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 5

01-NEVETS ARRIVING AT  THE REMOTE CHECKPOINT

At sundown Nevetsecnuac without incidence crossed the remote border checkpoint and entered the Capital province of Holger. The nearby town still to be reached, at a secluded spot at the edge of a dense forest, he dismounted his horse and then donned his scholar's robes, afterwards he traveled at some speed at the main highway. That evening and few evenings after that he’d stayed at modest, respectable inns and hostels, chiefly to rest his mare, buy some supplies and to gather (pertinent) reconnaissance information from the seemingly friendly locals.

At first, unlike the other provinces, he’d found Holger to be prospering, with citizens contented and not lacking in comfort or being out of sorts; beneath the seemingly pervading peaceful order and opulent facade, however, he could sense that something sinister and evil lurked that bolted shut every dissident's mouth. And when he discretely and relentlessly delved deeper into internal matters and the existing facts, Nevetsecnuac uncovered, true enough, ugly manipulation, wide-spread corruption among the officials, appalling misery, and vast enslavement of the seemingly normal populous. 

02- MARKETPLACE AT SUBURB TOWN IN HOLGER PROV.2

Nevetsecnuac’s soul became further beset (burdened, tormented) with wearying (draining) despair, understanding the fact that even at this furthest periphery, the stranglehold of (Usurper Zakhertan Yozdek’s) stringent rules of law and the draconian penalties, all enforced under the (guise) masked miasma of propriety (aptness, decency), solidly dictated every facet of each citizen’s life. Enslaved by the eternal, numbing fear coursing through their veins, the unfortunate masses, even those rare would-be dissidents, consequently had their mouths permanently bolted shut, despite the fact that their subsistence were far worse than any imagined torture in Hell; moreover, Nevetsecnuac understood that he had to harden his heart for ahead, lay, a  portended, graver conditions, far worse villainy, and abominations.

                                                                                      ~

 Meanwhile, in response to his inquiry as to which course to take to reach the Capital City, the river route was pointed out to him, time and again, as being the most preferred and pleasurable of alternatives.

Though admittedly a bit slower, for the Yawjun River meandered widely and was subject to occasional storms, the magnificent scenery along its course fostered (cultivated, nourished) every scholar's, poet's and artist's soul and the comfortable lodgings provided by the charter boats more than compensated for this slight inconvenience.

 Nevetsecnuac, for the sake of expediency, opted instead for the faster land route and, late that afternoon, at the outskirts of town, at a secluded spot behind the hill, further down the road, he allowed the mare to graze briefly on the tall, lush grass, as he once more changed back into his regular traveling clothes then secured the scholar's garb in the luggage bundle behind his saddle.

03- NEVETSECNUAC

After two days journey, once more ignoring the last well-meaning innkeeper’s counsel, (a short, plump, middle aged man called Huisun, who had taken a liking to Nevetsecnuac and had genuinely tried his best to deter him from taking the hazardous course as this was the worst season for such a daring undertaking), Nevetsecnuac, digressed from the main highway, to continue (via) by way of short-cut route.

The direction he was headed traversed the most dangerous Yokono Mountains, a range of peaks of various heights, some of which towered to touch the Heavens, that stretched away far to the south-east. Eventually the trail would meet up with the more frequented, safer, and civilized roundabout route by the river.  By rights, Huisun's apprehension was well (founded) warranted for, even in a good season, the path was marred (marked) by the skeletal remains of those, however competent, which had chosen not to pay heed to the warnings and were never seen or heard from again.

Naturally the locals who lived in the shadows of the Yokono range firmly believed in the superstition of the evil, wayward mountain spirits that dwelt in the abundant caves and deep caverns.

These nefarious spirits supposedly perpetually preyed on the unsuspecting souls of travelers, driving them to madness then suicide, if they per chance, miraculously survived (avoided succumbing to) nature’s numerous lethal traps and the predatory beasts that in profusion, inhabited the mountain slopes.

