Zachania (24 page)

After a few
hours Talon left the secret room and made his way to the Lord
monk.

“Did you find
what you seek?” the Lord Monk greeted him.

“Almost.”

The Lord Monk
then reached out a hand and touched Talon’s arm gently.

“I have been
thinking a great deal since your arrival of you and our god Apollo
may I ask you a question.”

“Of course,
holy one.”

The Lord monk
paused slightly before asking his question.

“Will war be
upon us again?”

Talon thought
to himself before replying.

“Holy one you
say the word war, what does that mean? Then you ask me if it will
upon us again………. My answer is this, to some war has never left
them, I cannot answer this question in a yes or a no but what needs
to done will be done, and if some call it war some may call it
freedom while some will call it disobedience, such a question is
beyond such a simple answer, whatever will come, different people
will call it what they believe, but one thing is certain my Lord
monk ………….A time of change is approaching.”

The Lord Monk
gazed at Talon his mind was now challenged, Talon wears the crest
of Apollo but before him now the Lord Monk sensed that a harbinger
of death was standing before him.

“I sense that
this time of change will bring pain and death.”

Before Talon
replied he found himself thinking about the death of his
family.

“Some of us
already live in that age.” he answered quietly.

“Come.” added
Talon tapping the monks arm “let’s not speak of war; I have many
things to ask you.”

Later that day
the two men sat in the temple gardens Talon made small talk about
the gardens and weather before getting down to his needs.

“I must ask
some favours from you holy one, I will need a boat.”

“This is
difficult all the ports are under the army’s control there are very
strict regulations on who is allowed to sail now.”

“I need small
boat is there anyone who could sell me one.”

The Lord Monk
thought silently before answering,

“I can take you
to a boat maker but I cannot give you any certainty that he will
not inform the soldiers of your enquiry.”

Talon grimaced,
as he did not want any attention.

“This would not
be a good idea holy one, what I am doing here must not be
known.”

The Lord Monk
gazed around the gardens for a moment.

“How big do you
need this boat?”

“Ten foot, with
one sail.”

“Um maybe we
could build it here for you.”

“Do you have
the material?”

“Look around we
have plenty of wooden buildings, it’s difficult but I feel we could
do it.”

Talon
smiled.

“Then that is
what we shall do.”

“Very well.”
nodded the Lord Monk “I will comply with your wishes; your boat
will be built here.”

“How many days
will this take?”

“Ten days at
most.”

And so went
about the making of Talons boat, the monks worked day and night
with Talon helping them to design it and by the end of the week the
boat was completed.

It was a small
boat with two sails and two rowing oars with a small roof at one
end to shield Talon from the weather.

During the last
week Talon spent his time solely at the temple amidst many debates
and conversations with the Lord Monk who informed Talon that he was
at his disposal but he would not involve himself or the temple in
anything that led to someone’s death.

The two men
grew towards each other and Talon felt slightly sorry for the Lord
monk who’s loyalty was to the gods but he now felt burdened of the
knowledge that time of change or war as he refused to call it by
any other name was fast approaching.

Talon tried
many times to reassure him that what is being done is Apollo’s
wishes but the old Lord monk preferred not to know any details, he
said that he would continue as he had lived and help anybody who
asked for the help of the Pangkor, he reiterated that he would keep
Talon’s existence a secret but anyone who banged on his gates he
would assist.

So Talon’s
journey to Zachania was now a foot, the boat was made and all the
waiting was over, Talon would wait for the cover of nightfall for
the monks to carry the boat to secret cove from where he would say
his goodbyes and head out to sea.

A cool breeze
brushed Talon’s face as he silently rowed out to sea; he headed
west hugging the coast for all the night and next day carefully
studying his maps until he came across a small deserted island when
he knew he was heading in the right direction.

He checked his
supply of water before deciding he had enough to get to the next
island on the map.

The second
island would only take a few hours to reach so he raised his sail
and set forth; in the scrolls left for him by Apollo he was told
that the second island was a paradise rich in fruit and fresh
water.

When he reached
the island Talon pulled the boat onto the shore and wandered inland
till he reached the shelter of some trees, dawn was fast
approaching so Talon laid down for some well-deserved rest.

The hot morning
sun woke Talon where he wandered further inland to find the fresh
water lagoon Apollo had wrote about, it didn’t take him long to
find it where he undressed and dived into its cool waters.

Talon relaxed
for a couple of hours before taking supplies of fresh water and
fruit and then making his way back to his boat, Talon laid down his
supplies and then picked up the map, he sat studying it where he
would have to find a third and final island before reaching
Zachania.

Talon sailed
all day reaching the third island just as dusk was approaching; he
pulled his boat onshore and got himself a good night sleep.

Talon woke at
dawn feeling refreshed with an air of excitement about him,
Zachania was now only a short sail across the open sea, he pushed
the boat back into the water and set sail after a short while Talon
got his first look at the fabled land, he stood up and gazed
feeling slightly in awe.

“Zachania” he
whispered as the enormous cliffs rose on the horizon.

Eagerness now
set in and Talon began rowing hard, his eyes stayed fixed before
him as this enormous land mass grew closer, his mind began to
wander as he thought of his Grandfather

“Is he here,
will I find him, is anybody here?” he thought to himself.

As Talon drew
closer he felt overwhelmed at the enormous cliffs before him.

“Such a
magnificent land could only spawn great men and heroes” he found
himself thinking.

Talon pulled
out his map and adjusted his course to the point of the map which
was highlighted, he found a jagged rock which was drawn on his map
so he headed for it, he rowed faster and faster thanking the sea
that it was such a calm day and within a couple of hours Talon was
touching the cliffs of Zachania.

