11- LEGEND OF NEVETSECNUAC - EVIL PERSONIFIED - SECTION 6

Subsequently, long after his firstborn's ignominious death, Zakhertan had thoroughly investigated all happenstances from varied perspectives and scrutinized even the remotest incidents (episodes) that could have given rise to his son’s shocking defiance; meanwhile, seeking any explanation to forgive his son and to absolve himself from least blame. He had even considered the possibility that his beloved son had gone temporarily insane, had suffered a medical mental affliction (episode) or injury that had resulted in his irrational, deplorable behavior.

Nevertheless, Qijerrik consequent unfilial breach could not be minimized (disputed) or denied; after considering this at present once more, Zakhertan shook his head and again hardened his heart. Qijerrik when captured and brought in chains before him (Zakhertan) to account for his crimes, though altered in personality, had been perfectly resolute and of sound mind. Zakhertan recalled with perfect clarity each nuance and subtlety of affectation, moreover, every brazen discord (articulated dissent) of that day when Qijerrik stood adamantly defiant despite his obvious grave injuries.

01- -QIJERRIK YOZDEK IN CHAINS

 Zakhertan gritted his teeth while the muscles on his face went taut (rigid, tense, tightened), just as it had done then, his heart in the throes of extreme emotional turmoil- observing (witnessing) his son’s  stoic bravely, hearing his son’s defiant responses to his culpable (accusatory), damning analyses and sadistic demands, never giving an inch, shackled and seriously wounded as he were beneath his armour (breastplate, chainmail), result of his prior gallant skirmish with the elite force!

Incredibly, even after all this time, despite all that had passed (transpired), Zakhertan still held deep affection for his firstborn son and he still yearned deep within the crevices of his soul, to have Qijerrik standing by him, as he had once done. Zakhertan had given him the single, unheard of until then, chance to repent, to explain his actions and to beg absolution from him (his Sovereign father). Though, Zakhertan had known all too well, that the offer of leniency was wasted on the son after his own heart. Predictably, Qijerrik had remained unrelenting and defiant until the bitter- end.

"I gladly welcome death (be freed by death) and decent into the debts of Hell than intake another breath and persist (live) under the noxious grid (net) of your tyrannical rule!"

 Those caustic words, then to present, were forever etched in (scarred, burned in) Zakhertan Yozdek’s heart and still pained him. At the time seeing red (enraged), Zakhertan’s fury had just exploded.

"Your death shall not come that easy."  In a blinding rage (not seeing his son), he had descended upon the insolent, shackled prisoner and, drawing his sword severed, in lightning strike, Qijerrik’s right arm above the elbow; but with incredible self-control he had stayed his blade, desisting the urge of cutting Qijerrik’s throat and in a sweeping motion amputating both of his (son’s) legs above the knee.  

02-ZAKHERTAN YOZDEDK  (68)

Qijerrik for a moment or two had fought hard to remain conscious as the stump of his severed arm, the severed artery, sprayed blood all over Zakhertan’s chest and on the guards who flanked him. Nevertheless, fuelled by indignation, for he possessed the same fiery temperament as Zakhertan, Qijerrik’s voice thence, thundered with his wrathful curses directed at his father, till his strength gradually but assuredly waned.

Zakhertan, his fury only satiated by the spilling of blood, consequently, in lightening speed sheathing his sword and then simultaneously withdrawing his dagger from his inner garment, grabbed the tongue of his son and cut out the offensive organ at the root.

His son, by this act, would be silenced forever, so he had thought. But those eyes, those hateful, burrowing eyes spoke louder than any battle cry. The look had extricated (wrenched) Zakhertan’s soul out from his body, then inexplicably plunged (plummeted, drawn) into the debts of those blazing blue eyes of Qijerrik’s; Zakhertan thus helplessly mesmerized, held captive (caged) by the force of it, had endured Qijerrik’s heaped on silent recriminations-making Zakhertan feel like an abhorred monster and worse, making him suffer (experience) the effects of his actions had had on others.

Zakhertan could have well tolerated (stomached, endured) all blame and that penetrating glare of loathing; but then his son’s eyes had unexpectedly softened and had insufferably next, got suffused with a deep, profound pity for Zakhertan, before Qijerrik succumbed to loss of blood and his eyelids dropped! That did it!

At that moment, unbridled fury had again exploded in Zakhertan for, “how dare his son, so abjectly pity him?”  Anew his heart turned to stone; Zakhertan had barked his orders to the guards to get the traitor Qijerrik out of his sight at once. His death, however, would not be so swift.

03- INFURIATED ZAKHERTAN YOZDEDK  (16) JP

The guards understanding Zakhertan’s unspoken command, had hauled Prince Qijerrik to the darkest of dungeons, had his wounds cauterized, and then had the prince chained to the far wall. Once a day Qijerrik was force-fed to keep him alive, for Zakhertan still demanded repentance from his son and if necessary, it would be extracted by torture. Subsequent days, the rebellious forces bereft of his leadership, had been one by one, swiftly, and methodically rooted out and vanquished; and in less than two months every whimper of rebellion had been crushed.  

Every generation of Scholars’ families down to the extended members, servants, associates as well as, all other suspected sympathizers were one and all, rounded up and publicly executed throughout the Kingdom. Many villages and rural towns which had lent support to the Scholar rebels had been raised, incinerated and every life within them snuffed out of existence. Their severed, blood-soaked heads were hoisted on pikes over city gates or in village squares where the eyes were picked clean by crows and the empty sockets formed nests for maggots. Left there indefinitely to rot and stink, they served as a grim reminder, a deterrent, and a warning to all dissidents.  

