Chapter Six
Crowns and Kingdoms
Zalisha looked up at the sudden commotion of Lohan’s abrupt appearance in the council chamber. The guards seized him, but she waved them away beckoning for Lohan to come forward. He quickly pushed past council members to come kneel before the throne she sat on.
“What is the meaning of this my son?” General Lasho asked in an alarmed tone from beside Zalisha.
Lohan looked up with an excited smiled on his face. Zalisha had never seen him so exuberant.
“I bring good news! The men from across the great sea have come! Even as you have said they would your highness! And they have brought with them the words of the Creator encased in a book for all to read and they have many books of the Creator with them! The Creator of heaven has smiled down upon our people and you your highness!”
Zalisha felt thrills coursing through her at the hearing of the completion of what she had so desperately hoped and prayed for.
“Thank you Commander Lohan! You have indeed brought me very good news!”
Turning to General Lasho beside her she said, “General see to it that the preparations we talked about are put into full effect immediately!”
The old general looked hesitant, “Your highness you’re sure that this is what you want to do?”
Zalisha took one of his aged scarred hands in hers, “General this is what must be done! Even as my Creator commands it, even so will I be faithful to do it!”
The old general nodded his head abruptly, “I will see to it that it is done your highness.”
Zalisha went to pull her hand free and turned back to the room of counselors, but the general held on for a moment and she looked at him in question.
Gruffly he said, “Your father would have been proud of you even as I am!”
He dropped her hand and briskly left the room accompanied by his son Lohan.
Zalisha addressed the room of wildly chattering counselors, “You may all leave now! If there is need of you again you will be summoned.”
Their chattering stopped and they all bowed respectfully and left. As the doors closed shut Zalisha sank to her knees and let her head fall forward onto her hands on the floor in front of the throne. The golden crown fell off her head to the floor as she sobbed into the worn stones of the floor.
“Thank you Creator! Thank you for saving my people! Oh Creator help me make the right choices! Help me please!”
She was alone in the room except for twenty bodyguards, who had not left her side ever since the whole royal family had been massacred.
They stood at their posts around the room. Their stoic demeanor however was betrayed by the silent tears coursing down some of their cheeks, as they listened to their beloved princess, that they would die to protect continue to pray and intercede for herself and her people before the Creator. If they could have told the people of how much their princess loved them they would have, but they were sworn to keep her privacy.
The city gradually came into view and with it a wall, a gigantic wall. I didn’t know the geography of the area well, but if I had to say I think the wall spanned from seashore to seashore as the sea was faintly visible on both sides of the city.
The Eastern Kingdom’s last stand, as they were literally backed up to the sea on three sides. They really were a people living on the edge. The city wasn’t spectacular looking like the other ruined cities that we had seen along the coast, at least not from a distance. The original city would’ve probably been smaller, but now it sprawled out onto the plain, no doubt to make room for refugees from the rest of the kingdom.
We were nearing the outskirts of the city and already I could see packed crowds lining the main street. We were in for another crowded welcome it would seem. Riding through the main street of the city that didn’t boast even an outer wall or gate we were among the crowd instantly.
Times were rough here. One could tell from the poor dress and haggard appearances of many, but of one accord they were crying out jubilantly at the sight of us. The rough outlying buildings began to give way to finer buildings.
One thing was extremely remarkable throughout the journey through the city; the people were devoid of any ornamentation of charms that we had seen prevalent with the Western Kingdom.
Otherwise perfectly fine buildings had areas where I was certain there had been sculptures that were smashed beyond recognition now. On corners where there must’ve been shrines and temples there were only recent charred looking ruins.
These people had repented of their evil ways and were clinging on to hope that there their world was about to change for the better. Towards the inner city a large open square appeared.
It was not packed with cheering civilians, but instead soldiers. Thousands of them standing in perfect rank formation. Another unique characteristic of these people in comparison to their neighbors of the West were that there were women everywhere, including a heavy concentration of them in the ranks of the soldiers.
The ranks of soldiers stretch on before us. They saluted like an undulating wave in accordance with us passing by. These were a people made hard by the constant struggle to survive. They lacked the finer culturing that higher societies often possess at the cost of going soft militarily speaking such as was apparent with the Western Kingdom.
Finer culturing was often a sign of too long of a period of peace. A period of peace no doubt brought on by a strong military, which was forgotten or even ignored in the latter days of a self absorbed nation.
Often such peace loving nations focused on prosperity fell prey to smaller hungrier nations, which were stronger militarily and did not limit their passions or their quest for greatness. These people were such a people. They were hungry for freedom and if I read them right they would gladly die to achieve it for their children and their children’s children after them.
