11- LEGEND OF NEVETSECNUAC - EVIL PERSONIFIED - SECTION 13

All during Qarzten’s extensive investigations, there had been enough hearsay evidence to link Egil Viggoaries to far more heinous atrocities than his rival PM Lamont Gudaren had ever been involved in; however, the astute Dark Eunuch had been far too shrewd to leave least speck or shred of living evidence, perpetually eliminating, and cutting off all loose ends.  Qarzten’ competent force had dismally failed even to extract, a single drugged confession against the Eunuch. Egil Viggoaries, meanwhile, carried the notorious distinction of being the expert in these methods and anyone who had least contact with him always came away with the firm belief that he was immune to these types of trickery. Consequently, the surface reading of the Dark Eunuch’s service record looked impeccable, his loyalty and integrity appeared beyond question. 

01- EGIL VIGGORIES 4- JP

   

Qarzten Caimund had heard seven or eight such rumors about the childhood escapades of Egil Viggoaries that revealed a heart as black as coal, a conscience as putrid as excrement, a soul buried so deep in a bottomless, dark abyss that it was worse than nonexistent yet none of these blood-curdling stories could be substantiated. The intense fear that these rumours had nevertheless evoked, was quite unmistakable. The mere mention of his name even in the remotest corners of the Kingdom would be enough to scatter unruly crowds. All influential and powerful citizens and even most of the nobility quaked in their boots at the very sight of him. The Chief of Internal Security was truly the second most feared man in the land for, next to the Sovereign himself, Dark Eunuch’s brutality to date was unsurpassed. Like his mentor he carried the notorious distinction of being an ultimate sadist, one who enjoyed and thrived on inflicting physical and mental torture on everyone. Yet the only attainable accounts (with which to incriminate him) had been the ones done within the legal boundaries of the law. 

Nowhere was there a shred of evidence of wrongdoing with which to arrest or prosecute him.    

 The impartial, dark side of Qarzten Caimund could not help but admire Egil Viggoaries’s resourcefulness, thoroughness, and his uncanny ability to perform the darkest deeds in full daylight without there being even one credible witness.    

Added to the Dark Eunuch's accomplishments was his creation of that most dreaded network of spies, the invisible force that went by the name of, Secret Brotherhood of The Black Molochs. The organization was so brilliantly set up that it was impenetrable, yet it had thousands of tentacles extending (reaching) out everywhere, strangling all levels of Government and the populace of Wenjenkun.  Suffice it to say, Qarzten Caimund had been perturbed for an exceptionally long time about his inability to infiltrate Egil Viggoaries’s organization, even the lesser ranks.   

Then his resilience and persistence long at last had paid off. He had broken ground, so to speak, gained a significant inroad with one promising candidate.  It had taken him years of painstaking effort to covertly recruit and school Yuchemos Mantus, but in the end, Yuchemos had surpassed all Qarzten Caimund’s expectations in a surprisingly brief period. But then, that young man had some real ability other than his strikingly handsome features, fine physical bearing, so now, in less than two days time, he would be initiated into the Inner Circle of The Black Molochs. This indeed was a remarkable accomplishment. 

02- YUCHEMOS MANTUS (2)JP

Qarzten Caimund in the meantime was constrained to exercising greater caution than ever before to maintain his sham impartiality concerning Yuchemos Mantus and not to jeopardize this rarest opportunity. And so, when Zakhertan Yozdek had suddenly the other day had inquired about what he had thought of Yuchemos Mantus’s abilities and shortcomings in particular consideration for a more responsible posting in Capital, Qarzten had been most careful not to be either (for) too enthused or against the idea. He had to guard against alerting Zakhertan Yozdek’s suspicions, for once aroused, especially now, with so much riding on it; it would lead to most profound consequences (repercussions) for Yuchemos.  Zakhertan’s mood changes and reactions to people and things were closely monitored (studied) by Egil Viggoaries, who knew Zakhertan better than anyone, and occasionally the Dark Eunuch had been able to home-in accurately in on the truth. As an added cautionary measure, Yuchemos Mantus had been furthermore, ordered to avoid all but the most innocuous contact with the Senior Grand Secretary and his office staff for the next three or four months or more; and even then, only if conditions had seriously warranted it.  

Though it appeared to each factional leader (PM Lamont Gudaren and Egil Viggoaries), their power and influence on political and military spheres were steadily mounting, their machinations were frequently in fact, foiled (stymied), by the ever-vigilant Senior Grand  Secretary Qarzten Caimund, who had devised and set in place long ago, specific (certain) curbs.    

The instant that the delicate balance was disturbed or placed in serious jeopardy by either of the factions striving to usurp more power, Qarzten Caimund’s contingency plans, then activated, would automatically disrupt, and terminate it. Qarzten’s force for some time hence had curtailed and kept the two antagonists’ ambitions in permanent check, as if by divine intervention or by capricious fate.   

Of course, with the perpetual animosity (hostility) of Korion and the potential threat from Deng Hedenko of Kontu looming on the north-eastern horizon, Qarzten Caimund had once, long ago, quietly questioned the validity of eradicating these two powerful cliques at this juncture and also, whether it could be timely effected (brought about) before the impending “Great War”.  Qarzten Caimund had (thereafter) since then implemented certain measures, to minimize the damage that these two could beget. The anticipated future pockets of rebellion would be quashed right at its start, to remove any risk or jeopardy to the might and stability of Wenjenkun's main military force. Ripple effects, including a series of carefully planned assassinations, would then commence, eliminating all potential danger to the national security. The painstakingly detailed instructions and coded cue words which Qarzten Caimund had labored over through many a night had been temporarily locked up, on Zakhertan Yozdek’s order, in the Palace vault. 

