LEGEND OF NEVETSECNUAC - THE RENEGADE IMMORTAL - SECTION 17

Resisting the urge to go outside, Hugen leaned his back against the wall and after exhaling a long breath, in an even tone he began with: “Meanwhile, Zakhertan Yozdek’s attentions were directed elsewhere to other regions where more profitable gains could be had.”

01- ZAKHERTAN YOZDEDK  (10) JP

“All the while millions were conscripted from all parts of Wenjenkun and the (other subjugated) auxiliary regions; many physically fit men and adolescent males were pressed into military service while women, scholars or the infirm were forced into the labor camps Zakhertan created to construct the mammoth projects he envisioned for his capital.”

“Hills were razed, channels were dug, and reservoirs built to multiply agricultural production in former deserts and, of course, grand palaces were commissioned in all four corners of the Kingdom. All the while families were uprooted and relocated to the remote regions of Wenjenkun he wanted populated.  The upshot of all of this, the costly expeditions, the grand schemes, despite the plunder he amassed, had still very nearly bankrupted the State Treasury in Channing.”

"Seen in this light, the subjugation of Korion was considered a serious liability and a definite unproductive drain on their economy.  It was deemed clearly pointless, for Wenjenkun to maintain its present tight rein (leash) on the deemed barbaric race that, could not be tamed and required mounting expenditures all for the facade (pretence, sham, deceit) of keeping it within Wenjenkun's civil guidelines. Happily, our point had been driven home well and good.  From all corners of the Kingdom (Wenjenkun) petitions regularly poured in, the writers knowingly risking pain of death, protesting the continuing military presence in Korion.  They acknowledged that our country bred the finest stock of horses, was endowed with precious gemstones of the finest quality, as well, had much required (needed) minerals and useful metals in quantity; yet despite the hefty annual tribute of these items flowing into Channing, it was costing Wenjenkun (government and administration) still more dearly to maintain scant, minimal control over this unforgiving, unruly region.  Their ministers argued the point that, the National Interests would be best served with more frugal allocation of their resources and by the deployment of armies (and military personnel) to other regions (countries) where more feasible and more advantageous returns could be had.”

"As it was, Zakhertan Yozdek urgently needed to composite another invincible military force, in order to conquer the Mokuzers at that time and, already having gained his revenge against our Lord and people, he was disposed to allow such criticism.  By this time Zakhertan's arrogance and megalomania had reached its (apex) zenith and, when presented with the petition in the Great Zonggotu Hall, he was recorded as having said, "Well, if this grubbing race of barbarians can resurrect a single Royal pedigree (lineage) to rule them, I’ll permit it; Korion then may, within reason, have whatever autonomy they can muster."  He of course had been certain (quite convinced) that there were none of the Royal line left alive to take up the reign of power in Korion.”

"Unknown to him, there was indeed one who had escaped his evil carnage."  Patiently Hugen explained, " Sometime prior, the youngest sister of His Highness the late Harkan Konzuran Binchan, Princess Jenor, as the tribal custom demanded, had been entrusted to chieftain Kureshi Nokuzuk’s care, to be brought up from the age of ten till she reached the age of seventeen, by which time she was to be wed to Yeru, the third son (for the first son was too old and already married, and the second son already dead, succumbed to an accident) of the powerful tribal chieftain Kureshi Nokuzuk, in order to ensure a lasting peace with this fierce nomadic race to the North.“

02- TRIBAL CHIEFTAIN KURESHI NOKUZUK

 “After this alliance had been struck, all hostilities and border incursions in the northern sector had of course ceased and, this peace has lasted to date. “Hugen pensively nodded, then almost imperceptibly (subtly) the corners of his mouth lifted in a grimace (smirk). “Anyhow, this well-kept secret, Princess Jenor, the sole surviving member of the Royal Binchan Clan, was a legendary beauty. After Princess Jenor and Yeru’s nuptials, Princess Jenor in time had born two daughters who rivaled her in fairness, and a brilliant son, Yoshikan.  Here’s were things gets interesting: This male offspring (with Binchan royal bloodline) was promptly recalled to Korion to claim his rightful place as Sovereign of our country.”

“The Chieftain Kureshi Nokuzuk, for obvious reasons, raised no real objections to the recall, and even if Yeru had any qualms, I dare say that his opinions were quickly overridden by Kureshi, to the greater benefit of all.  And so it came to pass that, at the age of ten, on a blessed and joyful day, our Illustrious Sovereign, Yoshikan Sousing Nokuzuk Binchan, was duly enthroned.”

"Of course, Zakhertan Yozdek was outraged (livid) to learn of this and, I understand, many suffered his terrible wrath.  Since, however, his promise had the strength of an Imperial edict, it could not be rescinded, and Zakhertan had to let the Coronation proceed.  Still, he managed to slip a catch into it.  The boy King was deemed to be of too tender an age, to rule unaided and, since the appointed Regent had mysteriously succumbed to a fatal infection after a routine wound which had been improperly dressed, Zakhertan Yozdek’s elder relation, a grasping licentious cur calling himself Guobin Yozdek, was appointed (in its stead) as the new Regent.  With the aid of a cotillion of advisors specially transported with him from Wenjenkun, this piece of offal was given leave to govern Korion for eight years until Yoshikan Sousing Nokuzuk Binchan’s age of ascent.  Though this was nominally an interim appointment, Zakhertan’s design was obviously to have the situation closely monitored and controlled and the boy King's abilities assessed.  If Yoshikan were to show even the least potential of becoming a strong, capable leader then he was to be covertly disposed of, regardless of any future consequences. But despite his youth, His Highness Yoshikan Sousing Nokuzuk Binchan had already possessed a most discerning mind and alerted at the very start to this danger, he’d played his part brilliantly, in order to beguile his planted (spy) Royal Entourage (attendants, governors, tutors etc.) and to allay all their fears.”

