Bloodshed

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Preface and Preparations

The first rays of the sun shone on the royal palace of Vasari. The glory of kingdom was worth to be seen. Birds chirping around air playing a mild music of happiness that would turn a sad soul into a gay and enthusiastic one. The kingdom possessed beauty that would behold the eye of every seeker around. Fountains splitting water, flowers in the garden dancing with the mild breeze and spreading a fragrance of life all around.

The blade eagle flew over the high towers of the kingdom and reached the royal palace of Vasari. Throwing the folded message in the palace, the eagle continued his journey and finally disappeared into high sky.

Lom gazed through the window of his room; he could see the clear view of the widespread kingdom of the Vasari. “God bless the kingdom and may prosperity kiss every corner of the kingdom.” Lom whispered to himself. “May I come in your highness?” asked the servant on the door of the chamber. “Yes, what’s the message?” asked Lom. “Your highness an hour ago, an eagle threw a message in the palace. When we encrypted the message, it was written ‘The bird has flown from the cage.’” “The bird has flown from the cage.” moaned the minister. “Yes sire. After a lap, we got a message from the central jail that the criminal who has been accused in the assassin of the former minister had managed to escape the prison.” Lom turned around and asked the messenger, “Any casualty from the jail.” “No sire.” replied the messenger. “Okay. Call the meetings for the ministers. “Lom ordered the messenger. The messenger left. After the death of former prime minister, Tan, the fox was the newly appointed prime minister of the kingdom and this was the first matter he was dealing with. Though he had a council of minister under him what worried him was, whether he would be able to carry the responsibilities so well as the former minster. He knew a single mistake and people will curse his clan as they did earlier, after all no one trusted and ever would trust a fox. But apart from this, Lom was an honest and liable person for the post.

As per the orders the council of the ministers gathered for the meeting. Lom addressed them “ The most renowned ministers of the kingdom of Vasari ,as you all know that our beloved king ,Master Leo, is busy with the great God Heaven to discuss about the cure for venom of soul, so for now it’s our duty to deal with the matters of the kingdom. You all had been doing well on your behalf, the king will be proud of us. But for now, there is a threat for the kingdom, the assassin of the former prime minister has escaped from the prison of death.” As soon as Lom stopped for a pause a wave of chatter spread through the meeting hall. But Lom continued “As it is noted that the criminal is infected by the venom of soul, it’s our duty to stop him before he causes any destruction.”

As Lom finished one of the ministers stood up and asked “Your sire, the person you are talking about is Ash, no one of us is up to his match. The last time we caught him the artillery was the fierce scavengers even though they were unable to catch him, Hrush, the son of former minister and commander of the scavengers caught him.”

As soon as the minister finished, a messenger entered the meeting and said “Your highness, the messengers from the south has reported that they have seen former sergeant Ash in the area. He is moving towards the main city.”

Chatters again spread through the hall, Lom thought for a second and then spoke “What is the status of the army?”. The defense minister stood up and said “Sire, there are twelve thousand men available in the royal service.” One of the ministers stood up and suggested, “Your highness I think we must send a message for Hrush, only he can capture Ash once again, and also there is no use in sacrificing lives for the cause.” Lom thought for a while and said, “Where is commander in chief Hrush?” The defense minister replied, “He is on a mission to kill the victim of the venom of soul, who is responsible for corruption of Ash and many more. Most probably he might be near the Valley of Cold Blood, where the anonymous creature was seen last. It would take him a day to reach here.”

“A day it will be quite long. How long will it take Ash to reach here?” Lom asked the messenger. “Approximately twelve hours.” the messenger replied. One of the ministers interrupted “Sire, Ash was a sergeant he knew all the short and secret routes to the city. He will be here by six to seven hours.”

“Well that’s the matter of worry for us. Call all the scavenger soldiers available in the city, send a message to Hrush to get back into the city also send him the matter. We are moving to Tirga, we need strong support it’s time to meet the teacher. Also send me all the reports of Ash, let me see what thing he is? For now, defense minister, get the force ready. Home minister and three other ministers get ready to move towards Tirga with me. The rest will handle the palace and subjects. In my absence everyone will follow orders given by Defense minister. I declare the meeting.”

Lom moved towards his chamber, after few minutes he got the information of the assassin case of former minister in it was written:

The sergeant Ash was found to be guilty for the assassin of former prime minister, Tam. He has also injured two hundred scavenger warriors and killed the sergeant of the troop. The commander of the troop, Hrush, son of Tam caught Ash. According to the civil rules of Vasari and orders of the great king Leo, Ash is punished to spent five years in the exile and to be hanged till death.