 Accordingly, the Mountain God of the Yokono, Choron, received many offerings from those who lived at the edge of the foothills and was often called upon to preserve the inhabitants from various malefactions which they perceived may, at any time, descend upon them from the mountains to inflict injury and spread terror.

04- MONSTERS AND MALEVOLENT SPIRITS

  ~

 

The first leg (part) of this journey was uneventful (without incidence), even tedious for Nevetsecnuac, then, with a drastic change in the weather, gale winds swept across the foothills as incessant, torrential rains lasting for weeks on end, drummed on his head; the deluge washing the slopes clean and creating mud traps and fatal rockslides.

Despite these (occurring) scores of obstacles in his path, Nevetsecnuac relentlessly pushed on, endeavoring to cover as much ground as possible on any given day. Subsequently he reached the segment where the towering range on both sides hastened the dusk. Here the overhead broad-leafed trees shielded Nevetsecnuac from most of the downpours, but this was a mixed blessing for they also enveloped him in an oppressive darkness in which the air increasingly grew stagnant.

In this eerie, foreboding atmosphere, due to copious annual precipitation, the soft rocks of the mountainside had been carved into grotesque shapes, while lush green vegetation habitually choked the already precarious paths.

Underneath, an abundance of creepy, crawly insects, legless, slippery reptiles with fangs and venomous amphibians (frogs) posed yet another sort of danger. Meanwhile, the multitude of dark caves, crevices slimy with moss, and the huge, forbidding caverns that held wild, predatory inhabitants frequently tested Nevetsecnuac's prowess when he had to contest with them for the night's shelter (accommodations), though by preference, he avoided inflicting on them any serious harm.

 Incredibly, after the next stretch, the topography, and the atmosphere both underwent a drastic change; there were now plenitude of gushing streams, abundant picturesque, roaring waterfalls crowned in mist, tingling, gurgling brooks in their plenitude intermingling with the drumming rain and obsessive wind.

Periodic streaks of sunlight brushed, the dancing, fleshy, provocative leaves, swaying, tempting branches in a lugubrious symphony enrapturing one in a magical air, delighting the senses to their fullest and giving one, in fact, a false sense of security and serenity.

The ever-present dangers from the majestic, possessive Yokono mountain peaks towering overhead, meanwhile, perpetually glowering, threatened to at any given moment to inflict havoc on the unsuspecting, lulled trespasser who dared to violate this sanctimonious ground.

With so many treacherous traps just waiting to claim him in a wink, could Nevetsecnuac be expected to escape them all, unscathed?  Hence, in one moment's inattention because of a spooked horse, Nevetsecnuac (while leading the horse), nearly did in fact succumb to the ravenous appetite of a precipitous drop.

 One catastrophe begetting another, that same instant the horse's hind left leg got trapped in a collapsed crevice, Nevetsecnuac losing his footing, had slipped on the moss covering the just then loosened rock and unavoidably went right over the edge. He managed to slow the speed of his descent and arrested (halted) his further plunge, by grasping at the roots and vines hanging from the top, till he eventually secured his footing on a protruding rock ledge. Tethered precariously (by still holding the roots), he looked down to (see) catch the accompanying mossy rocks and clumps of muddy earth, as well as the ridge, in a blink disappear into the hazy abyss.

Up above the spooked mare trotted and neighed uneasily as she tried to liberate her hind leg from the entrapment in the solid segment of the path, unwittingly however, creating an extra dire situation, by loosening (dislodging) still more earth and rock.

With the skill and agility of a monkey, Nevetsecnuac, in nick of time hauled himself up to safety to dispel the blindfolded mount's fears, before the beast did irrevocable damage to herself. 

A careful examination of the rescued leg revealed the mare's ankle bones to be intact, though the muscle and skin around it was slightly swollen from bruising and superficial lacerations. Nevetsecnuac tended to this best he could.

