FARHAYVEN: VENGEANCE (57 page)

     “Consider it done, Elementhar Iddell,” assured the prince.

     Meanwhile, Clover was busy arranging lodgings and transportation for Minvian Farhan’s family. She had cried the night before when news of the assassins’ intrusion and his death reached Mansion Genox.  Her father, her uncles Castle and Arrow, and her cousin-uncle Anvil were notified of the incident by a despatch rider and were summoned to the palace for an emergency meeting. When they got back, they told her about Minvian Farhan’s funeral arrangements. She had then volunteered herself to liaise with his family on behalf of the Royal Guards.

     Clover had met Minvian Farhan’s family once, all those years ago when Minvian Farhan and she were studying at Fallsene Brightshield Educational. Unlike most students at the school who were residents of Fallsene City, Minvian Farhan was a scholarship student who was granted boarding. His family was actually from a remote village called Beaconrock, which was located at the outskirts of a town to the south of Fallsene. They were extremely poor folks who could not afford to travel much, and as such, were unfamiliar with Fallsene and Palace Liberty. Thus there was a need for some sort of liaison person to help them with the funeral matters.

     Later that evening, Clover and a few Royal Guards, who had been Minvian Farhan’s subordinates, met with Minvian Farhan’s family at Fallsene City Carriage Depot, where they had arrived via carriage. After dropping off their luggage at an inn, Clover brought them to Palace Liberty to have a look at the late minvian’s body. His mother and sisters immediately broke into loud wails while his father and brother struggled to contain their tears. Clover consoled them by describing the details of his final battle and extolling his bravery. The Royal Guards recounted to them his leadership and their happy times serving together. Then the Royal Guards brought them back to the inn. Clover stayed behind.

     Clover found Ray at the palace garden with Lance and Spirit. Lance had just finished his mediation practice. After exchanging greetings, Clover asked Ray about his decision to train the Fallsian Military. Ray told her of his decision and explained his reasoning to her. He also told her that she was being offered the rank of minvian if she agreed to help him. Naturally, she said ‘yes’.

     A suvian of the Royal Guards came up to them at the palace garden. He told Ray that there were three Elementhars who had wanted to see him and were asking for permission to be brought into the palace grounds. Out of curiosity, Ray gave the approval.

     An eighth of an hour later, three figures approached Ray, Clover, Lance and Spirit. They were Grand Elementhar Rapier Shay and High Elementhars Dulcet Calnen and Ambience Waycress. The High Council of Elementhars bowed to Ray, Clover and Lance, who returned their bow and asked them to be seated.

     “Reason _ what is yours of this for your visit, masters
?
” asked Ray.

     “Reason _ ours of this for our visit is to request access to the Original Vanguard Manuscript,” answered Master Calnen.

     There was a moment of silence. Ray had not expected the High Council to make such a request. Should he give them access to the Original Vanguard Manuscript
?
Why should he give them access to it
?
Do they deserve it
?

     “No,” was Ray’s simple answer.

     Master Calnen stood up almost immediately. Fury was in his eyes.

     “Request _ how dare you to refuse ours of this, especially when it is a reasonable one
!?
Original Vanguard Manuscript _ of it, it belongs to all Ordered Elementhars, not just you, Ray
!
” shouted Master Calnen.

     Ray just sat quietly. He chose not to respond. Clover and Lance just kept on looking at Ray, and then at Master Calnen and then back at Ray again.

     “Forgive _ do of this of him, Master Calnen, for he is still immature and impatient,” said Master Shay, as he cracked a red peanut shell and dropped its contents into his mouth.

     “Request _ ours of this is reasonable, so there is no reason for him to refuse
!
” said Master Calnen, the frustration clearly showing on his face.

     “True _ what you say is of this, but the anger in him has not yet subsided. Patience _ we need to have of this when we deal with him,” Master Shay pointed out as he chewed his peanuts.

     Master Calnen sat back down. Ray remained quiet. Clover and Lance stared at the ground.

     “Vengeance _ is this yours of this towards us, Ray
?
” asked Master Waycress.

     “Yes,” replied Ray.

     Master Waycress shook her head in disappointment. So did Master Shay. Then Master Shay took out a water container and took a sip. Master Calnen, however, just gave Ray a disgusted look.

    “Risk _ would you do of this of the future of the Grand Order just for the sake of vengeance, Ray
?
” asked Master Shay.

     “Yes,” was Ray’s reply once again.

     Master Shay shook his head again. But Master Waycress now gave Ray the same look that Master Calnen was giving him.

     “Up _ when you have grown of this, we shall talk to you again, Ray,” said Master Shay politely.

     With that, the High Council got up, bowed, had their bows reciprocated and walked away. Clover did not agree with Ray’s decision, but respected him too much to object. Lance was not sure if what Ray did was right or wrong, but he decide to support his mentor either way. Ray himself was sure that what he did was at best unreasonable and at worst, it was downright wrong
!
But the Original Vanguard Manuscript was the only leverage he had against the High Council and he refused to give up his advantage.    

