would be making war with you but that man lost his pride a long time ago, with age brings wisdom and the ability to be realistic and the reality is, I do not wish to see my family and friends harmed so if I relent to your wish, then I ask that there be one condition.”
“Name your condition!” Heikan snapped back now feeling much more confident.
Lord Akraf swallowed and straightened his back and tried to answer sounding strong and resolute.
“I will not stand by and see my subjects become oppressed and enslaved, that I cannot live with.”
Talon listened to what Akraf was offering and after a moment he gave his reply.
“Then I give you my word that Vilsillius will be treated fairly, but I also give you my word that if there are any signs of uprising or rebellion against us it will be treated swiftly and brutal.”
Lord Akraf
then nodded at Talon.
“For the sake of all of you here and all of my subjects I hand over Vilsillius to the Zachanian that stands before me” he then shouted so that everyone in the hall could hear.
Lord Heikan then burst into smile as he turned and shouted to everyone.
“VILLSILLIUS IS NOW PART OF THE ZACHANIAN KINGDOM!”
Lord Akraf then confronted Talon.
“I hope you realise what you are doing, the Empire will not sit quietly while you and your army swallow up towns.”
“Damn the Empire, we have crushed them twice already and whenever we meet them we will crush them again.” added Heikan.
“We will see …..We will see.” added Akraf with hostility to his voice.
Talon listened to what Heikan had just said and Akraf’s reply and it made him think about what the Lord had just said, Heikan was in jubilant mood but Talon knew better, he knew that they had only met a fraction of the Empire on the battleground and he knew that someday soon this war would really begin.
When Lord Akraf excused himself Lord Heikan grabbed hold of Talon and lifted him into the air and in boisterous fashion he yelled as he held him.
““WE DID IT!” he shouted making Talon feel embarrassed as he asked Heikan to release him.
“Yes we have crossed the first bridge my friend.”
Once they were alone Heikan held out his arms and turned around.
“This is all ours Talon, let us celebrate, let us drink…….whatever we want we shall have, by Apollo I never thought it would be so easy, did you see the look of Akraf, the man turned into a coward just from the sight of us ….. ZACHANIA!” he shouted totally overwhelmed with what they had achieved.
Talon then walked over and tugged at Heikan’s sleeve, instantly calming him down.
“Heikan my friend, what Akraf done today was not the act of a coward, the man I saw before me acted with a bravery that comes from the heavens…..it was a rare bravery to lose face and give up everything for the sake of others, such a man should not be mocked Heikan, we should hold such a man in esteem, for a man to be able to make such a calculated decision with such overwhelming adversity before him is not a coward or a man with doubt, but a man of substance and honour.”
Lord Heikan sobered immediately at what Talon had just said to him making him feel shame at how he was just behaving.
“Your wisdom has humbled me Talon.” he answered.
By nightfall the town of Vilsillius was under total Zachanian command, Lord Heikan’s army had begun to take over the duties of the disposed Lord Akraf’s army who were ordered to lay down their swords and comply with any order that the Zachanian’s gave them.
Lord Akraf had been in his quarters all day with his wife and family, he did not know what his immediate fate would be and when Talon knocked on his door he opened it with trepidation.
“Lord Akraf may we talk?” Talon said as the door was opened.
Lord Akraf welcomed him in where they both sat down next to a large fireplace, Akraf looked at Talon as he sat down and waited for him to talk.
“Lord Akraf when I said I wanted your friendship, I spoke with sincerity, it was not easy what I did today, I have gained no satisfaction from my actions, I ask you again will you be my friend.”
Lord Akraf smiled and then hesitantly gave his reply.
“Talon what you ask is like beating a man to ground and then asking him to clean his own blood from your hands.”
“No Lord Akraf it is like beating a man and then throwing him into one of your dungeons and then forcing him to fight in your arena against your champion, then when the man who has been fighting for his life prevails you give him food and drink and then ask him to remove his own blood from his own hands.”
Lord Akraf smiled and nodded back.
“Touché.” he replied realising that Talon was describing what happened to himself the last time he was in Vilsillius.
“So it seems that you have an answer for everything Talon, but I want your next answer to be from the heart.”
Talon leaned closer and opened out his hands.
“What do you wish to know?”
“I want to know why Vilsillius is so important to you?” asked Akraf now speaking and acting in a deep and thorough way.
Talon leaned back as he began his explanation.
“Vilsillius is the trading capital of Kratos, a great army of Zachanian’s numbering hundreds of thousands has marched into Kratos at Death Valley, Kratos is at war once again, we are at war with the Empire and we will stop at nothing until we wipe them from the face of Kratos, we will need supplies.”
“So you expect Vilsillius to feed and clothe your men for nothing.”
