13- LEGEND OF NEVETSECNUAC - THE UNEXPECTED VISITOR - SECTION 6

Asger was at his wits end when he heard the desperate cries of the children, the clamor of thrown furniture, the clash of the swords, the desperate struggle that must have ensued as Tekuob while protecting her children, fended off (fought off) this dastardly fiend’s murderous, vicious assaults.

01- LORD ASGER THUXUR MARROG ZHON (99) JP

Heavenly Gods, preserve us!

 

Asger’s eyes at this point inexplicably had fallen on Zandar’s parting gift the empty puzzle-box that rested inconspicuously on the small mantlepiece in his bedroom; thus, a flicker of recall (recollection) and then the grateful tears suddenly manifested in his eyes.

Lord Asger straightaway hence, and this time without interruption, inwardly invoked the “Ewbinuko Hex.”  He then using his life-force, his core energy (chi) and utilizing the mental steps- summoned (commanded) every molecule of the poison coursing through his bloodstream, tissues, bone marrow and all, to detach from the host bodies, to congregate, then to advance (march) towards his stomach cavity.

 

02- LOR ASGER THUXUR MARROG ZHON INVOKES THE EWBINUKO HEX - JP

His will next directed every particle (cell, atom) tainted by poison to rise to his esophagus, to the throat and then finally the last bit of the journey, the entire jot (hint of poison and tea), now propelled by one awesome force, got lobbed out (hurled, thrust, vomited out) from his then compelled (forced) agape mouth. Once the poison was extracted in its entirety in this manner, Asger, then released from paralysis, he at once leaped to his feet. He wiped his mouth on his sleeve and hastened (darted) out of the room, stopping only to retrieve the twin sword from the locked chest.

                                                                                         ~

  

Earlier on, Tekuob sensing danger, had woken up with a start. Desiring to investigate but not wishing to wake the children, she had crept across the room, quickly dressed and then armed with the sword she had just reached to turn the handle of the doorknob. But try as she might the doorknob would not budge. By some inexplicable reason it had refused to give way(budge) and the door remained sealed tight, closed. Just then Svein, also awakened, had quietly crawled out of his bed, one hand rubbing his eyes, with the other he tugged at his mother’s skirt. Three years old, with his limited grammar

(vocabulary), he asked, “Things wrong mommy?”

“Yes, my darling, things very wrong!”  

Just then Lueling had also woken up, and she hastened over to their side; Tekuob picked her up, and then all returning to the bedside, in hushed voice she calmly instructed both children to hide under the bed.

“Mommy, you be all right?” Svein again asked in a worried voice.

“Yes, darling nothing bad will happen to me, this is only a cautionary measure; now no matter what you may hear, stay well hidden, and keep safe” She directed the twins. “Svein, I know you are brave but promise me you will not be reckless and come out from under the bed…And please for now take care good of your sister, till all danger has passed.”  Tekuob had barely finished saying this when just then the door had suddenly, violently burst open; she at once jumped to her feet and wheeled to face the armed foe.

 

03A- TEKUOB FACES THE INTRUDER (19)

 

“Tisk, tisk, tisk, girls shouldn’t be playing with swords, you may cut yourself accidentally.” The Dark Eunuch Egil Viggoaries threw his head back and laughed uproariously, before he launched his swift, murderous attack on Tekuob.

Despite her proficient martial skill, adroit (dexterous) strikes and implacable wielding of the blade, his prowess was so unearthly, and he fought with such supernatural potent force and velocity (speed) that, she soon was (situated, placed) compelled to fight defensively.  It was all she could do to keep him at bay; but in fact, he was only toying with her, amused as he was that she could wield the long dagger with comparable warrior’s competency (skill). Nevertheless, her sword’s blade being short and far inferior, he knew she would not last too long. Meanwhile with his supernatural prowess, he could have at any instant, bested her yet he’d deliberately held back (his ability), knowing after the lengthy anticipation, at the end of this superfluous scuffle, when it came time to devour this morsel, her screams would cause still greater anguish and anxiety(torment) to Asger.

 

04- TEKUOB FIGHTS WITH  EGIL VIGGORIES  (55)

The Dark Eunuch Egil Viggoaries, before long tiring of this charade, however, with ferocity of a rapacious beast, he then pounced on Tekuob to finish her off; thus, with a preponderant swipe, in one powerful blow, his sword’s blade at that moment sliced clean through hers, leaving her with the hilt (handle) and a four inches stub of blade at the end of it. In a blinking of an eye, she was disarmed, then tripped and pinned to the bed.  When Egil Viggoaries’s powerful grip reached for Tekuob’s keck, though suppressed by his supernatural power, she still had fought off the Dark Eunuch (commanding Fradel’s body) with her last ounce of strength, again to the ultimate amusement of Egil Viggoaries.

 

Impetuous Svein could not stand by and do nothing any longer, not when his mother was in grave danger; he crawled out from under the bed and with a fierceness of the lion’s cub, his sister following suit, Svein and Lueling both pounded their fists and tried to bite the assailant’s legs, at the same time relentlessly (with unrelenting zeal) tugging and pulling at his trouser.