The flag of their nation was proudly displayed everywhere, as they were proud of who they were and what they had come through as a nation. The flag was colored by a backdrop of light sky blue with artful scrollwork of sea green calligraphy illustrated across it, artfully trimmed in silver.
We made our way up an elevation in the otherwise flat city. A citadel loomed close and we passed into its enclosure. More soldiers and what must be court officials were in attendance in this inner area. It was clear that this was where the journey on horseback ended.
I dismounted followed by the others. Finely dressed warriors stepped forward and took the reins of our horses, their manner both respectful and disciplined. It would be an honor to lead such fighters into the battle, even as it had been ever since I had been tasked with leading my own people that were of a similar character in reserve into battle.
A flight of stairs was before us and I motioned for Gavin to go ahead of me, “Come brother this is your show from here on in. Just remember there’s no way we could even hope to fight clear of this place. No pressure Gavin, just make us look good.”
Gavin gave me a dark look, which I responded to with a smile and then we began to climb the stairs to the columned entrance of a great hall that lay above us. We were flanked by yet more soldiers to either side of us. I hoped their intentions toward us were as friendly as they appeared to be.
Gaining the entrance to the hall we briefly glanced at each other as we gazed down the long corridor buttressed with columns. Masses of people were gathered to either side of the courtyard walkway between the massive columns that ended in a raised dais at the far end of the room.
We started down the corridor feeling the weighted focus of thousands of silent eyes watching us. Halfway across the large gallery a figure rose from the throne on the dais and made her way down to the inlaid marble floor that our boots clicked on in the silence of the room as we made our way across floor. I was sure it was most likely the “she” of Gavin’s vision.
She was accompanied by an entourage of her own. As we both drew near it was to discover that she was indeed a vision. The unusual white color of her hair only accentuated the already exotic beauty of her features and form. I glanced at Gavin.
Oh yeah!
He was definitely seeing her as a vision of beauty and grace as well. Instinctively I knew this was quiet brothers girl and I restrained any thoughts I might of had of her to fit within those guidelines of separation.
“Zevin?”
I glanced at Gavin as he said, “Don’t be surprised by anything that happens. Do what she asks of you. Trust me on this one?”
“Is this in concern to what your second vision was about that you wouldn’t tell me?”
“Yes.”
That was all there was time for as both of our parties drew abreast of each other. She stepped forward alone and approached Gavin and I. She stopped as did we.
“Welcome strangers, to Assoria and all that the Eastern Kingdom can provide you. Commander Lohan has told me of what befell you by our common enemy the Western Kingdom. Though they are our enemies as well they are of our race and it is with deep shame that I and my people share in the guilt of our brothers unsought for treachery of your people!”
I saw the truth of her words reflected in her eyes, as her head fell forward in genuine shame as did every other head in the room. Shocked I look around and then back to her.
I stepped forward and gestured to the room at large, “Please everyone don’t hang the crime against my people that was perpetrated by the Western Kingdom on your own heads and in your own hearts. Although they may be of a similarity to you they are guilty for their own actions alone! Since the Creator made the first man and woman, man has not ceased from dealing treacherously with each other. We are all one people even though we may appear different, but as we are one we are all guilty of all the acts of our kind. Please not do not assume the guilt of others upon yourselves because of superficial similarities and a long time sharing of tradition. We are all in this together. We are all guilty and we all bear the sins of our forefathers, our brothers, our sisters, and ourselves. We all need the salvation that comes with the belief in the Savior the Creator sent to us, who is the only one not guilty of the sins we as people are plagued with. This is why we have come bringing the words of our Creator to you so that you might believe as even we do. And one day perhaps all of Assoria will believe as I pray that you will in the Creator of heaven. We have made this journey out of a conviction by the Spirit of the living God that all men may know God in truth and know the path of salvation and righteousness that He laid down for us to the perfecting of ourselves, who have sinned and come short of the glory of our Creator!”
Everyone was staring at me with opened eyed expressions including my own men and my brother. I had spoken the words to the entire room at large and to tell the truth I was shocked at both my eloquency and passion at sharing what I felt as to what the truth of our mission here was to these people and any others who might believe. My eyes drifted back to the leader of her people. She was crying softly with a look of shocked awe on her face, as if she had realized for the first time or maybe just all over again a foundational concept.
Meeting my eyes I heard her whisper, “The Creator is so good!”
“And rightly to be praised.” I finished for her.
She looked from me to Gavin and her chin seemed to firm in some determination of thought. She sank to her knees on the floor and was followed in like order by all of her people.
