And how did it all turn out?" Andra asked. She had grown into a bright girl in the past four years, and Raen was a cheerful child too, who kept everyone in suspense with his curiosity. He fidgeted impatiently on the bench next to his sister. They sat with their father in the bay window of the room he shared with Alea. It was cold and dark outside: a winter storytelling evening. Her mother was still at work in the tailor's workshop, and so Roman shortened the waiting time for his children until the evening meal, for which the residents of the chorten always gathered in the large dining room after sunset.
“Then spring finally came, and new grass grew in the pastures. We opened the stables and let the horses out to graze. Unfortunately there were only horses left. We had to eat all the other animals! ”
“ What, everyone? ”Raen called out. “The oxen too? And the pigs? ”
“ Yes, all of them. We were really very hungry! ”<
In the past few years, Askhar had actually been preoccupied with many things other than just rebuilding his army. Because the newly conquered land on the other side of the Old Frontier Sea had been waiting to be repopulated. Of course, King Katthike had raged and raged over the embarrassing defeat of his proud armed forces. He had demoted General Kasai and placed the unpopular task of rebuilding the army in his hands. From then on, the old warrior had to turn his back on active warrior life and take care of the not very demanding establishment of new training camps across the country. Kasai had learned firsthand how great the loss of well-trained soldiers and officers had actually been due to his defeat on the battlefield, and that it would take years for the army to regain its former strength. But worse than the memories of his guilt was Lata's open mockery. The Konsultas had fully savored his favor with the demotion of his rival and his exclusion from the king's closest advisory t
Lata sighed, turned on her side and pulled the covers over her shoulder. Riddle upon riddle and no solution in sight. Perhaps a new day would freshen him up and untangle the ball of thought in his head. He decided to take a look around the area tomorrow. Out in the fresh air he could still think best, the walls here were beginning to press him. He closed his eyes and when he finally fell asleep he saw the image of the king. A wide, sinister smile cut his face in half.In the morning a servant appeared in Lata's room, which he had occupied in the former Hy Fortress, and informed him that the king wished to take him on a horse ride. Lata obeyed this request and had his chamberlain look for his embroidered hunting robe from his luggage. They had been here in the north of New Askhar for a few weeks now, because the king wanted to personally convince himself of the progress of the settlement and the construction of his summer pal
Today there was a brisk ferry traffic between the new and old ports on the Old Border Sea. New settlers drove north in the hope of leading a better life there, and grain and other goods came in the opposite direction to the homeland, which no longer had to worry about in the particularly dry months. Times were good for Askhar, and Katthike was rightly proud of his great work. Besides, it had given him a completely new reputation almost overnight, and now he was in the unfamiliar state of being admired and cheered by his people.Lata narrowed her eyes a little. In the distance the ox-cart was turning into a different path and was moving away from the two observers. The king had meanwhile averted his penetrating gaze from Lata and continued: "All this wonderful land is mine now, and I can go in and out as I please." He let out a deep, satisfied sigh. "But the best thing about this is that nobody will ever steal it from me again!" His right index finger poked in the direction of
You don't know?" The king exclaimed in astonishment, but then continued to speak more quietly because the bodyguards, which was lying some distance away shouldn't have noticed any of this. “Lata, you disappoint me, I would have expected a little more acumen from you. But no offense. It's my own little secret ”, Katthike raised her index finger,“ which soon won't be any more. You want to know who the child's father is? ”Lata nodded curtly. He hated being tortured by the king, but he let him have the pleasure."Do you still remember my Hy?""The warrior who was murdered by the novice from Tulga?""Quite right, that one."Lata remembered very well how they had managed to capture the Hy warrior. He ran into four Askharic scouts at the snow-covered pass, quite by accident. Of course, the scouts had recognized the incredible importance of their catch and immediately started their way back. Every child in Askhar knew that a wildly
Tell me why you want to appoint Setna as your heir to the throne?""You listened, didn't you?"At Katthike's icy tone, Lata's smile slipped from her face. "Yes I have. But I ... ”The king's hand intervened. "Then you should havenoticed that the edict also applies to me." Lata wanted to laugh in amusement, since when did Katthike have to obey his laws?"My line of ancestors is also contaminated," continued the king and indignantly thrust his crooked foot forward. “You can't miss it, I think! And my son Kanaima is no good either! ”“ But after all he is your own son! ”“ Oh, what! He's a no-good. What I need for Askhar's future is healthy blood. I want a strong king, radiant and beautiful, a flawless creature. One to look up to, not a lame cripple. And Setna will be this king, he will found a new and powerful dynasty and rule over the Askharic empire that I will put into his hands! And I'll free my