Later, as Nevetsecnuac and mare, ascended to greater heights, the unusually sweltering temperatures and torrential rains created a permanent miasma that, compounded with the thin air consistent with these high altitudes, further constrained the lungs to the degree of belaboring their advance.  Sorely missing the cold, refreshing temperatures, Nevetsecnuac looked up longingly to the summits in the hope of tracing the expected margin of snow, but his vision was obscured by the crowning mist that descended all the way down to converge with the rising fog and steam from the mantled valleys below.  Nevertheless, tirelessly advancing along the middle ground in this ambiance, if it was not for the stony, thorny path, Nevetsecnuac could have quite easily imagined that he was treading on clouds in mid-air.

                                            ~                                       

 Dealing with the ever-present persistent dangers from the roaming predatory beasts and slithering serpents (or poisonous reptilians underbrush) by day and nocturnal animals, birds (bats) and biting insects at night, eventually on a descending course, Nevetsecnuac trailed the narrow ledge that had been carved into the mountain with one side having the rising peaks decked with ancient, towering trees with huge, wide trunks with heights reaching up to the clouds while on the other side again a steep precipice dropping to a bottomless abyss.  Despite this, leading the blindfolded horse by the reins, he successfully negotiated these countless perilous turns this way and that, to reach the more favorable plateau.

Advancing at this more lenient segment, once on a rare cloudless day, in the absence of rain, mist and fog, Nevetsecnuac, with unobstructed vision, witnessed the unfolding glory of the most magnificent, panoramic, breathtaking view that had all along eluded him.  Looking beyond the frolicking, rainbow-colored birds; Nevetsecnuac elatedly then, had traced the now visible river Yawjun carving a snaking vein through a deep valley thousands of feet down.

The worst part of the journey finally behind them, in this more moderate climate, man and mount trailed in more leisured pace the stony pathway flanked by thick vegetation and strange, broad-leafed trees; thus enjoying, the branches bedecked with budding blossoms swaying gently in the breeze that fanned them. The delicate fragrant air softly caressing his face, Nevetsecnuac, delightfully lent an ear to the melodious thrilling of songbirds as they were busily building nests. Fully appreciating nature's exquisite beauty, which enchanted and enthralled his senses, he paused frequently to assimilate it all as his eyes observed in delight the industrious, buzzing bees happily converging on the pistils of blossoms, the flippant, fluttering, frail butterflies contesting in beauty with the host flowers, and the droning, intrusive insects encircling the air in peaceful coexistence with the furry, fuzzy, frolicking animals in full celebration of life.

In the ensuing days his heart burst in excitement, his head in fanciful clouds, Nevetsecnuac bounced his steps joyfully on the petal strewn pathway that gradually straightened, flattened, and widened as it converged with the more moderate route (trail, segment, road).

The undulated slopes surrounding this dell hemmed in by jagged peaks in parts were densely forested, portending still a multitude of concealed dangers.  However, this did not raise the least concern in Nevetsecnuac. Nearing the end of his dried rations, he scavenged for some delectable mushrooms, wild berries and dug up some edible roots for sustenance. Intoxicated with nature's beauty for the first time since he had embarked on this long, arduous journey, he had only now permitted himself the luxury of such serendipity.

 In that brief respite he had ceased to exist, the all-encompassing, enchanting nature possessed his soul and his weightless body floated on the warm, fragrant breeze.

07- NEVETSECNUAC

The colors, enhanced by the sun's brilliant rays, grew in intensity brighter and brighter still till he was almost blinded.  Indistinct patterns of all shapes and forms danced next, in front of his eyes as swirling lines created by swaying branches and the flight patterns of insects simultaneously drew iridescent, incoherent messages for him in the air.

 Dizziness overcoming him, he reclined spread eagle on the plush, wet, multicolored carpet and, for a moment, closed his eyes in repose.

But no sooner had he done so than he felt the cold, sharp edge of a blade pressed firmly against his bare throat.  Opening his eyes with a start, he saw before him the glaring face of Zonar.

"We've some unfinished business, you and I," he sneered icily, his one knee pressed firmly, squarely on Nevetsecnuac's chest.