“Of course, Zakhertan Yozdek would not be so easily duped and summoning our Sovereign to Channing numerous times, tested him in countless, vigorous, varied ways, dishing out all manner of insults to his person and country to see if Yoshikan or his loyal courtiers would have the backbone or strong will to strike back; but they, with all due humility and perseverance, subjected themselves to these indignities. “

“This caused Zakhertan to despise our Sovereign Yoshikan Sousing Nokuzuk Binchan even more as a spineless weakling and, predictably, to turn his attention to a more pressing concerns; one of which was the blatant and rapidly growing influence and power of Guobin Yozdek.” 

03--GUOBIN YOZDEK  (18)JP

“Guobin’s ambitious nature, as an oversight going unchecked, he’d become progressively more pompous, dictatorial and, even worse, defiant. You see, during his last state visit to Channing, Guobin deeming himself to be the most competent administrator, had brazenly (unabashedly) taken full credit for the pacification of Korion and the revival of its thriving economy. Guobin had further enraged Zakhertan Yozdek, by the unveiling of his long-term, lofty ambition; suggesting in words stronger than a mere request that, Wenjenkun should dispense with the charade and proclaim him instead, as the sole ruler of Korion. More outrageously still, Guobin had exposed his sinister plan to Zakhertan, which’d been ready to be implemented at a moment’s notice, to murder our young Sovereign Yoshikan through (via) poisoning or an induced illness.  The Regent Guobin banking on his status in family (as blood-relation), had erroneously supposed that, after his reporting of an alleged, disgraceful incident involving Prince Yoshikan, he had reached a sympathetic kinship’ ear.”

“Meanwhile, unknown to the aspiring King of Korion, our Illustrious Prince Yoshikan, because of his uprightness and humility, had progressively gained a strong and loyal following in both Korion and with the dissidents (nonconformists) in Wenjenkun.  These supporters, seeing the time was ripe, had already implemented, carefully orchestrated series of rumors and incidents which made it appear as though Guobin had long since being conspiring to usurp the throne of Korion, right under the nose of Zakhertan Yozdek. As proof, they’d   obtained depositions (affidavits) and had those incognito (anonymously) leaked to authorities in Channing, from other contiguous nations’ Princes who were no allies of Korion, intimating that Guobin had solicited their support, with the suggestion of constant border incursions, to destabilize Wenjenkun’s strong government.  Same period, several Guobin’s enthusiasts were furtively (stealthily) exposed planning their machinations, to internally undermine Zakhertan Yozdek’s rule, which would then, by way of a nation-wide rebellion, would have brought about Zakhertan’s eventual downfall. At this juncture Korion’s armies would have then swooped down to fulfill Guobin’s fantastic high ambition of uniting both countries under his new Dynasty.”

“This obviously infuriated Zakhertan Yozdek, who acted swiftly and brutally but in a much stronger fashion than could have ever been anticipated or hoped. With a single stroke, Guobin Yozdek and the untrustworthy Princes along with all their supporters and countless other suspected conspirators were all, maliciously and sadistically eradicated.” Hugen at this point pausing donned a somewhat sinister, satisfactory grin.  “This brought about the accession of our Illustrious Sovereign Yoshikan Sousing Nokuzuk Binchan a full two years before the ordained time. And of course, you know the rest." Hugen waved his hand in dismissal and, rising to his feet, strode outside to relieve himself.

After the rain, with the wind subsiding and most of the flotilla clouds gone away, the night’s sky was now decked with blinking stars (patently) markedly flirting with the half crescent moon; meanwhile, Earth was still mantled (blanketed) in black, with periodically dancing hazy, indistinct sundry shapes. Hugen grimaced, suddenly hearing a (cry) hooting of an owl that was perfectly camouflaged up in the tree some ways off, and knowingly nodded.    Lingering at outside Hugen inhaled deeply and filled his lungs with the refreshingly cool, crisp evening air. Reluctant to return to the confines of the ramshackle hut, he offhandedly at first pinned his empty gaze into the dark void; moment later however, in his mind’s eye he was visualizing and nostalgically reminiscing about the exciting exploits of heroes, some he knew all too well, a long, long time ago. His thoughts again reverting to his beloved Sovereign, Hugen reflected on how even before his ascension His Highness Yoshikan had spent many long grueling hours holding Court in secret, all well hidden beneath the guise of licentious parties. Through these long processes some of the necessary changes had been surreptitiously and, (gradually) by small degrees, incorporated into the existing system. His Highness had tirelessly toiled night and day to draw up effective stratagems for resurrecting the nation from the ashes, rebuilding it to its former glorious strength so that once more they could become a Country to contend with. Soon as he was legally King of Korion, Yoshikan had appointed these certain able ministers’ and with their help instituted apt effective measures that had been so many years in the making.

04- YOSHIKAN SOUSING NOKUZUK BINCHAN  -JP

His Highness Yoshikan Sousing Nokuzuk Binchan’s subsequent edict had amended the flawed old system of governance and law; after which had occurred, the purging of all undesirables’ right down to the root.  Those spies, collaborators and moles that had been pinpointed (found out) sometime prior, were either converted, bought out or kept on to unknowingly pass on misinformation to Wenjenkun.  A few, very few, were discreetly killed when they proved uncooperative.  Zakhertan Yozdek hence, all this time had been fed a deceptive picture of the state of Korion and was lulled into a false sense of security that had lasted to the present day.

 Hugen re-entering the dilapidated (rundown) hut, quietly sat in the same spot and periodically, somewhat distractedly, gazed at the far corner, as he waited for Uyuk’s return. 

“Odd, there's that feeling again, a strong sense of danger gnawing at my innards. Plus, the hairs on the back of my neck are bristling, which is a sure sign of peril.” As it was, Hugen's intuition had never failed him.  His piercing gaze once more astutely scrutinized the corner from where he sat, keenly examining (observing), that small pile of debris against the far wall.  “There's nothing outwardly strange, yet there's something odd about it, something I can't rightly pinpoint (explain); perhaps the way the broken shards of furniture are resting, the pattern of the bricks and mortar, that broken jug handle, was it there before?”