The cliffs rose
from the bottom of the ocean high into the sky and Talon sighed as
he touched them; strangely he felt a warmth flow through him as his
hand touched the rock

“I’m home.”
Talon said.

Still feeling
in awe Talon sat back down in his boat, his map told him to sail to
this point and search for an engraving set into the rock, the
engraving was a skeleton where a tunnel was hid ten feet below the
water.

Slowly Talon
rowed along the rocks until he found the engraving, he gathered his
maps and scrolls and fastened his sword before lowering himself
into the sea, one large gasp of air and Talon submerged. He swam
below the surface till he found a large hole, hastily he swam
inside and began pulling himself along its walls, he began to feel
anxious as he was fast reaching the point where he could not hold
his breath any longer, he swam more frantically until finally just
as he was about to pass out he suddenly felt the sides of the
tunnel widen and realised he was out of the tunnel, quickly he rose
from the water and gasped loudly for breath.

He was in total
darkness as he fumbled his way to the rocks where he collapsed
breathing heavily trying to fill his lungs.

Once Talon had
regained his breath he tried to compose himself, he was in complete
darkness as he tried to fumble around.

Talon sat back
down knowing that this was useless he would need fire to find his
way, he reached into his bag and found two flints but everything
was soaking wet so he waited till he dried before ripping some
material from his clothes, he then grabbed a hand of straw and wood
shavings which had now dried out and began striking the flints
against I each other until finally the straw ignited and Talon lit
the material.

Talon gazed up
as the flame revealed that he was in an enormous cavern, he looked
around noticing a fire torch so quickly he went over and lit it,
then he began to explore.

There was bits
of wood and clothes everywhere this was obviously a well-used
smugglers route, he walked along the cavern till he found a small
tunnel where stones had been carved out, keenly he climbed the
stairs and after an hour of arduous climbing he spotted light in
the distance, Talon doubled his pace, he felt excited but he also
felt that he had enough of this cave.

Fresh air
filled Talon’s nostrils as he burst into the sunlight, he rested
one arm against the rocks as he gazed down from the side of the
mountain into the beautiful lush valley below, it was a paradise
with waterfalls everywhere.

The valley was
filled with trees, and green grass covered everywhere “no wonder my
Grandfather spoke with such pride, Zachania is magnificent” sighed
Talon.

Talon then made
his way down the mountain and into the valley; the smell of the
enormous pines filled his nose as he enjoyed the view. He reached a
waterfall where he reached in and cupped some water and as he drank
it he began to feel the strange warm feeling he felt before when he
touched the cliffs, only this time it was stronger it filled his
entire being with a feeling of confidence, almost a sense of
invulnerability.

Talon walked
along the wilderness for a couple of hours until he reached a road
when he decided he would follow it, I didn’t take very long before
his attention was drawn to a noise behind him so he turned to see
it was a horse drawn cart with two men steering it.

As the horse
drew closer Talon found himself feeling totally at ease with the
strangers approaching, it was in stark contrast to how he had been
feeling for the last few months in Kratos where every stranger had
to be treated with caution, Talon made a mental note of how at ease
he felt it was like a massive burden, the burden of a hunted man
had been lifted from him.

“Hello stranger
can we offer you a ride.” said one of the men smiling.

“Thank you that
would be very kind of you.”

“Nonsense jump
in.”

Talon jumped
onto the back of the cart where he sat down on the hay.

“Where are you
going to?” asked the second man in a friendly tone sounding more as
a topic of conversation rather than an intrusion.

“I …. I …I am
going to Zachra” replied Talon a bit hesitant as he remembered the
town’s name and hoping he pronounced it correct.

“Good so are
we, do you live there?”

Talon suddenly
felt a bit wary as his habit of being allusive resurfaced, he did
not want to get into a long conversation about a town he knew
nothing about.

“No I am from
Zabac.” replied Talon hoping that the man would not know too much
that place.

“Zabac! You’re
a long way from home my friend.”

Talon smiled
and nodded.

“Are you from
Zachra?”

“God, No! I
wouldn’t live there we are from Zula we are delivering our goods to
the King.” replied the man sounding more pride in his hometown Zula
rather than sounding distasteful to Zachra.

“A King!” Talon
suddenly thought “I never thought there would be a King, I must
seek this King out.” Talon silently thought to himself.

“Are you
friends with the King?” Talon suddenly said.

The stranger
turned around abruptly slightly bemused at Talon’s question.

“Everyone is
friends with the King.”

Then the other
stranger turned and interrupted his companion.

“No he means do
we know him personally.”

The other man
smiled and then relaxed his voice.

“Yes we know
him very well, we are one of his merchants, one of the biggest
merchants of Zac in all of Zachania, we grow it just for him just
the way he likes it.” he replied as he pointed to the back of the
cart where there was dozens of rolled up bails of weeds.

Talon gazed
over his shoulder and picked up a bit of the weed that had loosened
from a bale; he smelt it and noticed its strong almost overwhelming
smell.

“Careful
stranger you won’t find any stronger Zac anywhere.” said the man
driving the cart smiling in a boastful tone to his voice.

Talon then
decided it would be best if he did not get too involved in
conversation so he told the merchants he was tired and if they
didn’t mind he would lay back and get some rest, the men said of
course so Talon laid back and gazed up into the sky as the cart
rode through the countryside.

As he laid back
he again smelt the Zac, now his attention had been drawn to it he
found the smell overwhelming he had never heard of Zac before but
it reminded him of an outlawed substance in Kratos called Lurchon,
an intoxicating substance which people smoked which had a
devastating effect of intoxication.

Talon rested
his head onto the side of the cart as he tried to take in all the
scenery, he was surprised at everything, for a land that was secret
or was said not to exist it was flourishing there were people and
houses everywhere and countless people working in the fields that
the cart rode by.