Chapter 6: Darina's Authority

Prince Thariem did not see off Darina in person. He was just standing at the balcony looking at the gates where Darina’s caravan once passed. Darina and her cavalrymen went away at night to not stir any attention from the nearby kingdoms. Prince Thariem has no other thoughts but a wish that his title would not produce any hostilities. But a wish is not enough, that is why he understood that Darina must lead the campaign of recruiting the soldiers. While silent in his thoughts, Minister Hazper came to him casually.

“Your Highness, it is getting noon. Do you think that Darina and her cavalrymen will tarry first if it would rain? The clouds are covering the heavens,” Minister Hazper started.

“I would not like them to tarry,” Prince Thariem replied. “We need more defenses any time sooner.”

“But that is why I have come to your place, Your Majesty. Why did you not inquire first from the ministers about the plan of the reinforcement?”

“For it is an emergency that does not concern the ministerial offices.”

“Forgive me of my boldness but I also have to extend my care for the kingdom. If other provinces will know about the reinforcement campaign of our capital, then it would supply to their suspicion that Clapestris aims for a bigger feat and establish a great dynasty over the entire Western Asia,” Minister Hazper said. “It would have been better if you let the rumors finish in itself than to cause another action.’

“But the scholar Mahagino is the one who suggested this,” Prince Thariem reminded Minister Hazper that when it comes to tactical defenses, King Rashal always considers Mahagino’s wit more than any other ministers and scholars.

“Because he favors Darina, Your Highness. He knows that when Darina will recruit the force, the ministers will provoke the king to reward Darina a great one and this might trouble your near kingship, Your Highness,” Hazper insisted. “Moreover, the rumors are dangerous. If we can just open our kingdom for a dialogue with this country to stop their suspicion then it would be better.”

“I understand your thoughts, Minister.” Prince Thariem said, especially on the thought that Mahagino’s loyalty is also pledged to Darina.

It was Darina who made Mahagino get reconciled with the capital and earn again the King’s favor. It was also Darina who added a fortification of Clapestris by making Mahagino’s location at Kaskuhish to be a watchman’s place and a secret fort. The king commanded many supplies of ammunition and military procurement to expand Mahagino’s guardian authority to the capital of Clapestris. Now a foreboding thought comes to Prince Thariem’s conscious.

What if Mahagino is conspiring to make Darina the new ruler of Clapestris and this reinforcement will be the downfall of the Prince?

“It was a careless thought to immediately back up the defense resources,” Prince Thariem commented, indeed forgetting that the kingdoms around are not up for negotiation and would rise against the kingdom no matter how alive the conspiracy is among the discourses. “But I’m afraid that this would make Father King indignant.”

“Use your authority as a Royal Knight, your highness. Your plans must be better than Mahagino, a lowly scholar, a deserter, and an unscrupulous merchant,” Hazper said.

“At this young age, I’m cognizant of my inability to form better plans for the royal forces and the kingdom. I cannot even make good plans, Minister,” Prince Thariem replied.

“Then I will be your secret adviser, suggesting to you the plans on imposing your authority.’ For Minister Hazper, he finally has his chance.

“What shall I do next?”

“As your lowly adviser, Your Highness, I recommend to you to send a messenger right away to get Darina and her cavalryman to postpone the campaign. It takes two days for the caravan to arrive at Gilan. I believe that they are not yet halfway there.”

“Then do,” Prince Thariem said. “I will deal about any confrontation my royal father might do.”

“I will take my leave, Your Highness,” Minister Hazper excused himself and immediately sent a high-ranking messenger to fetch Darina’s caravan.

Little did Minister Hazper know, is the mistake of sending a high-ranking messenger. While he thought of the efficient performance, he didn’t think that high-ranking messengers are not supposed to be sent away since they have a kind of nobility that attracts the bandits.

In Minister Hazper and Prince Thariem’s calculation, the high-ranking messenger can reach Darina’s camp. It could be possible but the messenger is trapped by the ambush of the bandits.

“The Viraiz Savages,” the high-ranking messenger uttered as he trembled down from falling off his horse. Since he didn’t show any sign of defense, the savages didn’t beat him. They just took his horse, his items, the royal note for Darina, and his robe. He was left at the barren land of Madin and exposed to the scorching heat. He tried reaching a nearby forest but he couldn’t fight the exhaustion. His sight is getting dim and so is his chance to reach the Royal Cavalry Captain’s whereabouts.

The last thing that he was able to see if ever it was a real vivid memory, is a man in purple clothes, with his eyes staring at him and his hands covered with a black cloth, reaching him out.

---

There was no news for Darina to stop the campaign. So the caravan arrived after a two-day journey. The rampart guards were astounded at their coming. At the sight of the large company, they know that they are not mere merchants. The caravan took a rest first to let others wear their armories.

Darina wore her silver armory and black coat. The soldiers exchanged their position for the caravan. Rowen and Darina took the lead as they altogether marched towards the entrance. Rowen stepped first to talk with the gatekeepers. He spoke the Gilan dialect which made the gatekeepers believe that they have come for an official intention.

The gatekeepers let them enter Gilan. The opening of the city reveals a vast market with many people exchanging items, gold coins, and silver. There were children playing around and servants doing their work. The people of Gilan glanced at each other as they saw Darina. Children came to them and inquired about their coming.

“Cavalry Captain, were you from the capital of Clapestris?” asked a little boy while bringing his wood sword.

“Yes,” Darina replied while beaming.

“I’m from Gilan. I’m the Royal Knight of Gilan,” the boy declared and his playmates chased him because they wanted to be the Royal Knight of Gilan too.

“So the news of the Royal Knight reached the southern parts,” Rowen commented who was next to Darina. “What if the southern kingdoms would march in any time sooner as well because of it?”

