LEGEND OF NEVETSECNUAC - THE RENEGADE IMMORTAL - SECTION 17

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

01- ZAKHERTAN YOZDEDK  (10) JP

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

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

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

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

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

02- TRIBAL CHIEFTAIN KURESHI NOKUZUK

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

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

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

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

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

03--GUOBIN YOZDEK  (18)JP

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

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

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

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

04- YOSHIKAN SOUSING NOKUZUK BINCHAN  -JP

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

05-MINISTER OF KORION TUVERING BOKUREK   (3)

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

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

"You can be exasperatingly quite tiresome at times."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

(END OF SECTION 17) 

 

LEGEND OF NEVETSECNUAC - THE CAPITAL CHANNING - SECTION 8

Fradel’s (Nevetsecnuac’s) expression still blank; he reverted his gaze back on Zaur.  The minister's eyes were fixed on a distant point, as his mind pondered (mulled over) on some serious recollection or thought.   Nevetsecnuac noted how all along Zaur had desperately tried to master, to contain a seething emotional battle raging within, while he upheld (sustained) an outward, impassive facade.

01- ZAUR STUGR   JP 28

The range of emotions (gratitude, sorrow, anger, exasperation, relief, dreads, apprehension, and impatience) that Zaur had tried to suppress beneath his calm facade (pretense), nevertheless detected by incisive Nevetsecnuac, rather intrigued him; hence, he subtly studied Zaur's face and wondered, “If I could vicariously impart to you (Zaur) all that I had observed in that pit, how would your emotions stand up to those grim revelations?  Would you be able to maintain this calm demeanor (face, guise)?”  A strange empathy, a sorrowful feeling enveloped Nevetsecnuac’s soul at that precise moment, provoking him to breach the all-pervasive wall of distrust that lay between him and his host, to communicate the true details in the hope of drawing Zaur out and enabling (aiding) him to drop the pretense and reveal what was truly at the crux (core) of his being. Moreover, Nevetsecnuac’s heart had ached to, for once have real communication, an exchange of thoughts and feelings, without least reserve. 

“What's come over me?” Nevetsecnuac snapping from his momentary weakness, this dangerous prescience (intuition), however, quietly admonished self: “It’s inconceivable to consider this sheer madness, especially with one such as Zaur, who has already proven to be shrewd and devious, though admittedly not dangerous yet.  I've divulged far too much already.  That pit was located dangerously near the spot where Egil Viggoaries's vassals waited in ambush for Fradel Rurik Korvald.”

 Nevetsecnuac ruminated (cogitated) now, how he had come perilously close to being discovered at the site by one of the sentries; however, fortuitously, the guard had been deterred from further scrutiny (investigation) of the noise, which Nevetsecnuac had inadvertently caused just moments before when he had fallen into the pit.  If that minor incident along with the planned ambush by Egil Viggoaries, were to ever reach Zaur’s ears (it was ever to come to light), Zaur’s discerning mind could, easily then link up the correlating (corresponding) facts and therefore, begin doubting Fradel Rurik Korvald validity. Nevetsecnuac hence reminded self to be more vigilant and selective with his rendition of the supposed facts; meanwhile, unable to not entirely trust his host, Nevetsecnuac was left with the only recourse of coaxing Zaur into taking the desired action on his own accord without any requisite assistance from scholar Fradel. 

The corollary (outcome) of Fradel’s part in all of this must appear quite incidental(minor).

Meanwhile, as Nevetsecnuac (Fradel) was not at liberty to conduct any sort of investigation within the scarce time span he had until his audience with the Sovereign - if his intuition (hypothesis) proved correct, by entrusting the key into Zaur’s hands, he would compel the good Minister to fulfill at least part of Nevetsecnuac’s obligation to that singular skeleton's spirit.

02-THE EXPOSED GRAVE

 Nevetsecnuac was confident that a proper burial would follow shortly afterwards, though much depended on the depth of Zaur Stugr's commitment.  If the minister was in earnest, he would even now be contemplating an inquiry into this, apparently very personal matter.  With the greater means and manpower at his disposal, Zaur could ensure that the unfortunate victim, or victims, would be granted the eternal peace due them in the afterlife.