Qarzten Caimund had noticed of late however, three or four other disturbing developments becoming known, the chief one being an indirect intervention in the countermeasures set up against Lamont Gudaren and Egil Viggoaries from another quarter: Lord Shouzi Yozdek (current ruling tyrant in Gulbrand Province). This had caused these measures to lose bit of their effectiveness. Direct intervention against Lord Shouzi would have rectified this volatile situation and eliminated the threat but His Highness had termed the damage as comparatively minimal.

03- QARZTEN CAMUND (7)jp

Still, despite adequate proof, Qarzten Caimund while working out, during routine, combat session with the Sovereign Zakhertan  and the selective group of  indomitable royal warriors, Qarzten had braved Zakhertan's wrath and in between strikes, he had broached the subject yet again, urging Zakhertan to grant him permission, while there were still ample time and opportunity, to deal with this potentially explosive situation.  Though the Sovereign had listened with due patience while he fought unceasingly, to Qarzten’s well presented oral case, he had in the end shook his head (shown reluctance) and refused to take any decisive military action (against his kin) at that specific juncture (point in time).   

“Egil Viggoaries’s and Lamont Gudaren’s service to the State has not yet been fully realized."  Had been Zakhertan’s blunt (frank) response; his way of saying 'No', without fully closing the door.    

Discerning that there was more to the Sovereign's reluctance than his concern for the kin or the welfare of the State, Qarzten had set aside his misgivings and dropped the subject; a decision he had come to regret so many times over, since then.    

 

                                                                            ~   

When the news of Prince Herleif’s terrible blunder with the penknife and his subsequent punishment had first reached Qarzten Caimund, he had not taken pleasure in derision of the prince as so many others who had also held Prince Herleif in contempt, had done. Senior Grand Secretary had simply shaken his head in utter disbelief at the extent of the prince's stupidity and negligence and then frowned when he thought of; the three or four presages (portend) repercussions this innocuous episode could entail. Nevertheless, because he had deemed Herleif’s days as being numbered even without the derivative of this mishap, he had concentrated instead on dealing with other more pressing issues on his agenda.  Irksomely, the persistent reports of Herleif’s exaggerated and perverse responses had continued to filter in. The day after the prince’s recovery, in fact, he had ordered the torture and inquisition of his own equally contemptible Chief Eunuch Wagner, along with the rest of his household retinue. The needlessness of this act against ones who were so obviously innocent had angered Qarzten Caimund to the boiling point. Though very much perturbed the Senior Grand Secretary Qarzten Caimund had maintained his admirable reserve however, as he held a specific purpose in mind. He had opted to run only a little interference and advocated that the handling of the investigation into the origin of the knife be done by the Chief of Internal Security. Egil Viggoaries was on the surface the most capable man for resolving this case swiftly thus leaving Zakhertan Yozdek free to concentrate on more serious matters. The fact that Qarzten Caimund had good reason to suspect other Palace players as having had a hand in this affair would, it seemed, had opened meanwhile, another (assortment of problems) complex issue and tied up the attention of everyone involved, including Egil Viggoaries, in efforts which would inevitably change the natural course of events. But then Qarzten Caimund could not resist weaving another trap for Egil Viggoaries when this added opportunity had struck. His ulterior motive had been in part to entice Egil Viggoaries with a sure bait, to either redeem or, expectantly even on a small scale, hang himself. It was a calculated risk which Qarzten knew he would win regardless of the outcome. As it happened Zakhertan Yozdek’s elite secret service had been dispatched two days ago to investigate a rebellion looming on the horizon of Tanghui Province. The instance the urgent matters within Channing were concluded, Qarzten Caimund would then be free to accompany the new Military Governor, to Tanghui to promptly consolidate the political situation there. Qarzten inwardly cursed the delay, as he was most anxious to leave for this assignment since the route to Tanghui bypassed Tenzo Province where he had another more urgent business and a certain investigation to oversee. 

04- COMANDER ZHADOL BORYM AND LANCE DIOSTIN

  

Qarzten Caimund had learned some time prior, of the strange disappearances of certain figures associated with the Inner Circle of The Black Molochs: Lance Diostin, Zhadol Borym, Zuan and Sanqui Xiory; warranting hence, an indebt enquiry to resolve his many unanswered questions. Qarzten had quietly suspected that they had all, save Lance Diostin, been murdered, result of fresh power struggle between Egil Viggoaries and the P.M., despite the serious lack of corpses and typically, not one shred of evidence to incriminate either of them.    

Additionally, there had been another minor concern for Qarzten, certain irregularity in fact, pertaining to the Illustrious Scholar Fradel Rurik Korvald. Something odd about the elusive Scholar had alerted Qarzten Caimund’s keen senses right at the beginning and soon as Fradel had reached the Capital, he had been placed under surveillance.  The accrued discrepancies (about the scholar) had been forthwith relayed to Sovereign Zakhertan Yozdek and Qarzten had received permission for investigate in greater depth and place the Scholar under constant surveillance, even though, Qarzten had quietly anticipated Zakhertan had had his own compiled, extensive report from his elite force, Black Band Guard Regiment and the auxiliary group, Shadow Brigade. Qarzten Caimund, for efficiency’s sake, had often wished to utilize (tap into) such a Force but their allegiance had been solely to Zakhertan and no other. Such an elite group could not be swayed, corrupted, enticed, threatened, or extorted let alone recruited. It was an immediate death sentence even to approach one with such an (intent) offer.    