But Katthike did not worry for long, he quickly found a new young woman from Hy. He had had to trade five pretty female slaves for them with a duke from the interior. A proud price, but this time it spared no expense. Bars were placed in front of the windows and all sharp-edged objects were removed from the rooms. After the birth, the child should be given to a local wet nurse immediately. Everything had been considered.Nine months later, the Hy slave came down. And no sooner had the birth process been completed than Katthike entered the room to examine the child. He was told it was a boy again, which made him laugh in triumph. He took the bundle with the child and unwrapped it from the cloth. The smile froze on his face when he saw the kid's legs. They were so crippled that he probably never could have walked! Furious, Katthike tossed the screaming child onto the table, drew his dagger and killed it with a single stab in the soft, yielding chest. Then he rushed out of the r
Lata peeked out from behind the king. A sneering twitch at the corner of his mouth revealed that in his absence he had regained the upper hand in the king's favor. Kasai mastered the muscles of his own face, although he wanted to smash the Konsulta's smeary grin. He calmly placed his right hand on his chest and bowed to the king and his bastard child. In a firm voice he swore the oath of loyalty. His Askharic soul, however, was offended to the core. It had been passed over, the Patriotic League had been passed over! Only this mangy, foreign schemer from a consul could be behind this!The eyes of the rivals met, and Kasai's embers cooled in the cold, frozen lakes of Lata. You could almost have thought you heard a faint hissing sound.When the courtesy was finally satisfied, the king gave the general permission to leave. Kasai looked down and noticed the Crown Prince Kanaima, who had been deprived of his right of inheritance. The twelve-year-old stood motionless in the s
"Prince Kanaima, Your Highness the Queen, is asking for you!"Kanaima fought back the disbelief that wanted to show on his face and instead nodded shyly.The young messenger bowed briefly, turned and walked away. The captain looked sternly at Kanaima, he couldn't stand being interrupted in the middle of the exercise.“Capitano, I am expected by the queen. You allow? ”Kanaima asked politely, although he knew that the word of the head of the bodyguard was far below the queen's command. But he didn't want to annoy the grumpy warrior any more."Hm, go on, get out! But today you don't have to turn up at my place! ”He growled.Kanaima pulled off his helmet and walked away with measured steps. Only when he reached the crew quarters did he allow himself a smile. In his quarters, he took off his heavy protective clothing and rough undergarment and washed himself in a bucket. He wanted to appear cleanly in front of his mother. As he did so,
Then there was nothing left but waiting. Waiting for death.It wasn't long before the volunteer began to groan. At first quietly, but finally he was clearly gasping for breath. His eyes, which no longer seemed to see anything, rolled into their sockets, his Adam's apple jerked violently upwards from below. Some of those present lowered their gaze, it was mainly the priests, for the warriors continued to pay their last respects to the volunteer by looking at him until his last breath.His body began to sag and that was when he slumped onto his side from his upright position. The priest at his side wanted to see him, but the Hyaunset suer quickly raised his hand. It wasn't that far yet.Indeed, gurgling sounds came from all of their ears, and white foam emerged from the volunteer's nose and mouth. An uncontrollable twitch went through him, his hands clawing the mat. He reared one last time and then fell back lifeless on the mat. Then it was quiet.Only now
At the same moment the Palansetna priests, the personal servants of Setna, were preparing for their difficult task in Tena-lo-Ghan. They were gathered in the prince's house, where they had also spent the night, in the faint hope that the prince's condition might change after all. Of course, he hadn't changed. And now they waited for the one who would accomplish what they all feared. He was the volunteer. The only one of all those involved who could count himself lucky in a clear conscience to do the right thing for the good of the people."I'll do it!" He had said at the meeting of the Board of Governors. He was a very skilled fighter from among the warriors, and his determination was known to all.But where was he now? Had he changed his mind? The palansetna became restless, morning was already advanced and it was not advisable to wait any longer. The inevitable would only be pushed back further and further, the problem would not be solved.Finally, the high pr
Thanks be to the volunteer! And we, who were there in Tena-lo-Ghan, take the risk of being judged by Zaizura! It is up to you to replace us and to take our places with pride if the will of Zaizura should meet us! With Hyaun in our hearts we will humbly receive your punishment! ”The concern of everyone present was reflected in Lako's pale face.It had become their fate to wrest this decision from fate."Hyaun help us!" He said weakly and gave the floor to the high priest.Gahin stepped forward and spoke in a soft, calm voice: “Liberation will take place in two days! So prepare for it. Each of us knows that our Setna gives their life for their people. He lives for our salvation, and if it is so destined for him - be it through Zaizura's will or some other higher force - then he will also die for us! Our trust in Hyaun must be strong. He is with us and will name a new bearer of the gift! Be assured that He will continue to hold His protective hand over