In the pit of Nevetsecnuac's stomach, meanwhile, the nagging feeling that he had missed something vitally pertinent, some cryptic quandary (predicament, fix) which was tied to the elusive answer, had persisted.

Ending (interrupting) the unsettling silence, Nevetsecnuac resumed his fabricated account, being most careful to sporadically weave in just the right amount of truth.

"Having related how Toza had procured the key, Yakkasar for a time fell silent and cautiously, perhaps with a tinge of trepidation, looked about him.  Being finally assured that no one was paying any particular heed (attention) to us, he reached into his pocket, leaned across the table and saying, please accept this, unclenched his fist to drop this key right into my palm (hand)."

Zaur Stugr, lending Fradel only half-an-ear learned how Toza, Yakkasar’s audacious (foolhardy) son had returned from one of his bold escapades (more likely, illicit excavations or theft), and claiming he’d found this rare treasure, expectedly had attempted to fence the key to what he thought were some incited (interested) customers (buyers, collectors).  Not only had every avenue had fallen through, but worst trouble had beset the pair (father and son) shortly afterwards when Yakkasar, thinking he could do better, had taken the bejeweled key and showed it to an affluent acquaintance of his, unfortunately with negative result.

03- YAKKASAR AND HIS SON TOZU

Yakkasar’s trust was grossly misplaced, subsequent night a group of seedy ruffians had broken into their humble dwelling and demolished everything inside in their search for the key.  Toza, returning unexpectedly to retrieve something he had forgotten had interrupted their rampage and pitted against the four-armed bandits, had been badly trounced (beaten).

Yakkasar returning home, at small hours and in an already dejected mood, had found his beloved son in a pool of his own blood on the verge of expiring.  Stopping his father from fetching help, Tozu with his dying breath had implored Yakkasar to discard (restore) the wretched key, to its original owner.

 Believing the item to be cursed, Yakkasar had, after selling their small property to pay for the burial of his son, had undertaken the arduous return journey to find the pit. Only difficulty being, of late, he could not recollect the specifics his son had imparted to him.

Yakkasar had already traveled a respectable distance to, a rough estimation of an area, hoping that this would hone (sharpen, jar) his memory, but it had not. By the time he had met up with Fradel Rurik Korvald, having suffered during the course of his travel’s untold hardships, been assaulted, robbed, humiliated and subjected to other misfortunes too numerous to recount, Yakkasar had eventually been reduced to that sorry state. 

On top of everything else his health was now failing him and, noting that the persistent symptoms were the very same ones which had dispatched (caused the demise of) his former neighbor, Yakkasar firmly believed his days were numbered. Caught in these dire straits, knowing that he could neither retreat nor advance and, he would never be able to fulfill his promise to his dead son, he simply had begged Fradel Rurik Korvald to grant an old man one last favor and take this cursed key off his hands and perhaps, with his discernible competence, accomplish what he had failed to do.

"I wouldn't ask this of just anyone," Yakkasar vehemently had proclaimed, "but you have shown yourself to be a righteous (virtuous), good-hearted gentleman.  I beg you to help me out of my difficulties.  Both my deceased son Tozu and I'd be eternally grateful to you, and when my time comes to its natural conclusion, I promise, to speak well of you to the God of the Underworld." 

“The old man's insistences raised such pity in me (Fradel Rurik Korvald) that I had to finally acquiesce and consented to do his bidding.”

With complete confidence, Nevetsecnuac (Fradel) had anticipated the probable timing of Zaur's request, his retaining of the subtly imparted details, the approximate estimation of specifics; however, as warranted caution, he’d excluded the name of the Cyprecox Pass, where the vicinity of it the pit was located, leaving Zaur to discover this by himself.