Despite his impeccably record Qarzten Caimund had irately, already reckoned that, lately he too had been kept under closer scrutiny, more keenly than anyone else, since Zakhertan always seemed to know his activities well in advance. Qarzten had nothing to fear, however, since he had always functioned scrupulously (trustworthily) and could not be faulted or reprimanded for any irregular activity since he engaged in none.    

His mind at present reverting back to the incidence of the latest sham assassination attempt on Zakhertan Yozdek, Quarzten looked away, destructed by the sudden downpour at the outside. Through quiet reflection on the reports about the penknife incident, Qarzten of course had long ago pieced together the scant clues and had deduced the palpable culprits. For the time being, however, he had kept this data to himself, adapting a wait-and-see attitude. Quarzten’s vacillation had been due in part, to his wishing to allow the old Imperial Tutor a sufficient period of grace, to set his personal affairs in order before his risky (foolhardy) confession. Qarzten Caimund knew also that Worren Youkup’s unwitting part in this scheme had been baleful (sinister), and that he had been but an inconsequential scapegoat (martyr). Qarzten would never admit it, but he was in fact aggrieved that Worren’s lifetime impeccable service (employment), would soon to be reduced to ruins. His attention next directed to one of the architects of the ploy Lady Sejon and more importantly her handmaiden Nijel Pinng, Qarzten again irately looked away wondering, the method Lady Sejon must’ve used to persuade otherwise discerning Tutor Worren Youkup, to assume full blame.     

More the pity, Qarzten inwardly scoffed; for he knew, even after Her Ladyship’s complicity (regarding the knife) with the Imperial Tutor became known, Lady Sejon would predictably be acquitted, until such time when, as only Zakhertan Yozdek would know, she would have outlived her usefulness to him.

Qarzten Caimund frowning, set aside the document pertaining to Lady Sejon, with a multitude of others awaiting his perusal and shrugged dispassionately. The life of Lady Sejon was of little consequence anyhow; she mattered less and less in the grand scheme of things, and that thankfully, welfare of Prince Magnian was nonaligned with hers. As for the instigator of all this Nijel Pinng, now that was an entirely different matter.

Qarzten Caimund reflected on how his policy of routinely checking beyond the official records of everyone, who had entered government service in Capital, had paid off yet again; furthermore, the revelation (disclosure) had shed an entirely rather an intriguing light on things.

 

(END OF SECTION 13)

 

                                                                                     ~ 

 11- LEGEND OF NEVETSECNUAC - EVIL PERSONIFIED - SECTION 6

Subsequently, long after his firstborn's ignominious death, Zakhertan had thoroughly investigated all happenstances from varied perspectives and scrutinized even the remotest incidents (episodes) that could have given rise to his son’s shocking defiance; meanwhile, seeking any explanation to forgive his son and to absolve himself from least blame. He had even considered the possibility that his beloved son had gone temporarily insane, had suffered a medical mental affliction (episode) or injury that had resulted in his irrational, deplorable behavior.

Nevertheless, Qijerrik consequent unfilial breach could not be minimized (disputed) or denied; after considering this at present once more, Zakhertan shook his head and again hardened his heart. Qijerrik when captured and brought in chains before him (Zakhertan) to account for his crimes, though altered in personality, had been perfectly resolute and of sound mind. Zakhertan recalled with perfect clarity each nuance and subtlety of affectation, moreover, every brazen discord (articulated dissent) of that day when Qijerrik stood adamantly defiant despite his obvious grave injuries.

01- -QIJERRIK YOZDEK IN CHAINS

 Zakhertan gritted his teeth while the muscles on his face went taut (rigid, tense, tightened), just as it had done then, his heart in the throes of extreme emotional turmoil- observing (witnessing) his son’s  stoic bravely, hearing his son’s defiant responses to his culpable (accusatory), damning analyses and sadistic demands, never giving an inch, shackled and seriously wounded as he were beneath his armour (breastplate, chainmail), result of his prior gallant skirmish with the elite force!

Incredibly, even after all this time, despite all that had passed (transpired), Zakhertan still held deep affection for his firstborn son and he still yearned deep within the crevices of his soul, to have Qijerrik standing by him, as he had once done. Zakhertan had given him the single, unheard of until then, chance to repent, to explain his actions and to beg absolution from him (his Sovereign father). Though, Zakhertan had known all too well, that the offer of leniency was wasted on the son after his own heart. Predictably, Qijerrik had remained unrelenting and defiant until the bitter- end.

"I gladly welcome death (be freed by death) and decent into the debts of Hell than intake another breath and persist (live) under the noxious grid (net) of your tyrannical rule!"

 Those caustic words, then to present, were forever etched in (scarred, burned in) Zakhertan Yozdek’s heart and still pained him. At the time seeing red (enraged), Zakhertan’s fury had just exploded.

"Your death shall not come that easy."  In a blinding rage (not seeing his son), he had descended upon the insolent, shackled prisoner and, drawing his sword severed, in lightning strike, Qijerrik’s right arm above the elbow; but with incredible self-control he had stayed his blade, desisting the urge of cutting Qijerrik’s throat and in a sweeping motion amputating both of his (son’s) legs above the knee.  

