Zachania (42 page)

“Yes, I have
been looking at them all night trying to find where the Empires
strengths and weaknesses are.”

“Well I can
tell you one weakness of the Empire, never fight them down
wind.”

Ganasis smiled
and laughed.

“Ha indeed the
Empire do smell!”

“No Ganasis! I
mean to avoid being victims of spinal powder.”

Ganasis’s
smiling face straightened.

“What do you
mean?”

“I learnt many
things while I studied in the Empire, when I was in military school
I learnt of a weapon called spinal powder.”

“Tell me about
this.”

“It is part of
the plant that grows around the north, the spinal plant, have you
heard of this.”

“Of course I
have.”

“Well spinal
powder is the leafs of the plant ground down and dried out, I read
that the Empires wizards found this plant and thought that if it
was ground down into a fine powder and cast into the wind it would
kill anyone downwind but the effects were not what the Empire first
expected.”

“Go on” Ganasis
added with his voice full of eagerness.

“At first the
Empire tested it on their own soldiers but it did not kill them,
instead it had the effect of intoxicating them as if drunk from
ale, it also burned their eyes and skin making fighting somewhat
uncomfortable, I read that it was used successfully many times on
the Zachanian’s.”

“Why did you
not tell me of this before Talon?”

“I was going to
Ganasis.”

“How is this
spinal powder used?”

“It is placed
on large canvas sheets then soldiers usually on a hill above the
battlefield cast it into the air, the tiny particles of powder are
so light they just float on the wind.”

“But surely
this would affect the Empire as well.”

“That Ganasis
depends on the wind.”

Ganasis then
pulled up a chair and went silent as if remembering something.

“Thinking about
it Talon I can remember times when the soldiers did complain, we
thought it was just weariness from battle and fear.”

“Spinal powder”
remarked Talon.

“This
information will help us Talon, I will find a way to defend this if
the Empire uses it again.”

“There are many
more things I know about the Empires tactics Ganasis but I was
waiting for a military conference where I could tell all I
know.”

“Splendid.”
snapped Ganasis.

Talon then
changed the conversation to ask about the Prince.

“Have you
spoken to Arun?”

The wizards
face turned to Talon with a large smile.

“We are to have
a new King.”

“How is he, it
must have been hard for him.”

“He is tired
Talon so he has retired to his room for the day, it is best that he
spends a few hours alone.”

Talon nodded
sympathetically.

“Then we will
respect that, did he say how the King is.”

“Arun said his
father is fine.”

“So we are to
have a coronation Ganasis.”

Ganasis
smiled.

“I will speak
to the Prince later about it.”

Talon then
stood up and excused himself and told Ganasis he would return later
in the day. Talon left the wizards room and walked down into the
gardens where he breathed in heavily the smell of the flowers and
pines, he sat down and felt the sun on his face as the tranquillity
of the gardens made him for a moment almost forget about the
forthcoming war. Talon walked across to the pond where he sat down
next to it and then began to look around to see if the Princess was
about. As he closed his eyes he could still hear her voice from the
night before, then just as Talon was feeling very relaxed he was
disturbed by the sound of galloping horses coming from the far side
of the wall, Talon stood up realising the sound was becoming louder
and was heading towards the Palace gates.

“Open the gates
now!”

Talon heard
being shouted in a voice which sounded urgent, without hesitating
Talon strolled off in the direction of the noise and when he
reached the grand hall he saw three men, one was standing as the
other two sat, all three looked tired and dishevelled, the man
standing was talking to a Palace guard and demanding that he see
Prince Arun immediately and the guard was trying to tell the man
that the Prince had asked not to be disturbed.

“I have urgent
news for the Prince, it cannot wait.”

As Talon walked
over the guard growing frustrated decided to seek out a senior
member disappeared off in the direction of the Prince’s wing.

When Talon
approached he did not recognise the men sitting down but the face
of the man standing up was familiar, Talon then recognised him as
one of the men who left with General Pelkan.

Perad turned
looking exhausted as he heard Talon close.