Just then Hugen was distracted by Uyuk's noisy return from the business he had just concluded outside.  Uyuk, sensing his partner's mood, quietly took up the same position he had just vacated a moment ago.  "What's up?” he then leaned forward to ask in a conspiratorial whisper.

"I'm not sure.” Hugen grunted. After shaking his head, he leaned back against the wall and closed his eyes, remaining deliberately oblivious to Uyuk's questioning, piercing gaze. 

“That mouse I saw scurrying across to his hole when I came back must have disturbed it.” Hugen quietly mused.  “Either that, or, Hmm...No, that’s too improbable.”  Before long, his thoughts again (turned) reverted to his beloved Sovereign.

His Royal Highness Yoshikan Sousing Nokuzuk Binchan in the ensuing years, living prudently and encouraging all his ministers to follow suit, had shared the abysmal hardships of his subjects. He’d abolished (inherited) fiefdoms; furthermore, on his Highness’s directive, the Governing Council had per annum, assiduously apportioned (allotted) the nation's wealth among its citizens high and low.  Standards were set and strictly regimented; communications improved; taxes remained moderate; the enforced laws were strict but nevertheless fair and just.  People willingly worked harder and toiled longer hours, knowing that it was for the common good and, they got to keep a good portion of their profits for themselves.  This encouraged them to exert themselves and their abilities to the maximum for the harder they worked, the better off they were, and the better off their children's lives would be. The future, no longer bleak, looked bright and promising for all.  Piety and propriety abounded, and industrious citizens had in time flourished. Sovereign Yoshikan never letting himself for a moment to forget the disgrace that his lineage and his subjects for more than decade and a half now had borne (suffered, endured), unrelentingly hence, had kept up his vigil, setting a good example as well as being, an inspiration to all. Thus, Sovereign Yoshikan had earned his subjects' undying love and unfaltering loyalty in a way that all other leaders since time immemorial would envy.  He’d become the true heartbeat of their nation.  Every citizen without question would suffer the torments of Hell, would surrender their very lives without a single moment's hesitation if it would benefit their beloved Sovereign or their nation.

In this respect, then, Hugen was not alone; furthermore, Hugen like all good patriots, lived and breathed in anticipation of the day Zakhertan Yozdek and Wenjenkun would be totally eradicated, obliterated from the face of the Earth and the pages of History.  Impatience gnawed at him daily as his heart ached increasingly with the unstinted yearning to see that day when it would all come to pass.

"Unfortunately, our resourceful, well-respected Minister Tuvering Bokurek has deemed the time is not yet ripe; and his advice is always sound.  Some even compare his competence and forte akin to the Illustrious Wushing." Suddenly Hugen broke his long, prolonged silence and looking directly at Uyuk, enunciated (voicing) the subsequent thought that’d just then intruded into his mind.

It was obvious that Uyuk had been thinking along these same lines as he abstractedly drew circles on the dirt floor, for he nodded; but then, seconds later frowning, he shook his head and grumbled. "The time is not yet ripe.  When will it be ripe?  Why is he stalling?" His eyes affixed on Hugen he now pressed on: "We formed that new alliance with Luso and Dokurak after Terz to…"

"That information is highly confidential!” Hugen barked, aghast. “How did you come by it?"

"Oh I, too, have my resources."  Uyuk smiled smugly then pinned his defiant gaze on Hugen.  "But don't you go imagining that there is a leak in the High Council.  After all, you are the only one I've disclosed this to, and this I did only because I know for a fact that you were already aware of it."

"Right, well I know exactly where and from whom you acquired your information but never mind." Hugen looked away to hide his extreme annoyance.

“That little vermin should have been exterminated (eradicated) some years ago if it were not for his powerful backers.” Hugen still livid, mulled over. “But this breach is inexcusable!  As soon as I get back, I'll push to have him eliminated, disposed off permanently, for after this violation (flouting) a mere dismissal will now not suffice.” 

Hugen understood well, how this move would incur great animosity towards him and create lasting enemies.  “That brute does have so many influential friends.”  For a second he’d wavered; reflecting on those ardent nemesis’s, which were always after his hide. “So, what,” Grimacing, he shrugged. “Let them add a few more grievances to an already long list.”

Uyuk had perfunctorily dismissed that certain cringe he’d felt in his heart, and now suppressing the alarming thoughts as well, simply grunted. "Yet I fail to comprehend just how much more time Minister Bokurek needs to have, to give the final go-ahead.  Aren't we as ready as we'll ever be?"

05-MINISTER OF KORION TUVERING BOKUREK   (3)

"Surely the good Minister's reasons are explicit enough…  Why should we show our hand prematurely and awaken the sleeping giant?”  Hugen snorted disdainfully. "Besides, aren't you overlooking something of vital importance?"

"What?"  As Hugen then turned his stone gaze back on him, Uyuk decided not to feign total ignorance. "Oh, you mean the implications of the failed assassination."

"You can be exasperatingly quite tiresome at times."

Uyuk threw his head back and laughed uproariously but then abruptly halted it and drew close to seriously murmur, "It’s nevertheless quite regrettable that General Kunsun had failed in his mission." Out of the corner of his eye Uyuk had watched for the expected reaction and finding nothing, he groaned. "Many hopes hung on him, so sure we were that he would succeed."  He looked Hugen straight in the eye this time and shrugged, as if to take the edge off his next remark, "You think it took any stretch of imagination, any brilliance at all, to deduce just who the assassin was?  He was after all, the best candidate for the task; unfortunately, his demise will be a tremendous loss for our State. He deserved better, especially after his rendering of myriad years of invaluable service to our Sovereign and the State. Oh, shame of it all that the General’s corpse had ended up the way it did; to date I’m tormented by the wretched condition of it… He was certainly undeserving of such an ignoble end."