The bothersome children now mildly annoyed Egil Viggoaries, though he could not have asked for a better outcome than this! His subsequent, curt (brusque, gruff) threatening bark stunned the toddler twins, but only for a spell; despite their age, understanding of their mother’s dire-straits, and witnessing her desperate struggle to free herself, Svein with child’s innocence, had next, bravely rushed off to retrieve, his mother’s discarded and partially broken sword from the ground where it lay, and returning, then putting all his might into it, he hacked at the intruder’s ankle, shin and leg, that was well protected by the thick knee length leather boots he wore.

 

Egil Viggoaries had been amused at first by the twin’s raw courage and their futile attempt to rescue their mother; when the novelty wore off, however, typically intolerant of children, the twin’s persistence now irked the Dark Eunuch. Tekuob still paranormally (mystically) pinned down, Egil half-turning, first with the back of his hand ruthlessly knocked (dispatched) the little girl clear across the room and then, grabbing Svein by the leg, he held him up high in midair.

“What a feisty piglet!” Egil Viggoaries roared, observing the still kicking and irate child; then, with a malevolent grin, he as well cast (discarded) Svein to the far corner.

 

“Oink, Oink… Oh, look at the little piglet fly!” Egil Viggoaries’s vicious, cruel laughter had reverberated in the tense air, as his eyes had trailed Svein’s catapulted form which eventually had slammed hard against the tall dresser, rendering the toddler promptly unconscious. The tragic scene appeared far worse, however, with the blood from the children’s lacerations instantaneously staining the furniture and the floor mat, in part assuaging Egil’s wrath; nonetheless, children’s bodies are malleable (supple) and resilient at that age, and even though, they both lay there perfectly still, thankfully they would survive this terrible ordeal.

 

“Finally, some peace!”  Egil Viggoaries exhaled in relief and turned his venomous gaze back on Tekuob.

 

“Vile beast!” Tekuob (with her mother’s love) momentarily overriding the spell just then, her fists clenched she struck (hit) a fierce blow at Egil Viggoaries’s chest; unfortunately, Egil’s unearthly powers interceding, her fierce punch was rendered useless, it came to naught!

 

“Oh, you think the little piglets are no more?” Egil Viggoaries in an incredulous tone, pursing his lips, flashed Tekuob a delighted grin.

Her attention, meanwhile, was at once drawn to the assailant’s sword, temporarily cast aside, leaning against the commode (or chest) just behind him. It was within an easy reach! Summoning all her strength she kneed him in the groin and in that moment setting herself free, she made a dash for Asger’s ancestor’s sword.

 

Egil Viggoaries had been a Eunuch (nearly) all his life, now in Fradel’s body, experiencing this kind of intense pain, for a spell it had derailed him. Rage fueling his swift recovery however, in an agile maneuver he then had not only retrieved the sword forcefully from Tekuob’s hand, but wrathfully, with the back of his fist (and the hilt) he struck the side of her head. Her knees buckled and hit the floor hard; meanwhile, she was overcome with sudden vertigo (dizziness) and her right temple (pounding) throbbed with excruciating pain.

05- TEKUOB FIGHTS THE DARK EUNUCH EGIL  (58)

Tekuob had nevertheless fought to stay cogent and focused. Egil Viggoaries squatting in front of her next, his free hand viciously grabbed her by the back of the neck, lifted her up to her feet, pinned her face right into his, and he growled: “Beauties are not allowed to play with swords! But I forgive you, just this once!” The Dark Eunuch, so ejecting, as if on second thought, he abruptly pressed his vile lips onto hers, but she fiercely bit down hard his lower lip, drawing blood.

His reaction was cold and sinister; his tongue in slow motion licked the blood off his lips. The unnatural power at the next moment augmented; she felt her iron resolve and her total physique (body, corpus) being forcefully subjugated. He let go and stepped back to critically appraise her. Her body meanwhile rigidly, like a post stood in front of him; she was floating in air, with her feet three inches off the floor.

“You are the beloved wife of Nevetsecnuac….” Egil Viggoaries pensively stated out loud; his piercing fiery eyes, meanwhile, burrowing into her flesh, he studied her form (figure) for a long while and then he lewdly (lecherously) grinned. “Where is he? Where is your dear husband now….?”  He read the fierce protective defiance in her eyes and nodded with understanding, ‘even if she knew she would not tell him.’

“Have it your way, you’ll tell me eventually; I have time ….” He then with malevolent glint in his eye, gripped her chin and forced another kiss on her lips, but this time his mouth had pressed so hard against hers that it had practically stolen all her breath away.

“Too bad he’s not here to save you…” His implicit threat further incensed her.

Lueling at that moment coming to, impulsively grabbed the exquisitely carved wooden wolf spear (one of her favorite toys) and with a wild scream, “Stop hurting my mommy!” She rushed to stop the villain’s next aim. 

