The Ninth Prophecy
The allegiance question

Some twenty nights after the fight for Devil’s Tooth Faris returned to Nox, accompanied by Sethon who knew his big secret, but had sworn to protect it. Upon their arrival, they were pleased to see that Nox was rebuilt to a great extent since the battle for the city occurred. Geren too was there to welcome them. After Maedur had come for him to Baan Senicore, he left the city in Maedur’s hands. Geren spoke of how Maedur was surprised when he found out that he would be running the city for the time being. He had no idea that this was the instruction written in the letter which Maedur was to give to Geren upon his arrival to Nox. Geren told Faris that he stayed in Senicore a while longer - as instructed - to coach Maedur of how the city is to be run. Faris was pleased to hear that the people also accepted Maedur well, whom they saw to be kind-hearted and just. Geren had another thing to say to Faris:

- “Yes, I forgot to say one more thing…You see, I had to sentence Rhyius to solitary confinement. He refused to allow Maedur to rule. He said that he is loyal to the rightful king, the fulfiller of the prophecy and that your orders were not valid now. He said that he had heard that you rebelled against Yon. I wasn’t so sure. I disagreed, but I also had the army, so I did what I had to do.”

Faris listened carefully to what Geren had to say. He sat down in his chair in the chamber of judgment. At first, he was silent. He hesitated and appeared to struggle to choose proper words for what he had to say.

- “My dear friends, my companions…I have struggled for long, trying to delay or cancel out that which now seems inevitable. As you all know, I have just returned from Devil’s Tooth. With great regret, I must inform you that king Yon, my brother, has betrayed our trust and the sacred oath to protect the realm of the straightwalkers against all enemies.”

- “What do you mean,” Hadera was the first to ask.

- “Well, I know that we all hoped that hostilities and sacrificing for a cause is behind us. Unfortunately, when we set out for Devil’s Tooth, our move proved to be needed more than we could imagine. At Devil’s Tooth we faced Yon’s army and had to confront it at the post. The worst thing is that they were assisted by the Koprites. Tragically, the new king has restored the alliance with the darkers.”

- “What?! That can’t be true,” Hadera spoke out in disbelief.

- “I had heard rumors about it when I was there, but there was no confirmation. I thought it was just evil tongues, maybe some of the old lords wishing to stir up a new conflict. I could never believe it,” Sheda added.

- “Well, you better do believe it. Sethon can confirm every word. We were at the base, at the Convergence, at approximately the same time. Fortunately, we managed to outrun the enemy to the top of Devil’s Tooth.”

- “That must have been quite a feat, having in mind how swift the argorites are,” Sheda spoke in amazement.

- “We had some assistance,” Sethon spoke out with Faris giving him a sharp look, thinking that their secret would come out with Sethon’s words. However, Sethon realized what he was saying on time and made an effort to correct himself. “…The commoners who take the food up, I mean. They showed us a shortcut a little earlier,” Faris was relieved with Sethon’s skillful evasion of mention of Axion and the horions. Faris then continued to speak:

- “As I was saying, the most dreaded outcome has now become imminent. My confrontation with Yon is now inevitable and it will probably take form of a more massive conflict - of another war I should say.”

Everyone in the room went completely silent. Casualties of war had already been great and all were tired of warfare. Nevertheless, they were all aware of the situation and had reconciled with the idea that war was always an option. Although Faris expected some kind of a reaction, none came. He in turn decided that he should continue speaking.

- “That being said, we have another matter to resolve and it must be resolved now. In the face of this new…enmity - I am sorry to have to use that word - between my brother and me, you all face a choice here too. I am well aware that we have all been great companions, Yon included. We fought and bled together. We trusted each other with our lives and the decision you make will never change that. Whatever your decision is to be, it will be accepted and no harm will be done to any one of you - I promise you that. So…now I ask you with whom your heart and your allegiance lays - with me or with Yon? Those of you who decide to join Yon may do so freely. Those who do leave, if any of you should, should also know that I have instructed the sentries at Devil’s Tooth to allow everybody to pass through the Convergence, unless it is Koprites or groups with hostile, aggressive intentions. They have erected the white flag to signal the possibility of free, safe passage to all who wish to pass. If you all decide to join Yon in Karos, then I will turn myself in to Yon. Now, please state your intentions!”

All were silent and everybody looked at each other. Raavi stepped forward first: “Your brother came to us and said that he was there to save us from the Koprites…from the darkness. We trusted him then and because of it we joined the cause. Now he has turned to those very hideous creatures for support, the very creatures with which he scared us. The Xelons stay with you, Faris!”

