Chapter Fourteen

Three weeks since rejoining with Burakani, they finally sent foot on the vast plain that marked the base of the mountain. Delvakhan couldn’t help but be taken aback by the sheer vastness of the open field as far he his eye could see. As they descended the mountain strange new smells filled the air, yet there was something almost comforting. It made no sense to Delvakhan as they also seemed familiar.

Delvakhan was amazed as he turned around once they stood upon the plain how the hidden path they took was no longer visible to his eyes. It was certainly not a path he would recommend to anyone. Along the way they had lost the others, leaving it only Delvakhan and Burakani. Hasty death ceremonies were done as Burakani had no desire to stay in the mountains stating they were haunted with lost spirits, which he blamed for the deaths of the other Templars. Delvakhan only dismissed the beliefs as the focus of getting down the mountain claimed him.

True to the words told him, his Uncle Nohric was waiting another day south from where they departed the mountains. Relaxing in a camp just outside the shrine that stood there, thirty or so men just nodded when Delvakhan and Burakani approached. While none gave Delvakhan a second look, several looked a bit shocked at the fur clad larger youth that accompanied him.

“Templars of the Rakshar, I never thought I would see the day.” The man commented as he exited from his tent. “And you Delvakhan are the spitting image of your father. Come here lad!”

While the man opened his arms to receive him, Delvakhan felt no urge to respond in kind. Standing there taking the man in, no words found his lips. Suddenly he felt terrible uncomfortable, something inside of him pushing the man away.

“Hmm. I am right in guessing you are Delvakhan am I not?” The man offered instead a large hand in greeting. “I am your Uncle Nohric. But everyone calls me Red, so Uncle Red will do just fine.”

Delvakhan clasped the man's hand. It was easy to see why they called him Red. Hair wild and red covered his head and flowed seamlessly into his beard which fell like waves onto his upper chest. Shockingly the grasp was strong to the point he thought perhaps the man was part Rakshar.

“This is Burakani, a friend.” Delvakhan said quietly.

“The rest of the required escort met their demise in the mountains my Lord.” Burakani clasped the outstretched hand and explained himself. “It could not be helped, however Master Delvakhan has been delivered as agreed, completely safe.”

Delvakhan stopped and looked harshly to Burakani. “You were ordered to serve as an escort? What is this master garbage?”

“Easy my friend, while I volunteered, the others were assigned. Emperor’s orders Del.” Burakani’s eyes pleaded with him to understand.

“Easy there lad, all have a duty to perform. Nothing wrong with your friends being part of that duty. Come we have some things to discuss in private and I will need that letter you carry.” Nohric stated as he taped Delvakhan’s chest right where he kept the parchment.

Pointing to Burakani he continued, “You too, inside. Your task isn’t complete.”

Burakani only nodded and followed them in. Immediately Nohric held out his hand for the letter. To Delvakhan’s surprise, Burakani produced one as well. Taking the parchments, Nohric sat in a large chair and read them, motioning for the other two to take a seat in the other chairs surrounding a table. Burakani stood just inside the tent flap, just out of the light pierced through the crease.

Breaking the silence as he read Nohric continued to tap on the edge of his chair, releasing an audible sigh or ‘humph’. Setting down the one Delvakhan had carried; he looked at Burakani and started reading his as well. Periodically he would look up at Burakani only to raise an eyebrow and then continue reading.

Finally setting the second parchment down, Nohric sat in silences looking back and forth between Delvakhan and Burakani. When Delvakhan moved to speak, his Uncle only held up his hand to stop him. There was no denying there was a presence in his Uncle.

Whistling loudly, a smile spread across the man's face as a large dog came bounding into the tent startling both the boys. Obediently the creature sat as his side and placed its head on the man’s lap. Scratching the animal’s ears he spoke to it.

“Well Key, what are we going to do with these two?” The animal’s eyes looked up at its master then half closed as the man continued to scratch its ears.

Shuffling a bit in his chair, Delvakhan drew his Uncle’s attention to him. Offering a smile, he pointed to the second parchment.