02-ZAKHERTAN YOZDEDK  (68)

Qijerrik for a moment or two had fought hard to remain conscious as the stump of his severed arm, the severed artery, sprayed blood all over Zakhertan’s chest and on the guards who flanked him. Nevertheless, fuelled by indignation, for he possessed the same fiery temperament as Zakhertan, Qijerrik’s voice thence, thundered with his wrathful curses directed at his father, till his strength gradually but assuredly waned.

Zakhertan, his fury only satiated by the spilling of blood, consequently, in lightening speed sheathing his sword and then simultaneously withdrawing his dagger from his inner garment, grabbed the tongue of his son and cut out the offensive organ at the root.

His son, by this act, would be silenced forever, so he had thought. But those eyes, those hateful, burrowing eyes spoke louder than any battle cry. The look had extricated (wrenched) Zakhertan’s soul out from his body, then inexplicably plunged (plummeted, drawn) into the debts of those blazing blue eyes of Qijerrik’s; Zakhertan thus helplessly mesmerized, held captive (caged) by the force of it, had endured Qijerrik’s heaped on silent recriminations-making Zakhertan feel like an abhorred monster and worse, making him suffer (experience) the effects of his actions had had on others.

Zakhertan could have well tolerated (stomached, endured) all blame and that penetrating glare of loathing; but then his son’s eyes had unexpectedly softened and had insufferably next, got suffused with a deep, profound pity for Zakhertan, before Qijerrik succumbed to loss of blood and his eyelids dropped! That did it!

At that moment, unbridled fury had again exploded in Zakhertan for, “how dare his son, so abjectly pity him?”  Anew his heart turned to stone; Zakhertan had barked his orders to the guards to get the traitor Qijerrik out of his sight at once. His death, however, would not be so swift.

03- INFURIATED ZAKHERTAN YOZDEDK  (16) JP

The guards understanding Zakhertan’s unspoken command, had hauled Prince Qijerrik to the darkest of dungeons, had his wounds cauterized, and then had the prince chained to the far wall. Once a day Qijerrik was force-fed to keep him alive, for Zakhertan still demanded repentance from his son and if necessary, it would be extracted by torture. Subsequent days, the rebellious forces bereft of his leadership, had been one by one, swiftly, and methodically rooted out and vanquished; and in less than two months every whimper of rebellion had been crushed.  

Every generation of Scholars’ families down to the extended members, servants, associates as well as, all other suspected sympathizers were one and all, rounded up and publicly executed throughout the Kingdom. Many villages and rural towns which had lent support to the Scholar rebels had been raised, incinerated and every life within them snuffed out of existence. Their severed, blood-soaked heads were hoisted on pikes over city gates or in village squares where the eyes were picked clean by crows and the empty sockets formed nests for maggots. Left there indefinitely to rot and stink, they served as a grim reminder, a deterrent, and a warning to all dissidents.  

Each day for well over a month, Prince Qijerrik chained and immobile, had spent long, agonizing hours, being kept appraised of the most recent atrocious and ghastly reprisals exacted (meted out) on his once compatriots.  

 Zakhertan had hoped that the self-recrimination alone, at all the suffering Prince had caused, would force Qijerrik to see the error of his ways and beg, by whatever means he could, Zakhertan's forgiveness. Only then swift death would be bestowed on the prince, along with the granting of full funerary rights. The alternative, Zakhertan let Qijerrik know, was to be kept in the dungeon indefinitely, to undergo sporadic tortures then be left to rot until his corpse would be tossed into the moat below like that of a common criminal. Qijerrik, defiant to the end, had, however still found a way to cheat Zakhertan of the pleasure of his demise (death). At the beginning of the second month of his incarceration, after eating normally for two days to build his strength and lull the guard's suspicions, he had taken advantage of the brief period when the shift changed and, gathering all his bodily strength, had swung his skull backwards with all his force against the wall he was shackled to.  Prince Qijerrik had always been a stalwart (strapping) young man and even in this weakened state, it had taken only one attempt to shatter his skull and therefore end his existence.

Both shifts of guards, finding out what had happened and fearing Zakhertan’s wrath, fell upon their swords and immediately ended their life. The news of his son's suicide had at first infuriated Zakhertan Yozdek, but the more he thought about it, the more he admired his son's resolve and courage despite himself. Though misguided, his son’s stubborn defiance right up to the end had earned Qijerrik, Zakhertan’s lasting esteem and deep eternal love, for being such a true warrior. Breaking his own rule of law, Zakhertan had taken Qijerrik’s remains and had them buried beside those of his mother Lady Elin, in the Royal Tombs; however, the corpse of Prince Qijerrik still received no funerary rites.

04-ZAKHERTAN YOZDEK 78

Zakhertan’s heart from then on had grown even colder still, for he had after all, lost the only person who had mattered to him in life. He had since then been, figuratively speaking, dead to the world. He had allowed himself no attachments and had taken solace only in wars, with murder and mayhem (pandemonium, havoc) being his constant companions; however, none of that had satiated his voracious, predatory soul’s gripe (or lament). His heart, already turned to chunk of ice and caged in an iron chest, had only last year, though hesitantly, had begun to thaw. Zakhertan’s thoughts at present reluctantly turned to Crown Prince Herleif, he speculated whether he had unfairly shunned his second son, born three years after Qijerrik to the same mother Lady Elin.