     Minvian Javelin Farhan’s funeral the next morning was a very solemn affair. At the Royal Guards’ cemetery just outside the city limits, a stream of Royal Guards carried his coffin and placed it on a huge pyre. Besides his family and friends, the entire 5
th
Pond of 1
st
Lake of 1
st
Ocean was present to pay their final respects. Clover and most of her family were there too. So were Ray, Lance and Spirit. Prince Patrum got up and gave the attendees a brief description of Minvian Farhan’s military career, including some of the operations he had been involved in; and of his brave deeds during these operations. Then he spoke on a more personal level, sharing his experience and memories of working together with the deceased minvian. All those who were military got up and bowed to Minvian Farhan for the last time. Then a suvian marched up and set the pyre alight. Prince Patrum then presented Minvian Farhan’s sword to the minvian’s father, the sword being the symbol of the soldier’s identity. It signified that the kingdom was returning his son to him and along with it, the gratitude of the entire kingdom. Clover then escorted the family back to the inn and made arrangements for the minvian’s belongings to be packed and sent to them. The family left Fallsene the next morning.

     The palace was a hive of activities a few days later. Facilities were being built. New uniforms were being sewn. New weapons were being forged. Provisions were being transferred or stocked. The facilities that Ray had requested were being built on the eastern part of the palace. This area was now designated as the Elementhars’ camp. Ray and Clover were commissioned to the rank of minvians. The unit that would be under Ray’s command was to be known as the Royal Elementhar Pond, which would be directly attached to Prince Patrum’s Royal Guards, otherwise known as 1
st
Ocean. Soldiers from all over Free Falls were flocking to the palace to be interviewed by either Ray or Clover, who was second-in-command of the unit. The standard uniform shirt for the pond was to be flame red with a dual tone collar of golden yellow on top of black. The rest of the uniform consisted of flame red canvas pants, dual tone thick canvas belt of golden yellow on top of black and thick, black canvas boots instead of leather. The standard issue weapon was to be a single sided, curved sword with black scabbard, black handle and bronze hand-guard. Lance and Spirit lounged around, taking in the busy scenery as though it was some sort of tourist event.

     A familiar-faced female warrior walks hurriedly down the corridors of the palace. Her long blond hair is tied neatly in a bun and her facial expression looks serious and preoccupied. Minvian Serene Genox strides on with majestic confidence. Suddenly her legs lock up and she falls forward with a nasty thud. Then the coldness in her legs confirms her suspicion. Turning around, she stares angrily at the block of ice that has encased her feet. Looking up, she sees her cousin, Master Elementhar Clover Genox, trembling in laughter. Serene pulls out her dagger and with serious effort and severe frustration, starts chipping away the ice around her feet.

     “I have not the time for your
silly games
, Clover. You just
wait
until I get myself loose, I am going to pull off
every strand
of your pretty blond hair from your head
!
” she yells.

     “
Games
_ silly of these, you say
?
Paid
_ I have not done of this enough for what
you did
to Master Iddell and Lance back at Fort Eastguard, let alone the
embarrassment
your actions have cost me
!
” replies Clover just as angrily.

     “What
I
have done
!?
What
I
have done
!?
I
did my duty
!
Unlike
somebody
, who did not do what
she
was supposed to do;
shied away
from duty, honour and our family tradition
!
” retorts Serene in a furious tone while still violently chipping away at the block of ice.

     Clover stands with her arms folded. She gives her cousin a fake, ‘rub it in’ smile.

     “Forgot _ I have of this that you are
daddy’s little soldier girl
. Talk _ you do of this always of duty, honour, family tradition and such, just so that you can make your daddy proud of his
little girl
. Truth _ of this, is that you are blinded by these sentiments and you do not know your true self, therefore you will
never
taste true freedom and you are
jealous
because
I
have,” Clover points out.

     “What
care
have I of true freedom
!?
Duty is everything, but that is something a
wild animal
like yourself cannot understand, can you, Clover
!?
You made your parents go through
night
after
sleepless night
worrying about you. Hiding away with strange people following strange conducts and shunning away society. If this is what you call freedom, I want
no part
of it
!
” replies Serene insultingly.

     “
Animal
_ wild of it is not me, but
you
, who run around
bloodthirsty
in the wilderness,
killing
and
slaughtering
,
marking
your territory with your sword.
Worry
_ my parents need not…
Argh!
” says Clover just before Serene, breaking free of the ice block, charges at her and yanks her hair sharply. Clover’s neat bun becomes undone.

     In response, Clover yanks Serene’s hair, causing it to become undone as well. She follows up with a slap across Serene’s face but Serene manages to block. Grabbing Clover’s slapping hand, Serene manages to throw Clover onto the floor. Clover lands with a loud thud, and the shock and pain of the fall temporarily overwhelms her. Serene walks confidently towards Clover and kneels down beside her, but before she can say anything, Clover grabs her hair with both hands and yanks it sideways with a twisting motion. Serene has no choice but to fall and roll in the direction of the twist. Clover rolls on top of Serene and mounts herself atop Serene’s torso, much like how one mounts a horse, and starts slapping Serene in the face. Slamming her fist into the middle of Clover’s chest, Serene manages to distract Clover long enough to slap Clover hard in the face and knocks her off-balance. Then with a tremendous effort, Serene pushes upwards and sideways, and rolls Clover over. Now Serene is on top. Serene manages a hard slap or two before passers by pull her away from Clover and break up the fight. Serene and Clover give each other angered, disgusted stares, and then walk away in different directions.