04-NEVETSECNUAC  JP 62

“Well, what are you waiting for?” Nevetsecnuac cast a quick, unreadable side-glance at Zaur as he reached out for a morsel or two.  He’d been plied (served, provided) with variety of alcoholic drinks all night long and watched most assiduously; hence, he had been emptying his cup out of politeness, not realizing that he had consumed an inordinate number of sprits over and above his capacity.  Consequently, at present, Nevetsecnuac's head began to swim, and it became increasingly difficult for him to maintain his coordination.  Curiously enough, his thoughts and speech had not been impeded (hindered), though he was getting rather awkward (clumsy), thus he was most anxious to drop this charade and retire (get preferred rest) for the night.  Yet, very much to his disappointment, Zaur had maintained his thoughtful silence and did not voice the anticipated (prompted) inquiry.

Despite Zaur's own intoxicated state, earlier on he had perceived (comprehended) Fradel Rurik Korvald’s subtle goading (ploy) and stubbornly did not comply.

“Now you are being too transparent.  Is this intentional?”

 Zaur was dubious of this latest, seemingly pure motive, enveloped as if it were in mere sentimentality and benevolent intent.

“No one could be that caring…Why would it matter to you, Fradel, whether the owner of this key was vindicated or not?” He looked skeptically at his guest; for Zaur found it hard to accept that anyone would go to this much trouble merely out of the (kindness) goodness of his heart.

“There must be some sinister motive lurking underneath.  Moreover, what is behind this persistent, albeit discrete push, to involve me directly?”  Zaur suppressed a frown.

“Have I given it away?  How much does Fradel Rurik Korvald suspect?” 

Zaur never took anything at face value and had always dug deeper to be rewarded consistently with the ulterior motives behind those seemingly benign words, innocuous gestures and deeds that inundated him daily.  This was the golden rule to surviving in the duplicitous environment of the Capital and it had served him well so far.  He was not about to alter the philosophy he had espoused for his (whole) entire adult life on the mere chance that Fradel Rurik Korvald was a (glitch, an abnormality) rare anomaly.  Men acted the same way regardless of station, creed, or race, harboring the same malicious, greedy, and conspiratorial (conniving) intents.

Inclined slightly towards Fradel Rurik Korvald he scrutinized him, noting the subtle clumsiness of his movements.  “Truthfully, you are quite unlike anyone I have ever known (or encountered); even now, you are most remarkable, so resilient, despite your apparent inebriated (intoxicated) state.”  

A strange feeling of loss suddenly just then gripped Zaur Stugr’s heart.

“But I sense that beneath that placid exterior, there are so many grave concerns.  You seem burdened by a perilous responsibility, far heavier than the requirements of your young years.  What is it about you, Fradel Rurik Korvald, that I should feel inexplicably drawn to trust you in this way?  I feel simply dwarfed whenever I'm near you, yet this is none of your conscious doing.  On the contrary, your modesty and humility at times overwhelms me.”

 Deep down, Zaur did indeed harbor a certain affinity towards scholar Fradel (Nevetsecnuac) from the first moment when he had first laid eyes on him.

Being favorably disposed from the start, after each private conversation (discussion) with this affable, worthy opponent who had challenged his abilities to the maximum, Zaur’s admiration and respect had progressively increased (augmented) for Fradel Rurik Korvald.  Admittedly, Zaur had grown rather complacent over the years and needed this cerebral jolt (intellectual shock) which Fradel had presented at every exchange, for him to be prepared for the inevitable showdown.

“Under different circumstances, perhaps we could have…”  The sinister face of suspicion abruptly surfacing in his mind’s eye, however, cut short, this (yearning) sentiment to once more poison Zaur’s heart and cloud his judgment.

“No, you and I can never be close (intimate) friends.” For as far as Zaur was concerned the degree of complexity in Fradel Rurik Korvald’s character, the allusive secrecy, the vulnerable, pure naiveté lying atop a certain recalcitrance (or bedlam) were all inconsistencies in the scholar's character, which reinforced Zaur’s view that, Fradel Rurik Korvald was not one to be taken lightly and that underneath it all, lurked sure danger.