Along with the article was a notice saying, “Ash wanted dead or alive.” Lom again studied the condition something troubled him the seal on the information was royal but the signature on the seal did not belong to Leo, but his brother Dan. Also, according to the royal rules Hrush could have killed Ash but he caught him alive and even after killing his father, Hrush left Ash alive. and the casualty record of troop which caught Ash was zero.

Lom decided to meet Dan, but a messenger arrived and interrupted Lom, “Your highness, the ministers are ready to leave, and the horses are all set.” Lom thought for a while and left the idea to visit Dan. Lom and rest of the troop set for the training camp, Tirga. On his way Lom discussed with the home minister about what he doubted in the case, “Why did Hrush left Ash alive? If he could have killed him easily and revenge the death of his father.” Home minister replied,” Sire, Ash was like a son to the former minister, Tam. From early younghood Ash was with Sire Tam, he and Hrush were best friend if you would have met them in other consequences you could have rather called them brothers.”

“The report said that Ash was victim of the venom but still there were no casualties to the troop that fought with him, why so?” questioned Lom.

“Sire, it was said that the venom of soul was not able to take over the complete soul of Ash, so he did not kill even a single warrior except the sergeant, Wag.”

“Interesting. What do you know more about Ash?”

“Your highness, it was said that Ash could single handedly overcome a wild elephant, fight with a wild boar and kill a crocodile. He is the son of great warrior, Shrine. The place we are going is the place where Ash was grown up beside this, I knew nothing about him. He was a very straight forward person there are very few who knew about him he used to keep things to himself and was one of the most renowned warriors of the kingdom, the king himself would trust him more than many of the people around and this made Ash many haters.”

As Lom was knowing more about Ash his desire to meet him was also rising. There were many questions in his mind that could only be answered by Ash. After a short time, interval, Lom and the troop reached the training camp of army, Tirga.

Tirga was a place known to produce the best warrior for the country. Surrounded by dense forest, mountain ranges and waterfall, covering over hectares of land, Tirga was a paradise for soldiers. Lom got down from his horse and to his amusement a teacher was already waiting to felicitate his welcome. He asked the Home minister “Did you inform them, sire?”. Before Home minister could reply a no, the teacher himself answered the question “Your Highness, Thrash always keeps his one eye on the main city and the royal palace. We welcome you on the behalf of Thrash and Tirga. This way sires.”

Lom and others started following the teacher, on the way Lom saw the chambers for various fighters, comprising of various fighting equipment. After walking a few steps, he saw children practicing various weapons. Then they entered the main building. Lom asked the teacher, “I have heard that Ash belong to this place.”

“Well, yes he was nurtured here, one of the best warriors Tirga has ever given to the country. Only few warriors could rise to the spirit and courage that Ash had.”

“But you know that a person against the country is threat to all of us, especially a person with immense strength.”

The teacher heard the words silently without replying, by then they were in front of a gate of a huge chamber. The teacher opened the door and entered the camber with Lom and others. An old man was watching a huge rack filled with books, Lom and the visitors were offered seats and drinks. The old man came and sat on a chair in front of the visitors. “I am the head here, Thrash. Your highness what brings you to the hut of poor,” Thrash asked Lom. Lom replied with smile, “I have heard that you know all the happenings of the palace, is there a need to elaborate?”

Thrash smiled and told the assistant teacher who brought Lom, “Please offer the ministers a gesture of our gratitude it has been a long journey for them. Also, I would have a word with Highness in personal.”

Lom signaled his minister and they went away with the assistant teacher. Thrash asked Lom “Your highness, I am the servant of the royal palace, let me answer all the questions that are troubling you, I would try my best to answer all of them.”

“Teacher, the things that are worrying me are desperate, my mind is sensing a storm approaching the kingdom.” Lom replied to Thrash.

“Your sire, Ash was never a storm for the royals, I trust on him though situations don’t let me to do so but I have a strong feeling that Ash is innocent.” said Thrash.

“The way Ash ran away from the prison he could have easily done it at any time, but he waited for time when no army commander is present in the royal service it means someone used to provide him news about the happenings right here.” Lom presented his doubt.

“Maybe he wanted to carry out a task that is important and would be offended by other warriors if they would be present on the scenario.” Thrash replied.

“If it is important why would others oppose it? I don’t think that he is here to carry out any task.” Lom suggested.

“Some things are difficult to explain especially when it took place with you personally, there are no proves except you. And, if Ash was supposed to be a havoc, he would not have walk to the palace rather cause destruction in the parts he is now. Well sire, it’s my duty to help the royal family and I am duty bound so what do you need from me?” Trash stopped the discussion and asked Lom.