Sheda stepped forward next: “Obviously, the death of my order helped me choose, regardless of my quarrel with some of the Illuminators. I am with you, Faris.”

The others seemed a little more hesitant. Hadera took a step forward too. Faris was nervous about what she had to say, knowing that Yon and she had feelings for each other. “I like Yon, maybe even more than just ‘like’. However, Yon I hear about is not the man I could love. My father did not die so Yon could give the darkers another shot at the straightwalkers. He gave his life so we could have a free kingdom, liberated of this pest. If you promise that you will do everything to rid us from this grim threat - I will follow you.”

- “You have my promise, Hadera.”

The only councilors who stood behind the group were the old Senicoran councilors - Darion, Geren and Dokal. Dokal slowly moved forward and with certainty in his voice spoke: “You always had faith in me. It is now my turn to return the given trust.”

Now, all eyes were on Darion and Geren. The two looked at each other until Geren finally stepped forward: “You know what, Faris? Your brother offered me to be the next lord of Nox if I join him. He actually sent a delegation to deliver the offer.”

- “So, what did you say?”

- “The same thing I will say to you: I am a marine general and I can’t live without the sea. I don’t want the dirt of Nox. I want the sea. I’ve served under your brother when he was a lord for a long time, but he doesn’t seem to be as good of a king. I will stay with you Faris. You are far more interested in Baan Senicore and its shores than your brother ever was.”

- “Darion, my friend, what do you say?” Faris asked the only councilor who hadn’t spoken yet.

Darion took a look around the room before approaching Faris. His face was always of all four seasons - one could never say if there was a winter storm or a summer breeze guiding his soul. - “My lord Faris, you spoke wisely of following our hearts and our allegiances. My heart wishes to follow you, but my allegiance lays with the one I have sworn to follow. To me, Yon is the legitimate king of the realm, as he is to you too, I presume. I have heard a lot about king Yon’s flaws and possible crimes. I am worried and appalled by what he is said to have done. I disagree with almost all of it. However, he is my king and I am a soldier, a general. As much as Geren is a general too, his soul is restless, like that of a drifter. I understand that a soldier’s oath is not the same as a mariner’s oath. Mariners are married only to the sea, that is where their allegiance lays, and I understand that. I, on the other hand, have spent my whole life as a warrior, a soldier. This is who I am. If I deny my responsibilities of a soldier, I will deny my essence, my life, everything I have strived to become. Therefore, I must respectfully deny your offer and join king Yon, if you will allow it. If not, I will accept whatever destiny you proscribe for me.”

No one spoke after Darion finished. Faris approached Darion who was looking at his feet. Then, Faris grabbed him by the shoulders and hugged him: “My good, honorable Darion. Of course, you may leave. You will spend the night here and leave tomorrow. Your squires may take along all you need for your trip. It has been a long trip for all of us and you will always be my friend, no matter what.” The two men looked at each other. For the first time, Darion’s face was that of a single season - autumn. His eyes became watery, as well as Faris’s, but they somehow managed to hold the tears back.

The following day, all came out to say their goodbyes to Darion. It was an emotional farewell. They were all aware that the next day they may face each other on the battlefield as enemies. It all seemed unreal, impossible to them. Nevertheless, Faris and his company were there, at the gates, watching their friend Darion leave for Karos. Just before he was to lose eye contact with Faris, Darion turned and waved one last time. Faris let a tear fall, but he let no one see it.

Darion was almost out of sight. Just before he disappeared, Faris saw his horse stop and kick with its front legs. Then, he saw something he couldn’t comprehend - Darion fell off his horse and hit the ground - motionless. Faris looked around and, sure enough, he saw a horseman on a slope. The rider had a bow in his hand. At that very instant Faris realized what had happened. - “Darion, no,” he uttered in despair. “Get that archer. Bring him to me!”

The rider realized that he had been spotted, so he forced his horse into a fierce gallop.

There was no way Faris’s riders could catch up with him before he is gone. Faris looked around in the sky. “Ratana!” he screamed three times before a shadow descended from the clouds. Faris mounted the horion, leaving his companions petrified and dumbfounded. He raced ahead on the back of the mighty beast and he could see the bewildered rider turning back as Ratana was catching up with him. Finally, Ratana knocked the rider off the horse with her claw. The rider lay still on his belly as Faris approached him. When Faris tried to turn him over, the assassin pulled out a knife and tried to slash him, but he pulled back in time and knocked him back on the ground with a wooden stick he picked from the ground. The mysterious rider tried to pull himself up once again, but Faris struck him one more time, breaking the stick off his back.