“Says there you are to head north of here and visit your Emperor himself in a place called Tova. Can’t miss the place, it’s a huge city at the crest of a mountainous outcropping. Can’t say I envy you boy. Haven’t heard a peep or a word out of that place in more than a year.” He continued after a chuckle, “Pissed those Rhiyans off proper your Emperor did taking that city.”

“Why?” Delvakhan questioned, surprised to see Burakani shaking his head at him.

“Because his Emperor told him too and it’s not a request.” Nohric pushed the dogs head from his lap as he stood. “Around her we follow the orders of our leaders, without question. You didn’t learn this during your Templar training.”

“I simply asked a question.” Delvakhan barely finished the words when he felt the sting of the slap.

“Let me explain something to you boy. I don’t care what you have learned, you are still a boy and you haven’t earned the right to question me. But if you must question me, you do so with respect.” Nohric held a finger up to him as he spoke. “You will learn manners or you will find you don’t like me very much.”

Turning to Burakani the tension in his voice was still strong. “You have been ordered to do this alone. Tova is tightly guarded and watched, all I can say is may the light be with you. Rest here one day, you will be safe, then go.”

Burakani only nodded, his eyes still locked into Delvakhan, who got up from his chair, walked over to Burakani to place a hand on his arm. Only nodding, Burakani turned and left the tent.

“Sit back down Delva. There is more you have to hear.” When the boy hesitated he continued. “Get over getting slapped, you deserved. Not sit your rump down or this is going to be a painful journey Windra.”

Slowly Delvakhan returned to his seat, refusing to meet his Uncle eyes. His mother had struck him a time or two before, he remembered them well. However, none of the woman he had known among the Rakshar had ever raised a hand to their male counterparts; not spouses nor parent to child. For that matter he had never seen a male strike a female either.

“Your Templar training was only the first part. You are a bit over the age to learn combat tactics and social interaction, but it has to be done. As I think about it I am not even sure we can make it to Windra before Amadagu arrives to help determine the next Lord of Windra. To the shadows, you are old enough, read it for yourself.” Nohric returned to his chair and sat it in roughly.

Carefully Delvakhan read the message he carried with the strange seal of the ‘silence’.

“Barons of the South, when you read this my debt paid. The protection of Vakhan’s son is complete, as the training requested. Those that have journeyed with him should have their own orders, please see they are followed. If they do not arrive to you with Orders they are to die. This is without question.

If I have taken the Rhiyan city of Hammerhold, I will expect the forces of the South to secure its northern border, just as I expect the child to take his father’s place. His Templar training will make him part Rakshar and this is an alliance you will need. There will be an alliance only when the boy is of mature age, a Templar and the King of the South. If any of these are not true, an alliance with the Rakshar is simply not possible and you must resign yourself to you fate.

I have never learned who the second chosen is, but I will continue to seek him out. Each member of the Silence is simply required to continue to look and report accordingly. Always remember the Silence doesn’t report to me, it reports to the Timewalker. Though we are Lord, Kings or Emperors, we have sworn an allegiance to Xhuri and this must not be broken.

Once this is received send word to Hammerhold and we will begin our moving the folk from beyond the mountain. This time we must stop her rebirth and our efforts must be as one. For this I pray to the Light your young charge is not ignored or dead.

His Grace, Emperor Vrok, Chosen of the Light, Master of the Rakshar, bearing witness Empress Elidra.”

Delvakhan put the parchments down, shock clear in his eyes.

“I happen to know through other sources the Emperor Vrok is dead. We can only hope the Empress will honor the decree.” Nohric commented with his eyes closed. “We however have to prepare with or without the Rakshar. By the Light this is a mess.”

They could hear someone calling out Nohric’s name, followed by them bursting into the tent.

“My Lord Nohric, Rhiyans have taken Droga and push past Serpents Head bay on west!” The man was out of breath panting, almost doubled over. “The Rakshar have retreated to Tova.”

“To the Shadows!” Nohric cursed under his breath. “Have them break camp; we have to get my nephew to the gathering at Thor Syle immediately.”

“It has begun Delva. The war your father wanted to stop has come. We don’t have time for Windra; we have to get you to Thor Syle. If you have your father’s blood, steel it and be ready for the task boy.”