“Children should mind their own business.” Egil seeing red, reeled (turned right around), presently brandishing his sword, and this time bent on permanently eradicating (slay) the annoying (bothersome), galling pests.

A mother’s innate love and devotion overriding the effects of the spell, however, Tekuob spontaneously and in lightning speed at that instant, had just hurled herself into the sword’s deadly path.

Was this it, was this the end of Princess Tekuob?

No, indeed; for at that precise juncture, a strange phenomenon had occurred: first a miasmic cloud enveloped her, as simultaneously, predominant time simply stood still. Everything froze.

Subsequently, from this growing miasmic (vaporous) white cloud emerged a most potent (powerful), immortal being.

 

06- IMMORTAL SHETOR AND ELDERS OF KARN 999  -,JP

This intrusive power was none other than the (ambitious, conniving) alien Sthetor who had his own secret agenda to fulfill. Sthetor a key Immortal, was one of the three sole survivors (the other being His Eminence Olavingemar and his daughter Tekubzan) of the most ancient branch of Kongrul; subsequently, both Olavingemar and Sthetor had joined the Race of Karn.

Acting on his premonitory vision, Sthetor had secretly absconded (snuck out without permission, as he had done once before, when he had affected the demise of Chandor, Zonar’s father,) from the Immortal realms, right after Dwengzur’s departure and descended on this mountain abode.

Sthetor’s concealed powers being almost omnipotent (supreme), he had easily bypassed the protective spells put on the mountain by mere mortal Lord Asger. Intrigued by what was happening with Asger, Egil then with Tekuob, he had watched it for a while, the unfolding scenes, undetected, from the shadows. Knowing, however, what would follow if he did not intercede- that Tekuob’s allotted time prematurely would expire, that she would next instant be mercilessly, instantaneously cut down by the very blow that had been intended for her beloved daughter- Immortal Sthetor had decisively made his move.

Though she was a mere, puny human being, she was, in fact, far too valuable a player, a chess-piece, a commodity, to be lost to providence. Aside from her lineage and her link to the Emperor of Kontu Deng Hedenko (a once promised bride to be), who was a key component in Wenjenkun and Korion’s future history, she was also the wife of Elder Aegeus’s (half-breed) grandson Nevetsecnuac, who happened to also be the renegade Zonar’s nephew. She could, therefore, be used as an effective source of manipulation, as a leverage, a bargaining chip, to constrain Zonar, Nevetsecnuac and, even Elder Aegeus, when those future confrontations transpired.

And so, suddenly from the miasmic cloud this invincible immortal Sthetor in pseudo human form, with long white hair and pallid face, precisely the moment had warranted it, had manifested in the room.

 

07- AN ALIEN BEING AND TEKUOB  (22) JP

Agast Egil Viggoaries rooted to the spot, watched in mesmerized awe, this clearly omnipotent alien being, without moving his lips invoke a spell; subsequently, the miasmic clouds grew and drifted towards Tekuob and soon engulfing her, the vapor lifted her into air and delivered her (floating) to the Immortal’s hands. Next instant, in a flush, both he and Tekuob had simply vanished without a trace, into thin air.

 

Tekuob one minute stood in peril in the path of the blade, the next instant she was gone; this fact defying all sound reasoning... Reality extending beyond all existential and metaphysical (ontological, unearthly) truths. Was this an abduction or a rescue, was it for the better or worse, Egil Viggoaries could not (rightly tell) determine which.

                                                                                            ~

 

https://legend-of-ne-vet-sec-nuac.blog/2026/10/26/podcast-episode-legend-of-nevetsecnuac-book-13-the-unexpected-visitor-section-6/

 

(END OF SECTION 6)  

 11- LEGEND OF NEVETSECNUAC - EVIL PERSONIFIED - SECTION 11

Worren Youkup’s tightened jaw revealing his dogged resolve (his determined reluctance to speak) in the end forced her Ladyship Sejon to concede; and, forsaking propriety, a gesture of her hand dismissed Nijel also to the adjacent room with the others.

01- WORREN YOUKUP (6)JPM

Soon as she was gone, Worren Youkup’s expression hardened, presently burrowing his cold eyes into Sejon’s, he in an unyielding tone, bluntly stated that he was here to speak about Prince Herleif and the stiletto (penknife) in question. Anticipating her ready denial, he then held out his hand, and tersely added, "Save your breath, I’ve already determined the truth; it is of no use for you to deny your complicity in this matter.”

“You may as well make a clean breast of it."  Worren, moreover, taking advantage of her stunned silence, in his authoritative tone quickly put forth two consecutive, pertinent questions to her and demanded to know the answers to them:

“When precisely during the time he had shown Sejon the scrolls did Nijel (undoubtedly on Her Ladyship's instructions,) plant the stiletto inside the scroll? And when exactly had Sejon devised this scheme; a long while ago or, was it an opportune temptation to which she on the spur had succumbed to?” 