“Lord Talon!”
he snapped.

But before
Talon could answer they were both drawn to heavy footsteps walking
swiftly towards them.

“What’s this
urgent news?” Ganasis said looking very concerned.

Perad turned
and saluted the wizard before coughing and answering.

“Wise and holy
one we have just returned from Zanlia, we are lucky to be
alive.”

Talon then
interrupted.

“Where is
Pelkan?”

Perad then
turned and faced Talon where Talon noticed his face looked stricken
with grief; Talon sensed something very grave within him.

“Pelkan.” added
Talon softly although he already sensed the answer.

Perad lowered
his gaze.

“He is dead my
Lord, I think.”

Talon
scowled.

“What does that
mean, I think.”

Ganasis then
grabbed Talon’s arm as if saying leave this to him.

“Tell me from
the beginning, tell me everything that has happened” Ganasis
said.

Perad then
began to explain everything from the storm where they got lost to
the capture of the men up until he said his goodbyes to General
Pelkan.

“He gave his
life” Perad said sadly but with an air of respect, which had the
effect of creating a silence where each man took in the gallant act
from Pelkan.

“Did he
succeed” asked Talon looking concerned on whether Pelkan killed his
men and himself.

“Lord Falkan
believes so because there was no reaction, the men knew Falkan so
surely if the Empire questioned them they would have named him,
Falkan then gave us the information we asked for and we returned to
Zachania immediately.”

Ganasis then
turned to Talon with a look of great concern.

“Do you know
what this could mean Talon?”

“Yes it means
the Empire may know of our plan to attack.” replied Talon.

“The Prince
must be informed of this now!”

“I will come
with you.” added Talon following the wizard.

Prince Arun
reluctantly and angrily rose to answer the door, he had asked to be
left alone so he was just about to explode at whoever was banging
on his door, but when he opened it he saw straight away by the
expressions on the faces of Ganasis and Talon that it was
urgent.

“Ganasis what
is wrong?” he said inviting them in.

“What’s wrong?”
he added as Ganasis quickly walked into the room.

“Grave news
sire! The mission to Zanlia was unsuccessful and may have
jeopardised all our plans.”

“Where Pelkan!”
interrupted the Prince.

“Where is he?”
he added turning to Ganasis then Talon and seeing both men refuse
to look him in the eye.

“Pelkan is dead
Arun.” Talon finally said.

The Prince
looked deeply into Talon’s eyes, Talon did not flinch, the Prince
then turned away and gasped as he raised a hand to his face.

“How did it
happen?” asked the Prince sitting on his bed.

Ganasis then
explained all that Perad had told him and when he finished the
Prince just sat still with a look full of sorrow and regret, then
suddenly the Prince jumped to his feet and began storming towards
the door.

“Where is
Perad, I will make an example of him!”

“ARUN!” shouted
Ganasis.

“No Ganasis!
This man will be punished; the people will know what happens when
you leave your superior officer to die.”

Talon then
quickly moved himself between the Prince and the door blocking his
path.

“MOVE ASIDE
Talon!” the Prince demanded now clearly enraged.

“NO!” replied
Talon in a very stern tone of voice.

The Prince then
tried to push Talon out of the way but Talon reacted by restraining
the Prince.

“Arun get a
grip of yourself!” Talon shouted while still holding the struggling
Prince who all of a sudden broke free and retreated back towards
his bed.

“HOW DARE YOU
QUESTION YOUR KING!” he shouted.

Talon grimaced
as if showing his disappointment at how the Prince was acting.

“I see no King
before me, a King does not become irrational and lose his head to
fury against his friends, and a King does not reward his warriors
returning from a mission with punishment.”

Prince Arun
snarled but then changed his expression as Talon’s words sunk
in.

“Would you have
me give him a medal Talon?”

“Arun, Perad is
beyond himself with guilt but what he did, he was ordered to do,
Pelkan did what he did because at the time he thought it the right
thing to do and against all of Perad’s feelings and judgment Perad
obeyed his orders and left his General, he left his General so he
could return here with the news you asked for and doing so made
Pelkan’s life not end in vein.”