“You are so full of it!” Hugen musing pensively looked away; subsequently, he broke his long, uncharacteristic silence with a grunt.

Uyuk could see the other was tense, as though anticipating a fight, perhaps an onslaught (ambush), yet chose to disregard Hugen's unusually taut demeanor.

"As it is, his spirit will now be forced to roam the Earth forever.  I'm not sure just how much comfort our future sacrifices can bring him.  It's most unfortunate the way things turned out for him, eh…Too bad for us that he failed."  Uyuk disingenuously lamented, his mind on entirely different matters. “Oh, I know full well what you mean to do the moment we return home, but I won't let you; we won't let you.”  Uyuk inwardly scoffed as he concurrently (at the same time) determinedly clenched the fist he had hidden from Hugen's sight.  “He is my friend and he'd come through for me more than once.”

"Oh, but has he?  Has he really?"  Hugen's eventual, sarcastic response, had at first shocked Uyuk, but then he quickly got a grip on his senses as he realized Hugen was referring to General Kunsun.

Uyuk’s ambivalent (unsure) eyes again met Hugen's stone gaze.  After a moment's hesitation he tragically grimaced and nodded, "Yes, I suppose you are right.  After all, it strengthened Zakhertan Yozdek’s resolve to send an invading army to, purportedly reinforce Korion’s borders and to offset (counteract) the expected onslaught (attack) from Kontu.  A hundred-thousand strong, was it not?"  He waited for Hugen's silent confirmation of the figure before he continued, "Without that edge massive armies of Kontu would have been unleashed on Korion by now."

There was a quick exchange of glances, meaningful, wistful looks of excitement then both burst into boisterous, hearty laughter. 

 

(END OF SECTION 17) 

 

 LEGEND OF NEVETSECNUAC - THE RENEGADE IMMORTAL - SECTION 14

At the end of another typical, lengthy day’s arduous riding, nearing dusk when they spotted an old, clearly abandoned farmhouse which was precariously perched on a hillside, Uyuk, quickly suggested, "It's badly dilapidated, but there is still enough of it left to shelter us from this bone-chilling gale. I for one, would like to spend the night there."

"It’s an apt place for a trap."  Hugen simply grunted (grumbled).

01- UYUK  (6)JP

“Highly unlikely," Uyuk insistently rebuffed Hugen; his aching body demanding an immediate reprieve.” This desolate area is clearly forsaken by both man and beast.”

"Not in this instance." Hugen shook his head.  But Uyuk, being too exhausted to bother listing his reasons or heeding Hugen’s counter arguments, very much in need of respite had adamantly this time (unrelenting), spurred his horse towards it.  Though it went against his better judgment, Hugen after shrug, reluctantly followed Uyuk.

Once inside, they quickly cleared the debris off to one side and, relaxing their vigil slightly for the first time, they settled down cross-legged in the least drafty spot on the floor to talk freely, something they had not been able to do (for several days) until then.  They even allowed themselves the liberty of broaching the contents of a large jug of country wine they had purchased five days back at an obscure border town.  Time sped quickly and presently they were very mellowed by the quantity of strong spirits they had consumed.  When Hugen drunk extensively, whether inebriated or not, he would uncharacteristically, become placid (tranquil) and quite sentimental; this time being no different, switching effortlessly between dialects, he began to reminisce about the past in general and his own childhood.

"Ah, that cursed day!  I was barely eight, but even then, I understood only too well the calamity that befell us, the panic that suffocated the air to saturation point, making everyone wild with worry.  Yes, I can remember it all too vividly, like it happened only yesterday; the misbegotten day when our brave soldiers, no match for the barbaric offensive launched by Field Marshall Zakhertan Yozdek, were routed at the battle of Nozurk.  Our noble King, Anguan Binchan, forced to flee the Capital with only nine thousand men and withdraw to the wilderness of Zujug."

"I was much younger, and my recollection of that time is not as clear as yours," Uyuk nodded, leaning forward to place a sympathetic hand on Hugen's shoulder, "but I understand that the second offensive that was fought in Zujug was even more brutal."

"Brutal; aye that it was!" Hugen shuddered and met Uyuk's keen gaze.  “It boggles the mind to think that any human beings can inflict such horrors on others of same species!  We could have never anticipated (imagined) the scope of genocide the army of Zakhertan Yozdek’s could inflict on hapless civilians, defenceless women and children, all without mercy, falling like ripe stalks of grain under his scything."  Hugen clenched his fists as the fires of indignation filled his veins. 

02- - HUGEN (26)jp

"You may expect more mercy from the uncivilized barbarians at the north, not the disciplined army of Wenjenkun." He shook his head.

"I still shiver and get chilled to my very marrow when I think of the atrocities, they committed, the rapes, the tortures, the pillage. I can still hear the anguished cries of the old men, the women and children, the wailing of babies thrown into the street to be trampled on by the horse's hooves.” Biting his lip, Hugen fell silent for a moment.

“The terrible sound still rings in my ears and haunts my dreams even to this very day!"  Hugen repetitively wrung his hands and nodded as he, in his mind’s eye relived the massacre over and over.

"Orphaned at an early age, I was, placed in the care of my maternal aunt.  Loujan was her name.  She was a rare, kindly soul.  She was quite beautiful, too beautiful in fact.  Childless herself, she loved all children, and myself especially, reared me like I was her very own.  And yes, I reciprocated her motherly love and loved her as a devoted son."  There was a drunken conviction in Hugen's voice as he tapped at his chest, "I loved her, all right, to the very marrow of my being."

"At least you've known that kind of love." Uyuk huffed, as he studied Hugen.

After a painful silence Hugen then looked up, his face creased with sorrow as his eyes once more met Uyuk's.  "You know she sacrificed her life to save me?  She was the one who concealed me, told me to stay put, come what may, as she brazened it out with those savage, villainous curs."  Hugen shook his head then placed both hands on his ears to drown out her bone chilling shrieks as she was viciously mauled.  "That day," he hissed, his voice distorted in rage, "something within me died along with her.  I could never be the same again."

