Light seeped through the windows and slowly chased the night across the wooden floor. Zehan grew worried with dawn approaching and still no word from General Ryas. He feared for the worst.
This trip to the North would be his first outside of the Kingdom and through the Ethereal Forest. With the recent death of his father, Zehan inherited the throne as the eldest son. Not long after, the Northern King also died, leaving his throne to his only son, who then summoned them to the North. General Ryas did not take well to being summoned, but they were all men and if they didn't stand together. He feared no man would survive in this new world.
The General said to keep a low profile. If the Nomens knew they were here. Going back into the Ethereal Forest would be suicide. That's how he ended up at the Lunar Inn. A semi-decent place on the outskirts of the Northern Kingdom. Zehan stayed in the largest room at the inn, but the smell of must and wet clothes never went away, only when he'd gotten used to it. Water came through wooden shoots in the walls you had to request from the attendant below. Cushions and blankets piled on top of a wood plank did not make for a comfortable bed at all. An upgrade compared to the way they lived traveling through the Ethereal Forest. It would take time adjusting to this simpler way of life. There're no luxuries here, only a balcony that overlooked the market below.
Zehan stepped outside to clear his mind. The street roused with activity from the many vendors who set up shop below. His mind still worried about General Ryas. Zehan noticed it off in the distance. Then in the horizon, rising with the sun, almost hidden among the golden glows of dawn. Two crimson wings beat powerfully through the air, gliding at an astonishing speed, and headed straight towards him.
One of General Ryas' birds. The ones that came with him from the Ethereal Forest. They were still young, but lived longer than Ryas had. He waited as the bird soared through the air effortlessly until it reached him. Then drew its wings back and flapped, sending bursts of wind into his face. He recognized her red and golden feathers flapping in the air like a flame. That's why Ryas named her Khasai the old Geneoshi tongue for fire.
He stretched an arm out to Khasai, who gently touched down. She kept her sharp talons upwards, away from Zehan's arm, bent her head down and tied around her neck, sat a container. He removed the message hidden inside and read its contents. "There's been a complication. Let's meet outside of Murai in four days." The General's only words for him.
Complications? Zehan walked inside. Held the message over the flame of a candle still burning from last night. When the paper turned to ashes, he blew out the candle. Relieved that nothing serious happened to Ryas. It's the first time General Ryas didn't complete a task. Zehan wondered what delayed his general. For now, he'd create a cover for Ryas.
He called two of his captains, "I need you both, to ride for our camp and head to Murai. Wear your cloaks and keep your faces hidden when you're in the city. If anyone stops you, answer as General Ryas. Leave immediately," he ordered them.
The captains left without questioning why. He knew their loyalty to General Ryas; and did as told. Good soldiers were scarce, and it was a relatively quick process to inform the remaining captains when they would leave. Zehan would give the captains a three-hour head start. He needed to ensure King Taher believed it. Ryas had the remaining southern soldiers camped outside of the city. He knew they could not afford to make any mistakes now.
When the sun sat at its highest point in the day, Zehan and his soldiers headed out of the city. Forged from white stone, the Northern Kingdom's gates stood like giant pillars at the entrance carved into their emblem. Zehan could see the white stone pillars off in the distance, and as they drew closer, a band of soldiers suddenly surround Zehan and his Men.
The soldiers rode black horses, dressed in white and gold. On the chest of their armor, they bore the emblem of the Northern Kingdom, a golden serpentine. The Northern soldiers formed a tight circle around Zehan and his men, cutting off any chance of them breaking out. A few of the soldiers parted sideways, allowing enough space for a single rider to emerge. He came out on a white horse, and Zehan recognized the man's face right away. "King Taher. I'm surprised to see you here, and us surrounded by your soldiers. Is there a problem?" Zehan asked King Taher, who did not answer immediately, but he only stared at Zehan with a blank expression. "I'm here to make sure that the Southern King and his soldiers leave my city safely," King Taher spoke but lacked any emotion on his face. "Come. Let's head to your soldiers' camp," and he nodded at his soldiers. Who then broke from their formation and opened up a path for Zehan and his soldiers to pass through. Both armies moved forward, and King Taher turned to Zehan, "We had an incident at Advisor Biah's Manor last night. The entire city is on lockdown. A highly skilled man broke into Biah Manor, set fire to their homes, tried to kill their son, and made off with his bride." King Taher's eyes skimmed right over Zehan and onto his soldiers.
Zehan noticed King Taher's eyes scanning his soldiers, but he ignored him, and soon his gaze turned back to Zehan. This must be the complication General Ryas mentioned. Not wanting to rush or sound involved, he paused and frowned before responding. "That's unfortunate news. I hope your Advisor and his family is well." He tried to look as convincing as possible.
Taher only looked at him. "Yes, Advisor Biah and his family survived, but my General's daughter is missing. Kidnapped by this man."
Zehan held back his amusement. General Ryas' kidnapping a woman then burning an entire manor down. It sounded sloppy, a sight he wanted to see. Knowing General Ryas' temperament, he had to be close to abandoning the woman about now. His General hated ??
"You remember General Wey?" Taher asked.
"Oh, yes. I met your General the other day," Zehan answered. He didn't want to say too much to avoid King Taher becoming suspicious.
"Speaking of Generals. I don't see General Ryas anywhere? Isn't he supposed to be here guarding his King like an obedient dog?" King Taher's eyes scanned back towards Zehan soldiers.
Zehan laughed, trying to make light of the situation. He could tell from Taher's bitter tone that he's angry with Ryas. "General Ryas left this morning. We have men stationed outside of the city."
"I see." King Taher nodded his head.
King Taher responded to him, Zehan could see that he seemed lost in thought. "Is that how you see my General? He is more than a guard dog. General Ryas saved our people and did he not?" Zehan waited for Taher to answer.
"Just because your General saved us does not mean we bend to his will. Kings should rule their lands and people how they see fit. A General serves his King it's not the other way around. He does what his King asks of him." His tone was arrogant.
The tension building between the two Kings thickened. Zehan could sense King Taher's disdain manner and words. He wanted to remind Taher of his more humble beginnings. That there are no true Kings left in the North. Only those born from the bloodline of peasants, but he knew this would only send Taher's temperament over the edge. Now wasn't the time to lay words with the Northern King. Zehan changed the subject instead. He could tell Taher was a very vain man who probably believed himself to possess more merits and status than he had. "Tell me more of your plans to build an alliance with the Nomens. How were you able to get those brutes to listen to you?"
King Taher smiled at Zehan for the first time since they met. Then for the entire trip to Zehan's camp, he talked about his plans and achievements how he summoned the Nomen Head with no fear and negotiated a treaty between them. All the while, Zehan wondered if this were all true, how come he would not risk going to the South, but called Zehan to the North.
Finally, they reached the camp, and not a moment too soon. He grew tired of King Taher, who only talked about himself. He quickly bid farewell to the Northern King and left.
Once the Northern King left, he immediately ordered his captains to gather their soldiers and ride for Murai.