Each day for well over a month, Prince Qijerrik chained and immobile, had spent long, agonizing hours, being kept appraised of the most recent atrocious and ghastly reprisals exacted (meted out) on his once compatriots.  

 Zakhertan had hoped that the self-recrimination alone, at all the suffering Prince had caused, would force Qijerrik to see the error of his ways and beg, by whatever means he could, Zakhertan's forgiveness. Only then swift death would be bestowed on the prince, along with the granting of full funerary rights. The alternative, Zakhertan let Qijerrik know, was to be kept in the dungeon indefinitely, to undergo sporadic tortures then be left to rot until his corpse would be tossed into the moat below like that of a common criminal. Qijerrik, defiant to the end, had, however still found a way to cheat Zakhertan of the pleasure of his demise (death). At the beginning of the second month of his incarceration, after eating normally for two days to build his strength and lull the guard's suspicions, he had taken advantage of the brief period when the shift changed and, gathering all his bodily strength, had swung his skull backwards with all his force against the wall he was shackled to.  Prince Qijerrik had always been a stalwart (strapping) young man and even in this weakened state, it had taken only one attempt to shatter his skull and therefore end his existence.

Both shifts of guards, finding out what had happened and fearing Zakhertan’s wrath, fell upon their swords and immediately ended their life. The news of his son's suicide had at first infuriated Zakhertan Yozdek, but the more he thought about it, the more he admired his son's resolve and courage despite himself. Though misguided, his son’s stubborn defiance right up to the end had earned Qijerrik, Zakhertan’s lasting esteem and deep eternal love, for being such a true warrior. Breaking his own rule of law, Zakhertan had taken Qijerrik’s remains and had them buried beside those of his mother Lady Elin, in the Royal Tombs; however, the corpse of Prince Qijerrik still received no funerary rites.

04-ZAKHERTAN YOZDEK 78

Zakhertan’s heart from then on had grown even colder still, for he had after all, lost the only person who had mattered to him in life. He had since then been, figuratively speaking, dead to the world. He had allowed himself no attachments and had taken solace only in wars, with murder and mayhem (pandemonium, havoc) being his constant companions; however, none of that had satiated his voracious, predatory soul’s gripe (or lament). His heart, already turned to chunk of ice and caged in an iron chest, had only last year, though hesitantly, had begun to thaw. Zakhertan’s thoughts at present reluctantly turned to Crown Prince Herleif, he speculated whether he had unfairly shunned his second son, born three years after Qijerrik to the same mother Lady Elin.

The two Princes could not have been more different. Prince Herleif was so vastly inferior to the firstborn, that it was hard for Zakhertan to believe Qijerrik shared the (same chromosome, gene pool,) same gene (genetic factor, DNA, RNA) with such a sorry specimen. Lately however, Zakhertan’s feelings about Herleif had been mixed and his heart at times had been tinged with small measure of guilt, for he knew deep down in the crux of his conscience being that he was partly to be blamed for those ill-gotten results. Hadn't he after all desired this outcome in Herleif, this weakling, the bane of his life, and took corresponding (apt) measures all along to perpetuate it? Yes, over the years he had followed his son's failings and his sorry progress, assured that no danger would arise from him but, unlike Yoshikan Sousing Nokuzuk Binchan of Korion, Herleif had not faked his incompetence.

05- YOSHIKAN SOUSING NOKUZUK BINCHAN   (44)JP

Zakhertan thence (from that time on) having changed his mind had subjected his second son to rigorous (arduous) training; try as he might however, after numerous failings and some physical injuries, Prince Herleif had proven absolutely that he had no knack for civil or military calling. He was a dismal failure and a bitter disappointment for one such as Zakhertan Yozdek. Unlike his late elder brother Qijerrik, Prince Herleif was not agile enough, lacked zeal, lacked compassion and benevolence, lacked stamina, courage, wisdom, and skill. Even the most stringent, rigorous training that would have otherwise transformed an ordinary being into a semi-competent commander or an acceptable soldier (warrior), missed its mark in Herleif; he was, at best, a mediocre fighter, and a dismally incompetent supervisor. Nor was this his only failing, prince Herleif was miserly and lacked imagination and foresight; he had failed to apply his extensive schooling in strategy into practice and so was also a failure as a tactical commander in the field. Sovereign Zakhertan had learned this lesson at cost of thousands of good fighting men and a near loss of a province; fortunately, the timely intervention from Prince Herleif’s replacement, a much abler Commander Zifel, had rectified the situation and secured the province. Zakhertan had never been able to forgive his second son Herleif for this terrible blunder and disgrace. Even after his banishment to a remotest province as Governor, much more suffering had been readied for him. In fact, it was only due to the sudden demise of Zakhertan’s third son, Prince Kendar that Herleif's life had been spared at all.  

Sovereign Zakhertan Yozdek robbed of any other adolescent male heirs, had reluctantly recalled (summoned) Prince Herleif back to the Capital Channing. This was of course a temporary measure, as Zakhertan had estimated that now Crown Prince Herleif might last just long enough till a pegged, more capable offspring was born to him (Zakhertan). For some time unfortunately, fate had denied Zakhertan this fundamental right; after the accidental death of Prince Turin Yozdek at the age of three (born to Lady Idona Yozdek), then the sudden demises at infancy of both the Prince Chucek (born to Lady Shayen Yozdek) and Prince Kureing (born to Lady Yinnis), Zakhertan had furtively next hung all his hopes on Prince Magnian, who’d fortunately had survived and was presently, five years old. Zakhertan fists had momentarily clenched then let go, as he had thought how opportunely, fate had given him one more chance to redeem his mistakes. This time he would take care not to repeat Qijerrik’s morose ending, Zakhertan inwardly vowed. He would, furthermore, ascertain that no undue or adverse influences be thrust upon Magnian in an unguarded moment and that, his training and education be far stricter and all encompassing. Though Prince Magnian was just five years old, he had been already showing signs of a great promise, much like Qijerrik.