"I said we'll be meeting again.  How is it you're still caught unaware?" he asked, mockingly and, throwing his head back, laughed uproariously before answering his own question…"But perhaps not this early, eh?"

 

(END OF SECTION 5) 

 LEGEND OF NEVETSECNUAC - ON THE WAY TO THE CAPITAL - SECTION 4

In truth the Immortal Zonar Kuntzu’s loss was only temporary; after an arduous effort, he would eventually regain (recover) all that he’d lost.   

Nevetsecnuac could not of course have imagined the extent of hazard he’d at present instigated, for the danger unleashed upon the world, albeit temporary, was very much real, as this amulet (that had housed the dangerous entity Cassar, who was called Mokak, later renamed, Jenor) was in fact more than Zonar’s family heirloom (a birthright article). The imprisoned entity within the amulet had once been bound to Zonar’s father Zandar Kuntzu’s genetic factor (DNA).

01- ZANDAR KUNTZU

Zandar, though later was considered a renegade Immortal, had once despite his youth, had held a prominent position within the ruling elite (of elders), of the ancient race of Karn. Upon Zandar’s demise, because of his specific genetic link to Zonar, this onerous responsibility of safekeeping the amulet, a lifelong sentence that could not be erased or shirked (evaded, dodged) whatever the circumstance, had then been (trussed, tethered) passed down to Zonar.  

Centuries earlier Cassars, a troublesome race had been the catalyst of a catastrophic dissention (discord) among existing ancient races; set against one another the irreconcilable differences and disparaging venom had resulted in the eventual destruction of the many primordial elite powers. Only the most resilient race of Karn (and few other races that had integrated within its modules) had triumphed; hence, decade later ending the cataclysmic wars and furthermore, conquering then imprisoning, the few remaining Cassars of this unruly (rowdy) race that had instigated (triggered) it all.  

02 -  CASSARS )

Adversarial elements of these Cassars properly contained, spanning several centuries now the armistice (truce and resulting concord) had lasted on Earh, as the dominant race of Karn, as well, few remaining subsidiary custodians of this world, had peacefully coexisted well hidden in the remotest corners (chiefly at the summits and at the icy peaks), result of having graciously allowed the species of men the sole dominion over (placid, more climatically favorable, more livable parts of the) Earth.  

It would have been far better for the world, if this troublesome race Cassars had been totally expunged; however, by consensus of the elders of Karn, Cassars had been subjugated (bested by the utilization of ice or water) though spared from total annihilation.  

03- (ELDERS OF KARN)

Elders of Karn had, moreover, additionally afforded mankind that definite measure of safety- by constraining, rather, indefinitely imprisoning few spared Cassars, in the protective water crystal amulet that selected members of Karn wore. It was a bane (burden) to be endured till the end of time. In the unlikely event the prior custodian would expire, the amulet would then be (transferred) bequeathed to the offspring sharing the same genetic factor.  Now under normal circumstances, Zonar’s immortal father would have discussed in detail the amulet’s range of powers and, even given his son some necessary, precise instructions (pointers) to maintain absolute control over the imprisoned entity; however, Zonar, sent away for his own safety at an early age to grow up among anonymous mortal family, had never been afforded this opportunity.  

Furthermore, the subsequent bizarre circumstances that elicited (caused) the premature, atypical (odd) demise of renegade Immortal Zandar Kuntzu, and hence, well before Zonar could master the amulet’s intransigent powers, Cassar entity called Mokak, with his resourcefulness had once, successfully affected its escape from captivity. (Check out: Legend of Nevetsecnuac, Book 2 titled The Ordeal, more precisely, Section 8, where Mokak is mentioned.)

At that time Zonar, wanting to know more about this amulet and the entity it contained, had avidly perused those veiled (oblique, coded) secret teachings his father Zandar Kunzu had left with him, but since the situation of escape (of any Cassar) had never once transpired  (occurred), not while the amulet had been in his father’s safekeeping, it had taken Zonar many more months of quest and sheer luck, to capture and re-enslave sly Mokak (later renamed Jekor ) in the crystal Amulet. Since then, Zonar on his own merit, through trial and error, utilizing his brilliant and discerning mind, had discovered few more facets of the amulet’s varied, multitude powers.  