The two Princes could not have been more different. Prince Herleif was so vastly inferior to the firstborn, that it was hard for Zakhertan to believe Qijerrik shared the (same chromosome, gene pool,) same gene (genetic factor, DNA, RNA) with such a sorry specimen. Lately however, Zakhertan’s feelings about Herleif had been mixed and his heart at times had been tinged with small measure of guilt, for he knew deep down in the crux of his conscience being that he was partly to be blamed for those ill-gotten results. Hadn't he after all desired this outcome in Herleif, this weakling, the bane of his life, and took corresponding (apt) measures all along to perpetuate it? Yes, over the years he had followed his son's failings and his sorry progress, assured that no danger would arise from him but, unlike Yoshikan Sousing Nokuzuk Binchan of Korion, Herleif had not faked his incompetence.

05- YOSHIKAN SOUSING NOKUZUK BINCHAN   (44)JP

Zakhertan thence (from that time on) having changed his mind had subjected his second son to rigorous (arduous) training; try as he might however, after numerous failings and some physical injuries, Prince Herleif had proven absolutely that he had no knack for civil or military calling. He was a dismal failure and a bitter disappointment for one such as Zakhertan Yozdek. Unlike his late elder brother Qijerrik, Prince Herleif was not agile enough, lacked zeal, lacked compassion and benevolence, lacked stamina, courage, wisdom, and skill. Even the most stringent, rigorous training that would have otherwise transformed an ordinary being into a semi-competent commander or an acceptable soldier (warrior), missed its mark in Herleif; he was, at best, a mediocre fighter, and a dismally incompetent supervisor. Nor was this his only failing, prince Herleif was miserly and lacked imagination and foresight; he had failed to apply his extensive schooling in strategy into practice and so was also a failure as a tactical commander in the field. Sovereign Zakhertan had learned this lesson at cost of thousands of good fighting men and a near loss of a province; fortunately, the timely intervention from Prince Herleif’s replacement, a much abler Commander Zifel, had rectified the situation and secured the province. Zakhertan had never been able to forgive his second son Herleif for this terrible blunder and disgrace. Even after his banishment to a remotest province as Governor, much more suffering had been readied for him. In fact, it was only due to the sudden demise of Zakhertan’s third son, Prince Kendar that Herleif's life had been spared at all.  

Sovereign Zakhertan Yozdek robbed of any other adolescent male heirs, had reluctantly recalled (summoned) Prince Herleif back to the Capital Channing. This was of course a temporary measure, as Zakhertan had estimated that now Crown Prince Herleif might last just long enough till a pegged, more capable offspring was born to him (Zakhertan). For some time unfortunately, fate had denied Zakhertan this fundamental right; after the accidental death of Prince Turin Yozdek at the age of three (born to Lady Idona Yozdek), then the sudden demises at infancy of both the Prince Chucek (born to Lady Shayen Yozdek) and Prince Kureing (born to Lady Yinnis), Zakhertan had furtively next hung all his hopes on Prince Magnian, who’d fortunately had survived and was presently, five years old. Zakhertan fists had momentarily clenched then let go, as he had thought how opportunely, fate had given him one more chance to redeem his mistakes. This time he would take care not to repeat Qijerrik’s morose ending, Zakhertan inwardly vowed. He would, furthermore, ascertain that no undue or adverse influences be thrust upon Magnian in an unguarded moment and that, his training and education be far stricter and all encompassing. Though Prince Magnian was just five years old, he had been already showing signs of a great promise, much like Qijerrik.

06- ZAKHERTAN YOZDEDK  (91) AND LADY SEJON

Lady Sejon, as the mother of Prince Magnian, at present enjoyed Zakhertan’s special favors; she was after all, voluptuous, well endowed, beautiful young girl of twenty-two years of age, with honey-colored eyes and long, wavy, raven black hair. Besides being astute and quite ambitious, she was also the beloved niece of Prime Minister Lamont Gudaren; Zakhertan would therefore, tolerate her just a little while longer, while same time, keep an eye to make sure of curbing her influence. And then, Zakhertan grinned venomously, knowing the fate, regardless of circumstance, that awaited his lovely consort.

Zakhertan’s deliberations were interrupted just then by a cheerful chorus of chirps from the shallow pool in the garden outside his window. He absently watched, as the pair of songbirds drank, dipped their bodies into the water and then, flapped their wings to shake off the excess moisture. Zakhertan elucidated (interpreted) their ablutions (ritual cleansing) as a utilitarian exercise, much like the troops bathing after a long march (and before a victorious battle); turning, he glimpsed at the guard waiting woodenly all this time for his command.

"Very well, have him come in."   

The guard responded sharply and within seconds the expendable Crown Prince Herleif was ushered into the room.

 

                                                                                            ~

 

(END OF SECTION 6)

 11- LEGEND OF NEVETSECNUAC - EVIL PERSONIFIED - SECTION 5

 

Zakhertan, turning his attention back on the task at hand, glowered (looked daggers) at the fourth stack of documents on his desk needing his perusal, he impatiently tapped his fingers on the desk and hissed. “Always the same… “    

Reluctant to begin, Zakhertan with disdain briefly watched the dancing flames of the brazier as Neru typically feed them, before reflecting on Lenny Sukzor’s latest submitted report on the covert and highly illegal activities of Egil Viggoaries. The slight discrepancy between Lenny’s and the subsequent information tendered by Juyin, the lovely wife of Lenny Sukzor’s, on her husband's activities, caused Zakhertan to frown.