06- ZAKHERTAN YOZDEDK  (91) AND LADY SEJON

Lady Sejon, as the mother of Prince Magnian, at present enjoyed Zakhertan’s special favors; she was after all, voluptuous, well endowed, beautiful young girl of twenty-two years of age, with honey-colored eyes and long, wavy, raven black hair. Besides being astute and quite ambitious, she was also the beloved niece of Prime Minister Lamont Gudaren; Zakhertan would therefore, tolerate her just a little while longer, while same time, keep an eye to make sure of curbing her influence. And then, Zakhertan grinned venomously, knowing the fate, regardless of circumstance, that awaited his lovely consort.

Zakhertan’s deliberations were interrupted just then by a cheerful chorus of chirps from the shallow pool in the garden outside his window. He absently watched, as the pair of songbirds drank, dipped their bodies into the water and then, flapped their wings to shake off the excess moisture. Zakhertan elucidated (interpreted) their ablutions (ritual cleansing) as a utilitarian exercise, much like the troops bathing after a long march (and before a victorious battle); turning, he glimpsed at the guard waiting woodenly all this time for his command.

"Very well, have him come in."   

The guard responded sharply and within seconds the expendable Crown Prince Herleif was ushered into the room.

 

                                                                                            ~

 

(END OF SECTION 6) 

 LEGEND OF NEVETSECNUAC - THE RENEGADE IMMORTAL - SECTION 22

Zonar was about to take his leave when he just then having picked up Nevetsecnuac’s subsequent thoughts, for a brief spell inquisitively stared at his nephew.

“How very perceptive of you. You are indeed an astute nephew.”

01-ZONAR - IMMORTAL (46)JP

It so happened that ever since the Prime Minister's party where which Nevetsecnuac had encountered the alien Cassar, Samnuk, though this part of his memories had been erased, he still had the enigmatically foreboding, gnawing feeling in the pit of his stomach. The unease had stemmed from the fragmented, cryptic, and disjointed images that had oftentimes intruded into his mind's eye, which he had never been able to rightly resolve or decipher. Until just now that is- when from an inadvertent, illogical notion (a thought deviation), it had all come together to make a coherent deduction (sense, conclusion).

Nevetsecnuac had understood then that, once a link had been established between the entity in the amulet (that was an alien rock spirit imprisoned in a watery grave) and the host- it held an eternal and vital importance to, in this case Zonar's, existence. Overall, the amulet and the single creature within was indestructible; and it could always be retrieved. This realization generated within Nevetsecnuac the keen sense of relief and the need to repay at least in some small measure, Zonar’s kindness to him, by communicating this insight to Zonar, before his arch-nemesis Dwengzur, got hold of the amulet.

Before Nevetsecnuac could verbalize his thoughts, however, Zonar knowingly just then had smiled and held up his hand. "There's no need to caution me; however, I do appreciate your bother." He grinned as his hand unwittingly clutched the hidden bulk (at chest level) under his chemise (blouse, top).

 “I have already retrieved it. “ 

What Zonar, pressed for time, had opted at this point not to disclose to Nevetsecnuac however, was the fact that this amulet which held within it a seditious Cassar creature, this one originally called Mokak, had once belonged to his father Zandar (Chandor) Kuntzu.  A rush of historical facts, all the same, intruding into his brain, Zonar pensively looked away:

In primordial times Cassars, species that were innately, by nature supercilious (haughty), odious (vile), and oftentimes ruthless (brutal, savage), had once been the catalyst of the catastrophic dissention (discord) among existing ancient races.

02- A WARRIOR CASSARS

These primordial races, set against one another, the once supreme elite powers warring over several millennia had all consequently one by one had been eradicated (purged and extinguished). After another two millennia the Cassars, result of a long-drawn-out war, fortunately had been finally and utterly (rooted out) defeated by the omnipotent (invincible) Race of Karn. As sole remaining custodians of this world, by consensus of the elders of Karn, they had spared (the few remaining) Cassars from total annihilation only to imprison them, meanwhile allowing the mortal species to have the sole dominion over Earth. Since that time spanning several centuries now race of Karn, had secretly coexisted with men, dwelling in the remotest, highest elevation of the icy peaks- all the while, affording humankind that certain measure of safety, as the few mutated  Cassars - (the resilient ones that had later, due to the conditions of their incarceration had evolved into entirely different form, which Samnuk and Mokak were of) - had been indefinitely imprisoned in the protective water crystal amulets.

03- MUTATED CASSARS ( MOKAK IS ONE, LATER NAMED JEKOR)

 These amulets presently worn only by the elite members of the Karn Race had always been considered a bane to be endured till the end of time; because each Karn from since then had incessantly perceived (was aware of) that specific creature’s every sensation, discernment, impressions, shrewdness, and experiences, most of it abhorrently vile! 

On rare occasions, when an immortal for some reason or other ceased to exist (died), his amulet was then transferred to another suitable candidate. When Mokak became available, the most Ancient one Aegeus had bestowed the amulet containing Mokak to Chandor, at his third birthday’ special ceremony.  And so, Mokak from hence had been Chandor’s ward, till the date of Chandor’s (renegade immortal Zandar Kuntzu’s) untimely demise in the mortal realm.