04 - ZONAR KUNTZU

Currently,  during combat with Nevetsecnuac,  when the amulet broke in two this, despite Zonar’s stoic, stone countenance-  mindful of the now matured and at large entity’s, Jekor (Mokak)’s inherently grown prowess’s and the unimaginable, portended havoc he could unleash on the unsuspecting world and on both (mortal and immortal) realms- seriously troubled Zonar.  Anticipating the arduous task of, recapturing this willy, artful and now more potent menace, caused Zonar to, pensively (thoughtfully) but with unreadable expression,  glance away. 

05- (MOKAK- ALSO KNOWN AS JEKOR)

Sensing only an inkling of the magnitude (scope) of the dire circumstance, Nevetsecnuac knitted his brows, and covertly pinned his questioning gaze on Zonar; as he, same time fought the ominous foreboding that had suddenly vice-griped his heart. “Had he inadvertently, seriously harmed his benefactor Zonar by damaging the (potent)amulet, in the course of it, ending any chance of his enlisting Zonar future guidance?”  

Nevetsecnuac now hastened to ask the latter’s forgiveness but Zonar, after his fleeting icy, contemptuous glare, simply snorted and again looked away. But then in afterthought, he’d quickly passed it off as fate and dispassionately shrugged his shoulders; determined not to let this rare opportunity (of further testing his nephew) be wasted, he just unfastened the clasp and removed the chain, with the broken amulet ( crack in the middle now emitting no light) still precariously hanging from it, from around his neck, then walking to the edge of a high precipice, hurled it into river.  He watched its descent, it being swallowed by the fast-flowing waters then, with a changed, resigned expression on his face, inclined (turned) his head to grimace wryly at Nevetsecnuac. 

Afterwards he simply walked back with large strides and halting few inches away from Nevetsecnuac, cooly proposed that they might as well continue the combat. When Nevetsecnuac showed some reluctance to engage him, his short temper flared, and he roared in fury: “You dare to insult me?” And then in lightening speed launched his murderous assault.

Forsaking his reserve, Nevetsecnuac fought back, at first on the defensive but soon shifting to the offense.  

06- NEVETSECNUAC FIGHTS ZONAR

The two combatants consequently, as one successive blur to the naked eye endlessly fought on in a dizzying whirlwind, or, in unrelenting fierce deadlock, back and forth, well into the night. The Earth rumbled incessantly at their extraordinary might while Heaven knew no peace from the sheer intensity of their powerful strikes. Once, as if in protest, a mounting flotilla of dark clouds congregated to shroud the moon and the stars, following it with angry rumbling and streaks of lighting miring (marking) the sky; meanwhile, quaking ground underfoot at times shook the soil (earth), debree and boulders loose, uprooting trees, creating gashes or deep chasms, to enforce termination of the relentless, vigorous combat. But still undaunted, the battle had raged on without ceasing in intensity.  And when the first rays of dawn finally broke from hurrying (sailing) clouds, for Heaven had had enough, the rising gale winds punishingly swept across the Earth. Thunder and lightning more repetitiously now crashed about them and alight trees threatened to scorch them and reduce them to cinders. Subsequently, the torrential rains changed into hailstones, pounded mercilessly on their heads and turned the ground underfoot into muddy rivers.

Their persistence prevailing over Heaven’s will, eventually, by about noon of the third day, the skies cleared up. The brilliant sun’s golden rays bathed the drenched Earth and enveloped the brave warriors in sweltering heat as they still fought on.

07- ZONAR FIGHTS NEVETS (15)

Suddenly however, Zonar, in mid blow, stayed his hand and leapt out of the circle of combat once more.  