01- JUYIN SUKZOR (3)JP

The two statements varied slightly on one minute detail; an irregularity so feeble that another in his stead might have entirely missed it. Should he be concerned with such a trivial contradiction (incongruity)? Was it an oversight? No! He must not leave anything, no matter how slight, to chance.    

Zakhertan’s mouth formed into a snarl as he drew another blank parchment before him and issued a set of specific orders to have the matter more thoroughly investigated.  

 “I’ll wait and see where this leads to,” Zakhertan briefly pondered, after which he quickly sealed the envelope, containing specific order, with his Imperial seal. A single logo (motif) drawn on the envelope and explicit sequence of numbers registered underneath, indicated the precise department and agent that it was to be handed to; this too was summarily put aside along with the rest in that growing pile.

Then there is still that other matter, Zakhertan Yozdek irritatedly drummed his fingers on the desk. No! There was no need to review it again. Why was he even debating that issue still?  

Such ambivalence angered him; the one thing he had always taken pride in was his decisiveness and exceptionally retentive memory. One glance at anything, any detail however insignificant or minute, and it would be permanently embedded in his mind. Now tapping that innate advantage, Zakhertan recalled with perfect clarity a certain trivial observation hidden in the report the Royal Courier had submitted upon the completion of his mission. This obtuse remark did not tally with the recently, thoroughly compiled accounts by The Shadow Brigade men on the activities of the newcomer, Fradel Rurik Korvald.    

Ordinarily such a minuscule discrepancy would not have elicited any concern from Zakhertan.  Reflecting additionally on the independent reports of Zyerne Stewor and Tizan, who had also curiously enough, raised doubts about the Scholar and considering the recent happenings, Zakhertan decided to delve deeper into the otherwise innocuous matter concerning Fradel Rurik Korvald.

02- FRADEL (NEVETSECNUAC) JP 7

    

He might well have inadvertently transported trouble right to the Capital. This farfetched notion now gripped his heart anew with a certain inexplicable foreboding, for far too many had already come-in-contact with the illustrious scholar. Zakhertan imagined the wide scope this investigation would entail, the deployment of manpower it would take to, either get at the simple truth or, expose all the subversives if his hunch proved correct. As it were, the scholars had again been gaining one third measure of their former prominence and along with it, their sphere of influence had expediently grown. In any event a quick confirmation of these nagging concerns was warranted; he must question the couriers Canbir Nonng and Cais Honger further, on the one minor irregularity in their report. Zakhertan had always insisted on complete and accurate assessments and, if this was the result of incompetence, sacrificing accuracy for expedience, then the couriers would have to answer for it with their lives. Quickly he dispatched another written order, this one to order the couriers to hand over their mission to the one who would be sent in their stead and return in post haste to the Capital.   

That was the end of it. Finally, Zakhertan leaned back and stretched out his limbs.

Grand Secretary Qarzten Caimund having concluded his assigned task expediently a short time earlier, had been waiting patiently for Zakhertan to finish his; he now came forward on the slight indication of Zakhertan Yozdek, to receive his verbal instructions in an ingenious code so secret that it was known only to the two.  Afterwards, Qarzten routinely picked up the order packets and, after bowing respectfully, hurried out the door to distribute them to the various department heads. All were required to work longer hours than the Sovereign.

The door quickly closed behind the Senior Grand Secretary, Zakhertan Yozdek watched with an uninterested blank stare Neru’s progress, then sat motionless in deep contemplative silence, dark clouds of thought swirling through his head and his guards only a whisper away.

    

                                                                                 ~    

    

Hastening out of the vestibule leading from the Imperial Chambers, the Senior Grand Secretary Qarzten Caimund’s head was full of the multiplicity of orders, arrangements, and duties that he must complete before the day’s session was over. So entangled was Qarzten Caimund in these thoughts that he did not see and nearly run into (collided with) a similarly distracted Crown Prince Herleif, as Prince rushed in the opposite direction armed with a stack of ancient scrolls and star charts.   

"On yet another urgent errand; are we, Master Caimund?"    

Prince Herleif’s tone, beneath that remark, grated on Qarzten Caimund’s nerves as it always did. The Senior Grand Secretary’s face tightened, and he averted his eyes for a moment, “You are such a barefaced weasel; still suckling your mother's milk after twenty-three years. Your derision is still palpable under that semblance of sarcasm.”  Qarzten Caimund looked squarely at the prince Herleif now and nodded tersely.

03- -QARZTEN CAMUND (16)Bjp

"I gather His Highness is free now."  The Crown Prince, with typical arrogance, had completely ignored Qarzten's response to his barb and spoke now in the icy tone he used for the servants. "You will step aside to let me pass."    

“This hall will fit five armored guards marching abreast. Did you expect me to acknowledge this childish attempt to flaunt your authority? Let us see just how far your authority will get you.” Qarzten Caimund mocked the prince inwardly.

 

 "By all means." Qarzten smiled tightly as he half turned and shot a knowing glance towards the guards at the chamber doors, moving as slow as he could to antagonize prince Herleif.