“What do I really know of him?  So far there is nothing concrete that I can hold up to him and say, it fits.  All along he's revealed only petty, negligible, and partial (incomplete) facts about himself. Nothing tangible, nothing useful that could be (pinpointed or) indexed for future use.  As always at every exchange, and this night is no exception, I'm stumped when it comes to deciphering his real motives.  Every avenue I explore in his character comes to the usual dead end. Is he toying with me?”

Subsequently working himself up into a state of discontent, Zaur Stugr became convinced that Fradel Rurik Korvald was a master at the art of deceit and that he'd been working all along to beguile him, to lead him astray, to show him up for a fool.  He became livid as he imagined how all along Fradel had subtly manipulated him and, worse still, had nearly beaten him at his own game.  With remarkable willpower, however, he maintained his impassive, amiable facade.

 He could not have imagined that his own cynical view was the very culprit he suspected, the evil contaminant that all along had blindfolded him, obscuring his innate intuition that otherwise might have shed the light of truth over Fradel Rurik Korvald.  Things might have turned out differently then but, being as they were, they now led Zaur Stugr to tread the course he would regret for the rest of his life.  He was locked in this erroneous course (route, path), and no amount of future great accomplishments could mitigate, alter, or amend for, what he would now fail to do.

Habitually, Zaur Stugr’s analytical mind, prevailing over any rumor or an account, did not allow him to capitulate or hastily construe facts without first exploring every avenue available to him, but the “key” and the lateness of the hour in this case after a long wearying (taxing) day, constrained him to make an exception.

05- ZAUR STUGR   JP 29

“All right,” he reluctantly conceded, “you win for now.  I'll play into your gambit.  I was going to anyhow and eventually resolve the mystery for you.  But I promise you that, when the time comes, I'll feed you such a bewildering version that it will spin your head into a daze and unleash your full imagination.”  He absentmindedly nodded to Fradel Rurik Korvald.

“And in due course, with perseverance, I'll break down that elusive (intangible) wall you've put up to guard your secrets.  I'll break you yet.  Wouldn't you be shocked out of your scholar's cap if you knew the significance of that key and, the enormity of the truth about the pit, skeleton, and I?”

All the same Zaur’s spiteful smile died before it reached his lips, as the imagined abominations, the gruesome tortures and, lingering, tragic demise of his revered one, caused an intense angst to overtake him.

Zaur’s ear just then caught Fradel Rurik Korvald’s explanation of, how the meeting with Zunrogo and the subsequent events had unfortunately thwarted (hindered) Fradel’s fulfilling his promise to the old man, Yakkasar.

“Is he still going on about Yakkasar and, that cursed son of a traitor Zunrogo?  When will he drop this tiresome prattle?”

Surmising this change in mood, Nevetsecnuac paused and once more helped himself to some food.  As he thoughtfully chewed it, he marveled at Zaur's tenacity and strong inner discipline.

“Very well, “he conceded, “I'll meet you halfway.”

 

(END OF SECTION 8) 

                                                                                        ~

 LEGEND OF NEVETSECNUAC - THE CAPITAL CHANNING - SECTION 7

Fradel (Nevetsecnuac) at present graciously handed the key to Zaur when the minister politely inquired about it, seeing no reason at all, to why he should not enlist Zaur Stugr's help in resolving this mystery. 

01- THE MYSTERIOUS KEY

“Oh blessed, gracious Heaven!  After all this time you've reached me from beyond.” Zaur Stugr wanted to cry out loud, holding back his tears.

"It's probably nothing of consequence." Zaur had finally ejected as a matter-of-factly, pressing (puckering, compressing) his lips and feigning mild interest, as he held on to the key.

"It is a pretty thing, though.  Isn't it?” Zaur looked directly at Fradel, and at the same time tried making light of the object.  "I dare say it’s of unusual construction.”

“Unfortunately," Zaur then shook his head, "I can't decipher these strange pictographs, these antiquated, curvilinear indentations at the base of the stem."  He reached over and pointed them out to Fradel (Nevetsecnuac).

Zaur’s not altogether convincing professed ignorance, after his brief scrutiny of the key, had again peaked Nevetsecnuac's interest.