She walked forward on her knees to kneel directly before me and Gavin and then she looked up at both of us. Before she could say anything Gavin leaned down and pressed a copy of the Bible into her arms, which closed about it fast already knowing what she held.
Her eyes lingered on Gavin for a long moment and then she smiled and Gavin turned ten shades of red, looking as awkward as can be. She released him from the spell of her gaze and turned her focus to me.
“I’ve been given some things by the Creator that concern both of you and my people.”
Her eyes went from me and then to Gavin and then back to me. “You are a great warrior. Whatever your skills or strengths may be on the battlefield I now see that they are but a backdrop to the spiritual strength and humbleness of your heart that you possess before your God, which is your greatest strength.”
She reached up and removed a necklace from around her neck, which she took a ring from. The ring had a huge red cut gemstone in the shape of an oval on it.
“Will you take this ring that belonged to my father the king and that symbolizes the right of command of all the military forces that the Eastern Kingdom can muster? Will you lead us in the battle against our enemies the Western Kingdom and their master the great sorcerer?”
I hadn’t been expecting this and I would have liked more time to think about it and understand the situation better, but I remembered Gavin’s words and I trusted my brother.
“I will.”
She slipped the ring onto my right hand and said, “You are now master of our warriors and defender of our people, until your kingdom is established and your people give you one of their own.”
Chills swept up me at her words that seemed somehow prophetic. A warrior stepped forward who must’ve been pushing a hundred years or more. He held a banner of the flag of their people out to me and I took it. He kneeled down on one knee stiffly and extended a fisted hand out to me as the other gripped his sword handle at his side; he sounded a military grunt as he did so.
Lohan and every other warrior in the place and outside followed the old warrior’s actions all their fists pointed to me.
My eyes caught sight of the indentation on the old warrior’s finger where the ring must have rested for many years, without being removed before it had been given to me.
My eyes drifted to his and I said, “I still have need of you!”
He nodded curtly his old shoulders seeming to straighten some as he understood my meaning. Lohan’s grateful look told me clearly that this must be his father. My eyes went back to the princess.
Lifting the hand with the ring on it I said, “I will do my best to lead and protect your people as the Creator gives me strength.”
She bowed her head in acceptance of my oath. She turned to Gavin and lifted a hand and a servant girl shuffled forward with a cushion in her arms. A golden crown lay on it. The princess took the crown and looked up at Gavin.
“I alone am left of my father’s dynasty. The Creator has given my father’s kingdom to a man more worthy than my father and all the kings before him. You are that man. He has given to you the responsibility to teach my people of the Creator’s ways and to lead the people well in times of peace and of war. This crown symbolizes the headship over my people that you now possess. As a reward for your faithfulness as a servant of the Creator’s I have been given to you as your wife to rule by your side as your queen so that as an honor to my faithfulness in doing the Creator’s will my family blood and honor may continue among our people.”
As she finished making my brother a king of an entire kingdom she knelt down placing the crown at his feet kneeling with her face to the ground as did everyone else in the room.
Gavin surprised me then.
Instead of giving the crown back and protesting that he was not worthy of it he instead bent down and took a hold of the crown firmly, effectively taking the girl that came along with the kingship of her people. Way to go Gavin! I silently clapped away inside with exuberance, glad for my brother beyond words.
Gavin took his new queen’s hand in one of his and raised her up to her feet in front of him. Shyly they stared at each other for a moment.
Gavin needed help.
He had never been able to talk to beautiful girls very well, not that I was that proficient at it either, but I at least knew where to start. I stepped toward the odd couple. She was slim and graceful of build while he had the height and large muscled frame of our father’s lineage. Still they were somehow right looking as a couple.
“I believe my brother the king would like to know his lovely bride’s name?”
She smiled up at Gavin with a smile that could warm up a dead man.
“Zalisha. My name is Zalisha. I would also like to know yours. It was not revealed to me.”
Gavin finally found his tongue, “Gavin, Gavin Ta’lont.”
Her smile evaporated as her gaze turned to one of shock. I heard the name Ta’lont whispered and carried on throughout the room like a strong gust of wind.
If it was possible the people in attendance pressed a little closer to the floor, “Ta’lont?” Asked Zalisha shakily as if not believing what he had said.
“Yes, Gavin Ta’lont and this is my brother Zevin Ta’lont”
“Are you related to Tadias Ta’lont?” She asked with a breathy question.
“We’re of his direct lineage, why?” Gavin said puzzled at her behavior.
She would’ve sunk back to the floor and kneeled again, if Gavin hadn’t held her up. She was mumbling about something about not being worthy.
“How do you know Tadias?” I asked.