04-ZANDAR (CHANDOR) KUNTZU - IMMORTAL (2)jp

Cassars had always been endowed (gifted) with supernatural prowess, but Mokak, (later re-named Jekor by Zonar, Zandar Kuntzu’s twin son) being an anomaly, with a split personality, being also a clairvoyant and an adept shape shifter, was an additionally challenging, most troublesome bane that,  Zonar like his father Chandor before him had to,  most of his adult  life, endure. A small consolation, at least Zonar had not been burdened with this menace during his youth; for as toddler Zonar had been secreted away and spent his early childhood years under the diligent care and tutelage of human foster parents, flourishing as a well-loved, robust, brilliant mortal being.  Zonar’s contented existence, however, had abruptly ceased (ended, altered the moment Chandar had died)- as he had been then inexplicably drawn to this, albeit temporarily, liberated alien form.

At distant locale, the Cassar Mokak being quite resourceful, upon the sudden demise of (Zonar’s father) Zandar Kuntzu, had successfully affected its escape from his liquid captivity and thence, was let loose in the mortal realm.

Consequently, Zonar’s mundane human existence from that moment on had had a catastrophic, tumultuous modification: for his prior placid, methodical (organized) mind had incessantly since then warred with his body. Any lesser being had gone utterly insane by such onslaught. Zonar, harangued by the inexorable physical ailments, sporadic pain, perpetual nightmares and physic torment, had been eventually driven to seek out (search for) and uncover the truth about his true lineage and worst still, discover the existence of the imperative (indispensable) birthright bond, the eternal, crucible (tribulation) link with Mokak. This was because Zonar and Zandar, father and son, had shared the same key genes (chromosomes); subsequently, Zonar had been forced to steadfastly hunt (retrieve) Mokak, to enslave him and to regain his prior sanity (control of his brain) and his physical wellbeing.

05-MOKAK AND HIS ALTER EGO

Pursued doggedly by Zonar the adroit Mokak, to avoid capture and to gain substance and therefore be imperceptible to detection, had striven hard to blend, in other words copulate, with a mortal living being. After several unsuccessful tries, where which Mokak’d left behind several charred human remains and a range of mammal corpses, he had eventually attained through the process of elimination, the essential specifics to triumph. Primarily, it had to be an adult female, still virgin, with the rare blood type (AB-). Secondly, the mortal concept of love, the kind of ardor which human couples had often exhibited for one another, had to exist at the time of consensual union; the absence of any of these key ingredients would absolutely doom the procedure (experiment, the modus operandi).

 By quark of fate, while hiding away at the furthest Province of Wenjenkun’s inhospitable, remote mountain, Mokak had encountered Jiense (Princess Teuquob and later still, Prince Nevetsecnuac’s wife) during her flight from danger. (To learn more: peruse, BOOK 2-THE ORDEAL- SECTION 8 or earlier sections).  

After the alien creature’s stealthy scrutiny, finding Jiense a perfectly compatible candidate from then on Mokak, had set his sights onto seducing her and achieving his goal. To disarm Jiense’s fears, he’d right away quickly assumed the appearance of a rather pleasant looking, bold headed, clean shaven young man about her age; then manifesting suddenly before her, Mokak had presented himself to her as one supposedly from an aristocratic family from Kontu that had fallen on hard times and then become a devout Monk who presently, was on a religious pilgrimage.  

 Mokak could have done an irrevocable harm to Jiense (Princess Teuquob) and to his (Zonar’s) nephew, Prince Nevetsecnuac, as well, permanently altered Wenjenkun’s history. Fortunately, and just in time too, Mokak (re-named Jekor ) had been traced, captured, and then duly contained in an amulet which at present, was worn by Zonar.

Zonar grimaced and considering the alternative loath outcome, pensively looked away:

If Dwengzur had obtained Jekor, the genetic markers of the creature within the amulet, if tampered with, would have only resulted in the destruction of the alien creature and that abrupt severing of ties, could have had its own serious repercussions. Even if Dwengzur did not do this but had kept it for a while, for malice, to simply torment him (Zonar) and destabilize him, the outcome still would have been devastating. This narrow escape, hence, peeved Zonar.

Zonar’s thoughts reverting to Nevetsecnuac’s bizarre ordeal with another troublesome Cassar, Samnuk, which happened to be Dwengzur’s ward, Zonar could not resist the temptation (chance) to provoke (antagonize) the haughty Elders of Karn and specifically Dwengzur, addressing him directly:  

“I was there you know, witnessing Samnuk’s defiant acts; I was the innocuous fly at the tip of the nose of one of the spellbound, frozen human participants (guests). I saw it all. I heard it all.” Zonar staring across, at the far corner of the room, had roguishly derided (taunted). Subsequently, he snickered, sensing his goading had generated (produced) rampant venomous thoughts teleported to him, as it had simultaneously thawed a degree of the immortals’ icy blood.

06- SOME ELDERS OF KARN (LOOKING DISPLEASED)

Zonar nevertheless quickly suppressed his present glee (delight); then, he turned his serious but affectionate gaze back on Nevetsecnuac. 

“Yes, one might say you fared well in that terrible altercation. You, a supposed primitive human, have taught them a fine lesson they soon will not forget; furthermore, they will not be so quick to underestimate your kind in future.”

"They… Who are …?" Nevetsecnuac was puzzled.

“The unwarranted and outmoded eavesdroppers….” Zonar disdainfully snorted and looked away, and then turning impatiently added, “Extrapolating your prior concern, let us just say I had a hunch, so I went back for it. After all, it was a keepsake from my father.” 

 “Now I must bid you my fond farewell."  Zonar turned to go but then stayed (halted) his footing and ceased mid-way his mumbled incantation; after a brief consideration, he simply shrugged.