"I would like to mention however, that this time may not be appropriate for an unannounced visit."  Qarzten Caimund informed the prince, in his even tone. "Perhaps, you should defer your objective of seeing His Highness this very evening unless, of course, it is a matter of the utmost importance." Qarzten tautly grimaced; but kept the words, “particularly the way you are clad; did you just leave one of your debauched (decadent, base) bashes?” and derisively (scathingly, sarcastically) looked away.

"Impudent wretch, how dare you treat me like an imbecile (dullard) child.” The Prince Herleif's protruding earlobes had turned beet red, as he, seething in contempt, violently shoved the Senior Grand Secretary aside. "Wait until I am your Sovereign, you arrogant dog!"  His face suffused with anger and a stream of abuse gushing off inwardly, he strode quickly forward to cross the vestibule in only a second.  

Caught unaware by this outburst of temper, the Senior Grand Secretary Qarzten Caimund had dropped one of the sealed envelopes onto the marble floor. Anger smoldered in his breast as he stooped to pick it up and his face distorted with contempt. Half-turning his head, he witnessed the Prince Herleif’s way being barred by the two stout guards who had crossed pikes in front of the door to the Imperial Chambers.  

Herleif’s face reddened by rage and pressed menacingly against the senior guard’s, the prince growled, "Are you going to announce me or not? Fine! Step aside, for I mean to walk in immediately and report your insolence myself." 

04-PRINCE HERLEIF YOZDEK (2)

“Go ahead and slither in, you miserable worm, but you won't, will you?” Qarzten Caimund drew in a breath through his teeth then, catching the guard's eye, gave him a simple nod. He had proven his point.  

"I shall inform His Highness of your presence immediately." The stone-faced guard, not in the least perturbed, responded mechanically. "Please wait here, Prince Herleif."  Turning smartly, he stepped up to the door and knocked. After receiving begrudging consent, he opened the door and abjectly entered. After crossing half of the room and bowing briskly, he announced Price Herleif’s presence outside and his request to see the Sovereign.

 "What does that fool want now?' Zakhertan Yozdek snorted impatiently, expecting no answer, and turned his back to the guard to stare out at the serene scenery.   

 Awaiting orders, the guard had stood silently at attention, while at outside, under the transitory (brief) amused gaze of the departing Qarzten Caimund, Prince Herleif had for a spell simmered at his father's disdainful words. Then, he took in a slow breath and composed himself; subsequently, his hand reached inside his pocket, withdrew a rolled-up document, and waited.

 

                                                                                            ~

 

Sovereign Zakhertan Yozdek with a blank expression, meanwhile, had continued to stare outside at the placid (tranquil) garden; his stern gaze next, focusing on the oblivious bird, taking in a drink or two from the fountain. Different troubling thoughts however, grievously (incorrigibly) and unbidden, anew robbed him of the peace he sought.

“If only Qijerrik had not turned on me.”  Zakhertan’s cold eyes blinked, filled with a deep hurt as he hissed out a long breath and shook his head. “If only my firstborn had lived instead of this wretched spawn.”  The grievous loss, the events of those days long gone, rushed in to crowd his mind again, searing his heart and soul with self-recrimination and regret. When the stabbing constriction in his chest became too overwhelming, Zakhertan summoned his will to push it aside and concentrated instead, on the positive attributes of his late son.

Zakhertan recollected fondly now with perfect clarity his proudest moments of Qijerrik. From the start, he’d been an offspring worthy of his sire. Not only Prince Qijerrik was most handsome warrior, as he was tall and athletic, though bit more handsome than him; but he had also been endowed with the same temperament, the same wits, tactical brilliance, and akin (parallel) martial ability (prowess) to Zakhertan at a corresponding age.

Zakhertan had hung great many hopes on his son Qijerrik’s shoulders after noting the potential in the boy, especially after, at age fifteen Prince Qijerrik had become, under his strict tutelage (guidance), an accomplished and indomitable warrior. What was more, Prince Qijerrik thrived on dangerous military campaigns just as Zakhertan did. The more perilous the task or more challenging the combat action the greater the thrill, the deeper the sensation the young Prince would derive from it. This feeling was one only Zakhertan would understand and, they were not just father and son but kindred spirits.  

05- QIJERRIK YOZDEK  (4)JP

But then cruel, capricious fate had instigated, on that fateful seventeenth’ year of his son's life, those infamous chain of events that had led up to his son’s betrayal, all of which were now permanently etched in Zakhertan 's memory by the same cursed talent that served him so well in his bureaucratic duties. Consistently every evening, as soon as he had time to himself, they had surfaced despite his best efforts to quash them and, fiercely, obsessively haunted his peace and tormented his soul.     

If only he had acted more swiftly and without qualm to stem the divergent tide earlier.    

 As it was Zakhertan had been preoccupied with obliteration of resurgent rebel forces at 

Wenjenkun’s western borders, while same time he was constrained to adopt far more severe, more brutal measures to eradicate the infestation the serious unrest by the rising literati (intellectuals or educated class) within Capital Province Holger. Unfortunately, while he was otherwise engaged, the contrary seed had been planted and had germinated in the one Zakhertan had least expected. That single oversight had cost him his firstborn son. When he became aware of this fact, of course by then he could not have altered the outcome, not in the slightest.   

Again, considering his then options in hindsight, Zakhertan shrugged with a certain resignation, admitting to himself that he could not have done otherwise for, on that cursed day when the dark flotilla of clouds congregated ominously on the horizon atop the rising sun, his beloved son Qijerrik, had insisted on, and unfortunately received, his permission to lead vanguard in the attack against the rebel scholars.  After all, Zakhertan had no reason to doubt his son's competence.     

