WAR OF WHIPS

PART TEN (WHISPERS OF WAR -2)

The sky darkened and strangely, for the harmattan season, it began to rain. There was silence and only the sound of rain hitting the hard ground could be heard and even in that, there was a silence as well. Not the mere absence of noise but the silence of painful expectation, of men waiting for the arrow and the spear and the powers of the cursed.

Idem walked up the long flight of stairs, a black cloak draped over his black sand armor. He carried no sword but wore a dagger of bronze, more for aesthetic reasons than anything else. He scratched the stubble on his chin. He had forgotten to shave for the past week, taken up instead in tactics and training. The young, handsome man beside him cursed the rain under his breath but there was awe in the man's eyes. He had been taken from one of the reservations where he served as a lieutenant and had been made Idem's bodyguard. More for the prince's twisted amusement than for anything else. He was normal and uncursed and only fairly decent with the sword and bow.

They walked into crocodile's jaw, the massive pyramid of Sand metal where the Generals and commanders and the emperor himself met to discuss battle strategies. Idem saw seven men standing at the entrance, recognising them as his father's cursed bodyguards. They bowed to him and he dropped his cloak on one of the them, motioning for his own bodyguard to stand outside with them. The man was terribly uncomfortable and Idem had to suppress a grin. He walked into the cool, quiet hall and down to the large silver door guarded by a dozen Tije. They opened it for him, bowing and Idem suddenly felt uncomfortable within him. He was about to finally rub minds with the tactical geniuses and mighty warriors of the empire and he was just twenty years old, a mere child. He hid his emotions and summoned a calm, detached face.

He walked to the second door. This one was made of stonewood overlaid with gold and it was guarded by more than fifteen Tije. They opened the door and he saw the Generals and commanders seated around a long table, shouting at each other and arguing. They ignored his entrance and Samza raised the corners of her lips in a small smile before returning to whisper in the ears of a short, fat man that had sideburns so long, he braided cowries into them.

Idem looked up and saw his father sitting on his throne, looking over the Generals like a predator that also had the misfortune of being bored. The door opened again and Elek stepped in. This time silence fell on the entire room and they turned to him. He walked silently past them, knelt before his father and kissed his outstretched palm then took a seat at the head of the table. Only then did the arguments continue.

Idem felt anger collapse upon him and swell from within him. The man had been accorded a respect that Idem yearned for and it was so effortless it stung Idem's pride. He shrugged inwardly. Many of the men here had known him for centuries and he was older and more experienced than all of them currently sitting here, except for the emperor, of course. Idem finally got over his initial nervousness,emboldened by his anger and walked up to his father but as he went to kiss the palm, it moved and backhanded him, sending different colors into his eyes, shattering the bones of his cheek and jaw and sending him flying to hit a pillar and breaking a few more bones.

He lay there silently, dipped in a world of pain and when his vocal cords decided to co-operate, a long, painful, unbroken groan burst from his lips as his bones repaired themselves and the pain receded, leaving only shame. He had been humiliated by his father before men he hoped to win their respect and admiration. He stood and saw his father boring those red eyes, coals from the fires of eruption into him then he nodded and walked to him again, knelt and kissed his palm.

"Good, child. You wasted too much time before. I apologise for what I had to do." He said and Idem looked up at him. He did not hate his father for what he did, just as one would not hate a flame for burning him. It was in his father's nature to do as he did and like fire, one should only just avoid and be wary of him. Idem went and selected a seat among the Generals and one of them grinned at him.

"Now even children joins us. Never thought I'd see the day." The man said and Idem tightened his fists, supressing the urge to throw a fit and actually prove that he was a child. It seemed the man was expecting him to do just that and, disappointed, scowled at him and returned to looking at the map which had taken up the space of the entire table. Elek spoke first.

"Generals, warriors, warlords of the dried lands. Accept my greetings. It is no news to us that the whip masquerades, the formless priests and their armies have returned and this time, they have taken the mountain holds which were manned by General Awse's company." He said and turned to look at the general that had made the gibe at Idem. The man muttered something and looked down.

"Yes, it was a great display of incompetence and our merciful emperor has decided to forgive you. However, general. If you insult any of my brothers again, I will have your skull tied to my spear." He said and glanced at Idem briefly before turning back to his speech. Idem felt surprise, pleasure and anger course through him with an impossible speed. Was this pity? He thought and grit his teeth. Elek was standing up for him because he was defenceless.

" They aim for the lowland pass and I currently have an army of fifty thousand camped there but they do have the higher ground and the numbers. I propose we withdraw to this bottleneck, just ten miles out and have them funnel through. About two hundred men marching side by side can pass through at any given time and I want archers on the two mountain walls and rock throwers as well. My men will be just at the exit and we will put them down as they come out. However, Samza you will ride east with your company. I have a feeling something big is going to happen there and I want to be prepared. Awse, you will go with her." He said and the man nodded.

Idem looked across the map and saw the dummies his brother had placed across and his lip tightened. He raised an eyebrow and Elek noticed it.

"Anything to say, Idem?" He asked and Idem looked at him, discerning if he was being mocked but his brother's face was serious and calm. Idem swallowed and pointed, opening his mouth to speak when a butterfly perched on it and bursted into a naked man: Tuli. Idem frowned and looked at Elek who took in the distraction with calm indifference. He heard the soft, quiet voice of his father ring out.

"Come to me, child." He said and Tuli walked across the table, tiptoeing over the dummies and leaped over Elek's head, landing gracefully and bowing like he had just delivered a masterful performance. He walked up to the emperor and Idem winced as he heard the slap crack out and the noise of broken bones but the man remained kneeling before their father and he leaned down and kissed his hand then turned, the sunken bones of one side of his face healing and regenerating. He nodded at Elek and Elek finally scowled, turning to Idem.

"You were saying?" He asked and Idem cleared his throat, focusing his mind on the map.

"I was wondering that if they went through here, across the broken path, they would surround our inferior numbers and it would even be more effective if they had a few dozen whip masquerades leading them." He said and Elek nodded, rubbing his lower lip in thought.

"Tuli. You will lead men here, take three of your best shaders and as many Tije as you need. You will prevent a routing from the enemy." He said and Tuli grinned, leaning back into his chair, still naked.

"With pleasure, brother and Idem will be with me too, i suppose." He said and winked at Idem who grit his teeth but remained silent. Elek frowned at Tuli.

"Idem will not...." He was interrupted by their father's soft but piercing voice.

"Idem will be at the broken path with Tuli." The emperor said and Elek bowed, saying nothing else.

Idem looked at the map and he felt a twinge of fear within him but he fought against it, breathing deeply. He turned to look at Tuli and the man had a mischievous grin on his face, his eyes locked with Idem's.

"Well well, little brother. How about that?" He said but without moving his lips. The voice came from within Idem and he shivered, his eyes widening with surprise. When had Tuli learnt telepathy? Only the emperor knew that. He hid his surprise and focused on the maps again. It would not do to be distracted now.