"Oh, why not; I can see no good reason why you should be kept in the dark."

Despite the looming danger Zonar lingered just a little while longer at the spot to bestow on his nephew, Nevetsecnuac, a fine parting gift.

Subsequently, with a wave of his hand, Zonar created a circular opening in the mid-air of the room- a window of sorts. His face temporarily sported a strange, acerbic expression as his disdainful eyes taunted and then threatened the far away foe.

To the utter disquiet of some of the Elders of Karn and concealed fury of Sthetor, Zonar had then invoked, brazenly, the ancient incantation. When he had reached the last part of the incantation, however,

"Do-kume...ke..ki... sooonures do … 

mukenoro qu wuuuos…. Hukoressyonner….”

"Kazuuuummm… “

Zonar had then deliberately added an unknown variation (factor, canto, verse) to it. This would enable, Nevetsecnuac to view the unfolding scene (the live images, the setting and the characters) which had been purposefully obscured (hidden, muddled, concealed) to the snooping (prying) Immortals.  

07-ZONAR - IMMORTAL (37)JP

Zonar next turned with a softer expression to face Nevetsecnuac and, graciously invited him to once more experience and view the mountain cabin of his youth.

The scene presented a typical night-time routine after a hard day’s toil; the occupants of the dwelling having concluded a hearty (nourishing) repast and cleared away the dishes from the table, they had now, before going to bed, few hours' time with which to indulge in their leisure pursuits.  Nevetsecnuac's eyes presently beheld the typical warm and comforting sight in that far away Mountain Cabin, a place that had been for two decades, his home. The rush of countless exciting recollections and loving memories of those times had, all at once then, (with a warm glow) inundated his heart.

08- LORD ASGER THUXUR MARROG ZHON  (162)jp

Through misty eyes Nevetsecnuac now observed how perfectly still Lord Asger Thuxur Marrog Zhon, having aged a little more, was seated in a familiar pose by the fire. How characteristically, in rapped attention he read those old manuscripts, one a night, pausing only periodically, to deliberate on a concern and at the same time inhaled a prolonged (drawn out) intake of smoke from his pipe.

Nevetsecnuac’s eyes had next trailed to his beloved wife Teuquob, seated with composure, in proximity to the warming fire. As beautiful as ever, she was diligently practicing calligraphy at her desk. Her skill had much improved, far surpassing his!

Nevetsecnuac looking over her shoulder unseen and unheard, marveled at her penmanship and the proficiency of the ink strokes as they effortlessly glided on the (paper) parchment. As though sensing his presence, she abruptly stopped, exhaled a deep sigh and then withdrew the string of wound threads he’d long ago after one of their long walks, had given to her when she had casually asked what he had been doing? He had felt nervous during their conversation and so used his hands to focus on something else. He could not believe that after all that time she still held onto it, that she treasured something so trivial and looked at it now with such longing in her pupils.  

09-NEVET'S WIFE TEKOUBJIN  (70  B )JP

He fought the sudden desire rising within him, wanting to embrace her, to stroke her auburn locks; to reach out and tuck the stray loose hair behind her ear. Oh, how he longed to gently caress her cheeks and then ever so reverently kiss the tip of her nose, which always made her smile, kiss her forehead and those luscious lips.

 His soul and heart were now filled with melancholy, for he loved and missed her so terribly; his present existence contrastingly, had been so driven, austere, and devoid of such candor, tenderness, and tranquility. Moreover, he suspected deep down that he would never ever again be with her or with them.

A sorrowful sigh escaped him as his focus (gaze) lastly settled on his beloved, a little bit older, and now not so identical twins. His precious, robust (strong, healthy, and hardy in constitution) boy twin Alric Svein and darling, most precious girl twin Lueling, as they with wonder glint in their eyes observed (studied) everything and all, about them as they played.  

Only the child’s vastly rich imagination could flourish (enabled) and hold such wonders as twins remained deeply absorbed, intensely captivated by some imaginary yet ordinary item (object): perhaps a specter, a crawling bug, a bird, a simply fallen log, a crackling flame, or a discarded, a plainly innocuous toy.  

10- THE TWINS , BOY ALRIC SVEIN AND PRECIOUS GIRL TWIN LUELING.

Nevetsecnuac’s heart was again wrenched with melancholy anticipating the many dangers and hardships that awaited them, even though Lord Asger would do his utmost to shield them from it all.

“You are being way too morbid.” Zonar’s testy, stern words snapped Nevetsecnuac from his ominous reflections.

"You should instead rejoice in your heart that you have such striking and gifted twins, perfectly well behaved too; funny how the boy is the spitting image of you, whereas the little girl now resembles more and more your astonishingly beautiful wife Princes,

Teuquob.” Zonar softening, grinned mischievously as though entertaining a secret; but

                                                                                    

                                                                              ~

 

one he was not willing to divulge, not at this moment in time. “Imagine if Lueling had instead, looked like you.”

Nevetsecnuac remained quite unresponsive to Zonar’s purposeful banter however, as he could not tear his eyes from the scene. He watched as though obsessed, oblivious of the tears filling his eyes.

 The fearful emotions, of trepidation about their prospects, once more welling up in his heart, Nevetsecnuac broke away from the scene by a sheer act of will and turned to ask Zonar if he could enlighten him on their probable futures, but the renegade Immortal had already gone, vanished into thin air, without a sound or a trace some time ago.

 Disappointed, Nevetsecnuac (spun his head back) turned to look again at the scene in mid-air, but the window that beheld his beloveds’ images, too, had also disappeared as if it had never existed. Suddenly the light was gone as well, and pitch darkness once more had blanketed (permeated) the room.

