Warriors of Kagolania

Every move, every breath, and every thought of Kalena was devoted to finding Galaspiael.

Sometimes she cried when she was alone. But immediately after that she got up and continued to exercise, or went back to meditation. She worked harder than at Yagn-Sho, harder than at guard. She did not suspect herself of such endurance. The goal of the mission was still in her thoughts, it began to appear in dreams.

The fire finally began to listen to her again, though it took more time than she thought. In the end, however, during one evening workout with Wan-Shi, when she swung her shen extremely vigorously, she felt some part of her energy enter the sword and connect with the flame.

From that time it was only better. She regained full control and, most importantly, enchantment did not cost her as much strength as before. She was even ready for a long fight using this technique.

When she told Wan-Shi that she was ready to move on, he led her to the armory, where he prepared am-shen, very similar to her first weapon.

"They once belonged to a person with the same abilities as yours. They have been shortened, but they are used to fire. I offer you an exchange for your old one."

"Are you sure you want to exchange? These are much better than mine." Kalena examined the new swords carefully. "I spent a lot of time with you, but I hope it wasn't a waste."

"Remember our contract. If you find and save Galaspiael…"

"I know," she interrupted, "but how do I find you? Should I come back here?"

"I'll find you myself. You mustn't run away from me. I think you are so honorable that it won't even cross your mind."

"As soon as I save him," she promised, "thank you for everything."

Wan-Shi said goodbye to her with a small smile.

"Good luck, Kalena. Remember to practice what you have learned. Without it, you'll quickly forget new skills."

"I won't let that happen. I will exercise whenever I find an opportunity."

"If you want to find Washar quickly, head towards the capital. Be careful. The king has powerful allies in the afterlife, so the spirits will certainly guide you when the time comes."

*

After a week, Kalena arrived where she was about to start her search.

The Lilac City, the capital of Madegald, was the largest city she has visited so far. It was strangely Kagolanian and radically different from other imperial cities. However, the cleanliness was amazing, even in the less-rich neighborhoods. Marble sidewalks were thoroughly cleaned everywhere. Even when you have not entered the outer circle yet, you could spot the two tallest buildings, the Righteous Association Headquarters and the Imperial Palace from afar.

Kalena thanked Galaspiael for making her learn the Madegaldian language every time she had to talk to people. In the capital, the purest type of Madegaldian was used, with no admixtures. She didn't manage to cover up the accent completely, but by interweaving the ancient phrases she learned while translating the recipe, she gained trust. People were convinced that the girl was simply from another part of the country. Because of this, they wanted to help her more.

Kalena did not expect to see Seth. She was sure he was in the Sekania, and yet they ran into each other almost as soon as she got a pass to a higher circle.

"Kalena, what are you doing here?" He asked after they exchanged casual greetings. "I hope you're not a prisoner of war?"

"I think prisoners are not allowed to walk freely in the city?" Kalena shook her head. "Galaspiael didn't let me go to battle."

"You'd be surprised how well they are treated. And I think Galaspiael had his reasons to forbid you to go. He was worried about you."

"Tell me but so honestly," she suddenly interrupted, "what is usually done in Madegald with important prisoners?"

The boy became serious.

"We follow the protocol. Different rules apply to generals, others to the aristocracy. Who exactly do you mean?"

"King. What do you do when the king is captured?"

Seth looked at her in surprise and shrugged.

"I think it's similar in all countries. The immunity treaty also applies to Kagolania. A message is sent and the conditions for the transfer of the prisoner are agreed. Why do you ask, did the King of Sekania get captured?"

"I don't mean King of Sekania." Kalena looked into his eyes. "I mean Galaspiael. I know he was captured after the second battle."

"You're wrong. If that were the case, the message would reach the emperor's palace."

"Do not interrupt me! Your people wanted to convince us that Galaspiael is dead. They sent a double that I recognized only during the funeral. And Samin made me crazy and sentenced me to death, even though I asked him to just let me just Kagolania and go in search. I suspect that, apart from the war, there is some plot going on."

"I'm sorry but that's just ridiculous." Seth snorted and twisted his mouth in anger. "If the body was given back, it means he's dead and you really may have gone mad with despair! Who, in your opinion, would risk the honor of the whole empire to keep one prisoner?"

"Specifically, it's Washar, your brother."

She felt less and less confident with each passing moment. Seth was already incredibly angry, and when she mentioned Washar's name she was sure he would attack her.

"Washar has avoided taking part in court conspiracies all his life and has recently fallen victim to one. Everything was taken from him, why would he do such a thing?"

"You just answered the question for yourself. Think about it. Would you care for the honor of the country if you lost everything? Galaspiael took over the lost dynamite recipe and used it so that Kagolania gained a new weapon. If Washar gave him to the emperor, I doubt he would regain his old life. But at least now he can take revenge."

"Gods! Indeed you are crazy. You heard something here and there and put together a fairy tale that does not reflect reality at all. If this interests you so much, I visited my brother after the second battle because I was instructed to provide the troops stationed in the Sekania with the necessary materials. I assure you that there were no prisoners in the camp, and I certainly didn't see your master there."

He turned to leave, but Kalena got in his way.

"Do you think that if he tried so hard to keep it all secret, would he show him to you? I know it's hard to believe, but these are the facts. Washar broke all contracts that had been in force for several hundred years."

"For you, it's Prince Washar! You have no right to refer to him as a minor servant, you..."

"Come on!" She clenched her fists. "Say it out loud!" Because he was silent, she continued. "I will not show respect to someone who insults my king, even if it's your brother! I am the captain of the Silver Guard and my job is to defend Galaspiael, no matter what the price."

Seth nodded.

"So you came to kill him?"