"We all live for vengeance." Uyuk morosely concurred.

Hugen stared at him with narrowed eyes, not seeming to comprehend for a moment, and then nodded with understanding.  "We all have our own private hells that we carry within us."  His eyes brimmed with compassion.

"And what became of your uncle?  Or perhaps I shouldn’t presume to ask." Uyuk hastily probed, sensing the question forming on the other's tongue.

03- UYUK  (7)JP

 Uyuk quickly then passed the wine, diverting Hugen from inquiring too deeply into his own, dark past.

The utterance died with Hugen's shrug as he raised the jug to his lips and took several large mouthfuls.  His sleeve absorbed the overflow from his chin.  "He was killed at the ramparts, like the countless others who defended the besieged city.  Don't ask about the particulars.  After I came out of hiding, I recognized his partially charred, mutilated corpse in one of the piles outside the walls.  Wild dogs were scavenging his… tearing at the…"  Hugen stopped to take a shuddering breath; he forced two hard swallows to keep the bile from rising back up and then thrust the jug violently back into Uyuk’s hand.    Clutching his belly, he rubbed the muscles as he tried to erase the gruesome images from his mind.

"I heard that the ancient city Romkun, before Zakhertan Yozdek razed it, was a marvel to behold." Uyuk hastily interjected to draw Hugen out of his self-destructive absorption. 

Uyuk needed to know these things, and this was a rare opportunity he was determined not to pass up.   "More spectacular than any other city in the world, I understand." He further prodded.

"It certainly was." Hugen finally affirmed, grateful for the chance to be composed.  "You cannot imagine a more magnificent place.  The ingenious construction alone, stones fitted together without mortar, was a sure testament to our culture's greatness; more spectacular were the fountains, exquisite gardens with their variety of rare plants and flowers of all kinds, populated by colourful pullets that are now, unfortunately quite extinct. The sculpted reliefs on the stone bridges, the monumental buildings and belltowers with their golden cupolas in the clouds…  It was a paradise, I tell you, paradise!"

"It sounds magical, like no place on Earth." Uyuk nodded thoughtfully.

"Nothing comparable," Hugen confirmed, fires of memory blazing in his eyes.

"You are fortunate to have seen it."  In a brief afterthought, Uyuk pursed his lips and thought, but then, again, you have also endured the pain of having lost it all.”

"Oh, and the greatest library of all times," Hugen’s pupils flared as he suddenly recalled, “a magnificent structure several stories high it was, perched on a hill; thousand marble steps led up to the imposing carved ebony and iron door, flanked by giant, fearsome statues of mystical door gods. inside were the tall chambers and magnificent marble halls, illuminated with  crystal chandeliers that hung from high ceilings; walls decked with ancient paintings, tall tapestries with historical royal insignias (emblems, crests, badges) beside obsidian columns; and more importantly, wall to wall rosewood bookshelves, row upon row,  preserving stacks and stacks of irreplaceable scrolls, the accumulated volumes of the sages, world renowned works of the scholars and kings of bygone days and the amassed records of all religious doctrines.” Hugen, highly agitated now, chewed the corner of his lip.

A deep gasp and a longing sigh escaped Uyuk, as he with his imagination, envisioned the magnificent library in the ancient city of Romkun which unfortunately was now forever lost to posterity.

04- - ANCIENT  CITY ROMKUN,  IN KORION(52)jp

“Centuries of records, all incinerated, reduced to ashes and dust in the blink of an eye.” Hugen disregarding Uyuk, sullenly (morosely) lowered his head. “Though the city and the library have been rebuilt since, it can never measure up to its old glory."  Hugen looked away and grimly shook his head.  "How could it happen?  The ancient relics, the remarkable edifices are all gone for good.  Future generations are eternally cheated (deprived) from all that wealth of experience. Zakhertan Yozdek maliciously stripped (robbed) our land of its heritage and wickedly stole our glorious past.  There can be no greater sacrilege than that!  Damn him!  Damn him and his barbaric legions all to Hell!"  Seething in anger, Hugen pounded his bare fist on the wall, and then quickly drew it back as part of the decayed brickwork crumbled outwards to let the frigid night wind rush in.

"Hold on there, before you pull this hovel down around our ears." Uyuk hastened to calm him.  "We still have to spend the night here you know; and I don't relish the idea of sleeping in a drafty place and have my body whipped by those furious blasts of gale winds."  In a plaintive voice Uyuk grumbled, "I wish you'd learn to restrain that destructive temper of yours.  Or is this another devious means to force us to sleep outside?"  He winced (scowled) and thrust the jug back into Hugen's hand to curb the other’s pending angry retort.

Hugen was rather fond of wine, and Uyuk knew this.  What's more, he encouraged it.  Still, he was yet to see Hugen totally inebriated.  Unlike ordinary men, Hugen went through the first stages of intoxication like he was now but then, as he continued to consume more, he would gradually regain his senses and in a bizarre (twist) inverse state be, completely sober.  This inexplicable phenomenon intrigued, and at the same time challenged Uyuk's logical, scientific sensibility; and so, yet again he strove to alter the typical (usual) outcome.

A gust of wind just then blew the shutter back from the boarded-over window, letting in a (tongue of) lashing chilling wind.  Observing Uyuk's involuntary shiver, Hugen roared with laughter, slapping his thigh then reaching again for the jug to gulp more wine.  Just as Uyuk continued to test his capacity for spirits, Hugen enjoyed driving his partner's stamina to the edge of endurance.  "You are getting too soft in your old age." He snorted and wiped his mouth with the back of his sleeve.  "Perhaps you should quit this line of work, find yourself a simpleton wife and stay in your farm, using your energies, to copulate.”