Faris pulled out his sword and turned the murderer around. Seeing the murderer’s face, he succumbed back, throwing the sword to the side. Ratana immediately spread her wings around Faris and hissed, covering him and protecting him from any other possible assault of the assassin. There was no need for that. Faris was shattered. He ordered Ratana to fly away and the horion obeyed. In pain, Faris uttered: “Sheda…you…why?” By this time, the others caught up with them too. Hadera, Geren and Dokal were still unable to make anything out of the scene. Dokal naively asked: “Sheda, have you caught the killer?”

Faris pierced him with a look that could kill: “Sheda is the killer, you fool!”

- “By the name of The One…Sheda, why did you do this?” Hadera asked.

- “I…I was the only one brave enough to serve the traitor justly, as it should have been done. I wasn’t willing to let him go and join Yon who killed everyone I knew and loved, just because he was a good general.”

- “I thought you loved me too, Sheda,” the broken Faris spoke.

- “I did. Then you chose this traitor over me. You allowed him to join the army which slaughtered my people. You chose that brute…”

Faris now picked his sword up again and moved towards Sheda. Fire and ice were mixed in his eyes: “Don’t you dare to speak of Darion. Don’t you utter a single word! You have no right to talk about the hero of Baan Senicore…you have no right. I swear, I could slice you up right now!”

- “Then do it. What are you waiting for?! ” Sheda replied defiantly.

Faris was hesitant about what he should do. He took a breath before saying anything.

- “No. I will not kill you. You don’t deserve an honorable death. By the Laws of Wars, I sentence you to exile and abandonment at the edge of the Doomed Dome!”

- “Are you sure you want to do that?” Hadera asked Faris openly.

- “Yes, I am sure. The sentence is to be executed tomorrow at dawn!”

Sheda stuttered, struggling to speak: “No Faris, just not that. Have mercy in the name of our past feelings. Slay me with your blade. Don’t send me there, don’t do that to me!”

Faris stayed def to Sheda’s plea. What exile and abandonment at the edge of the Doomed Dome truly meant is that it was practically a death sentence, but one much more gruesome than plain execution of the culprit. The sentence was executed in a way that a criminal would be left tied up at the edge of the Doomed Dome. This would lead to one certainty - the Koprites replaceing the tied-up person, laying there as a sacrificial animal. The destiny of the criminal was sealed from that point on. The only dilemma would be if the person would be eaten up by the Koprites or by the Servarians.

Darion’s body was brought into the city and laid in the city square where people could give him their last respect. Faris ordered an envoy to leave for Karos and to inform Yon of Darion’s death. They were to invite Yon to attend the funeral ceremony too. Faris had hoped that the tragic events might draw them closer together once again and prevent another possible bloodshed, which neither of the brothers truly wanted to occur. That evening, Faris had a lot of explaining to do to his councilors regarding Ratana and the horions. Although they were all eager to see Axion, they agreed that it would be better to have him stay living in secrecy, hoping that Yon had no news of the return of the horions.

The following day, Faris watched from the tower as Sheda was being taken away. He assigned Hadera to take ten men and execute the sentence in person. Before she was to leave, she asked Faris one more time: “I don’t know why you chose this cruel sentence, but it will not help you sleep better. You did sentence her to death in any way.”

- “I did it because I couldn’t have done it myself nor could I watch her die. This is the only option.”

- “She will die, you know. She will die in pain. There is no other option, regardless of what you might be hoping for.”

- “I am aware of that, Hadera. Death is the intention. She killed a general, a friend. She is to die with her remains unmarked. Such is the law.”

Hadera took Sheda to the edge of the forest and beyond. They said nothing to each other. After a long trip, they reached the edge of the Doomed Dome. Hadera placed Sheda gently on the ground. She wanted to say something to Sheda, but was interrupted by a howling sound coming from within the Dome. Hadera ordered the party to leave in a rush. Before they reached the woods near the Dome, they heard a loud groaning noise and a scream which caused their hearts to freeze. There could be no mistake - it was Sheda who was screaming. Hadera turned back and saw a big cloud of dust at the place where she left Sheda. Then, a Koprite shriek echoed through the air after which everything was silent. Hadera ordered her men to ride on without turning back, fearing that the Koprites could catch up with them too.