Teajan: Return

Chapter Five

Terrus Vycian

Vycian Keep, Blackrift

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"With their shield walls the Moudri conquered all in their path. The Naffrean, the Bhukk, the Sythqon, the tribes of the Maedrosa, even the legendary Exodus fell to them. They were the fiercest, absolutely unstoppable." Tivaus said, his grey eyes wide with his fascination of history.

"Except when the Nethraskan high king, Grykkionsk, the great enveloper, sicked his Drake Wolves against their camps and marched his Grykios against them. No army besides the Nethrask have been able to beat the Moudri back before." I said, watching my sons eyes light up. He enjoyed the lessons that past ages brought him. He would spend hours, near days, in the study reading about the conquests and undertakings of previous generations.

"And that's why Atacius pursued a quick alliance with Grykkionsk?" Tivaus asked, there were some things books and scrolls could never tell of emperors and politics, but that's where fathers came in.

"Well, you see lad, that statement isn't entirely true." I said searching for a way to explain the events of my youth. "Atacius had wanted to take advantage of the heavy losses incurred by the Grykios and Moudri at the siege of Lykoris, and lead a campaign against the City-States. However his generals and advisors would not do so as we had been several times shamed in battle by the Exodus, and their conquerors were conquered by the very people we sought to invade, and so Atacius, albeit reluctant to do so, sent envoys to Grykkionsk offering an alliance." I explained to my son, he nodded a few times as he started to understand what I was talking about, "That alliance however was little more than words until Vacius ascended the throne and married his daughter to Kysriok, Grykkionsk's son. Since then the Alliance has been quite fruitful, which is why you and your sister will be traveling to Teajan in the coming weeks, Old King Kysriok and Emperor Dracius have decided that the prince's birthday would be a wonderful time for Nethraskan nobles and their children to visit the empire, discuss politics, drink wine and perhaps lose or gain a child as it once were."

Tivaus looked at me with pure thrill in his eyes, his mother's eyes, he had just been told he would be going to one of his favorite places he had never been, Teajan, home to a god, jewel of times long gone. It had been only a memory of the ages before the rise of Adacius. An ancient place where the Troth kings gathered to bow before their great god Trhale. But when Dracius gained the throne from his uncle, Vacius, he ordered it cleaned, repaired and furnished as a palace should be. He made it his families fall and winter home, it solidified the people's views of emperors as gods.

"Were you not going to consult me with this father?" My daughter asked from the doorway, flanked by Naxos and Halost. She was the eldest of my two children, although that was not always so. She was slightly taller than Tivaus, he often teased her that two years only have her one hair in height over him. Her black hair was a terrible mess, which for her personality meant she was probably up to no good. "I think that if I am to be sent away I should be consulted first, should I not?"

"I was not aware that you could think sister. I thought you were a mindless crone." Tivaus teases. He looks to me for a smile but I try to frown.

"Don't you forget how sharp Kael's teeth are, or how short his temper is." Talixa retorts back. At this moment all the men in the room cringe.

Have we all been on the receiving end of that dog's anger? I ask myself. "You two can stop this bickering at this moment as I have news." I command, everyone straightens and looks towards me. "Talixa, Tivaus, the both of you are to go to Teajan. You will meet the children of others lords, and from Nethrask. You will meet and answer questions of Nethraskan delegates. But most importantly you will celebrate the birthday of the prince. Halost, I want you to take a token force of guards and guide them to their destination, guard them while there and escort them back."

"What of me, my lord?" Naxos asks. He has a habit of interrupting as I'm about to get on the topic of anything related to him.

"You Paladin, will not be joining them on their journey. You will take what paladins, guards, soldiers, and volunteers, you can find and you will scour the hills, forests, and villages for clues concerning the White Fox, he has gotten on my last nerve. Your main focus is information, however if you find him or his soldiers and you think you have a chance, then do what is necessary." I tell him. He nods in agreement. He is the best of our Paladins and one of the best in the empire.

"As you wish my Lord. I shall set about finding volunteers." He says, after a deep breath. He looks at Halost who bows his bald, scarred head.

"I shall do the same my lord." Halost says looking at me before leaving the room with his brother and my children. I let out a sigh and sit, sinking into my seat.