“Ha, ha!  I can see it now: a dozen half-naked brats, each one with your ugly face, crawling, squealing about the straw floor of your hovel!"  Hugen gave a mock shiver, "What a sight…… haa, ha!"

This time Uyuk could barely constrain his angry retort.  In the past it would have taken much less than this to cause him to fly off the handle, but it would hinder his (purpose) experiment if he were to now launch (initiate) a row.  Instead, he let Hugen's foul mouth run amok.  Gradually Hugen simmered down, having failed to provoke a fight.  Then he grew silent, and his eyelids dropped.

"So, what happened after your daring escape?"  Uyuk reached forward and put his hand on Hugen's shoulder.

"Daring escape?" Hugen shrugged off the hand with annoyance, but the jerking motion was too much for him.  He swayed, and his head began to swim.  Steadying himself against a pillar, he laughed wryly.  "Daring escape, indeed; but, for an eight-year-old I suppose it was." he shrugged.

"Well once clear of the city gates, I ran and ran, trying to get as fast and as far away, from it all. It was grim, I tell you.  There were still some pockets of residual fighting, death and destruction still going on, so during my flight I strove to be invisible.  But however far I ran, endlessly, the akin cruel vistas (scenes) stretched out before me: the maimed, mutilated, disemboweled, and contorted corpses lay about, littering the grounds like streamers after a parade had passed.  The earth was drenched in rivulets of dark crimson blood.  I don't know how many corpses I’d stumbled over during my flight…  And that stench!  The sickening stench was unbearable." Hugen swallowed hard and shuddered.

05- CARNAGE AT END OF WAR

"Eventually I was picked up by a scout and brought before His Highness' presence to give my account.  I did not hold back anything.  I related every gruesome detail, every ghastly event my young eyes had seen.  The act of putting it into words seemed to purge (cleanse) my heart and I told it all.  Later on, my report was corroborated by those few who’d been lucky enough to have escaped this ferocious persecution.  I can still remember the details of that day; this I came to know later still, how His Highness upon hearing the same horrific tales told by different individuals about their loved ones, had in private, shed copious tears over those profuse tragic losses.  He’d resolved right there and then, to resist Zakhertan Yozdek, 'that vindictive upstart', he'd called him, to the bitter end."

"But that didn't happen.  I mean, how could he resist?" Uyuk hastily interjected.

"Ignorant fool," Hugen fumed. "You presume too much!  Things are never what they seem.  I was there; I paid witness to it all.  I'll tell you what (actually) happened, how the great disaster was averted, albeit only temporarily.”

“Fortunately, the Minister of the Interior, Keko Wushing, had been so impressed by my determination and bearing before His Highness that, he took me under his wing.  I became an adopted son to him, unofficially, of course.  But then I digress” Hugen paused to relieve his parched throat and, from the corner of his eye, scrutinized Uyuk.

 “Why this sudden curiosity about past events (history); it surely cannot be merely to relieve the boredom of the night.  What do you hope to gain by all of this?  What dire motives do you harbor?”

Theirs was a strange and strained relationship at best.  Before undertaking the journey to Wenjenkun, Hugen had Uyuk completely checked out to confirm his reliability.  He cared little for the long, unblemished official record; he wanted his own facts, his own affirmation about the man himself.  Typically, his own sources had been more thorough than the Department's and had soon uncovered all there was to know about Uyuk, for instance, fact that he was born in Wenjenkun as Enkaz Dufo, and much more.  He saw no reason to dispose of agent Uyuk for his duplicity since his many talents, if properly handled, could still render valuable service to Korion (their nation).  He had argued this case, in fact, with the Department-head Nein Rejon, the only other operative to be let in on the secret and, eventually secured (won) his permission, in allowing Uyuk to carry on as before.

06-DEPARTMENT -HEAD NEIN REJON (2)

His superior Nein Rejon had conceded that Uyuk's rare talents and resourcefulness in those areas where it counted the most could not be underestimated and had therefore given Hugen full permission to use him. Additionally, Hugen had been entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring that Uyuk did not defect and, if that were to happen, he was further tasked with the responsibility of taking swift and decisive measures to limit the damage.  Hugen was to terminate the problem the instant before it occurred.  Hugen had noted then in Rejon's cold, blue eyes that extreme prejudice, and had understood that instant, how now that Uyuk's birthplace was known to the department, Uyuk from then on would have to overcome great obstacles just to maintain his present position.  He would always be considered an expendable outsider and one of the first to be a suspect, no matter how much he’d proven his worth and no matter the measure of his accrued successes.  In a way Hugen had almost pitied Uyuk but quickly hardened his heart and replaced it instead, with absolute impartiality (detachment) for in his line of work he could not well afford the luxury of attachments or emotions.  This was why Hugen had no close friends to speak of no family through which he could be undermined or wounded.  He had absolutely no special being, no vulnerability outside of his cold, formal working relationships.  Fiercely loyal, he lived and breathed only for the welfare of Korion, and one day he expected to forfeit his life for his Monarch as well. His thoughts once more reverted to Uyuk and he narrowed his eyes as he considered how, during (the course of) this mission he had succeeded in gradually worming his way deeper and deeper into Uyuk's confidence, all done with utmost care and cunning so as not to arouse Uyuk's suspicious nature.

Hugen had played right along, tolerating Uyuks’ eccentricities, it being sufficient to exploit Uyuk's stored up resentment, his prejudices and burning desire for vengeance; he’d also allowed Uyuk to believe that he was pretty much in control of his own destiny and that his most ambitious goal was indeed attainable in the not-too-distant future. Uyuk’s self-confidence was further bolstered as he firmly believed that he was the one tugging at the strings in this affiliation, instead of in fact being the one who was being underhandedly manipulated and toyed; till that is, the inevitable, ultimate lethal outcome to his existence. Uyuk being deemed a nuisance and an arrogant fool, putting up with him had not been by any means easy for Hugen, but so long as Uyuk remained above board, Hugen restrained his fury and remained equitable and deferred exterminating the annoying pest from Wenjenkun. Hugen knew, in the months ahead, Uyuk would be undertaking many other such perilous missions now that he’d been deemed expendable, and in most instances, he would be paired up with Hugen.  In time he would come to rely heavily and trust absolutely the partner who, always, held his life on a balance in his hand.

