King of the Tempest

Chapter 2

A puzzle appears.

The pieces hidden and strayed

Doubtful prophecies

"We're making good time." Tenshi informed Jiao. "That fork in the road is about a half way point from where we started. If we keep this up, we should be in Tyreth by sundown tomorrow.

Jiao nodded. "Excellent. I really need to get to Tyreth soon, and I'm tired of the travel. Before this one, the longest journey I'd been on was about four days. It's been about ten. I'm kind of excited to get to Tyreth, though. Fine food, warm beds, tasty ale... appealing women." Jiao grinned to himself. "What are you most excited for?"

"Returning to my home." Tenshi curtly replied. He really is an odd man. He talks a lot, and about anything. I would love to be inside his head. I want to see how he goes between ideas like that.

Jiao frowned. "You're being sent to the capital against your will? Why?"

Again, Tenshi was taken aback. Jiao is incredibly good at reading subtle messages. "The king sent for me. Though, now that we're on the topic, why are you going to the capital?"

"I'm the Tsendaren Emissary."

Tenshi stopped walking, the horse walking into him. Jiao turned to face him. "You mean that you're that high up on the Tsendaren chain?! But... You're so young!"

"I'm twenty-four, and I'm among the best fighters the Tsendaren's have ever trained. You're surprised that I'm me, and I was surprised to find that my companion is Tenshi Yamasaki, the most skilled fighter that's ever existed in the past two hundred years." Upon seeing Tenshi's reaction to him knowing his name, Jiao responded, "Oh please, everyone knows about you. Letting your hair down won't change anything. And anyways, Tenshi really isn't a common name around this continent."

"I was the best. I'm sure somebody has surpassed me in the past twelve years." Tenshi continued walking, ending the conversation. Jiao, wisely, did not say anything else.

The ocean is a beautiful sight. Tenshi and Jiao stood at the Cliffside, looking at the empty canvas the sky and sea made as they met on the horizon. In the distance, Tyreth loomed, it's presence in the distance almost intimidating. "We're about two hours away. Let us hurry, that you are able to enjoy your... taverns."

"I'm more excited about the women," Jiao muttered, a grin on his face.

The roads were busy this close to the capital, and the traffic was hard to use to. Last time I was here, there was a restriction banning entry without toll, so there was a long line stretching almost this far out. It's so much easier now because we can just waltz in. Tenshi couldn't help but smile. He hated people, but he'd gotten rather attached to Jiao. With the company of a friend, Tenshi had almost forgotten about his feeling of foreboding. Almost.

Tenshi scowled as he kneeled, looking down at the ground. He was in front of the king, once again, and although he didn't view him as a ruler, he understood that he'd be punished if he didn't. "Your Majesty," he said coldly.

"You can rise." The king stood, walking towards Tenshi. "I apologize for forcing your hand, but the Arainites have been acting bold and out of place lately. With the new Arainite king, I fear he may be proposing war. And you're the best warrior I've ever seen. I'd like you to train our soldiers, or at least the officers."

Tenshi stood, looking at the shorter man. "I'm not as skilled as I once was. I haven't used my sword in almost five years. Your Majesty, I'm not the man you need. I'm an old man, now, and I'm a shadow. I'm just... a poet."

The king frowned. "Do you really believe that? Do you really believe that you can't do this anymore? Do you believe that you are no longer a warrior? You are the man I need."

Tenshi's face remained emotionless. "You misunderstand. I will do it, but only because I must. But decades of experience cannot be taught."

"Excellent!" King Rotham returned to his simple throne. "I know you have no respect for me, but I am glad you followed through. I would have hated to set you for execution. Can't let people get the idea they can deny my command."

"When do I start? And when can I leave?"

"You start tomorrow. You can leave when I am satisfied with my commander's abilities. My top military trainers will be waiting for you tomorrow in the courtyard. My servants will direct you there. Now, I am afraid time is a tad short tonight, so I must ask you to leave."

Tenshi did a quick, short bow before backing out of the room. He finally let a scowl cross his face. Dammit! His fists clenched. He walked through the halls of the castle, to the exit. He wanted to get as far from the castle as he could.

Dammit! Blood began falling from his clenched palms from his nails cutting into his skin. He snatched his katana from the servant that was instructed to hold it.

Dammit! He marched out of the castle, leaving a blood trail on the ground. He exited the portcullis, turning right and following the stone wall for some distance.

Dammit! His muscles tensed. Dammit! He pulled out his metal hairstick, looking at it, covered in his blood. His hair fell loosely around his shoulders. He slammed the stick into the wall at his side, it getting jammed between two bricks.

"Dammit!" He screamed. Several guards looked over curiously, but none approached. He was out of the grounds of the castle, so they didn't care. That man... will die!

The sky lit up an odd red color starting over the castle. Tendrils shot across the sky in every which way, occasionally striking the ground causing dirt to fly into the air. Some hit the buildings, causing them to explode. The tendrils extended as far as the eye could see. The earth began to shake, and Tenshi fell to the ground, unable to keep his balance. He looked up, and the tendrils cleared, shooting off into the distance. The hole that was clear of the odd color in the sky slowly expanded as the tendrils dissipated.

Tenshi looked around, confused. "What the hell?" He heard screams from the town. He scooped up his katana and started running, Well, shit.