Worren had phrased this last bit deliberately to allow Sejon a chance to extricate herself with a semblance of dignity. Worren’s unusually direct approach meanwhile, had so shocked Sejon that her reply was long time in coming.

He would not dare be so forthrightly blunt with his accusations, unless he had attained indisputable proof; furthermore he, being right on the mark, would not take too kindly to her sly manipulation. Sejon askance (sideways suspiciously) had glanced at Worren. By then Sejon had realized that she had grossly underestimated the old tutor Worren Youkup, who was still very much astute, despite prior instances of his feigned muddle-headedness and supposed forgetfulness. Anxiously she bit her lower lip, thinking of her earlier erroneous suppositions when she had first heard of his unusual visit. She at the time had considered mounting a vehement denial of any involvement, then perhaps shedding a tear or two to soften Royal Tutor’s heart. She subsequently had planned gently berating (scolding)him and then swaying his righteous conscience, with sentimental euphemisms, guilt, and tailored aphorisms.

How could you even think of such a thing? She would have cried out against this injustice then would have added: I would never stoop to such pranks, for this surely was a prank, nothing more. I have harbored a slight resentment of Prince Herleif over the years, but who among us has not sustained an ingrained (deep-seated) grudge or worse, against him? The prince has never been an amicable being and has particularly been miserly with his deferential treatment of women. For numerous reasons, which I will not elaborate on other than to remind you of the last outrage he had committed, yes, I did intensely dislike him. Still, I have learned from you, Master Youkup, to walk a fine line and stay on the enlightened path of tolerance and compassion, and though it had not been easy, I had already forgiven the prince’s multitude of sins. Vengeful actions are all behind me now.   

  She would have gone on and on, just as she had rehearsed it.  

Sejon by using her feminine charms could still, even now, have played him, denied and distorted facts to achieve the eventual effect of, laying total blame elsewhere. Why, Worren Youkup’s vanity alone should have been sufficient to dissuade (discourage) the Royal tutor from pursuing this matter, for it would expose his being duped by no less, a naive female in her early twenties. Sejon was too clever in the meantime, to openly disclose her part in this diabolical scheme. Better she used uncertain terms and clever insinuations and double meanings, to allude to the truth. Later they could all be interpreted differently and totally recanted. It had to be done in such a way that Worren's analytical mind would be dulled or appeased. Oh, but all this mental strain so early in the day, was irksome to her and, it drained a good chunk of her vital energy. She was better disposed to managing such things in the late afternoons or evenings; the hours which, fortunately, coincided with Zakhertan’s occasional visits.  

Sejon was moreover displeased, noting that something was amiss with Royal Tutor this morning; though Worren seemed to play along, her evasive words and unspecified allusions obviously grated on his nerves, and he grew increasingly agitated. Despite his sympathetic smile, her instincts alerted her to the critical difference.

“You are way too clever for your own good, Master Youking, and by far too foolhardy.” Sejon lowered her eyes, to hide the fear and contempt that had just then registered in them. Worren had always been too upright and as much principled (ethical) as that cursed Lenny Sukzor. What if he did something quite drastic and went directly to Zakhertan to unburden himself of all that he knew. Best she humored him for now and articulated a heart-rending remorse to placate the old geezer (fool). He did after all, offered her a way out; obviously, that is what he wanted. Sejon’d settled on this recourse as she same time landed a partial ear to Worren’s incessant haranguing (tirade, lecture). No, but then she paused, she would absolutely, not give in, even an inch!

"Have you shared your thoughts with anyone else?" Sejon faking concern, asked.

Angrily, Worren Youkup shook his head, in denial.

“No, it is not something you would readily admit to anyone.”  Sejon was inwardly pleased and amused. "Good. Your own vanity will serve my purpose well.” 

02- HER LADYSHIP SEJON

 

Lady Sejon assuming solicitous demeanor, " Master Youkup, naturally I wish to ease all your concerns, however, let us first move to the comfort of my inner chambers, she sweetly suggested, at once rising to her feet. “It is so hard to relax in these outer rooms."  Her meaning was clear; we will have more apt privacy and security there, from the prying ears.

Youkub’s grudging assent still gratified her, for the room she had chosen was furnished with a rather loud fountain, sheer draperies and cushioned floors that made eavesdropping impossible. She left word with the servants that she was not to be disturbed for any reason then turned to accompany Worren into the inner chamber.

Once they were there and comfortably seated, she cast her eyes downward her face suddenly grown ashen and her green eyes overflowing with accusatory hurt. "Oh, I am so grieved Master Youking, for you are the last person I wished to offend. To think that my maid's harmless indiscretion, a mere prank, should have had such dire consequences for one I hold in such high esteem as you. You have become dearer to me than my own parents, my own loving grandparents. Oh, I am so very distraught.”    