 "Up to now, I confess, I've prided myself on being quite an expert at finding the meanings of these sort symbols, pictographs.  I have a sizable collection of similar curiosities at my disposal.  Naturally, they are kept out of harm's way for private viewing only.  Not everyone shares my interest, you see.” Zaur was now being unusually talkative, which further apexed Nevetsecnuac’s curiosity.

"My wife has harangued me often enough to dispose of such antiquities, insisting that I stay within the bounds of modern taste.  If you're interested, however, I would be delighted (most happy) to show them to you when we are better disposed." Zaur Stugr rattled on, playing the eccentric fool.  Inwardly he was considering his options, devising ways of procuring the key without raising the scholar's curiosity.

 

02-THE KEY AND THE BOX

The fact that the pictographs were identical to the ones on the box Zaur had in his secret possession (he’d kept in the secret compartment) had confirmed what he had all along suspected.

Just then, mixed feelings of apprehension, relief and dread washed over Zaur Stugr and gripped his heart.  Oddly enough, he was now afraid of finding out the truth.  He had long since given up, never expecting to see this key again, much less holding it in his palm. “I have spent most of my life searching for this key, expecting it to resolve my lifelong, anguished dilemma.” He solemnly ruminated (mused).

As it happens, the key resting on his palm had conjured up memories both pleasant and dreadful.  All the hopeful waiting, the heartbreak, the loneliness!  Suddenly Zaur was most anxious to get away from the inquisitive scrutiny of Fradel Rurik Korvald and to get at the box. 

“No!” he checked his impatience.  There was still much that had to be learned and a few things he needed to make certain of first.  His eyes, leaving the key, looked up sharply.

"Have you shown this item to anyone else…Zunrogo, perhaps?" Zaur made a deliberate effort at feigning a moderate interest.

03-ZAUR STUGR JP 8

Going along with his host's charade, Fradel (Nevetsecnuac) simply complacently smiled and shook his head.   "No, with everything that has been happening lately, I'd actually forgotten its existence."

 Curiously enough, Nevetsecnuac's answer seemed to reassure Zaur Stugr and, a sure elated smile widened (in a curvature) his host's lips.

 “You know full well, all about it, don't you?” Nevetsecnuac silently questioned his host; but Zaur’s youthful age precluded him from (being directly involved) having any direct involvement. Regardless, the key certainly had some personal significance to Zaur.  Suddenly the picture was much clearer to Nevetsecnuac.  Zaur Stugr had positively identified the key and knew exactly who it had belonged to.  He could therefore, if properly coaxed, unravel the identity of at least one of those tortured skeletons.  

Zaur Stugr’s seemingly placid face was fanned by the light breeze which carried on it the intoxicating fragrance of the night air and he had remained distractedly quiet for some time, his mind immersed in a serious recollection.

“What are you afraid of exposing after such an obvious timespan?  Why would you disclaim any knowledge of its importance to you?  Nevetsecnuac, however, made no outward inquiry and, instead, waited patiently for Zaur's next response.

Marshaling his thoughts, Zaur Stugr suddenly turned to face Fradel and, with deliberate calm in his voice asked, "It is indeed a rare antique.  How did you manage to obtain it?"

Fradel (Nevetsecnuac), in those lapsed few moments had already anticipated Zaur’s next question; he could not disclose the truth however, without revealing how he had ended up in the burial pit and, furthermore, escaped the inescapable traps. And so, he quietly reviewed his options of likely responses.

“I could claim I found it on the side of the road.  No that's too trite and would not be believed. What I need is a lame, boring explanation suited to a scholar, yet with enough of an angle to divert questions elsewhere.  Better to go with a partial fabrication with just enough fact to it to appear plausible.” 

Responding as a matter-of-factly now, Nevetsecnuac summed up in no uncertain terms his experience that had led to finding the key.

04-NEVETS ON HORSEBACK IN THE RAIN (2)

“It had all transpired at the time, while I was traveling on horseback alone on route to the Capital and, wanting to be innocuous, was garbed (dressed) in ordinary travelling clothes. This was a time well before my teaming up with Zunrogo Tugo and the guards.  That afternoon, caught in a sudden torrential downpour, I had sought a refuge at the roadside Inn/ tea house.                                 