“Enough, I see now that a thousand more rounds will not engender your defeat. I therefore salute you sir, as a true and unequivocal equal.  Despite your age, you bear the singular mark of a great warrior.”

Throwing back his head, he laughed uproariously.  “Ha!  Ha!  This is what I needed most to shake myself out of my complacency.  I thank you, sir, for this most invaluable lesson.”  Assuming a more serious expression, he then bowed low to Nevetsecnuac (his nephew) in deep respect.

Bowing also, Nevetsecnuac reciprocated the courtesy.

“The honor is mine, sir, to have even met by half measure your outstanding abilities.”

 He next voiced his heart felt desire to become Zonar’s tyro (novice, trainee, acolyte, follower, student).

“Though a feasible consideration, it’s not convenient for me to accede at this time.” Clenching his fist and musing, Zonar looked away in silence.

 Zonar was in fact beginning to worry, having lingered in one spot (and time zone) far too long; therefore, risking being discovered by his ardent nemesis bent on his destruction.

 Stealing a glance at Nevetsecnuac from the corner of his eye, he further mused, “Yes in many ways, you remind me of Tuko.  Had my mortal younger brother, survived the massacre he may have turned out exactly like you.  But no!  It’s not time yet… And furthermore, with so much at stake, I can ill afford the indolence of sentiment, hence, jeopardy (risk, hazard).”  Nevertheless, he felt constrained to give Nevetsecnuac, a palpable (tangible, convincing) excuse.

“I am tempted, sir. But I fear that such, is out of the question!” Zonar finally spoke in a restrained, somber voice.

He bit his lip, “To befriend you, my sworn enemy? Wenjenkun and Korion, two strong adversary nations, will not do; for long exists the lethal animosity, toxic rivalry between (our countrymen) both.” 

 He knit his brows and with clenched fists, he simply looked away.

 “Ney; for it would mean violating every fabric of my…. and forsaking loyalty to my Sovereign.  How can I then, face my countrymen with dignity?”

08- NEVETSECNUAC DISSAPPOINTED

As Nevetsecnuac, eyeing him curiously, remained lost for words, Zonar forced a smile onto his pallid lips then, as if in an afterthought, faced Nevetsecnuac and inclined his head gallantly.  

“My name, sir, in all confidence, is Zonar Kuntzu.  I’m a native of Korion, born thirty-two years ago.  That much I will divulge, for you have well earned the right to know it.  We will be meeting again, though under what circumstances I cannot rightly predict.  I pray, however, that when that happens you will not judge me too harshly.  Each of us must follow the bidding of our loyal heart.  Remember well my parting words: ‘Even if I fail, I will not fail.’ “

Nevetsecnuac bowed to him in gratitude for the civil negation (rejection, snub) but, when he lifted his eyes to confess his own true name, the words froze on his tongue for, once more, Zonar had vanished into thin air without a trace.

Nevetsecnuac nodded his head in deep understanding.

“Yes, we are kindred spirits and, it is evident we share similar fate. Zonar Kuntzu, bound by duty, you are also headed for that uncertain future (prospects)! Existing briefly perhaps on this Earth, though more certainly me, we stive hard to accomplish that vital and arduous task, for which only we are destined to do.”

“Till we meet again my friend; I am Nevetsecnuac Alric Therran Valamir.” Nevetsecnuac whispered after Zonar, his eyes brimmed with tears.  

“I wish you well and, bid you fond farewell, my esteemed, elder brother.”

 Nevetsecnuac subsequently retrieved the gift, the sword, and after wiping the blade clean and sheathing it (placing it back in its scabbard), inwardly invoked the word: Lomelak. The magnificent sword (with its casing) instantly shrunk and reverted to an ordinary writing brush. Nevetsecnuac was ecstatic; he’d never owned a magical sword before. Desiring to test it again, he this time inwardly uttered (articulated) the word: Lohcnilik. Lo and behold, the writing brush instantly became the magnificent, sheathed sword again. And when it was again transformed into a writing brush, jubilant (thrilled) Nevetsecnuac secured it on his person. He then quickly gathered up his belongings and, not looking back, catapulted onto his horse, and raced towards the Capital, the mare’s hooves churning up a cloud of dust behind him.