“Please grant me your leave to continue."  Sejon hastened to block Worren’s anticipated response. She heaved a shuddering sigh and shook her head. "When I found out, I punished Zijur severely and dismissed her on the spot. If you had thought that Nijel had something to do with it, you are mistaken. She was in no way involved." Sejon blatantly lied. "It was Zijur who had placed the item there in order to discredit myself and Nijel after her demotion."  She paused, pursed her lips, and shook her head once more in supposed deep dismay. As it were, Sejon held the firm belief, that she’d conceived that whole scheme with the knife by herself and, Nijel had only carried out Sejon’s instructions; consequently, if Nijel’s part was ever to be disclosed and she unjustly got punished, the guilt would weigh like a millstone on Sejon's conscience.      

“Stop there.”  Sejon inwardly advised self. “Illegitimate half-sister or not, it is much too risky to go that far out on a limb for Nijel.”  It bewildered Sejon how, in such a short span, Nijel had won both her deep affection and sure confidence. She was grateful to her nevertheless, for so many things, not the least of which was her instrumental role in exposing the actual indiscretions of Zijur before it could generate the most severe repercussions for Sejon. Zijur's discipline, dismissal in disgrace and her unexpected suicide had been, thanks to in great part Nijel's conscientious efforts, well contained. Though Zijur had been her companion for number of years now, Sejon felt nothing but contempt for her after she had so grievously disgraced herself; therefore, she felt no twinge of conscience in compounding Zijur‘s faults by adding this blame, not when the timing was so appropriate. Nijel contrastingly, was deemed indispensable, as she had lent Sejon consistent support, where it had been most warranted.  

Sejon so completely trusted Nijel in fact that, if ample proof of Nijel’s duplicitous character were to be presented to her, it would still not be believed and furthermore, regarded as malicious slander. Pushing all that concern about Nijel aside, Sejon now glanced up at Worren, smiled warmly, confidently then picked up where she had left off, reiterating again that the chief culprit, Zijur, had been properly punished and dismissed from her service.  As for the fate of the former lady in waiting, it was no longer of concern to her.  

"All the same, I must accept the responsibility for my servant's actions, for allowing all this to happen right under my nose."  She tentatively turned her imploring eyes on Worren Youkup and grimaced. "As you have so wisely deduced, sir, it was a momentary temptation that was seized by a disgruntled servant. I said no more of it after I dismissed Zijur because I had not imagined that it would ever come to this.”

 

03- ZIJUR

 “I also believed that the prince would receive no more than a slight reprimand and a dose of embarrassment from all this.  As it were, the knife was not of weapon's grade, nor was it laced with poison as an assassin's pick would have been. It was a penknife such as those readily available in the library."  Sejon knit her brows in consternation, relieved that Nijel had briefed her on all the details should she ever be brought to task.  "Still, what's done is done." she huffed in resignation. Worren s persistent stone face continued to disturb her and inwardly she quaked slightly.   

Worren Youkup turned his head, biting back his rising anger at Sejon's ongoing deceit. He knew something about Zijur’s character, and he doubted the timid, sweet-natured girl Zijur who’d served Sejon loyally all those years, would be guilty of all that her mistress was at present shamelessly impugning (attributing) to her.

Subsequently, his frayed patience was somewhat allayed (dispelled) by the astonishment he felt at seeing the wide range of emotions Lady Sejon had displayed in that short spell. What he had witnessed had been truly incredible. That this exquisitely beautiful face could appear indignant, proud, strong, and even angry at one moment and the next become like a frightened, helpless little girl so hurt and petrified, as though she was protesting her innocence at a wrongful reprimand by an angry, unreasonable authoritative adult. At the end, the pleading eyes framed by such an imploring face that his heart, in all defiance of reason, became more inclined to forgive her.      

"Oh, Master Youkup, I would give anything, do anything, to alleviate your mind from all worry. If only I could erase the accursed events that led to this dire outcome. You must not be held accountable, and certainly not suffer least consequence, on my account." Sejon ejected shakily, her voice brimming with remorse.   

“Brilliant performance, my dear…  You almost had me convinced there. Such concern deeply touches my heart.”  Worren studied her face, his piercing eyes narrowing. “But why the insistence on protecting Nijel; what kind of hold does she have on you that it can override your innate selfish nature? Again, I digress.” He shook his head to clear away just then distracting thoughts. “This distasteful charade has gone on, far too long; it has been made clear to me now, precisely what needs to be done. You are the ideal product of this environment; more pity that you are also the mother of our future Sovereign.”  His tight smile had a tinge of sourness as he rose to his feet and bowed his head slightly.   

"It seems, Your Ladyship that I have been wasting both of our precious time; for that, I profusely apologize. I will now take my leave of you and proceed to the North Palace, where which, resolved to make a clean breast of things, I shall seek an audience with His Highness Zakhertan Yozdek. From this day forth I shall not be troubling you anymore."     

“Finally, the response I sought.” Worren Youkup was inwardly pleased, observing Sejon’s startled demeanor, as if she had just then awakened finally, to the future grim, dreaded reality.  Looking into her horrified eyes he smiled cynically, "Rest assured My lady, I will exercise the utmost care to leave your name and that of Nijel’s, or should I say, Zijur, out of my report (account, confession), if only for the sake of your son Prince Magnian."      