“I had been enjoying my steamed tea and hot cakes when an old man, his tattered clothes soaked to the skin, also sought refuge in the same tea house.  Despite the cash that the old man had held out in his hand, he was rudely greeted by the proprietor, denied seating at any table, even though there were few empty ones about, and told to leave the premises at once.”

"Can't you see we're full up?  Go down the road!" The proprietor had rasped as he apprehensively looked around him, afraid that his other customers might be offended by the likes of this tattered old man.

"This is a respectable place.  No solicitation is allowed."  Turning a deaf ear to the old man's pleas, he signaled to his two hefty attendants (waiters) to at once dispose of this unwanted nuisance (pest, bug).

In the ensuing seconds hence, the old man was hastily hustled outside.” Fradel winced (cringed, recoiled) at this point with obvious abhorrence (loathing) of the proprietor.

Zaur nodded and grimaced wryly as he envisioned the typical scenario being played out repeatedly throughout the land.  “So, what's so odd about that? Cruelly he was driven out into the cold, pelting rain, so what about it?" Fradel Rurik Korvald’s obvious indignation just then baffled Zaur, and he riveted his keen, questioning gaze on the other's face.

“Ah!  Scholar Fradel Rurik Korvald had lived in privileged seclusion all these years; therefore, he had not been exposed to the sweeping changes, the new brutish realities of the populace's everyday existence. Naturally, this would shock him.” The answer came to him quickly, Zaur nodded.

 "And no doubt, being the gentleman you are, you stood up to defend that poor wretch." Zaur’s downward gaze concealed the smirk on his lips and the scorn in his eyes.

As Zaur Stugr had expected, by his own account the scholar Fradel Rurik Korvald, unable to swallow this injustice, had indeed rushed to the old man's rescue.  Fradel had indignantly risen to his feet and called out to the old man, walked over and next greeted the elder with respectful familiarity. 

Ignoring the snarls and frowns of the manager and his staff, he had then guided the old man, named Yakkasar back to his table.

(Of course, Yakkasar was a made-up name which Nevetsecnuac on the spur had invented.)

 "I could not stand by and let this happen.  The injustice of it all fired my soul with seething rage." Fradel (Nevetsecnuac) abashedly explained.

At the outset Zaur expressed a sympathetic view and urged Fradel Rurik Korvald to please continue.  Seeming to lend an attentive ear, Zaur inwardly however, jeered with derision and tagged a few more items on to the list he had been mentally compiling of the presumed characteristics of his guest Fradel Rurik Korvald: “Fradel is righteously soft and sentimental; sentimental enough to patronize (support) the grave robbing scum of the earth.”

“And of course, you treated him to not just a tea but a complete, hot, full-course meal.”  Zaur (with his prejudiced viewpoint) wearyingly continued to listen to Fradel, inwardly filling in some details, to the old man Yakkasar's hard luck story.

Apparently, the old thief had been in hard straits and had starved for the two days prior to this chance encounter with the perfect stooge, Fradel Rurik Korvald.  Though he had flashed some money around, it had barely been enough for a cup of tea, as the rest had to have been reserved for his night's lodgings.  To one as destitute as him, Fradel Rurik Korvald must have appeared as a godsend. 

Sitting himself across from the scholar, he had polished off several dishes in record time then, with a bloated stomach, sat back to express his undying gratitude and praise his newfound friend to the sky.  Next, he had decisively recounted how his wife had been lost to him in the great flood of yesteryear and how, having escaped the disaster, he had settled in the foothills of town Huer where he had been constrained to carve out a meager livelihood and single-handedly raised his only surviving son, Toza, to adulthood. The other two children had succumbed to fatal diseases, no surprise there: shortly after his wife's tragic demise.  For the hardships he had endured he had been amply rewarded; while his son, the mighty hunter had lived, Yakkasar had not known any hardship, hunger, or misery.

