The Mazari

Chapter II - A Gathering

A carriage drawn by three hardy stallions galloped about the busy streets of Izatel. Lord Ariok Hyrian peered beyond the glass aperture of his grand carriage. The cobblestone path was lit by glowing wisps casted by the city's finest conjurers. His journey from Revandor will come to a halt as soon as they reach the Ulterion's hall in Izatel. As he passes through the eastern side of the city, the smell of roasted venison fills the air. The lord of Revandor discretely swallowed his saliva in desire. The light outside shone on the lord's pale skin revealing several scratches on his face. Ariok Hyrian has been through many skirmishes. Just a few weeks pass since he slew a pesky Hark just outside his city.

It all started when a dire Hark killed and ate any white-skin he encountered that cannot outwit him. This troubled the citizens living outside the walls of Revandor of course; the Hark positioned himself behind an old oak tree beside the road along the northern plains, halting any traveller or trade caravan from the north to enter the city. The troubled lord, upon hearing the tale, decided to challenge the Hark himself. He disguised himself as an old merchant and travelled to north to the said road. As expected the Hark showed himself and challenged Lord Ariok.

"Stop!" roared the mammoth being "In order for you to continue road, you need to pass test!"

 The lord then asked the Hark "What do I get if I answer it correctly?"

"Your life."

"I see. And If I get it wrong?" said Lord Ariok as he placed his fingers on his chin.

"I take your life, and I chew your bones." was the Hark's eager response.

The Hark then grabbed a swallow from his pocket and gripped it with his hand exposing only the bird's head. He then asked the lord; "Is swallow alive or is dead?"

Lord Ariok thought for a while. This Hark was indeed wiser than the others that he encountered before; but Ariok knew that he was wiser. He then smirked and gave the Hark his reply.

"The fate of this swallow is in your hands, Hark." he circles around the Hark like a warrior would circle around his foe. The Hark started to suspect the old merchant and brought his cudgel closer to his side.

"Both figuratively and literally." Ariok added "If I told you that this bird was alive, you would simply choke it and it would die. If I said otherwise..."

Ariok then saw the Hark grip his cudgel with his left hand. The lord carefully placed his hand on the grip of white ripple, his sword "...you would release it from your nasty grip, and show me that it is alive and well." added Lord Ariok

Stunned, the Hark suddenly draws his cudgel; and in maddened rage, charged at the old merchant. Cudgel on his left hand and a swallow on his right, he swung wildly at Lord Ariok; but the lord remained unscathed.

"I see that you are not honest with your words, wise Hark." Ariok then unleashed white ripple from its sheath, and with a single stroke, he sheared off the head and the right hand of the lumbering creature. The Hark fell down with a loud thump and his head rolled down at least a few meters away from the body. The Hark's severed right hand opened on its own and then flew out, a bloodied swallow.

The people of Revandor rejoiced at the death of the Hark seeing it as a great achievement; but for Lord Ariok Hyrian the event was just a way to kill time. But this evening is a different for it is a time for much serious matters.

The carriage stopped outside the heavily-guarded walls of the Ulterion hall. As he stepped down from his carriage Lord Ariok was met by the lord of Haugoberth, Kaur Tirel.

"Numina blesses you my brother!" greeted the stout Lord Kaur.

Kaur, unlike Ariok, was a much passive leader; an armchair expert elected by his own wealth. He made Haugoberth famous for its undisciplined townsmen, skid rows and high mortality rate.