                                                                                 ~

(End of Section 4)                                                                     

 

 LEGEND OF NEVETSECNUAC - THE STATE OF THINGS - SECTION 6

Svein (Nevetsecnuac) and Fradel Rurik Korvald (riding on horseback) were still some distance away from any settlement or an Inn when dusk fell.  As if to multiply Fradel's misery, suddenly strong winds ushered a flotilla of dark, ominous clouds, which threatened to let loose a downpour at any time.

 Just then they sighted a thatched hut in the distance, and, in silent agreement, they both steered their horses towards it.  Obvious signs told them that the place had long been abandoned. Two lonely graves outside and a stench rising from the well attested to the tragic story of its residents.

Nevetsecnuac pushed the door open with an eerie creak and, lighting a torch quickly surveyed the dilapidated state of the interior.  The lit torch at once caused the infestation of rodents, lizards and insects to scurry away.

Nevetsecnuac brushed away the cobwebs then pushed the broken furniture and debris to one side to clear out a corner.  Inviting Fradel to rest there, he went back outside to secure the horses and meet their requirements for food and water.  When he returned Nevetsecnuac found that Fradel had made good use of this time to clear out the stove and start a small fire using kindling and charcoal chips that littered the floor.

So, he's not as helpless without servants as he claimed. Nevetsecnuac mused.  Good!

That night, sheltered from the wind and rain, for the roof leaked in only one or two places, they shared dry rations boiled over the fire to make a stew.  Fradel, more accustomed to wine and savory dishes, consumed a good share of this food without complaint, washing it down with water.  To Nevetsecnuac’s relief, the pampered scholar had proved adaptable and, more to the point, resilient.

After they retired Fradel found it impossible to sleep.  The excitement of that day, the eerie atmosphere of the room, the pelting rain on the roof, his hard makeshift (improvised) bedding and the coarse food had all conspired to keep him awake.  As the night progressed his distress became even more acute.

Now every shadow, every sound stretched his nerves taut.  Several ugly visages leered menacingly at him from the dark corners of the room but when he sat up and stubbornly fixed them with his stare they reverted back to ordinary objects.  Again, he shot occasional glances in Svein's direction and seeing him in deep slumber, suppressed an urge to grunt a would-be protest, “For Heaven’s sake, how can you sleep so soundly?”

Exhausted, Fradel reclined once more, then becoming aware of someone else's presence, he jumped up. This time, however, the apparition (ghost, phantom) was outside of the window.  As the window had no covering, he walked towards it and at the same time strained his eyes to see through the dark, the just then manifest, vacillating (fluctuating) iridescent specter.   The form drawn to closer proximity, become clearer, and he could now make out the tragic countenance of an elderly woman, which presently stretched out her arms in supplication and sobbed: “Save me, sir!  Save me!” 

Fradel was about to respond when, suddenly, out of the pitch darkness, three fearsome black wolves materializing (emerging), leapt upon her and sank their long fangs into her flesh; with such a voracious appetite, their prey (target) was instantaneously gone. Subsequently, crunching the last remanence of bones and lapping up the victim's blood, the trio of wolves licked their fur clean, thence, all three menacingly directed their attention on Fradel. They pivoted their blazing eyes on Fradel and began advancing towards him with deliberate slowness, with their tongues lolling, drooling at the mouth, as they panted.

Fradel, recoiling in terror, could not move a muscle, especially since one of the black wolves suddenly appeared inside and right beside him.

Fradel, resigned to his fate, held his breath and closed his eyes, expecting to be mauled, disemboweled and eaten to the last morsel by the rapacious wolves; unexpectedly however, the beasts simply vanished, when Sven just then stirred and, without turning to face him, asked: "What is it?”

"Nothing, nothing at all; it was just a bad dream (nightmare).  I'm sorry to have awakened you."

