In the Estailux kingdom, Arsenio went towards the training grounds in order to train with his fellow guards. Since he was chosen as the 'Commander' of the royal guards, he was responsible for their training and formation which would be followed in the battle.
While Arsenio taught valuable lessons on swordsmanship, King William Visconti observed him from afar. It was hard to acknowledge that Arsenio possessed such deep knowledge about the craft as he was just a young lad. He knew several complex movements and counter attacks that threatened even the pride of Lord William Visconti. William thought of him as a bluff. It was arduous for him to forsaken his pride and accept that a man much younger than him is actually more capable. It was quite inherent in his personality to mock the one that was doing better than him.
He was subjected to unbearable envy, and even the sight of Arsenio's excellence drove him mad with rage.
Thereupon, he approached Arsenio and began provoking him by baseless criticism of his ways.
In order to prove his flimsy opinions on warfare, he began intervening. He even messed the formation of the guards that Arsenio had planned.
On contraray, Arsenio paid no heed to it and continued with his training.
When William began to mutter venomous words about Arsenio's lack of knowledge and power, Arsenio figured the ostensible baseless criticism hidden behind the genuine care. He tried to provoke him through derision and slandered his image in front of the guards. His constant endeavors presented no outcomes. Lord William outraged by Arsenio's ignorance challenged him for a face off. Arsenio tried to whisper the words of wisdom, but was shunned by the cold ruthlessness of William.
They both drew their swords and took positions. Arsenio firmed his grip around the pommel and managed to land a swift blow on William. Bewildered by the boy's movement, William lied on the ground gawking at him.
With stern courage, he got up and faced Arsenio with valour. In strength, they paralleled each other. But the fact that really made a huge difference was Arsenio's swift movements.
William pushed his sword with a hard blow, and then kicked him on his leg. Arsenio fell on the ground. While seizing the moment to end the boy, William tried to land a strong attack. His attack was hindered by Arsenio's counter offense movement. With a striking force, he pushed William away and stood back.
Enraged by the wrong deed of William, Arsenio lost his composure and attacked him mercilessly. William was engaged in defending himself while Arsenio attacked him numerous times. Pushed back by Arsenio's strength, William almost turned himself into a laughing stock.
Arsenio's strength was matchless and his rage made it worse for William. He was out powered by him.
Just when William lied with an accepting defeat, Arsenio tried to incise his neck, but was haltered by a strong coarse voice.
"Halt that, Arsenio !", yelled Lord Vernados.
"You have been warned numerous times, and this time you almost got yourself decapitated William", claimed Lord Vernados while approaching Arsenio and battered William.
Arsenio excused himself and went away while Vernados rebuked William for his ways and held him responsible for causing mayhem.
William's heart burned in the fires of agony and disgust. He was disgusted with the fact that a mere boy defeated him. He swore vengeance for his wounded honour.
Meanwhile, the cottage near the 'Quiet Rill' river had numerous squealing voices . There was one particular voice which was loud enough to deafen any being. When Eiddwen made her way out of the cottage, she found François captured by a gruesome huge giant. He was entrapped in the grip of the monster's left hand.
By glaring at the enormous being, Eiddwen got jitters. Her legs trembled and her heart began to beat tremendously. The glimpse of François's painful screeching made her wail. She figured that her strength wasn't enough for retrieving him. The sight of the gruesome scenario did scare her, but the feelings she held for François made Eiddwen's resolve stronger to aid her friend. Then, she decided to gather her senses and put endeavors into his retrieval.
She took huge steads and tried to grab François's sword which was lying on the ground. While the giant was trying to crush Francois with his strength, Eiddwen aimed the sword towards the giant's right eye. With blood oozing out of his eye, the behemoth squealed in pain and let François slip out of his hand.
Francois fell on the floor with a huge thud. It was apparent that he got injured. But since he was trusted by Aresnio to protect Eiddwen, he couldn't abandon his oath. François grabbed a pike which lied against a wall. With the help of the pike, he managed to cause several wounds on the giant's body. The giant was fatally wounded and the excruciating pain numbed his senses. With a final strike that François took, the giant lost his consciousness and drifted towards the sleep of death.
Eiddwen embraced François and sighed a breath of relief.
"I almost thought that I lost the only friend I have", exclaimed Eiddwen while burying her head deep in his chest.
François held her in his arms, caressed her hairs and calmed her.
A striking change in their treatment of one another seemed to appear. Their shared experiences of atrocity made them lean on one another. As they say 'Adversities bring people closer', it became apparent in their case. François seemed to have developed deep feelings for Eiddwen as well. They both found comfort in each other's gentleness.
Beholding each other's company, they made their way further towards the Brahumingam Kingdom.
In Estailux kingdom, Lord Vernados was engaged in the concourse of the senate. Arsenio was also the part of it.
While Lord Vernados seemed furious, the whole senate stood silent. It was apparent that something agitated him.
When Vernados glared at the ministers while making the gesture for them to speak, the ministers discussed the response that they received from the rival kingdom about the preceding war. The kingdom of Estailux sent numerous epistles to the rival kingdom for adjourning the preceding war, but the words of wisdom went unheard. Only one of the ten epistles recieved a response. While the remaining epistles were left unopened and returned back to the kingdom.
Although a great ruler of the flourishing kingdom, Vernados still considered tranquillity before conquering and warring. But that was not an option anymore. Thereafter, he passed the decree that the preparations shouldn't be halted as the war was inevitable.
Thereafter, Vernados went towards his chamber and lied on his bed. Just when he tried closing his eyes, he felt two arms enwrapping around his waist. Alerted by the abrupt intrusion, he threw away the arms and stood up. The source of the arms that lied on the bed was Ilana.
"If it weren't you, I would have brutally ravaged the person lying in your stead", asserted Vernados with a raging tone.
"A maiden in love has nothing but thoughts of her paramour. It is coherent that she would lie beside him. Mon Amour", asserted Ilana.
"I never knew that incest could be esteemed love as well", claimed Vernados.
Ilana stood from the bed and grabbed Vernado's arm while closing the distance between them and whispered, "Since we don't share same mothers, it is feasible to comprehend that it will be onerous of them to consider us as siblings", asserted Ilana while moving her face towards him.
Displeased with the mannerisms of his half sister, Vernados pushed her away from him. Ilana fell on the bed and gaped at him with disagreeable eyes. Vernados hawked at her with rage emerging in his eyes. His azure eyes turned dark, and he clenched his wrist. Ilana knew that she brought the catastrophe upon herself that awaited her in the future. With fear erupting from deep inside her, she went away expeditiously.
Though she left, her fragrance still lingered on his bed and his room.
Filled with disgust, Vernados left the chamber.
Thereupon, he reached his cabinet, sat on the armchair and began to ponder.
In a pensive state, he sat idly and wondered about the things that had passed. The visions that didn't leave his sight even when they are open. Those memmories attributed great amount of pain and sense of loss for him.
Those happenings that preceded were eminently the reason he became the man that he was know for.
He mostly reminisced about his cordial mother, the devotion he had for her and her inevitable end. The glory of Almenor Nigelle- the unsturdy who brought a havoc in the kingdom. Lord Almenor's mistress and their offsprings.
The most striking memory that stricken in his heart and mind were of his love, the fair lady Adana.
The one who was jovial and gentle, adorned with wit, charm and wisdom. Even though she was envy of many, she was adored by all.
Vernado's fancy was also attributed towards her.
The only women that he adored, and committed treason and regicide for.