The Three Kings by Slawomir Rapala	Biography and Bibliography
Table of Contents Chapter II: A Line Undone part 1 of 6

After descending the gentle slope, the small party found the path running along the coast of the Azmattic Ocean. It had been built at the same time as the Jewel, and it now served as the main means of communication between Hvoxx and the coastal towns. Since most of the population was concentrated along the seashore, this was the only road required in the entire Realm.

The North of the Estate was occupied almost exclusively by the Lyonese highlanders and sheepherders whose ruthless and ruffian ways were known throughout the entire Far North. People rarely ventured there for fear of being captured and sacrificed on the altars of their bloodthirsty gods, and the highlanders themselves used paths and mountain passes known only to them.

The close proximity of ancient Biyack, whose territory began just over the Dreary Mountain range that divided the peninsula from the mainland, did not sit well with the people, either, and was one more reason to leave the Northern portions of the Estate scarcely inhabited. Consequently, the coast of the ocean was densely populated while Lyons’ interior remained empty save for the dreaded cholchoz, highland communities that were to be found on the slopes of the Dreary Mountains.

This prompted Vahan to station most of his troops along the coast to defend his people from freelance pirates, slave-traders, and seafaring nations. The coastal road was therefore often frequented by patrols, and Vahan was confident that even if they were to face danger on this day, they would easily find protection.

The small group reached the forest and urged their horses into a hustle. When they entered the murky jungle, the world shrank and turned dark and unpleasantly chilly. Iskald shuddered. The trees around them joined in a brotherly embrace, their branches blending until it was impossible to separate their outstretched limbs. High above them they formed a natural canopy overshadowing the narrow road. Only a minimal amount of sunlight penetrated the thick bush.

As the party continued on their way, Iskald looked up often to see large black birds perched high up in the trees. The birds had been following them from the time the men had entered the forest, and he knew they would not leave them until they reached Uaal. They were the Lyonese variety of the caracara, the only inhabitants of the jungle who were not afraid to let their voices be known; their unpleasant screeches could be heard for miles.

Everything else in the forest was quiet. The fox was hidden deep in his dew-sodden burrow, the wolf rested in his shaded den while the lynx stretched out in the sun, gazing around sluggishly with sleepy eyes. The smaller animals were busy scavenging the ground for food, keeping quiet and hoping to avoid predators. They did not need to fear, however, because the grim kings of the woods hardly left their lairs before the sun went down. The half-mythical sabre-toothed tiger and the elusive leaping jaguar, a monstrous bear-sized and allegedly winged creature, came to life only at night.

Iskald shuddered, recalling the images of the monsters painted by the skilled artists of Hvoxx. But the day was a time to relax in tranquillity. Only the caracara moved in the forest at this time of day, the relentless scavengers, the annoying companions of every traveler and thunderous heralds of ill news. Long ago they had driven other birds into the grazing fields and meadows; now they ruled the forest alone, the black lords of the skies, the eyes and ears of the jungle.

From time to time Iskald spotted a patch of blue visible from beneath the treetops and through the circling and raving groups of caracara. In such places he could see the sun rays fight their way through the tangled bush of leaves and branches, bringing a variety of colors into the otherwise dark forest. He marvelled at the size of the trees; their colossal trunks twisted and turned in every direction, stretching thousands of arms towards the dark ceiling, aching for sun and water.

Iskald could swear that all he had to do was close his eyes and he would hear their silent whispers. The wind rustling between the leaves turned into a continuous dialogue between the forest and the earth, the earth and the sky, the sky and the gods.

Putting safety aside for reasons of haste, Vahan soon left the main road and followed a small trail leading off to the northwest. The road would have taken them straight into Uaal, but because it scrupulously followed the coastline it would be late afternoon before they reached their destination.

By following the hidden trail, a narrow path weaving between the trees and beaten-down recently by fishermen and hunters, the small group would be in Uaal in a much shorter time. Because it was exactly time that was of essence Vahan disregarded the fact that the road was much safer to travel, and he foolishly led his companions into the woods.

Because the trail was narrow the riders were forced to travel one behind the other. Vahan lead the way, followed by one of the Wolves, then Iskald, and the second guard journeyed last. Ruppé seemed content to follow the trail of other horses and needed no guidance.

Iskald now had some time for himself and could think back to Aezubah’s strange behavior prior to their departure. The boy knew the aging warrior very well. Of serious matters he spoke very little, and seldom did he waste his breath to explain things. If he was convinced that their excursion carried with it a certain amount of danger, he must have known or sensed something.