The Prince then
took in a deep breath and rubbed his head and still looking at the
floor he answered.

“You’re words
are correct Talon, this King is not too much of a man that he
cannot be criticised by his friends when he loses his way of
reason, I offer you my apologies.”

“Sire no need
to apologise, your just tired my liege.” Ganasis quickly added
being concerned to keep the Princes self-esteem.

The Prince took
another deep breath and once he calmed down the three of them
called for Perad where they asked him more questions about what had
happened then excused him and sat back down just the three of
them.

“Can we take
the risk that the Empire does not know of our intentions, I think
we should take counter measures” the Prince said.

“What’s on your
mind Arun” replied Talon.

“I could send
my entire army to the border.”

Ganasis then
interrupted,

“If the Empire
suspects that we are going to attack then they will attack first
but I still say wait, we can be more vigilant but for now we should
hold our patience and nerve.”

Prince Arun
agreed by nodding his head.

“I understand,
I will send more soldiers but we shall wait but I would suggest we
hold a meeting of the council tomorrow night and look at options to
speed up our attack.”

“I agree!”
Talon replied.

“Yes we will
make an exact day when we will cross into Kratos at the meeting
tomorrow.”

Word was sent
to all the great Houses of Zachania summoning them to the meeting
while Prince Arun did as he said and began sending all of his army
to the border. Three hundred thousand Zachanian warriors were
ordered to march and by nightfall the order was out and the royal
army was dispersed.

The next day
arrived with urgent discussions being staged between Talon, Ganasis
and Prince Arun as the heads of the five great Zachanian families
turned up one by one. By nightfall all the members had arrived
where they were seated in the council hall waiting for the Prince.
Arun soon joined them where he took his seat at the head of the
table and signalled for Ganasis to begin the meeting.

“Lords of
Zachania we have summoned you to discuss an urgent matter which has
arose but first let me inform you that Prince Arun is to become our
King, he will be coroneted tomorrow morning………. long live the
King!”

Lord Heikan
quickly rose where he went over and kneed before the Prince

“Sire the House
of Heikan is at your disposal.”

All the other
Lords paid similar tributes until the Prince asked them all to
return to their seats as he wished to address the council.

“My royal
members of the council, we are here tonight not just for this but I
have grave news. The scouting party that was sent to Zanlia were
taken prisoners, they are all dead except three of them, myself and
Ganasis have questioned them and there is a chance that the Empire
is aware of our plan to attack them, with this in mind I have
decided if we all agree that we bring forward our attack to one
week from today.”

Lord Heikan as
usual was the first to speak.

“Sire when you
say a chance, is that a slim chance, no chance or a bloody good
chance!”

The Prince
smiled.

“Yes Lord
Heikan, once again you remind me to be more precise.”

The Prince then
followed by explaining the whole story of Pelkan and Perad and when
he finished Lord Heikan spoke again.

“I would say
the chances they know something are considerably large sire.” he
said in his own bombastic way which made Talon intervene.

“Heikan what is
done is done, we are here to discuss this matter and to make
alternative plans and more importantly for all of us to be
prepared.”

The meeting
went on till the early hours of the morning where they went over in
great detail the information brought back by Perad then it was
decided as the Prince suggested that they would launch their attack
one week from today, and that Lord Zargar would send his army to
join the Princes army and support them from the rear and that Lord
Zalon would attack the Empire by sea in a co-ordinated attack on
the town of Zanlia.

The next
morning the Palace was alive with people preparing for the Princes
coronation to King, with all the Palace staff rushing frantically
to make the coronation as splendid an event as possible in such
short notice. Much of the usual protocol was to be ignored but
nevertheless the event would still have to be staged in some
grandeur. The gardeners were busy picking flowers from the gardens
to make arrangements to adorn the walls of the throne room and
extra Palace aides had been summoned to make sure everything was
cleaned and polished at the Palace, and the cooks had been busy
since the crack of dawn preparing a feast for the Prince and all
the distinguished guests.