“No one would dare tackle the local ruffian.” Zaur scoffed, growing more impatient with Fradel now. Disguising (veiling, masking) his irritation, however, he simply looked away, and with an unreadable expression, watched the shadows for a time dancing in the light breeze in the well-manicured (rimmed, shaped) garden.

05-GARDEN IN TWILIGHT

“Why was Fradel being so insistent in dragging this out?” Zaur shifted into his seat, having had already conceived of the only possible outcome to this story.

 “This purported hunter Yakkasar’s son Toza had no doubt recovered the key along with, only the gods know what else, and had probably been murdered in some other town trying to fence it.  A fitting end for his kind! The old geezer Yakkasar had survived long enough though, to span this lengthy yarn to Fradel.” Zaur lowered his gaze and affixed it back on the key. “But what would be the point of exposing this Yakkasar’s fraud and embarrassing the gullible Fradel Rurik Korvald?  What did it matter what fabrication the old rogue had been feeding the unsuspecting stranger like Fradel, as-long-as he, at least, had been truthful about the location where he had recovered the key.”

Experience had taught Zaur not to overlook the incidentals, the seemingly unrelated details that supported the main report.  Lacking in imagination, men of Yakkasar's sort often built a bridge of lies on pillars of truth to make their story more credible.  In this case even an approximation would be of some use.  With due patience therefore, Zaur had lent an uninterrupted, though a semi-disinterested ear to, Fradel Rurik Korvald’s present redundancies to gauge the true facts he really was after.

“Good!” Nevetsecnuac was inwardly pleased with the apparent result.  As he had surmised, a more elaborate story would have made Zaur dubious.  The naiveté of the narrative had expectedly played Zaur right in Nevetsecnuac's hands.

Nevetsecnuac at present drawing this out, painstakingly related in detail all Yakkasar’s tedious accounts about Toza’s great potential and his prospects.  Yakkasar then unexpectedly leaning closer to Fradel at one point, had supposedly whispered the pertinent details; how on one such routine hunting trip Toza had traversed some unfamiliar ground near a certain pass to get to an area where game could reportedly be had in abundance. The specifics of the topography which, Yakkasar had professed at that moment, had been rather hazy and bit hard for him to recollect.

This setback had inwardly infuriated Zaur; nevertheless, yet again admirably suppressed his ire and impatience.

Nevetsecnuac had of course deliberately, contrived (manufactured) the old man's forgetfulness at this point, as a means of excluding the credible detail Zaur expected or hoped to hear; subtly testing therefore, Zaur 's true intent and measure of his commitment.

 Nevetsecnuac knew that without specific information about the Cyprecox Pass, Zaur’s search for the pit would be rendered fruitless.  As it were, there were several such strategic passes in and around the Capital province, most concealing similar traps, pits, and mass graves that had been constructed at the time to effectively repel the scores of foreign aggressions that had been unleashed on Wenjenkun.  This fact Nevetsecnuac had learned from Zunrogo, during one of their intense political discussions about ingenious historical military campaigns. Drawing from this, Nevetsecnuac had made Toza’s find, one such historical undertaking (enterprise) pit. Having served Zaur with a perfect lure (bait), Nevetsecnuac would now wait, in the interim drawing out the tale, to see how long it would take Zaur to make his anticipated inquiry.

The dullness of the narrative up to this point had nearly put Zaur to sleep.  He had just about run out of patience and was about to hasten Fradel Rurik Korvald to get on with it and urge him to recollect, to reveal the information Zaur sought most to gain, which was the actual, if not an approximation (estimate) of location, of the grave. Fradel Rurik Korvald’s next revelation however, shocked and halted his aim.

"Midway to Toza's destination, the earth under his feet had suddenly given way and cast him into a deep pit.  The hunter, after barely surviving the great fall, had discovered to his great horror that the place was writhing with worms and snakes, and even some skeletal remains."

“A pit… What, skeletal remains?”

06-SKELETAL REMAINS IN PIT

Seemingly turning a blind eye to Zaur’s agitation, Fradel (Nevetsecnuac) used the same impassive tone to then recount how Toza, by great good fortune, had escaped serious injury and had suffered only minor lacerations and bruises.