“After all,” Worren grumbled inaudibly, as he headed across the expansive room. “I should have had the farsightedness of my age and long years of experience, to have anticipated the outcome of irregular handling of Prince Herleif’s scrolls; the culpability (guilt) therefore, is entirely mine.”    

Worren Youkup’s apparent gallantry, his willingness to take full blame on her behalf, his supreme sacrifice, restored Sejon's full confidence. "But Master Youking, you can't do that." With the agility of her youthful age, she hastened forward, spreading her hands, to bar his path and to entreat (implore) Worren, once seemingly the shock had worn off and had freed up her voice.  Then in an obvious expression of regret and humility, letting go of her innate pride, she in an unprecedented move, quite unexpectedly fell to her knees before the old tutor to, teary eyed, beg his forgiveness.     

"The fault is not yours to claim, sir.  You are a man of great integrity and benevolence, as you have proven with your unselfish offer to extricate me, unworthy as I am, from this predicament and shoulder full responsibility yourself even though your true involvement was merely incidental.”    

“But in all good conscience I cannot allow you to tarnish the impeccable reputation you have preserved for so many decades.  No, kind sir, even at best your public esteem will suffer irreparable damage and I will be forced to make tenfold penance at my time of reckoning.”    

Worren had remained speechless especially when Sejon fell on her knees and with humility, bowed her head low to him. "Yes, you have shown me the error of my ways.  Please allow me the chance now to redeem myself for my mistakes.  Have pity on my innocent son, whose reputation will also be slandered by the sins of his mother.  As frightened as I am, I am firmly resolved to doing the righteous thing.  Henceforth I shall stoically face the consequences of my negligence (in controlling actions of my servants), but I need time to prepare myself for this.  I am, after all, a mere woman with limited capacity for elocution.  Words do not come readily to me.  If I should incur the wrath of His Highness before I can explain everything, all would be lost and Magnian and I will suffer even more.”    

“Bravo my dear. Again, you almost had me convinced. If only you hadn’t overplayed your humility, rather debasing… there, you went bit too far.”    

"My own life is of little consequence.”  Sejon had continued meanwhile, with her teary supplication. “And even if I should prematurely expire, I would be content; for I cannot bear the thought of you, venerable sir, being so unjustly punished.  Oh, Master, you have been as grievously wronged as it is.  I hope that, in time, you will find it clear in your heart to forgive me.  I have so valued your altruistic tutelage (advice and guidance) and look how I have repaid your kindness.  Please, please sir, do not begrudge me this time I need to collect my thoughts and present my case in the best light so that the right thing is done for both my son’s and your sake, sir.  Knowing that justice is truly served will ready me for whatever punishment His Highness will deal to me."    

Despite himself, Worren Youkup’s heart was wrung out.  As he hesitated, he quietly considered how the dire repercussions would affect innocent Prince Magnian.  Over the past few months, he had grown quite fond of the intrepid toddler.      

"Heaven has eyes." Sejon surmising what was on Worren’s mind, continued.  "I believe Gods will protect the innocent, do not fret too much over Magnian, he won’t face any serious future peril.  No, sir, you cannot dissuade me from doing the right thing now."    

The old tutor (Worren Youkup) totally beguiled, now begun regretting his harsh treatment of Sejon.  Bending down, and lightly gripping her elbow, he urged her to rise and be seated.  Taking a position across from her, he first assured her that he’d grant her the extended time she’d requested then in earnest, began his good counsel.   

His mind was still as sharp as ever and the summation of his lifelong experiences were utilized to afford her the most perfectly enunciated, solid defense, one that she would have never been able to formulate on her own.   

 

 

(END OF SECTION 11)

 

                                                                                                        ~

LEGEND OF NEVETSECNUAC - THE CAPITAL CHANNING - SECTION 5

 LEGEND OF NEVETSECNUAC - THE CHAPITAL CHANNING - SECTION 5

The temporary Chief Inspector Tomlin Kenny (filling in for Yori), facing a complete lack of evidence, a clean slate with no semblance of new clues at all, proved unwilling to re-open the investigation, frustrating all avenues of the Prime Minister's indirect efforts.  While his investigators pursued more incriminating facts, he concentrated on fulfilling the terms of the agreement with the emissaries.

Incredible though it seemed, the upright Lenny Sukzor had insufficient monetary reserves to match the amount needed to repay the emissaries in full (for the missing gold) and his insistence on secrecy precluded all efforts to raise the money among his more affluent associates.  As this predicament placed the Under Secretary in a terrible bind, Lamont Gudaren held back his efforts until he saw what desperate means Lenny Sukzor would resort to.

01-LENNY SUKZOR (3)JP

After extensive soul searching, Lenny Sukzor’s brilliant solution had been to capitulate to his fate, bear the truth in Court and face the dire consequences, come what may.  Fortunately, the Prime Minister had been informed of it in time and was able to intervene through a third party and affect Lenny’s financial rescue.