His emotions, meanwhile, erupting akin to the cyclone winds (or, charged akin to lightning bolts); Nevetsecnuac simply collapsed in the chair by the bed and closed his eyes tightly for some time, to beget (tranquility) serenity, in that thought-filled silence.

“Am I crying?”   

Only then had he become aware of the copious number of hot tears streaming down from his cheeks and chin; the cascading flow subsequently, progressively, drenching (soaking) the upper part of his silk night garment (pajamas, clothes).

                                                                                      

                                                                                ~

 

(END OF SECTION 22)

(CONCLUSION OF THE RENEGADE IMMORTAL- STAY TUNED FOR  BOOK 11- THE EVIL PERSONIFIED) 

 

 LEGEND OF NEVETSECNUAC – THE CAPITAL CHANNING – SECTION 10

 

In truth, Zaur Stugr had searched long and hard for these many years and had finally given up all hope of ever uncovering the truth and of finding out what had happened to his father. Then, just when he least expected it, because of the strange twist of fate the answer had miraculously reached out to him.

“I must relay the message through a courier (an affiliate Kozur) at dawn to, without further ado, retrieve my father's remains from that hellish pit.” Zaur Stugr nodded with resolve. Unfortunately, Zaur’s full schedule did not allowed him to leave the Capital to supervise the work himself, for nothing short of a miracle, would enable him to facilitate his being absent from his official duties long enough to conduct a proper burial with full rights and ceremony befitting the station of his Father. The burden of his office was most exacting (demanding, rigorous) on his time, same as every other official regardless of their status in Channing, for each official was constantly monitored, their every action and allotted time incessantly regulated and documented (registered), under the entrenched (engrained) layers of bureaucracy with its rigid regulatory standards and lawful domination. Not a single unsanctioned intake of breath could be taken without dire repercussions, under such oppressive and absolute rule of Emperor Zakhertan Yozdek.

01-ZAKHERTAN YOZDEDK  (44)JP

 “Perhaps when this whole business with Fradel Rurik Korvald is concluded I may find the means; I promise you, Father, your spirit will find eternal peace in Heaven while your foul murderers will pay for their nefarious deeds in Hell.”  In irritation Zaur drummed his fingers upon the box.

If only he was free, free to do what he wished without the piercing eyes of Lamont Gudaren, Zakhertan’s invincible militia and that cursed Eunuch’s Black Molochs monitoring his every move!  Regardless of all the power he wielded, and yes, he was a covert (surreptitious) rebel leader, nonetheless existing (functioning) and even thriving, under the domineering, tyrannical canopy; unfortunately, at this very moment he’d realized he was nothing but a pawn of capricious fate after all. Indubitably, in the end, his every feat (act, achievement, engagement), encounters had been preordained (predetermined, fated) by the Heavenly Gods ‘dictates.

“And you, oh my most unfortunate Father, your fate had always been far more tragic than mine could ever be!” Zaur Stugr, shamefaced, groaned, recalling Sorgun's confession to him that night long ago when Zaur was a young boy…Young and utterly innocent.

 Only years later had Zaur comprehended the full implications of those words and, from then on, had remained eternally grateful to Lord Wutenzar Thuxur Marrog Zhon. He had henceforth honored His Lordship's memory in secret each year, on the day of Festival for the Dead.  He owed so much to Lord Zhon for all that he had done to extricate his father from the wrongful indictment and later still, for restoring him to his rightful (position) status.  But then because of the capriciousness of fate, more troubles had beset them.

Zaur Stugr’s mind presently recollected those perilous times back then, with the country in the grips of chaos (turmoil) and incessant wars, remembering most vividly, his father's sleepless nights that were spent endlessly pouring over documents, attending clandestine meetings, arranging for the provisions of armaments and his ceaselessly pacing the floor in his study until the (wee) small hours of the morning. 

Then, once more being constrained to flee, they had journeyed to far away alien lands where they had encountered (met) strange people with different (unfamiliar) dialects and customs; only to covertly return, though remain invisible, amid mainstream (ordinary) denizen obscurity (anonymity).

“Oh, father!  Father! “Zaur Stugr’s heart ached as if he had just become an orphan once more.  He leaned back, lowering his eyelids on the tears that welled up unbidden.

Zaur choked, recalling another time and another place that seemed like an eternity ago.

Zaur saw it all again in his mind’s eye, as vividly as if it was just happening before him that last exchange with his father, Sorgun Dufo. (Note: Learn all about Sorgun Dufo, in Book 6- The Assassins- Section 10)

02-- SORGUN DUFO

Sorgun Dufo stroked his son’s hair with a grave face and looked into his young eyes.  "Now, pay attention, Kundrick."

“Kundrick Dufo,” Zaur softly whispered his childhood name; he had not the occasion to think of it for many years now.

 "Listen son, circumstances dictate that I should go away for a while.  Wenjenkun is in the grip of grave peril, and I have it within my (power) means to alter its ill-fated course.  I must undertake a very dangerous task, and time is of the essence.  Hopefully I will achieve my goal and spare this nation of ours from the impending catastrophe.  Though you may be only a child my son, you are strong enough to be entrusted with grave responsibility.  Take this box and guard it with your life, if necessary, until my return.  You must not fail in this, for inside is proof of the allegations I will be bringing before our Illustrious Sovereign Zuronghan Alric Therran Valamir. Without them all is lost."

Zaur Stugr caressed the box once more, holding it as he had gripped it as a child (of about nine years old), feeling the weight of its importance. 

