Blade and blood

chapter2b

“As the news says,” the king replied.

“So the Blood Forest really exists?” the queen shifted the position of her child to the other exposed breast.

The king shook his head in approval.

“There are many wonders we may not yet see in our lifetime. Blood Forest is one among them,” Mridhumara said under her breath, yet the king heard it clearly.

Nakhameromon wondered what she had in her mind. As he has heard and read, the Blood Forest is no place for humans, as is the Forest of Vellea and the Valley of Doom.

They sat in silence as the child sucked the milk softly from his mother’s breasts. Once the child finished feeding, Mridhumara put the child to bed, where he took his slumber in peace. The king stood up and walked out towards the front door of his chamber. The door was open and five of his guards were standing outside. Nakhameromon walked to the balcony outside his chamber. He stood near the armrest, looked down, and watched his children in the garden practicing with wooden swords. He was standing on the second tier of the palace.

Nakhakantan and Nakhapadman saw their father on the balcony. They left their swords on the ground and paced towards the stairs to the balcony. The stone-made stairs were covered with brown carpets.

“Look, your brothers are running towards father.” Nakhamriti tilted her head from her running brothers towards her younger sister Nakhasripa. “Let us join them.” she extended her hand towards the seven-year-old girl.

“How do they come to know of such an attack?” Mridhumara went towards the balcony and stationed herself beside the king.

“I gave my worries and thoughts to you.” Nakhameromon looked at his wife.

“A burden I would happily share. As queen, the matters of the kingdom do concern me, yet not the Northern Territory. However, Zolopts are a wonder and I wish to know more about them. I think this one would be a perfect opportunity.”

The king smiled in return. “You are a gem of wisdom, and I am happy to share it.” He paused for a moment and continued. “They received a message from Zolopts to surrender.”

The king was greeted with more questions. “I wonder how they sent messages. What tongue do they speak? Do they know the common tongue?” the queen was excited. The news about the mystical creatures had awakened enthusiasm in her. The stories she heard were horrific and as she grew up she believed they were just stories to inflict fear in the minds of children. Now she knows, they were true. The legends still exist.

“Yet to know.” the king gave a cold reply.

“I guess you were in a serious discussion. Your faces are turbulent like Meya. I may offer help to see tranquility once again in your divine appearance.” Nakhakantan mentioned as he finished climbing the steps and hiked towards his parents. He was a hint higher than his father. His long brown hair touched his broad shoulders. He had blue eyes like his mother. He was strong and hardened by rigorous training under Rokkena and Shivara, yet he had the innocence of his mother. The eighteen-year-old man was a sight for the eyes. He walked and stood majestic and regal like his father, but his physical appearance was more similar to his mother's.

“Is there again unsettling in the east? Are my uncle’s troops causing trouble?” Nakhapadman stood behind his elder brother. He was seventeen with features almost matching his brother. He was hardly shorter than his father. He had his father’s green eyes and black hair. His face was tranquil, yet his eyes showed eagerness towards everything. He was covered in sweat.

The king gave them a serene smile.

“The east is at peace for the time being.” He patted his younger son's shoulder. “Look at Meya. She is not turbulent at this time.”

They looked ahead. Beyond the gardens, they could see Meya flowing as calmly as she could. Her calmness is also dangerous. Nakhakantan thought.

The river was known for its heavy turbulence. At nights, she would be violent. Heavy winds blow over the river. But as the day gets closer to noon, she becomes calm. The traders cross the river at noon when the river is at her solace.

“What gives the mighty king of Nakha lose the shade of tranquility?” Nakhapadman chuckled as he acted like one of the chief ministers. Nakhakantan easily recalled whom he was imitating. Mukhya sachiv Reyesa. The man always talks in a mocking tone and his hands would always be moving constantly.

The king and the queen had a hearty laugh as they enjoyed the enactment.

“A messenger came with the news of a threat in the north which may affect us if not properly seen.” The king voiced his words once he finished laughing.

Nakhapadman’s face suddenly became serious. A threat in the north! What kind of threat?

Nakhakantan was waiting for his father’s words. He, too, wanted to know what was happening.

The king detailed the message. “Don’t worry. A thousand of our best men led by Rokkena himself will see the threat erased.”

“Father, honor me with a part to play in it,” Nakhapadman said without further thought. He didn’t want to sit idle inside the palace while there would be a fierce battle waging on.

“I would also join the cause.” Nakhakantan supported his brother.

Nakhameromon was equally proud and worried.

He recalled 'the war of three kings'. He and his brothers were waging war with Rokkena and Shivara. There were against double the numbers. Ten thousand men against twenty thousand!

The war lasted three days. On each day, one of the princes fell to the blades, waging the battle fiercely. When the war was won, there stood only one, Nakhameromon. His two elder brothers and the only younger brother fell to the glory of war. The Nakhas won the battle with a hefty loss.

The wounds of that battle remained in Nakhameromon’s heart. He was proud that his boys now stood like men ready to fight for the glory of the kingdom, yet the father inside him and the wounded brother who lost three of his loving brothers seemed unsure. He didn’t want to lose his sons.

“We do not know the numbers of the Zolopts and how they fight. I am sending the men only to stand with Magandry and see to their survival. I don’t reckon you both should be part of it.” The king had made his decision clear.

“The Nakha cannot go to battle without its king or prince. There should be one present. If not as a leader, we want to be present as a warrior.” Nakhapadman’s words were firm.

Nakhakantan looked at his brother. He stood bold against the king. He would support his brother no matter what. “Father, reward us with the honor of serving the kingdom.” He added a request along with his brother’s strong words. “This war will be remembered by generations to come, and we promise we can’t stain the name of our kingdom by our absence.”

Nakhameromon, the king and father, knew what they said was right. Nakha always fought every battle under the command of their prince. It should never be broken.

He had to make a decision. He looked at his wife’s eyes. He saw a solid stare from the queen confirming her son's choice. They should be sent to the battlefield, not to be comforted under the roof of luxury and security. They will one day rule this kingdom and should have proper battle experience.

“I will choose Nakhakantan to lead the battle. Your presence will lift the spirits of the soldiers while Nakhapadman stays here at the palace. I cannot send both of you together to the bloody field.”

“That is unfair,” Nakhapadman complained.

“The decision is made, and it will stay unchangeable.” The king’s voice was determined. “Come, let us decide our warriors and see to the arrangements.”

*****-----*****