“That being said, we must train more soldiers to guard the southern part,” Darina replied. “We will still bring thousands but keep the others in Gilan.”

“You have the authority so, your highness” Rowen stated.

Darina and her troop proceeded towards the central palace to converse with the chief satrap of Gilan. This chief satrap is named Basiliskus. Others prefer to call him Satrap Basil. He has northern origins but grew up in Gilan.

“My humble authority welcomes your visitation, Royal Highness,” Satrap Basil greeted. “I may not have great things to offer in this humble central palace, but I assure you that these are all the treasures of Gilan.”

“Thanks for your courtesy, Satrap Basil,” Darina replied.

The satrap brought them to the internal court while the other soldiers take their rest in the palace. Darina brought out the original note of King Rashal to the chief satrap, commanding him to adhere to Darina’s reinforcement campaign.

“We should not let our guards off for this imminent crisis,” Satrap Basil agrees to the plot. “You see, your highness, other kingdoms do not simply take a rumor as itself. It is a matter of security and attempts of monopolistic control in the area. So I don’t think that such kingdoms would buy a clarification of the rumor. They would not regard the validity of a peace pact, how much more on clearing the rumor?”

“I have thought of that as well, Satrap Basil,” Darina replied. “But I am afraid that we cannot waste our time. We should let this campaign be announced right away.”

At that moment, Basiliskus wrote a satrapal announcement for the Gilan people to adhere to. There are numerous clans and among these clans are more than thousands. The satrap assured that there will be many new soldiers to come. After a three-day allocation for the Gilan people to decide, Darina and Satrap Basil went to the large field to wait for the new armies. Darina got astounded at the sight of many armies. They adhered to the announcement.

“Your Royal Highness Darina, we are at your care,” they altogether said knelt to her as a sign of respect.

“I am delighted to the loyalty of Gilan,” Darina commented before proceeding to her announcement. “People of Gilan, you are aware of the Clapestris approaching ordeals and I have seen how you are willing to protect our kingdom. But as your Royal Cavalry Captain, I have to assure as well the safety of this Southern Capital.”

Darina assigned the soldiers of Clapestris to lead the new soldiers by hundreds.

“Those who are in line with the Clapestrisian soldier of the blue flag will come with me to the Capital. Those who are in line with the soldier of the red flag will remain at Gilan to protect the capital.”

They thought that all of them will be going to Clapestris. Some are glad and others do not know what to say.

“Clapestrisian soldiers, lift the second flag you have in your hands,” Darina commanded. “Those who have the yellow flag will train the remaining soldiers. Those who wear black will train the soldiers who will come with me to the Royal Capital.”

A soldier was bold enough to ask Darina. “Your Royal Highness, why are the soldiers with yellow flags outnumber those who hold the black ones?”

“For there are other soldiers that can train them at Clapestris. I want to assure that the Gilan soldiers will not miss the important parts of the training,” Darina replied.

The soldier expressed his gratitude before stepping back.

“Moreover, we will tarry for one day for the soldiers to prepare,” Darina said.

“Your Highness, I’m afraid that some would choose to not go to Clapestris. We must assure that we, your new soldiers, will adhere to your authority.”

“What is the assurance?” Darina asked.

So they altogether made an oath, recognizing Darina as their leader and treat her authority with respect, and by no means that they should turn their backs against her even be it the Gilan Soldiers or the New Clapestrisian ones. Gilan people have the tradition that once they made an oath, they must fulfill it. That is why Gilan is known as the Children of the Oath. The Southern Capital is in order because the people are living virtuously.

“It is well,” Darina said. “As my acknowledgment to your oath, receive your seal as the royal soldiers of Clapestris.” Darina’s cavalrymen distributed the seals to each one of them. Darina thought about it to assure the counting of the soldiers.

“Write forty thousand soldiers for Gilan and fifty thousand soldiers to return with me to Clapestris,” Darina commanded Rowen who was standing on a lower platform next to her.

“As for the new Clapestrisian Soldier, return first to your abode to prepare yourselves. We will leave at dusk. Anyone who wishes to stay here may stay. As for the remaining Gilan soldiers, tarry here for further instructions.”

Darina checked the columns one by one to see how her cavalrymen can manage this vast army. They seem to run out of numbers and the only cavalryman who can return with Darina to Clapestris is Rowen. Darina reminded the cavalrymen about the report that they must write so that she will know how the training might go.

After the recruitment, Darina and the new soldiers take their leave. Other soldiers placed themselves inside the caravan carts. Darina guards the southern portion of the caravan while Rowen leads the forefront. After their hours of traveling, they decided to set a camp at the foot of Mount Igbir.

There was not much discourse due to the fatigue. But Darina managed to stay alert since it is a dangerous place. While others could keep themselves safe inside the cave, there are remaining soldiers outside. Darina noticed a familiar noise that she once encountered at the hunting games. She silently took her bow and arrow which alarmed the soldiers as well. There are too many people to fight against a beast. The best thing she could do is to warn away the animals from attacking the camp. So she lit the edge of the arrow and released it to the suspicious place. She saw a silhouette of a lion fleeing from the scene.

The sight amazed the new soldiers. Now they understand why Clapestris, known for military advantage, has a royal woman leading the cavalry. As for Darina, she has a hunch that there are no nearby predators but someone could be spying from them. She glanced at the top of a hill and saw a silhouette of a man and his scarf blown by the wind, and she knows that this man is staring at her. This man ran away after meeting Darina’s gaze.

Darina didn't let her guard off in all their traveling days. They went through a dock to enter the capital to not disturb the main gates. As they arrived at the palace, a displeased prince awaited them.

“Darina, how dare you to defy your Prince,” he uttered out, all irate to the Royal Cavalry Captain.