“How ironic…” Hugen looked down.

 

 

(END OF SECTION 14) 

 LEGEND OF NEVETSECNUAC - ON THE WAY TO THE CAPITAL - SECTION 32

 

 With nothing else left to do, Tizan donned (wore, put on) Captain Duko's attire over the light armor he kept on underneath to protect him from arrows then, as ordered, went back below decks to retrieve (fetch) Disaidun Agripe.

This time quite unexpectedly, Disaidun’s spineless husband, having mustered all his courage, charged at Tizan just as they were headed out the door. 

 

01- CEROS AGRIPE STRIKES BACK

Though Ceroz Agripe was half-crazed, filled with remorse and rage, he was still no match for the Lieutenant of Imperial guards and so, with just one blow from the back of his fist, hardly any effort at all on Tizan's part, Ceroz was hurled right across the room, bloodied and almost cataleptic (almost out cold), to crash onto the floor of the cabin.

 "You dare oppose me, wretch!" Tizan’s rage not assuaged, growling he went over to deliver a couple of vicious kicks to the Ceroz's side; the force of the second kick was such, it lifted the massive body up and slammed (smashed, crashed) it against the far wall of the cabin.

 

02- CEROS AGRIPE KICKED TO FAR END

 Tizan turned his fiery gaze back to the woman Disaidun Agripe and bellowed.  "What have you done to him to bring him to such a state?"

Not condescending to answer, Disaidun Agripe simply shrugged and walked on ahead.

“Quite the vixen, aren't you?” Tizan smirked as he locked and barred the door behind them.  In truth he liked a woman with such spunk but, since Captain Zunrogo had taken special interest in her, she was off-limits to him.  Such was the rule he had always lived by and continued to follow. 

Grabbing Disaidun Agripe’s arm forcefully next, and ignoring her volley of threats, he lugged (toted) her to the barricade.  "This is your post.  The captain forbids you to stray an inch from this point…  Understand?"  Only then Tizan let go of her arm. He was inwardly thrilled at her repressed seething contempt for him, and could not help but provoke her further, "We have only a few hours now before the fog lifts.  If you want to pray for your salvation, go ahead; now may be your only chance."  He smirked.

 

Her retort froze on her lips when her eye just then caught the exceptionally crafted crossbow leaning in the far corner.  Walking over, Disaidun Agripe picked it up, examined it carefully and said, “Where did you find this?  It’s magnificent."

Then, she sedately withdrew an arrow from its quiver.

 

“Show off, as if you can discern a good weapon from a bad one.  Some maven (expert, professional, doyen) you are.” He’d inwardly scoffed, fixing his cold gaze at her; Tzan once more could not resist goading (inciting) her, "You do know how to use it, I trust?".

 

Disaidun Agripe did not answer him but, instead, loaded the arrow in the blink of an eye then aimed it directly at Tizan's heart and asked. “Do you want a demonstration?"

This was too much!  Throwing his head back and trusting his hidden armor, Tizan laughed heartily, "Go ahead, I dare you to."

 

03-TZAN JP

Just then Zunrogo appeared on the scene, his stern looks at once sending Tizan without another word, scurrying off to above deck, to take up his assigned post.

Disaidun Agripe’s (Jepipi's) alluring approach was met with the same icy rebuke.

Not taking it to heart, she behaved as if he bade her, sizing up Zunrogo from the corner of her eye and admiring his heroic countenance.

 

“By the Gods, he is magnificent! “Gearing up for this single, bitter battle, she was positive he would triumph over any foe, however invincible, before the end of the day.

                                                                                         ~

 

For seemingly endless hours now, Disaidun Agripe (Miss Jepipi) had fidgeted at her post.  These times preceding an engagement (battle) had always seemed to drag on forever; furthermore, the angry rants and ravings of her half-crazed husband Ceroz, only two doors down aggravated her soul and ignited her ire, making things far worse.

“Oh, why won't he shut up?” Disaidun Agripe groaned, for her conscience bothered her a little now; after all, it was she who had brought him to this state.

“But it was necessary,” she told herself to ease the guilt.  “I had to do what I did to survive.  Why couldn't he be a bit more like his half-brother?  Insipid fool brought this misfortune down upon himself because he's less of a man, he’s so weak! “Her face contorted in disgust.

 

                                                                             ~

 

Yesterday, upon her return from her blissful experience with Zunrogo, she had hesitated for a few moments outside the cabin door, just long enough to dishevel her hair, loosen her belt, scratch her shoulders, and rip her bodice slightly, altering her appearance and assuming a tragic countenance.

 Let inside and, finally free (away) from Tizan's prying eyes, Disaidun had then given an incredible performance of a woman who had been both physically and mentally abused.

 

Ceroz Agripe already looked haggard, his face unusually gaunt and pale, and his eyes sunken and bloodshot.  It tore at his heart and ripped his bowels to shreds, nearly driving him to the brink of insanity to hear Disaidun’s embellished accounts of the shameful mauling (pawing, battering) that she had supposedly endured at the hands of that vile, lecherous old official, Luvet. That’s right; not Zunrogo but Luvet, her husband was led to believe, was the supposed sole perpetrator of this grievous sexual assault on his beloved wife Disaidun.

 

04- LUVET

Luvet’d spared her face but not her body, under her garments, she’d claimed, was all black and blue as testament of his ill treatment. She had brazenly offered to show it to him but Ceroz, the fool, trusting in her implicitly, simply taken her at her word.