"I want to save His Highness, and if by doing that the justice would be served..." Kalena noticed at the last moment that Seth was carrying a shen sword and was clenching his fingers for a few moments. She didn't want to fight him. Talking openly about wanting to kill his brother was not a good idea. She was sure he would attack her, but he didn't. He turned and said nothing for a long time.

"Go," he murmured, "look for someone to lead you to him. Surely someone like this will be found this country is full of people like you who wish my family bad luck. Next time we meet, don't expect me to have mercy or understanding since you don't have it for my brother. For the sake of our friendship, I won't do anything to you now, but you better pray that we will never meet again!"

It had to be this way. She knew she couldn't help it. She couldn't give up her mission, and apologize to Seth. They both knew it would be just empty words. Besides, no matter what evidence she presented, he was convinced that Washar was the victim.

"The next time I meet you, I will treat you as a guard, should treat the enemies of the crown. And this will not change until you and your brothers have apologized to Galaspiael for all the insults he has suffered from you."

"First find him and prove that we have something to apologize for. For now, we only have your words that are worth nothing."

*

Seth returned home dreary. He did not want to talk to anyone, he answered the servants' questions with reluctant grunts. Finally, he ordered paper and ink.

He wondered for a long time what to write, and for a long time, no word wanted to appear on the paper.

"Find me, someone, who will deliver a letter to the Velikanian palace," he said to the servant as soon as he entered his chamber.

"As you wish, Prince," said the servant, bowing. "Do you need anything else?

"On all gods, yes, I want peace! I am not mute when I want something else, I will call you. Let no one come in here!"

Deaf silence boomed in his ears. He began to write slowly, carefully, as in a calligraphy lesson. When he finished, he crumpled the paper, threw it out, and took out a new one.

The letter was ready after two hours.

"Dear Jin-Si

I realize how unlikely you are to read it. As far as I remember, you ordered to remove all traces of my presence from the palace and probably you'll severely punish the unfortunate who will deliver this message. Please, however, if you broke the seal and reached this point, do not tear the paper and read to the end.

These things should be dealt with in person, but if I came, you'd probably get me thrown away. I am writing to you a few days after returning home. When I left you, I said I was going to fight, but when I had the opportunity, I didn't. You can call me a coward, I am to some extent a coward. However, I could not help that on the other side of the battlefield I saw no enemies, only people who could be brothers, cousins, fathers, and friends of all my dear from Scribes' Association.

My brother gave me a job that suited me best and did not risk being disgraced. I am not telling you this now to show how merciful or heroic I was. I feel torn between Madegald and the rest of the world. I love my home, but at the same time, I will never forget the hospitality and warmth that everyone in Yagn-Sho showed me just when I needed it the most. I don't know if this year spent there changed me so much, did you change me... or did this meeting with Kalena tear my heart out because I saw her today, although it would be better if I didn't see her.

Kalena is chasing one of my brothers and I could neither kill her nor help her. I don't understand what's happening to me. I am both Scribe and a Righteous, which means I am neither.

I still love you very much. There is no hour when I would not have thought of you. I am not asking for forgiveness. Please, stop thinking that I'm a bad man. When I had you on my side, it was easier for me to live, and now I don't know who I am anymore.

I would like to go to Yagn-Sho again. Everything was simpler there.

Seth"

*

When the letter arrived in Velikania, Lin-Si was there.

Seth's words about Kalena was too important for the princess to keep the message to herself. So she showed it to her older sister, also wanting to ask for advice on Seth.

Lin-Si slowly read everything.

"You have to write to Rikken," she said seriously. "There has been no news from Kalena since she left. Seth shared very important information. I just wonder why it took her so long to get to Madegald. Apparently, she encountered some problems along the way."

- Do you think I should write back? What would you do in my place?" Jin-Si asked. Her sister smiled and sat next to her on the big bed.

"What would I do? I would send him dung balls and order my servants to throw them at his house. But I don't think this solution would be good for you. You've never been so hot, it doesn't even suit you. Is he close to you?"

"He was." Replied the younger princess. "I waited a long time for him to trust me enough to say who he was. I didn't want to bring up the subject myself and pretended I didn't know anything. And he decided to remain silent to the end as if I was not worthy to know the truth. And he left me under the pretext of this stupid war!"

"After reading what he wrote, I conclude that he is completely lost."

"He could stay with me and tell the truth!"

"Would you do that in his place too?"

Jin-Si gritted her teeth furiously and shook her head.

"Yes. I would know that you can't leave the people you love. And I'm not talking about myself here now! He would not moan in this letter if he had not escaped from Madegald in search of a new life. If he were sitting in one place, I wouldn't have to be nervous now, because I wouldn't know him at all!"

Lin-Si laughed and shook her head.

"Tell me honestly, do you still love him?"

"Yes. But I'm so angry... I want to hate him. With all my heart! In my mind sometimes I call him the worst words I know. But it doesn't work, because if he came here I would be happy. I love him and I can't help it! She paused when her sister bent over her with a mysterious smile."

"Then go there!"

"What?"

"Go to him," she repeated, "go to Madegald tomorrow!"

"On my own?! There's a war going on! Father will never agree!"

"There is no war on our border. Stop sitting here and watch your life flow through your fingers, because you'll end up like Min-Si, locked in a chamber, without access to anyone, cursing yourself that you did nothing when you had the opportunity. I know you train with guards, you are much better prepared for such things than I am. Nothing will happen to you."

"But father..."

- I'm also leaving tomorrow. We will tell him that you are coming with me because after my husband's death I began to miss my loved ones. He has his audiences and deliberations with aristocrats, I guarantee you that he will not check it. Do you have someone you trust, or you want some of my guardsmen to keep you company?"

"I'll find someone." Jin-Si smiled, feeling a thrill of excitement. "Let's do it!"