“Well me too don’t want to waste time, we need backup and help to stop Ash till the sun goes down.” Lom told Thrash.

“I will lend you two men they will help you in the matter.” Thrash replied and he stood from his chair and started walking towards a wall that had a bell, Thrash rang the bell and an assistant teacher came in.

“Take sire to unit Flash and tell them to go with sire as per my orders.” Thrash told the teacher and a door opened behind him and he disappeared before Lom could speak anything.

“Just two men, what the hack is this old man think of himself?” Lom murmured to himself. “This way sires.” The assistant teacher spoke to Lom. Lom had no choice but to follow the assistant teacher, he followed him quietly taking to himself, “Just two men, first the old man boasted about the criminal and then gave me two men, is he seriously a patriot or something else.” Lom saw the teacher walking ahead he asked him, “O guide, can you tell me about the so-called unit Flash.”

“Yes, your sire if you want me to do so I will do it happily. The unit Flash is the most powerful unit in Tirga at the present. They are just two in number but can even match up great army troops. Any person present in Tirga can guarantee them for any task.” the teacher replied.

“You seem to know a lot about this place.” Lom commented.

“Sire, it has been years I have been working for Tirga. I have seen many warriors pass through here.” the guide teacher replied.

“Can you tell me about Ash? And will these two warriors able to stop him?” Lom asked the teacher.

There was a silence for a few footsteps then the teacher replied, “Sire, if you would ask any person here about Ash, they would reply the same thing, he was a great warrior. And I am not that liable to decide whether unit Flash will be able to stop him but I trust our supreme and if he has taken the decision it would surely for a reason, he has seen all of them quite closely.”

Lom heard the teacher quietly; his answer does not seem to satisfy Lom. But still he followed him quietly, after a short walk between chambers they reached a huge door on it were painted eyes of an animal, Lom saw the painting and tried to guess the animal but before he could guess the animal the guide teacher rang a bell near the door and after few seconds the door opened. From the door came a young warrior who would be almost eighteen in age. The guide teacher talked to him, “Swart, supreme wants you and Rage to go with sire for royal service.” Swart heard to the teacher while adjusting the gloves in his hands. “Well the Royals need help, strange to hear but we would be glad to lend a hand, but before that sire must talk to big brother, Rage.” replied Swart in a sarcastic tone. Then he turned towards Lom and said, “This way sire.” Lom now started following Swart he thought, “Those people are quite strange from the morning they are making me follow different people, still I don’t have a guarantee that my task will be done. Wasting time on wrong people.” Through the chamber he saw many images depicting fights. Then they entered a chamber which seem to be a practicing area. Lom could hardly believe what his eyes saw, a warrior using his sword so swiftly that would even defeat the breeze in terms of swiftness, the lightning speed of his moves and the power of the sturdy hands astonished Lom. Swart whistled and the warrior stopped and turned towards them, his face does not suit the one like a warrior but rather an actor. Swart waved and the warrior nodded, then Swart turned towards Lom and said, “Sire, this way, Big Brother will meet us in the sitting chamber.” And both walked towards the sitting chamber. Lom sat on one of the chairs in sitting chamber and had some fruits, Swart started examining the arrows kept in the self of sitting chamber. Lom saw him and thought, “Weapons in sitting chamber too, what sort of people!”

After few seconds, the warrior practicing sword entered the chamber and sat on chair right in front of Lom, Swart stood beside him. “So, sire you are here for us and we know that, myself Rage and he is my brother Swart. We have been informed about your arrival but what is our task?” Rage introduced himself and cleared the topic.

Lom who was highly impressed by Rage spoke about the task, “We want you to hold an enemy at the bay.” Before Lom could finish his sentence Swart interrupted him, “How many men?” Lom smiled in a sarcastic way and replied, “A single man. His name is Ash.”

As Lom spoke of the name, Swart turned his head towards Rage. Rage looked desperate after a silence of seconds Rage said, “We will leave for the city after few minutes, I and Swart need to prepare things that will be useful on mission.” Then he turned towards Swart and ordered him, “Take sire to the chamber where the others are at stay.” Swart took Lom to the chamber where others were staying and returned to Rage.

“Are we really going with him?” Swart questioned Rage. “Why do you think we are not going?” Rage contradicted him. “Do you think you will be able to fight?” Swart asked Rage. “I don’t know, but I remember that once my ideal told me that ‘No matter who is the opponent, if he comes between you and your responsibility never hesitate to fight, it’s what warriors actually do’ so I am going and you are also coming with me.” Rage ordered Swart.

Rage took his sword, spear, glave on the other hand Swart took his sword, bow and arrows and knives which he uses as a throwable weapon. Rage and Swart along with Lom and his troop set for the main city.