The Enlightened Few - The Journey Begins

The first war

King Mohan's two guards reached their troops only to find themselves surrounded. King Aris had divided his army in three groups; the left and right flanks were on higher ground on the mountainside where his son had once rested. The troops were armed with arrows and spears. The last group was at the back on horseback pinching Mohan's army to the edge of the cliff. There was nowhere to run or hide.

"Where is King Mohan?" shouted King Aris.

One of the officers shouted back, "He is within the gates of Kirjuri, you are too late."

"What do you take me for, son?"

"I am a son of the Mohan tribe alone. I do not take you for anything, but for what you are, King Aris."

"And what would that be?"

Before the tension escalated the two guards that had returned had split up, one ran to the back of the group to take hold of the conversation, while the other was gathering ten strong men to follow him across the bridge. If he could get them across to Kirjuri he would be able to protect his King within the stronghold, giving them some advantage.

King Aris was getting impatient. "Where is my son?" demanded King Aris and quickly added, "And don't pretend you don't have him. We have been following you all along and know for a fact that you took him away."

"King or no King, we don't answer to you, only our own." The one guard screamed.

"Aye", screamed all the rest in unison. They began to rattle their armour and shouted a "Lelelelelele" chant.

King Aris lifted his hand up and pointed to the sky, a garrison of troops on horseback joined him. The right and left flanks were ready to reign their arrows down, they just waited for his command.

The Mohan began to charge and Aris dropped his hand down, arrows were flying like wildfire overhead. They hit the ground, they hit shields, and they hit bodies. People fell to the ground, but some warriors just pulled arrows out of their strong bodies and continued charging on.

The war had begun and there was no stopping it now. The sounds of the battle were too muffled by the crashing sounds of the water for anyone else to hear them beyond the gorge.

King Aris' sword broke shields and shattered the hopes of many Mohan as he charged straight through them. On many occasions they united against him, but his archers shot them down before they even reached him.

He reached the bridge and rode across it, until he saw ten Mohan waiting on the cliff before Kirjuri.

"Stop now, there is no point. Your King has abandoned you and your brethren are losing. Surrender or die." He shouted.

"You don't know us, we will never surrender!" and they charged at him with might.

As he crossed the bridge on the other side, his officers chopped the ropes of the bridge and the men on it fell to their watery graves.

Now there was no way to reach his son, but he knew sending flares could possibly catch his attention. He ordered his troops on the hills to fire them. They kept firing many, one after the other. They shot high up into the sky and exploded like fireworks.

Aden saw the fires in the sky and he knew that they must have come from his dad. Selena knew that this was her queue to act.

"Choose your fate now or we will do it for you. Die or surrender."

Mohan would not answer.

"Die or surrender", Selena shouted while looking the king straight in his eyes.

"I surrender", he shouted.

"I never thought I would see the day when I betray my own people and I would not feel bad for it. You, you are a true coward." Selena dished her words out with pain.

"Who are you to talk to me this way? You are no one! You know nothing. You locked up and live in this damned place ignoring the remaining world around you. Magic begins to take over the lands and these people you trust, they want it, this unnatural power to rule over all of us. You yourself are an abomination. The only reason why you are still around is because you can be controlled."

"I am glad someone more sensible than you is controlling me, FATHER!" she had tears strolling down her eyes.

Everyone looked at her perplexed.

After a long silence, Anemone stepped up behind her and put her hand on her shoulder.

"This is not your father, nor is he your family. Your family is standing next to you. Don't feel sorry for him."

King Mohan was sad inside, for he didn't know he had a daughter and he didn't want to believe it.

"You are a liar, I have never had a little daughter. Nor would my blood do what you are doing."

"Like it or not I am your daughter, it looks like I am like my mother who lied to you. How does it feel to be betrayed by more than one person?"

Edan broke the conversation before it could get any more intense. "We will all go to the other side and end this, people are dying and you have surrendered. This war is over."

The whole group including Aden who was trying to blend into the back group floated across. King Aris had surrounded the last few Mohan men and was contemplating their fate. Many had died in this short war, but it could not have been avoided.

"Father", Edan called out.

"Aden, finally we have found you."

"Indeed you have, and I have someone here for you to take back to Glendower for a fair trial."

"He deserves no trial, my son. He is not worthy of one."

"He is within our laws and I can see both sides have suffered. You had once told me that a King knows that he has a strong influence over his people and how he leads them is who they become."

"I didn't think you were listening." King Aris was amazed at how much Edan had been listening in on the conversations he had with his real son. He was glad to see Edan well, as if he were his own child.

They embraced, and in that split moment he whispered eagerly, "Have you found him?"

Edan felt as if his heart was crushed by that very question, but responded "I have not, but I know he is alive and well." King Aris needed to hear that, but he was disappointed by the answer. "Never mind, you will tell me all soon enough."

"We will head off to Glendower, some of the SoverI will accompany us. We should burry the dead before we leave, savages may undignify these souls otherwise."

The Apiritian soldiers build piers and stacked the bodies in preparation for fire burials. One pier was for the lost Mohan souls and the second for Apirite.

The stench was sickening, faces starring into the flames in despair. The end of an era. King Aris was bowed on one knee in front of the dead soldiers, head bowed low.

King Mohan fell to the ground with both knees knocking and tumbling him over. He cried loudly in agony, he had brought his people to this, most of these soldiers being more than just soldiers, but family.

When it was all over the whole party turned their backs to the past and headed off forward to account for these events.

Edan turned back to see his friend, but all he could see were shadows reflected on the mountain side.