Zalisha looked over at me, “He brought our people here and saved us from all being sold as slaves or worse. He’s the reason that we are what we are today. He set the great storm in place to keep us safe from invasion. He left much of his power here it is said. It is the remnants of that power that the sorcerer uses against us that keeps us from our revenge of our fallen people.”
Gavin and I looked at each other and then back at her.
“How did he get access to the powers of Tadias?” Gavin asked.
“He found a way to kill the guardians that Tadias left to guard his treasures.”
“And where would this sorcerer and these powers be located at?” I asked her.
“The Blue Castle, but none dare goes there, except perhaps a Ta’lont.”
These people had thrown quite the banquet in our honor. Nothing was held back. Every bit of the remaining finery of the Eastern Kingdom was on display. I got the impression that these people had not had cause to celebrate in a very long time.
They were celebrating with abandon now, perhaps sensing the hard times that still lay ahead in their path to freedom. I couldn’t help but feel removed from the festival like atmosphere going on all around me.
I was responsible for leading this nation down a path to victory. I hoped I was up to the task, but I certainly didn’t feel like it. If success came out of the situation it would have to be of the Creator’s doing. I didn’t even really know the whole story of the situation facing these people’s continued survival. I only knew fragments here and there.
My heavy thoughts were interrupted as Gavin sat down beside me. We were somewhat alone, as alone as one could be in the noisy banquet hall anyway. I looked at him curiously as to why he had searched me out in the crowded room. He had been completely absorbed all evening with his lovely lady.
“What are you doing over here Gavin? Get back over there with your queen and enjoy yourself!” I said good humouredly.
He looked worried about something. He looked around somewhat furtively and then back at me, which made me even more curious why he was here.
“Zevin?” He began haltingly, “What do I do tonight?”
I blinked and then blinked again, “Do you mean?” I asked pointing towards Zalisha who was laughing over something someone had said.
“Yes!” Replied Gavin his face going completely red.
Mine probably was too for that matter. Where was mother when you needed her most?
This was a question best suited for her or father and not the equally inexperienced twin brother. I probably did know more about the intimate relations between a man and woman than he did, but I wasn’t about to go into explaining what I did know. Surely Gavin knew at least something!
Clearing my throat and after doing my own looking around I asked, “You don’t know what to do?”
Gavin exploded in an angry whisper, “Of course I know what to do! The main thing anyway, but I don’t know what all the other stuff you do along with that is! I want to.....” Gavin’s words trailed off as he looked across the crowd at the head table, where Zalisha was.
“Make it special for her.” I finished softly for him following his gaze.
“Yes!” Gavin affirmed softly.
An idea came to mind. “Gavin when is the earliest time that you began to remember things as a child?”
Gavin looked back around at me puzzled, “Probably two or three why?”
“Think back over all the years that you’ve been around mother and father. If two people were ever more in to each other passionately I don’t know who they are Gavin. I think if you employ the loving, respectful, and even playful ways you’ve seen our parents treat each other for years you won’t go wrong in your own experiences with your woman. You may not know all the other stuff, but if you approach your time together confidently and you take your time you’ll probably discover all the rest for yourselves in time. There’s no rush to be perfect Gavin! You have the rest of your life to discover what the Creator has gifted you both with.”
Gavin looked toward Zalisha again and then back at me, “Thank you Zevin! You’ve helped me out a lot! I know this was awkward for you.”
My gaze drifted down to the table, “Awkward would have been the time when we were hiding in the grape arbor as kids and mother and father started making out about eight feet away from us!”
Gavin gave a snort of laughter, “I had forgotten about that. I snapped a stick accidentally and they found us and we were sent to our rooms the rest of the day!”
Gavin moved off towards the head table patting me on the shoulder heavily as he went by.
“Gavin!”
He looked around, “What?”
“Remember how strong and hulking big you are in comparison to her so be careful when you are with her to be gentle!”
He nodded his face reddening a little at my words and then he was gone.
I glanced around to see if anybody had heard. Talin sat several seats farther down from me. He was studiously picking out bones from the fried chicken in front of him. Too studiously.
“You heard all that didn’t you?”
Talin looked up with laughter in his eyes, “I thought it was pretty good advice actually.” He said chuckling.
I ignored him. I saw Holon further down the table picking at his food. “What’s the matter with him?”
Talin looked up again, “He’s moping about that girl, with the broken leg. He doesn’t know where they’ve taken her.”
I nodded.
Where was Lohan? He was standing at attention twenty feet behind me ready to be of service. I motioned to him and he quickly came forward. I explained the situation and he smiled and nodded.