“Trapped as he’d been Toza had faced certain death within that terrible pit but, opportunely some other hunters were following the same trail as Toza’s and, hearing his desperate cries for help, rushed to his aid. Expending ingenuity and, with concerted effort, they eventually succeeded in hauling Toza up to safety; but not before he had chanced upon the key hidden in the jaw of one of the skeletons, those selfsame bones that lay huddled in a far corner opposite to all the rest.  Presumably the impact of Toza's fall had caused the brittle jawbone to snap and release the key; the key which now became plainly visible in the dark cavity of the mouth, in due course giving him quite a fright."

07-KEY HIDDEN IN MOUTH

 From the corner of his eye Nevetsecnuac had noted how Zaur had, for a fleeting second, flinched at the mere mention of the solitary skeleton that held the key.

 All color had completely drained from the good minister's face as he (Zaur Stugr) clutched tightly at the key in his palm.

This confirmed Nevetsecnuac's hypothesis.  “No doubt about it, that singular skeleton had been someone of great significance to Zaur. Likely,” throwing Zaur a cursory glance Nevetsecnuac ventured a guess, “someone close to his person, an uncle, even a father, perhaps.  But I don't suppose you'll ever confide in the scholar Fradel Rurik Korvald, will you Minister Zaur Stugr?”

Smiling tightly, Fradel (Nevetsecnuac) reached for his cup to relieve his parched throat. As he raised the drink to his lips his thoughts drifted off to those wretched skeletal remains and the curious circumstances under which he had gained possession of the key.

He recalled most vividly how, there in the pit, were scattered about the tell-tale signs of a lengthy interrogation, torture, and murder of the solitary man.  The stains on the broken shards of porcelain indicated that the captives had been fed a rich diet for a time.  The lack of any trace of cloth and personal items other than the key disclosed the fact that they had been imprisoned in their nakedness, no doubt to further conceal their identities, even from posterity.  This fact reinforced their social prominence.  Finally, there had been the revelation of the ultimate treachery, the corroded bronze jug which, upon Nevetsecnuac's closer scrutiny, had revealed that it had once contained wine tainted with that particularly abhorrent poison that paralyzed its unfortunate victim and brought about a lingering and most agonizing death.

 Lord Asger Thuxur Marrog Zhon had indeed taught Nevetsecnuac well, his well-rounded education had covered every conceivable kind of potion and poison known to man.  The symptoms of this specific toxin, Nevetsecnuac knew, would only manifest themselves two days after ingesting it, by which time it would be too late for any antidote, any salvation from its curse.

 Evidently the large group of prisoners had been fed false hopes all along, right up to the time of their inevitable tragic demise.  There was no question that the clustered group had been spared from the tortures inflicted on the solitary one and that he had borne the brunt of their vicious barbarism.  The one with the key had died of his injuries and there had been no discoloration in his bones like that which, in the others, plainly told of death by ingested poison.

The aromatic, semi-sweet wine poured over Nevetsecnuac's tongue, nestled for a time in the hollow of his cheek before it glided smoothly down his throat.  As he savored the floral aftertaste, particularly pleasing to the senses, he considered how a multitude of ills could be concealed in a wine such as this.  Feeling rather flushed, he absentmindedly touched his cheek and forehead with the back of his hand and then looked away once more.

 What had necessitated these slow, painful deaths and the added mutilation of the one who held the key?  Both his legs had been sharply severed at the ankles, as if with an ax, and his kneecaps had been brutally scythed.  His ribcage had been shattered in several sections, and the bones of his hands had been maliciously crushed.  Curiously enough, though, the clasped jawbone had been left intact, as if his captors had allowed him the power of speech, which he had adamantly refused, to the bitter end.  

Nevetsecnuac solemnly (somberly) mused, “Wasn't it strange, then, that it was only when I had considered the vague notion, if only the dead could speak, that the clenched jaw had quite amazingly (unfastened and) released this very key into my palm?  And again, this very evening fate intervening (interfering), this very key should drop onto the terrazzo (tiles)?”

 

(END OF SECTION 7)