 Of course, Fradel's disclaimer was belied by the beads of perspiration on his forehead.  He tasted their salt as they dripped onto his lips; currently back on his hard bedding, he sullenly reclined and turned his back to Svein, as if to sleep.

 My strained nerves are playing tricks on me. Fradel consoled himself.  I'd best try to get some sleep.  With determination he closed his eyes tight but, just as he was about to drift off into the dream world, a rustling sound piqued his curiosity, and he once more lifted his eyelids to investigate.

This time his eyes beheld, in the center of the room, an enchanting, most beautiful fairy maiden’s apparition. Furthermore, smiling most alluringly at Fradel, she beckoned to him.  As he sat upright to acknowledge her, she suddenly turned into Cobarkek who, gritting his teeth, glowered at Fradel.

The scholar was seized with an inexplicable terror, recalling the bandit chief's last words to him, “I will deal with you later.”

He was about to call out to Svein when Cobarkek's head detached itself from his body, floated upwards and began to spin.  When it stopped, just in front of Fradel, the mouth opened wide and a reptilian, double-pointed tongue lashed out and coiled itself tightly around Fradel's neck, choking him.  Fradel struggled in vain to free himself, gasping for breath.

Again, Svein stirred, and Cobarkek's head simply vanished.

 Fradel found the culprit to be nothing more than the loosened strips of his head bandage that had fallen down around his neck.  Just as he was about to laugh at his own folly, Cobarkek's ghost reappeared.  Once more the scholar recoiled in terror as he watched the phantom metamorphosis into a frightful demon with grizzled red hair, blue face, glittering eyes, a saw-toothed razor-sharp grin and a blood red flickering tongue.  With green slime oozing from its four nostrils and its six arms flailing it advanced towards Fradel.  Paralyzed from the neck down, Fradel opened his mouth to cry for help, but no sound was issued forth.

As the scholar was struggling to scream, Svein suddenly sprang to his feet and hacked the demon into two halves with one blow.  Both halves toppled to the floor, motionless, giving off a dense bluish vapor that settled into a putrid mass which oozed under the floorboards.

Svein turned to smile reassuringly at Fradel, "It's all over now, go back to sleep."  Then, quite unruffled, he lay down once more, facing the wall, to fall asleep.

Fradel leaned over to ask, in amazement, "Aren't you afraid?"

"I used to be", Svein confessed.  "When I was younger, but now I know there is nothing to be afraid of."  He shrugged his shoulders under his blanket.

 "This is to be expected.  All abandoned places have their share of ghosts and demons, but they can only harm us if we let them."

Fradel nodded and also reclined in order to sleep once more.  He was very comforted by Svein's presence and, gradually, his heartbeat returned to normal.  Drawing closer, he whispered his thanks to Svein but the other just let out a disquieting laugh and, when Svein turned around to face Fradel, he wore Cobarkek's face.

With a start Fradel awoke and sat up, a crazy gleam playing in his eyes.  When he steadied his heart once more, he realized that all of it had been a dream.  But was it really?  He had an eerie feeling about it all.

At the far corner a huge rat was gnawing at an empty flour bag as it flashed its red eyes at him.  Standing up, Fradel strolled to the window and peered outside.  It was just before dawn and he saw Svein harnessing the horses, anxious to be on the road again.

Before they left, on Fradel's insistence, they dug a new grave and fished the corpse out of the well.  Despite the decayed condition of the body, Fradel at once recognized the old lady in his dream.  Giving her a proper burial next to the other two mounds, they allowed the poor woman to find lasting peace in the afterlife with her husband and daughter.

Svein then mounted his horse and urged Fradel Rurik Korvald to follow suit.

 Looking back on the three small mounds, another painful memory intruded into Fradel's thoughts.  In a deep silence he hung his head; his face was long and drawn as he reflected over this past, tragic episode.  Absentmindedly he pivoted his mount around and let it follow Fiery Comet onto the open road. 

(END OF SECTION 6)