"In the meantime,", Sorgun had continued, "I have arranged for you to remain in the good care of my old friend, Sanzo Tezcat.  I know you are a strong-willed boy despite your polite manners, and I charge you now to behave and do as Sanzo says. Do not give me the least cause to regret this decision.  When I return to reclaim the box, I will explain everything to you, in full detail." 

But his father never returned.

“As discerning as you were, Father,” Zaur Stugr smiled wryly, “even you did not grasp how you were being played (toyed) by fickle fate.  You did not perceive, had no way of knowing of Sanzo's secret life.  How things might have turned out differently, had either of you, more specifically him, breached that wall of secrecy and taken the other, you, into confidence.  You are not entirely to blame though father; after all, you pursued a common cause and trusted him (a confirmed bachelor) well enough to leave me, your only son, in his care. “

“It was clearly not negligence on your part; perhaps it was Sanzo's excellent disguise, crafted so well it had fooled even a childhood friend such as you.” Zaur lowered his head in woeful air.

“How capricious fate is.”

To be sure, (definitely) Sanzo Tezcat had been a master of camouflage; what’s more, he had been bound by his blood oath of allegiance sworn in complete secrecy to the Sacred Brotherhood of the Kozurs.  Since even blood relatives were kept in the dark (unless it was sanctioned by the brotherhood to reveal it, and that happened hardly ever,) Sanzo Tezcat could not have confided in Sorgun Dufo even if he had desperately wanted to, even if it were to save his own life.  So serious were the repercussions of breaking the oath that even the most horrible death was preferable to betraying the Brotherhood.

03- SANZO TESCAT (2)

Zaur’s noble father had never suspected that this bookish (studious, thoughtful), benevolent, and foolishly idealistic, equable (composed, placid) erudite (scholarly, historian), who always seemed to be lost in some fantasy world of his own so distant from the crude realities of present life and politics, was anything more than what he seemed.  And so, at the time, Sanzo Tezcat must have seemed the ideal, safe candidate to entrust with the safekeeping of young Kundrick Dufo.  Besides, Sorgun Dufo's own scruples and good conscience would not have permitted him to involve (or recruit) his childhood friend Sanzo, this idealistic, gentle soul into the perilous, clandestine struggle that took up his every waking moment.

Perhaps that was the root, true basis for his father's undoing; he should have looked deeper into the man’s soul, should have questioned the obvious when it came too easily.  Sanzo, a wolf in sheep's clothing, would have proved invaluable in altering the course of Sorgun's doom.

Vividly Zaur recalled the look of panic in Sanzo Tezcat 's eyes when, just three days after leaving with Sorgun Dufo on a mission, Tojo Tugo was spotted (was seen) in the crowd across the market square.

In an instant metamorphosis, Sanzo had dropped all semblance of his benign, placid (docile) disguise and clearly incensed (irked), hastened (rushed) Kundrick home at once.  Within the space of an hour, they were packed and ready for the flight to disappear in hiding.  Cursing furiously, Sanzo Tezcat had slammed things about and committed countless, obviously important documents to the roaring flames of the kitchen fire.

Despite his forced restraint, Zaur gritted his teeth and cursed the name, Tojo, Tojo Tugo, father of Imperial Captain Zunrogo Tugo.

 “May you burn like dry leaves in Hell for your treachery! “Zaur scowling cussed (swore, cursed).

Many nights since the time when he had first pieced the facts together, Zaur Stugr had anguished over the dilemma. 

Zunrogo Tugo had been a mere child back then, could he be held morally accountable for his father's heinous crimes?  In the end Zaur had exonerated Zunrogo from all blame and did not exact lawful revenge on him.

Despite this resolve, Zaur Stugr had held, in the depth of his heart, a strong dislike for Captain of the Palace Guards, Zunrogo Tugo.  If it were up to him, alone, the Undersecretary's Office would have had no dealings whatsoever with this arrogant, martinet (despot, bully).  Unfortunately, Prime Minister Lamont Gudaren had long ago recognized Zunrogo’s specific talents and, over the course of the ensuing years had engaged his increasingly invaluable services to successfully carry out the most difficult of the Prime Minister's sinister schemes.

As Prime Minister Lamont Gudaren’s avowed subordinate (in official capacity), Minister Zaur Stugr was constrained to maintain an outward (superficial) civil relation with Zunrogo, son of Tojo the traitor; and when bid to do so, enable (facilitate) the despised Captain to augment (expand) his influence and fortunes. Despite solid evidence, Zaur suspected Zunrogo Tugo of having other affiliates, moreover, a far more powerful patron (benefactor) than PM, not ruling out the possibility of that sponsor being someone from the Royal Yozdek Family.

At this point Zaur's mind, unexpectedly, reverted to his childhood.

"How will Father find us?  I'm not going anywhere." Zaur remembered crying out as he squirmed and wrestled against the servants with all his might, steadfastly refusing to budge an inch. 

That was the first time that Zaur (Kurndrick Dufo) had ever defied his father's dictate.

Zaur smiled, recalling how stubborn and cheeky (rebellious) he’d been back then.

 As it were, when threat, force and reasoning failed to sway Kundrick Dufo, the steward Lios then had resorted to a ruse.  Pretending to have briefly consulted Sanzo Tezcat, wily (crafty) Lios had, by choosing his words very carefully, reassured Kundrick that Sorgun Dufo had already sent word to Sanzo that he would meet with them at their intended destination once his pursuers were thrown off his trail.

04- FEARLES KUNDRICK DUFO

When defiant Kundrick had boldly confronted his guardian in his study later still, demanding Sanzo validate this info, Sanzo Tezcat had simply suppressed an outward venting of his displeasure (at this obstinate upstart) and glared sternly at Kundrick.