It had never occurred to Lamont Gudaren that he should dip into his own reserves to restock Lenny Sukzor for the missing gold.  In fact, this idea was inconceivable to him even though he did possess the means to do so. 

One problem was that his vast fortunes were mostly hidden, concealed under a barrage of companies and holdings under host names.  To dip into it, simply to extract the Under Secretary from his predicament, would risk exposing its (this network’s) existence. Therefore, he’d rather let Lenny Sukzor be found guilty and be executed before he would part with a single brass coin of his holdings.

Moreover, the Prime Minister suspected that this could very well be another of Egil Viggoaries's ploys; his typically underhanded, devious means (aim) to force Lamont’s hand and hope he got careless.  As the pressure had mounted greater and greater, the more Lamont had been certain of this wily design and, the more he looked upon Lenny Sukzor as a mere pawn of the eunuch.  The sinister, costly plot was surely put together to draw in a much bigger fish; himself.

“But in the end, I outsmarted you, Egil Viggoaries, and I managed to turn your trap to my own advantage.” Lamont grinned, mumbling to himself.

For a while things had looked rather bleak, as time had run out and he had lost patience with his competent investigators who still had not turned up anything conclusive, anything concrete, nothing at all with which to file an indictment, much less order an arrest.

Then, in an unexpected stroke of good fortune, one of his investigative forces had a serious breakthrough and through it, they had uncovered a piece of vital information.  There was finally that (sought after) thread which, when followed, led to two of Lenny’s former servants who had been dismissed for wrongful conduct some three years prior.

 This oversight had nearly cost Lenny dearly, for the Prime Minister was certain that it was they who had exacted revenge upon their former master by robbing him and setting the place on fire.  Sure enough, when the two conspirators had been sought out, proof positive was attained (retrieved from its carefully concealed cache), in the form of one of the rare Kontu artifact (relic), in their present hideout.

The Prime Minister knew that it would have been too careless for the mastermind of the robbery to have paid these two for their services with part of the loot, especially a piece which was so easily traceable.  The only explanation was that one of the culprits had stolen the miniature during the heist, not expecting it to be a hard item to fence and figuring that its loss would go unnoticed. 

Without creating an incident, the perpetrators were summarily apprehended and incarcerated under a minor charge but, when it came time for their thorough questioning, they were found, both mysterious and under the most bizarre of circumstances, expired. 

Suicide had been ruled out, as had outside tampering for there had been a heavy and constant guard posted over them.  The subsequent autopsies all indisputably confirmed that they had died only minutes apart in their separate cells by natural causes.  When the Prime Minister's elite force arrived on the scene they investigated all avenues, as usual, and discovered that a luminous poison had been administered days before the pair were even suspected of the theft and had remained inert until after they had been arrested.  Unfortunately, after causing the intended victim's death, this type of poison decomposed into a chemical, often found in all corpses.  They had no existing proof to back up their findings.  And so once more these unsubstantiated allegations, the case Lamont had so meticulously built up against his greatest adversary, had to be dropped.

As far back Lamont Gudaren would recollect, it had always been the same, persistent cat-and-mouse game with Egil Viggoaries.  Every so often Lamont would achieve some small gain, other times he would have to concede gracefully to defeat and retire to lick his wounds.  Occasionally he would be forced to yield a little ground but on the next round his nemesis would be the one to retreat.  Their rise to power had been kept in check by these incessant measures and countermeasures.  Lamont Gudaren knew that, at the end of it when all was said and done, there would be only one victor and, determined as he was to be that one, he had spent the last few years mounting his secret associations (connections) and extending (widening) his support network.  His best efforts were concentrated on the grand strategies (schemes) that won ultimate (final) wars, not every day insignificant battles.

02- PM LAMONT GUDAREN -1-JP

These minor setbacks only ruffled his plumage for a time, nothing definite. Once again, he lied to himself.  In fact, the eunuch's steady growth in power and mounting influence (far surpassing his), had become a constant source of worry and irritation to Lamont.

 Many nights, Lamont laid awake concocting ingenious means to curtail his nemesis’s power; if not outright vanquish, him and his invincible network of agents.

This most recent victory concerning Lenny Sukzor afforded him much pleasure and so he was able to shrug off the more troubling notions he had about the case.

Eventually, through a trusted third party, Lenny had been provided with the required amount and the Prime Minister's part in this had, for the time at least been concealed from, the Under Secretary.  As far as Lenny Sukzor was concerned it was his close friend and sometimes confidant, Lakkos Hemming, who, during an intimate dinner, had sensed something was wrong and, with his persistence, had wrung a confession out from Lenny Sukzor.  Upon learning the source of the Under Secretary's problem (predicament) and its scope, Lakkos Hemming most readily volunteered to help his good friend out of the present difficulty.  He had offered Lenny the entire amount as a loan since Lenny refused outright to accept it as a gift.  Lakkos did specify, however, that there was no urgency to repay this trifling sum.