Ceroz Agripe was further led to believe that, behind Luvet's seemingly benign, quiet disposition lay a calculating, sinister, greedy, licentious, and vindictive villain who had, from the moment he’d laid eyes on Disaidun, lusted after her and from then on shamelessly had striven (endeavored) to possess her.

The convincing story Disaidun fed her husband was wretched enough in itself but her quiet tears, her unspoken insinuations just compounded Ceroz’s already intolerable existence, his unbearable misery. Highly incensed, Ceroz Agripe’d gnashed his teeth, shaken his fist in the air and vowed to exact vengeance on that dog's spawn. 

“He'd make him pay dearly for his vile deeds, enlist the help of his half-brother, Zohuj Kez and his influential friends, if needs be.”

"And how do you propose to survive this present danger?  You know you're powerless to stop him or them."  Disaidun had rebuked him, then relayed to him the information she’d overheard, when they thought she’d passed out, in Luvet’s cabin.

Luvet the mastermind, Ceroz Agripe came to believe, had conspired from the start with Captain Doku, the two assassins, the Imperial guard Tizan and Captain Zunrogo, and the seemingly upright scholar, to intercept in mid-stream a tribute vessel bound for the Capital with its cargo of gold bullion.

The details of this grand larceny had been worked out months in advance, down to the minutest point and, the specific measures needed for smooth transition and the eventual execution, now had been finalized.  Many more were involved in a scheme of this magnitude, including some subversives planted on the targeted vessel. The few expendable passengers/witnesses, like them, were all imprisoned in their cabins, to be dealt with later; their predictable demise, however, would eliminate (eradicate) any possibility of trouble later-on.

Then she reminded her husband how she had wanted to disembark along with the other, lucky passengers when the opportunity had availed itself, when there was still time.

She blamed him, on his short-sightedness, his eagerness to reach his new post, and consequently, for this terrible predicament.

Her ill luck had also been the contributor. She then softening, had exclaimed, looking as though she desperately sought to exonerate at least in part, his guilt, which further endeared her to him, “How wonderful she was; how so very naïve to believe in nonsensical superstition.” Fool that he was, she could read him like a book.

 

05-CEROS AND DISAIDUN AGRIPE

 “Oh, darling husband, what can we do, what can you do to save me?” Once more she had wept unconsolably, heart wrenchingly.  After which, when she, feeling terribly parched, dried her eyes, and asked her husband to fetch her some water from the jug.

Her husband eager to please and to console her had rushed to do her bidding.

 It was at that point in time, when she looking even more dismal (gloomy), robbed him of least hope, by telling him that before she was sent back, she had been told, but was afraid to tell him till then, how the villain Luvet intended to murder Ceroz and the baby and if she did not agree to be his concubine in future, he threatened to sell her into slavery (bondage).

As for the reasons why, she had been sent back, it was simply to allow her to say her final farewells, while they finalized their plan and corrected prior overlooked areas of incongruity (conflict ).

"Oh, dear husband our bliss has been so cruelly cut short; as doomed individuals we are, robbed of ecstasy of growing old together. You’ll never see your son grow up. He’ll never grow up! “Disaidun Agripe had looked at him with hurtful, resigned eyes then burst into loud sobs to once more, wrench his heart.

She’d watched (seen) from the corner of her eye how self-loathing and reproach gnawed at his entrails, how flustered, how sickened at heart he’d suddenly felt, in his dire predicament.

For a brief second, seeing how she had broken him with her words, she had felt the stirring of remorse tugging at her conscience; but she had already resolved in Zunrogo's cabin to carry this ploy through to the bitter end.

"Don't worry, husband," her heart again hardened, she had seized this opportunity to add salt to his open wounds.

 "I will not blame you for what will happen to me in future. As I said earlier, I was born under an unlucky star; it has been my curse my entire life.  I don't see why it should change now.  I'm grateful for this one brief period of happiness you have given me.  It will be one fond memory I will carry with me to my grave."

Then once again Disaidun Agripe had recounted in detail, the shameful episodes with Luvet; at the end of which, she’d thrown herself at her husband’s feet, imploring him to have mercy and, by killing her right there and then, put an end to her torment.

 Of course, Disaidun knew Ceroz was totally incapable of such an act.  It was just one more pummel of guilt, another whack of disgrace, all, fostering chagrin, to further constrict the loop (strap, noose, snare, rope) around her husband’s neck, to sap his honor, his manhood and ultimately, push him over the edge.

Egged on by her pleading the fool had tried, given it his best shot too; to predictably in the end, when, she had started to turn ashen, when her eyes had bulged out only a little and, she had started to emit slight gurgling sounds, he had suddenly broken off his grip on her neck and then, with a horrified look on his face, fallen back.

"I can't go through with it! I'm no murderer." He’d cried out.

 “What did I almost do?” Traumatized Ceroz Agripe had glared hatefully at those still partially clenched, despicable hands that had almost taken the life of his beloved wife.

He had next, burying his face and fallen on his knees, had sobbed hysterically, uncontrollably, like a child.

 

06- DISRAUGHT CEROS AGRIPE

Disaidun Agripe, her senses restored to norm, though inwardly sullen, going over, had murmured her encouragement. "It’s all right, dear.  You did nothing wrong. I asked you to; I made you do it. You are not to be blamed. You are a good man; you always were.  We’ll be all right."  She'd then sobbed inconsolably as she cradled him and rocked his head soothingly in her arms.  "Please don't cry.”

 Drying her tears, she’d then to further shame him, promised resolutely, “You need not try, dear; I’ll find the strength somehow for us both and, avenge this wrong. This time I'll find it in myself too..."  She did not have to complete her sentence, for he had understood (grasped) her meaning. 

Disaidun would rather end her own life by throwing herself into the cold river and perishing in the watery grave, than suffer further shame. 

Her strong determination only belittled him further, robbing what little bit of humanity was left within him.  He felt smaller than a maggot, slime, a piece of offal.

 

 

                                                                              ~

 

 

(END OF SECTION 32)