Suneka's heartbreak was just as uncurable as Hereke's miserable mood. The whole time the horse boy sat on the sidelines and brooded deeply, even during the big competition he didn't want anyone close by. From a distance he watched Raen and Kosam, and a certain envy of his friend was evident. Hereke no longer understood the world. For the past six months he had had the feeling that Suneka was slowly tilting - they had even kissed at the last harvest festival - but since last night she was suddenly cold as ice.Didn't their kiss mean anything?Hereke hit a willow post with his fist, he was tired of it. He had waited long enough. Probably longer than anyone had ever done for a woman. What about that girl? Even the most ill-tempered horses were easier to handle than them. Maybe he should forget about her, that would be the easiest thing to do. His mother had told him many times that girls who were overly shy are not good for a man. She hadn't meant to accuse Suneka of anyt
I'll help you!" She wanted to get up.“No, stay calm here, I'll do it. I'll be right back. ”“ Should I stay up here alone? ”She asked, half joking.“The pigeons won't hurt you, and otherwise I won't see any other creatures here. I checked it carefully earlier, ”he said, pointing to the ladder with a wink.“Good, but hurry up!”In fact, a little later he was completely out of breath with the mats and blankets. He must have flown up the stairs! Kosam took the mats from him and rolled them out next to the chests, then she spread the blankets and crawled under them. Raen took off his boots, turned off the light, and slipped under the covers with her. They finally fell asleep, snuggled tightly together.The next morning they woke up to the cooing of the pigeons. The first daylight fell through the windows over the platform. Raen and Kosam beamed h
I'm sorry ... um ..." What should he say? That his curiosity had been stronger than her attraction? That would have hurt her badly, and besides, that wasn’t the case either, only he had let himself be too easily distracted again. Perhaps because he was afraid to take further steps. The sheer excitement of kissing and hugging had given him far more happiness than he could have imagined that morning."I ... I ..." he stammered awkwardly.Kosam turned away."Stop, please wait!" He grabbed her arm.She looked at him."I just thought that was great!" Idiot!"What did you think was great?" She asked gruffly. “The dangerous gymnastics on the ladder?”“No. I mean that ... well, the one before that. ”Fool, just say it!Her gaze remained unchanged."Well, the kiss!" He finally managed.She didn't answer, and Raen took all his courage and touched her shoulder. His hand went up to her neck and ch
Raen was in seventh heaven all day. Kosam sat next to him and didn't leave his side. They had a great chat and discovered that they had a lot in common. In doing so, they forgot everything around them. In between, Suneka said goodbye in a strange bad mood and went over to her sister. Hereke initially stayed with Raen and Kosam and merely shrugged his shoulders. He didn't know what she had either. Perhaps she didn't like Kosam, which he didn't understand because he found her very nice. In the end he longed for Suneka and went after her. Her mood seemed to have improved a bit by now, because she laughed out loud when he made a joke and sat down next to her.Time flew by, and soon it was dawn. The big drums and other instruments were set up on the podium in front of the temple, and when clan chief Lako declared the dance to be open to applause, everyone was suddenly on their feet. The mats were swiftly cleared aside, and the first low drum beats vibrated in the full stomachs of
Hello Tor Ban Raen, there you are. You weren't at the morning meal at all. ”“ I was probably too late, ”he replied in monosyllables. 'You're late for anything, Raen, you sheep's head!' he grimly reprimanded himself. But Banskeid Laghat was so nice and already showed me a bit of your chorten. You have a beautiful view from the wall, you can seeall the way to the great mountains. ” Banskeid Laghat was a fully fledged warrior and was allowed to carry his own sword. Raen glanced at the heavy handle protruding from behind Laghat's back. When would he get his sword himself? It just took way too long!"What got over your liver?" Asked Kosam, who had noticed his scowl.'Give it up,' he thought bitterly, 'you're too young. Forget her!' Aloud he said: "We have to go to the temple now, Banskeid Laghat!" But his tone was apparently a little too commanding because Laghat looked at him crookedly.Raen was annoyed. He just turned
“ Was that your own horse earlier? Beautiful animal. ”“ Yes, isn't it! Her name is Jakori and she is very trusting. You can ride her if you want, then we'll take a walk into the forest and I'll show you ... "Raen fell silent. 'I talk too much,' he thought. 'She's definitely not interested in horses.'Kosam looked at him questioningly. “What do you want to show me?”“Oh, just a few stones in the forest, nothing special.”“I'll be happy to accept your offer.”“Yes? Really? Are you interested in that? ”“ Of course. I also like to go on horseback, it's fun. ”Raen smiled blissfully. "I think the day after the race we can definitelyride out together." Raen answered with another dazzling smile from Kosam.Later, when he was in bed, he could hardly sleep. He kept thinking of the girl with the black hair and couldn't wait to be with her again.