 His gruff silence had, oddly enough, reaffirmed in Kundrick’s mind that the words Lios had spoken were the truth.  Thus beguiled, Kundrick Dufo (Zaur Stugr) had then complied willingly with all that was expected of him. 

After they had fled to safety, Kundrick had waited fruitlessly for many a day, looking forward to that time when he would be reunited with his father. Every night before going to sleep he’d envisioned (in his mind’s eye) the joyful event, how he would eagerly, elatedly greet his father and then excitedly blather away, recounting (relaying) the many hair-raising adventures he had already experienced.

When their urgent flight to safety had warranted a third move within one year, Kundrick Dufo bit more wizened (more able to discern a lie from the truth) and skeptical, this time he’d adamantly stood his ground, obstinate and unafraid.  Raising quite a ruckus he’d demanded the full explanation he felt was his right to have. On the verge of being bound, gagged, and forcibly transported, Sanzo Tezcat just then arriving on the disordered scene, in an icy tone (a voice commanding absolute obedience), had barked, “Put the boy down.”

Zaur could still envisage (visualize, picture) the riveting scene, how Sanzo’s brief, forbidding look that fanned the room had instantly frozen all commotion (clamor) and frenzied protestations.

 A tomblike (deadly) lethal tension had gripped the room as all, save for Kundrick, stood perfectly still with their heads lowered in abject contrition.

Sanzo Tezcat with slow, deliberate steps, hands clasped behind him, walked over to the window, and gazed absently outside; he stood there for what seemed an eternity, his hand then (grasping) resting on the hilt of his partially hidden stiletto (an ancient, ceremonial dagger). Sanzo’s dark green, piercing eyes subsequently had reverted back to Kundrick Dufo; noting with some amusement, the boy’s adamant stance and the unflinching stare of defiance returned back to him, Sanzo simply nodded.

In truth, despite the just then wavering, inexplicable fear Kundrick had felt in the pit of his stomach, determined not to show any weakness, he had obdurately (pig-headedly) tunneled his hard gaze into Sanzo's eyes.

The steward Lios, having been rather fond of the indomitable boy and at that moment fearing for his safety, had defied his subservient place to cough gently and to flash Kundrick with a worried look.

Quite unexpectedly however, Sanzo's face had suddenly softened (relaxed) and he threw his head back and gave a loud, boisterous laugh that resounded in the tense stillness of the air.

"Ignorance makes a lion of the lamb (young sheep)." Kundrick thought he heard Sanzo Tezcat grumble under his breath as he walked over (drew near) to the boy and seated himself comfortably into a plush chair.

“Who’s he calling a lamb?” Zaur remembered well, how he’d inwardly seethed in rage at the time. He was a real firebrand (a troublemaker, a real hothead) back then.

Kundrick’s fury unleashed he stood ready to pounce on Sanzo, “I’ll show him...” 

But then, steward Lios, catching the boy's attention just then, his eyes had implored Kundrick to keep still and to concede, warning him of dire chastisement if he persisted with his defiance.

05-SANZO TESCAT (10)

Sanzo Tezcat, well composed, with his hard gaze glued to Kundrick Dufo, had pondered on a concern for quite some time, as though the urgency of their flight had never existed and as if they had all the time in the world to spare.  In contrast, these precarious moments had dragged on, for Kundrick and presumably, for his friend and ally, Lios.

Then unexpectedly Sanzo had slightly leaned forward and indicated that Kundrick was to take the seat across from him as, with a singular look, he dismissed the steward and the rest of the servants from the room.  Kundrick Dufo, unflinchingly never taking his eyes once off his guardian, had complied.

Instead of the admonishment he had expected, however, Sanzo had, in a sympathetic, patient tone, promised that one day, when it was appropriate for him to do so, Kundrick would receive all the pertinent knowledge that he sought and that he, Sanzo himself, would answer unequivocally all Kundrick’s queries without the least reserve.

“Until then,” Sanzo had austerely ejected next, “it would be most dangerous for a boy of your stature (station), to possess too much knowledge.”

Looking away Sanzo had then in a softer tone distractedly added, “And since it seems we would be together for quite a long while, I prefer to have our relationship be, more affable (amiable).”

Sanzo, rebounding from that momentary sentiment quickly however, had again austerely exhorted (urged) Kundrick to behave, as his father would have wanted him to, with the decorum becoming of his station and to show the perseverance and self-discipline that was his innate (inherent) good breeding. 

Most incredible, Sorgun Dufo had been one of those rare, exceptional individuals (persons) who had won Sanzo's eternal gratitude and affection. Fortunately for Kundrick Dufo, he had been the beneficiary of all that respect Sanzo had held (felt) for his father and, though the boy had been nothing but a liability thus far, in fact, by this last defiant spectacle (demonstration) worn rather thin his privilege, Kundrick, as sole exception, had still been tolerated by his guardian.  Zaur had learned years later how dangerously close he’d come to being slayed that day.

It had taken tremendous amount of self-control on Sanzo’s part, not to have lashed out and simply offed (killed) the boy; in the end, during his pondering Sanzo seeing something in the boy, (in fact Kundrick had reminded him of his own unruly childhood-self,) that Sanzo had decided from henceforth, to judge the boy on his own merit (instead of his father's) and to give him one last chance.

Sanzo then had communicated to Kundrick in no uncertain terms that, if he wished to remain under his guardianship and in his good graces, absolute obedience was required and expected of him. The underlying tone of this last part (of Sanzo’s speech) had been most firm and severe, leaving no room for discussion or negotiation.

 

(END OF SECTION 10)

 

                                                                                   ~