He left me and went down to Holon and told him something. Holon looked up at me gratefully and got up. Talin said something and Holon turned back to the table and grabbed a big plate of food off of it and took a flower from a table display that Talin handed to him. Holon left following after Lohan.
I leaned towards Talin, “What did you tell him?”
Talin leaned back in his chair and said, “I mentioned that it’s likely they’ve only fed the girl a little bit of broth and that she might like some real food if given the opportunity. Flowers never seem to go unrewarded by the fair side of humanity either.”
Laughing I sat back, “You better watch out Talin you’ll be labeled as a matchmaker.”
“If you can double as a marriage counselor than I should be allowed to double as something else as well, something preferably to do with women.”
Late the next morning I stood staring down at the map table that delineated my brother’s new kingdom or at least what should have been his kingdom anyway. There wasn’t much left to it. Just the city and the small peninsula below it and a few small islands. The rest had been destroyed.
Zalisha had the map pointer and was ready to point out the characteristics and places of Assoria.
I looked up at her, “Just what did happen in Assoria a hundred years ago.”
She gazed back at me sadly, “A tragedy began. It all started with one man’s lust for power.”
“The sorcerer?”
“Yes.”
“Did I understand correctly that he is not of your people?”
“No he is like your people are, but he did not come from your lands.”
“Where did he come from then?”
“He said he was sent from the world’s beyond the sun to show us perfect judgment and leadership. His judgment and his absolute leadership of our people into one nation.”
“And your people didn’t go along with that idea I’m guessing.”
“No they did not and neither did the Northern Kingdom. We already had a working system in play. The central city of Unasa in the mountains was a city that all three kingdoms built with each of us occupying a third of it. Our dignitary emissaries were all represented there and had equal voice in matters that affected any two or all three of the kingdoms. We had a representative form for settling disagreements. Since its inception we had not had a serious war in over three hundred years. The sorcerer changed all that. He said things could be better if we got rid of our differences and accepted an absolute leader instead of our different kingdoms. We tried to get rid of him seeing him as a threat to the peaceful continuance of the kingdoms. The guardian’s did not care for him either and they helped us. He was powerful, but together we thought we had destroyed him, but he survived. We did not know it, but he had been in conference with the Western Kingdom, who were supportive of his plan. They were the weakest of the kingdoms and they were spiteful to both the North and the East. Long before the sorcerer came to our shores the West was guilty of a treacherous act that almost got them wiped out by the Northern Kingdom. They blamed the North for their lack of development and picked on us because we were supportive of the North’s action against them. They betrayed us to the sorcerer. A scheduled conference of the kingdoms was convened at Unasa. There was no word heard from them and we sent runners to see why. The city had been destroyed and the West and North dignitaries were utterly slaughtered as were all the inhabitants of the city except for our people. We could not find them or explain what happened to them. The West claimed to have eyewitnesses to attest to the fact that we had done this atrocious act. The North acted impetuously and sent almost their entire army down through the mountains to attack us in retribution for our perceived actions. They never made it to us. They were ambushed by the entire Western Army that the sorcerer had arranged in a clever trap in the mountains. It was a massacre that took three days to complete. The pride of the Northern army lay dead to a man over 100,000 of them, while the Western Kingdom hardly sustained any losses at all. We learned of it too late to rush to the aid of the North. The guardians tried to intercede on behalf of the North on the second day, but the sorcerer destroyed them all in a way we do not know of. We mustered an army to attack Westerners, but the sorcerer had already gained control of the Blue Castle and he unleashed its powers against us. Our land was plunged into darkness and rain and the seas raged against us. Our crops were destroyed, while in the rest of Assoria everything was normal. The Western Kingdom took Sartorga and burnt that great city of the North to the ground with all inhabitants. The Northern Kingdom begged for a truce with the Western Kingdom desperate to avoid being wiped out by them. The sorcerer made them a deal and they agreed to betray us as the Western Kingdom already had.”
“What was the deal?”
“The sorcerer asked for the daughter of the Northern Kingdom’s king for his own use and the use of their military that remained to aid the Western Kingdom in their fight against us.”
“And they agreed to that!”
“Yes, they were desperate. The darkness and storms affecting our lands ceased only for us to find out that two kingdoms were now at war with us. Then the disaster happened. Our city of Lancosa was emptied of life overnight. A large part of our army had been encamped there to repel the Western Kingdom. Whatever the sorcerer unleashed upon Lancosa killed most of the people instantly and the rest it turned into the soulless brutes that you encountered in the forest. Weakened by the loss of that city and the part of our army that had been stationed there we had no choice but to fight a defensive action. One by one our cities and towns fell under