It was easy enough to set a trap somewhere in the forest, and Vahan had many enemies who fancied him dead. He needed not look any further than the blood-lusting Biyackian Empire and its Cursed ruler. Though the Vikings pressed from the Far North, and their efforts forced the aging and bitter monarch to postpone the inevitable reclaiming of Lyons from Vahan, the old King did not forget about the Estate, not even for one day. He was an aged man already when the Duke was still a child, but dark magic had elongated his life and stamped it with a bitterness known only to those jealous of the young. What would stop him from sending several well-prepared assassins who could, at this very moment even, be creeping somewhere in the shadows of those mammoth tree trunks, just waiting for a good opportunity to slaughter the small company?

Iskald looked around uneasily but saw nothing except thick green walls on either one of his sides and heard nothing except the wind rustling in the trees and the all-too-well-known screeching of the caracara above them. So he shrugged and then almost laughed. His father was convinced there was no danger and he was a great warrior himself, an exceptional leader and a man of great power.

Who was Iskald supposed to believe: his father, who always knew what he was doing or some absurd omens that the superstitious Aezubah was supposedly given? What could possibly be so hazardous about their trip to Uaal? Assassins were out of the question, because they could never reach this point without being spotted or unmasked if they were hiding at Court. Bands of thugs and thieves had virtually ceased to exist after Vahan became Duke, and the predators and other dangerous creatures of the forest never left their dens before dusk.

There was no reason to worry. The Tha-kians could have been lurking around, but they would never dare attack openly. They would be content with sacking one or two coastal towns, and if that occurred, the entire fleet of Lyons stood on alert in Triahnnem, ready to pursue the enemy and to drown their ships in crimson blood.

There was nothing to be concerned with, and yet Aezubah was worried about something. Iskald sighed, again overcome with questions. He was used to accepting Aezubah’s advice and comments without any questions. The elderly General was his ultimate voice of reason, so how could he not trust him now?

The trail grew wide and the boy urged his horse past the Wolf traveling before him and approached his father. “Perhaps it would have been a better idea to bring more guards with us, father?” he asked hesitantly.

Vahan seemed to come back from afar and looked at his son with surprise. “Did Aezubah talk to you too before we left?” he scowled. “What did he say?”

“He wanted us to bring more guards.”

“Did he tell you why?” the Duke pulled his thick eyebrows together.

“He said he was sensing some danger...”

“Sensing danger?” Vahan was quick to interrupt. He shrugged his shoulders, “Let me tell you something, son: I’ve been in the war-business almost as long as he has, and I’m not sensing anything out of the ordinary. Aezubah is getting old. Hell, maybe it’s time I gave you a new instructor, one with more common sense!”

Iskald quieted down and did not reply immediately. He was not surprised to hear such a remark from Vahan. He knew his father better than anyone. The Duke was stern and grim and quick to judgement, and he often let his temper flare.

“Forget about what Aezubah told you,” the Duke continued. “There is nothing to fear, we’re at home here. The Jewel is only several leagues away and the coast is frequented by patrols.”

“What about the Tha-kians? Did you forget about them?”

“No, I didn’t forget about them,” Vahan waved his hand impatiently. “But even if the information I received this morning were true they would focus on capturing slaves from coastal towns. I have my fleet ready to depart; the Tha-kians would never escape with their lives.”

“Then why did you give all those orders to Aezubah?

“Better safe than sorry,” the Duke shrugged again and then smiled. “Besides, the wall does need fixing.”

Having said this, the Duke thought the conversation over. Iskald suddenly thought of something that made him stop his horse. The entire company halted and Vahan looked at his son questioningly.

“What happened?”

“What if,” Iskald chose his words carefully. “What if the Tha-kians somehow learned that you and I will be in Uaal today in the afternoon?”

“Did Aezubah suggest this to you?” Vahan looked at him with utter surprise.

“No, I just thought of it now.”

“Perhaps the old man was thinking along the same lines when he was trying to tell us not to go.” The Duke fell into deep thought.

“No, it’s impossible,” he said after a while. “The Tha-kians would need to know exactly what day we’d be going to Uaal, and I didn’t tell anyone about it until yesterday evening. They would have to know exactly where Uaal is in order not to make any mistakes and then hit it at the right moment. None of this would be possible unless they had a spy and a traitor in the Jewel. And that,” Vahan shrugged his shoulders again, “that is completely absurd. Everyone in the Jewel is in my trust. So don’t worry about anything, son. The Tha-kians are probably far away from here, most likely still back on their side of the ocean!”

Having said that he led the company forward.

“You said you told someone about our outing yesterday,” Iskald asked a final question. “Aezubah and I heard it from you this morning for the first time, so who did you tell yesterday?”

“What’s the difference?”

“I’m just curious, is all.”

“The commander of the guards came to me yesterday,” the Duke replied. “He asked for a day off, the old drunk that he is, but I told him he couldn’t have it because I’d be leaving today and I needed him to stay on top of his guards. Does it make any difference, though?”

“I guess not,” Iskald shrugged his shoulders.

“Good. Then let’s stop wasting time!”

* * *

Proceed to part 2...

Copyright © 2008 by Slawomir Rapala

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