The campaign had gone well enough, with the Imperial forces emerging victorious as expected; after which came the punitive action that wreaked total devastation on the entire populous which had aided and shielded the defiant scholars. Unfortunately, something had gone awry, something else quite unforeseen had transpired either on the battlefield or in aftermath, which had forever altered his beloved son Prince Qijerrik.      

The rebel army had fought gallantly and employed brilliant tactics right up until the bitter end, but that would not have brought about that kind of change in Qijerrik, for he had bested gallant foes before. Was it the gruesome mass suicide of the rebel forces when all hope had been lost? Or was it the subsequent events, the countrywide hunt for and the extreme persecution of the many sympathizers? Could it have been the madness of the pillaging, the extensive carnage and mass extermination of the scholar class? Or was it simply the proliferation (creation) of the earthen mounds that had contained within it, countless living bodies of men, women, and children? Could any of these or all, have been the contributing factors?

“No! Absolutely not! Qijerrik was no weakling coward. “Zakhertan once more vehemently denied that hurtful notion. It had to have been something entirely different, something inconceivable and one day he (Zakhertan) would surely pinpoint the real cause. Zakhertan yet again lied to himself. Technically that had been the day he had lost his firstborn son for, from that day forth Prince Qijerrik had undergone a drastic change in heart, mind, and character. He had become increasingly unruly and finally, downright disobedient.  

“If only my son had been a fallen casualty in war.” Zakhertan mulled over, though he surmised that, in a sense, Qijerrik had been just that.  

“Could the fault have been partly his? He should have listened to his son more?”    

“If only he’d paid more attention and timely intervened with apt measures to protect and isolate Qijerrik from those damaging influences, instead of reacting in anger and ostracizing his son for being contrary and too outspoken?” Zakhertan once more pondered on the nagging concerns, with his empty gaze affixed on the swaying trees (that seemed to be bowing obsequiously), for the wind had just then picked up in the garden.  

 “Had he been too stringent? Had he pushed his son too hard, too soon? No, that was not it either.” Zakhertan scowled. Whatever he might have done wrong, one thing was for certain: he had never been lax in Qijerrik’s upbringing or discipline. In fact, up until that time, Zakhertan had taken an active interest and taken great care in ensuring that Qijerrik had received proper, well-rounded education in both civil and military.   

“Then, how could he have failed to instill in the boy, the most important filial virtue, right alongside loyalty and honor?”  Zakhertan was angry and remained at a loss to find reasons for that drastic change in Qijerrik and the subsequent, catastrophic series of events. Searing fury rose in him anew as he recalled the distressing incident in Council when his son sharply stood up in front of all assembled, to openly oppose him. Admittedly, it was over a minor issue, but the act was still one of open, brazen defiance; a legitimate move under the law but it harbored graver undercurrents which would expose Zakhertan’s single weakness and challenge his overall authority in Imperial Court.

 Zakhertan Yozdek regretted now not using right there and then the provisions in the law which would have allowed him to exercise his option to incarcerate Qijerrik summarily. If only he had imprisoned him, indefinitely or even executed him, instead of banishing him?

Zakhertan had repeated the same haunting question thousands of times and each time the same regret, recrimination, hurt, disappointment, furious rage, and bitterness gripped his heart, in that merciless, wrenching grip. Had he done that, he would have spared himself the mortifying, wounding torment of knowing that his beloved son, his own flesh, and blood, was capable of such treachery against him and all he stood for.

There was one other in the family, his youngest sister, who had likewise betrayed him; but Zakhertan had understood and eventually forgiven her for her misplaced loyalty, for she’d from the first, been deeply infatuated (besotted) with her husband, Lord Shonne Gulbrand. But to be so betrayed by his once beloved son was something Zakhertan had never expected or imagined as a possibility. Each time that memory surfaced, the same fierce indignation and fury welled up from the depths of his soul and he suffered that akin, bittersweet sensation of bile rising to his mouth, as the day Prince Qijerrik’s war slogans had reached his ears.

06- QIJERRIK YOZDEK  (3)JP

Zakhertan’s eyes had burned with intense heat from reading those seditious adages posted for all to see in the towns’ squares, which rallied the populous restive and ripe, for an all-out rebellion. Those contemptible words (like gnawing parasites) were permanently etched (engraved) in his brain. One of those had said: “Arise good people who has suffered for so long under the severity of despotic Zakhertan Yozdek's oppressive regime, time to oppose his repressive laws and demand reckoning for the wrongs that had never been redressed; unite and take up arms, for yours is the righteous cause!”    

“My son, my most beloved son; how deeply you’d injured me!”  Zakhertan’s mouth presently, creased into a grimace of pain for each one of those seditious words had been a stiletto in Zakhertan’s heart and the damage hence, had been irreparable.

Zakhertan would have judged Qijerrik more leniently, had all this been done because of high ambition, Prince wanting to seize the throne for himself; that Zakhertan could have lived with, but Qijerrik had taken on the mantle of a liberator.     

This had been unforgivable, and it had unleashed the culmination of all that unbridled fury Zakhertan Yozdek had amassed in him; consequently, he had acted swiftly and more savagely than ever before to bring about total devastation of innumerable (myriad) Wenjenkuners.

 

(END OF SECTION 5)