Mindful of Lakkos Hemming' supposed vast inheritance, his immensely wealthy family connections, Lenny had not suspected in the least that, the latter was in fact in dire straits himself, having lost the entire family fortune, discreetly of course, and quite some time ago, because of his terrible, hidden vice.  In fact, Lakkos was completely (utterly) bankrupt, barely able to keep up the outward pretense of opulence, going deeper into debt all the while with his extravagant expenses incurred.

And who was the source of the immeasurable amount Lakkos was put under obligation to?  Why, the Prime Minister's trusted affiliate, Tugo Kenny, of course, who acted as front man for the Prime Minister.  As it were, Lakkos Hemming had mortgaged his entire future, even his children's future.  The considerable sum with monthly interest incurred could never be repaid in his lifetime; hence he often became subjected to extortion or blackmail.

When the gold failed to surface, just as the Prime Minister had anticipated all along that it would never be recovered or traced, the Prime Minister had spun this entrapment to force Lakkos Hemming, who in fact held an important office in the Treasury, to rig the books once more. 

This time it was, supposedly, to help Lenny out of his predicament, in exchange for a temporary reprieve and extended time of repayment on his (Lakkos’s) next installment of, amassed debt.

03- LAKKOS HEMMING

Lamont Gudaren had conceived, long before these events, that the Undersecretary's friendship with Lakkos Hemming would cost Lenny dearly one day and so had bided his time, waiting for such an opportunity.  When the proper circumstances availed themselves, allowing maximum gain for the Prime Minister, he intended to disclose the truth to Lenny Sukzor and extract a hefty repayment and significant favors from his new pigeon.  Under threat of exposure as a co-conspirator or even the instigator of Lakkos' crime, Lenny would be constrained to comply.  Under the dictates of his good business sense, the Prime Minister never invested in anything or anyone without first assuring himself of at least a tenfold return.

Lamont Gudaren grinned in satisfaction and returned to his desk and picked up a file only to push it aside as his mind wandered back to his triumph.  It had, accordingly, gone quite well for him. Lakkos Hemming was able to embezzle even more funds than were immediately needed and offered the overage to rebuild the Undersecretary's mansion.  For the time being the illicit deductions had been so expertly hidden in the financial maze that they could never be traced back to their source unless the Prime Minister purposefully disclosed the discrepancy.  Meanwhile the newly rebuilt mansion would stand as testimony to his resourcefulness in ensnaring the incorruptible Lenny Sukzor.

Prior to this, Lenny Sukzor’s integrity had been virtually invulnerable, and, despite Lenny's obvious dislike of Egil Viggoaries, there had been no means by which the Prime Minister could persuade the Undersecretary to join him in a secret affiliation and buy his loyalty to his own cause.  An independent ally who wielded a certain influence on the Sovereign, was certainly a boon to his interests, his greatest conquest yet.  He had even placed another of his agents, the Assistant Imperial Architect, Quanz Yommei, in charge of the rebuilding.

How fortunate that this had all transpired just in time before the assassination attempt on His Highness and the exposure of the treachery of the Kontu emissaries.  Now, Lenny Sukzor’s action and integrity shone even brighter still and won him further favor with Sovereign Zakhertan Yozdek.

In Lamont Gudaren’s estimation, Lenny with his barely tapped (utilized) potential had been pegged, speedily, in a very short span, to ascent in power; hence, Lamont had taken advance precaution to truss Lenny Sukzor, with puppet's strings, especially since the Undersecretary was blissfully ignorant of his full potential.

“And when the command performance is called for, the right pressure here, a tug there, and Lenny Sukzor will dance like one of my concubines” Lamont grinned viciously.

A sudden knock on the door disrupted Lamont Gudaren’s licentious reverie and, responding to his loud consent, his secretary entered timidly and scuttled up to the desk to add even more files onto the pile on the desk.

"Is that the last of them?" the Prime Minister growled.

"No, you’re Excellency, there are still more forthcoming.  Also, the compiled data on the litigation being investigated by the Tunco Commission should soon be ready for your perusal.  The memorandum on the matter involving Konizo Noer has also been drawn up according to Your Excellency's specifications and is now being written out by the scribes."

A grunt and a wave of dismissal sent the fellow on his way.  Frowning, Lamont opened the file before him once more and he surveyed it with stern visage.  But again, it failed to capture his imagination, and he let his mind stray once more, as he drummed his fingers on the file's cover.

 

 Even with his busy schedule he should make time at his earliest convenience to throw a feast of introduction for this scholar Fradel Rurik Korvald, if only to consolidate support among the invited and antagonize the cursed Egil Viggoaries. This business with Yekov could wait.  

Decisively, he recalled his secretary and dictated a set of orders, one of which was the forwarding of invitations to a select group of privileged individuals, inviting them to a future banquet (formal meal), given in honor of Fradel Rurik Korvald.

 

 

 

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(END OF SECTION 5)