“No my Lord we will give payment, it might be less, Vilsillius is now under Zachanian rule we expect you to join us and not fight us.”
“How will you pay my citizens?”
“We have gold and we will liberate Krasos from the Empire.”
Lord Akraf then sat back and sighed out aloud.
“You are very ambitious Talon, the Empire is vast on the other side of this island and I don’t think the people of Kratos will take warmly the idea of having to work for less.”
“You do not have to remind me of the Empires strengths Akraf, I was once one of them, I was trained and educated in Kallick Town and the Palace lands but Kratos is soon to change, and these changes will be drastic. All of Kratos will be thrown into war, here in Vilsillius you are free but in towns like Zanlia they are under strict military rule, once this war escalates the Empire will take their supplies from anywhere they can, Vilsillius is under our protection, the Empire will soon be your enemy not us.”
“The Empire has always been fair to us, why would they change?”
Talon then began to raise his voice as he became frustrated.
“Tell that to your brothers and sisters in Zanlia.”
“What is so bad about Zanlia?”
“Are you proud to be a Kratosian Akraf?”
“Yes off course.”
“Well Kratosian, your kin are being butchered in the north, all trade as stopped as the Empire strives to gain control, how long do you think it would be before the Empire decides that Vilsillius should have the same fate?”
Lord Akraf contemplated what Talon was saying to him but he was still not fully convinced.
“I have heard that it is more difficult to trade with the north but I have not heard of the killings you speak of, what proof can you show me?”
“Is my word not proof enough?” replied Talon sternly.
Akraf looked deeply at Talon as if weighing him up.
“You’re trying to convince me that the Empire is my enemy.”
“The Empire is the enemy of every man born on Kratos soil, the emperor is an evil tyrant and we live under their tyranny and rule.”
“I do not see any tyranny Talon.”
“Then you are blind Akraf, you have to abide by the Empires laws do you not, you are ordered to obey them, under their rule there are no elections, religion is all but forbidden, free passage is restricted and what of the taxes you have to pay, what would happen if you stopped paying the Empire this levy, what of your subjects then if you decided not to pay, this is tyranny and your only path to freedom is us.. The royal warriors of Zachania, who will not bow down to this evil emperor.”
When Talon finished he sat back slightly embarrassed at losing his composure and showing Lord Akraf his deep emotions. Lord Akraf waited a moment for Talon to regain his calm before replying to him.
“Talon, I have never liked the Empire, for years they have bled me in taxes but apart from that they have left me alone, I must remain neutral for the sake of my people, this is not my war, what would become of me and my family if I side with Zachania and then Zachania is defeated.”
Talon became rigid as he heard the words Zachania and defeat but still feeling blushful at his last outburst he calmed his reply,
“Then what my friend are we to do?”
he sighed with frustration.
“I do not know the answer to that Talon and I am sorry if I have not said what you wanted to hear.”
“Am I your enemy Lord Akraf?” asked Talon which surprised the Lord.
“No Talon you are not, not yet that is.”
“I do not wish to be Lord Akraf but I must have full and unhindered control of Vilsillius.”
“You have control; the army you marched into my town achieved that.”
“I also want your assistance.”
“That I cannot give, you have our obedience but we will not help you.”
“Lord Akraf my fondness for you will come second here, my allegiance is to Zachania and I will do whatever is necessary for my homeland.”
“All I am willing to give you Talon is my word that you will not be resisted, that is all I can give you, I am sorry if it is not what you want me to say but my allegiance is to Vilsillius.”
Later in the evening Talon found Lord Heikan and Kinlan enjoying a drink with some of officers in Heikan’s army, there was a jubilant and triumphant mood about them, Talon had just finished his talks with Lord Akraf and was in need of a large jug of ale.
“Come Talon sit with us” Kinlan said as he offered Talon some ale.
“How was Akraf?” asked Heikan.
“He is not going to do anything; he says he wants to remain neutral.”
“String a few of his men up and let’s see if that changes his mind.” Heikan added
“no my Lord Heikan, god no, it has been a long day, we have won enough for one day, let us see what happens after a few days, maybe his resolve will soften.”
“Well my offer still stands Talon” replied Heikan.
“Kinlan, have you sent word back to the King” Talon asked turning to Kinlan.
“Yes Talon I have, word was sent that Vilsillius is now part of the Zachanian Kingdom.” Kinlan replied smiling broadly.
“Good it will be good news for Arun.”
“Talon, I was thinking about what you asked me earlier, about finding a building.” Kraal suddenly said reminding Talon of something he had said earlier.
“Yes.”
“I was thinking that the barracks we defeated today would be perfect, it is large enough and secure.”
Zachania Page 42
