Chapter 5: Enter The Emperors and The Council
Zhukov sat grim-faced at his seat as Zhael and Evey entered the small room. Zhael Fall was the Karasian Emperor, he was a tall but well built black wolf. Aside from his left eye being green and his right eye blue, he's known for being slack and carefree, but not stupid. Out of the four emperors, his personal army is the strongest and the biggest, numbering over 200 men. He's strict on rules and peace, but sovereignty is something he has never extended to anyone. In his eyes, a crime is a crime, and death to those who commit them. He always believes in smiling and speaking softly while carrying a 250 kilo war hammer that glistened gold, with a large spike on each of its four sides and top. Zhael unstrapped his large weapon from his back and leaned it gently against the wall. Then he jumped into his seat, causing it to lean back, turned it on one of its legs, and propped his feet onto the table crossed as he folded his arms. "So what's up?"
Every, on the other hand, walked to her seat more gracefully. She was the Empress of Vorona. She was a white minx with long, golden hair. Her beauty was the only other, besides Carina's to be sought by men of all kinds. However, like Carina, her beauty is only outclassed by her ability to fight. Evey's strength was something to be reckoned with alongside her ability to use the Voronese straight-blade. She unchained her sword from her sash and leaned it against the table as she sat down. "Why have you summoned us to your kingdom?"
Zhukov waved a hand and Carina and Iridian emerged from the shadows. "Let me first, thank you for answering my call on such short notice. Four days ago, my palace was attacked by Kratos' personal army and they had attempted to attack my daughter and myself. Many servants and guards have lost their lives in the exchange and more than half of my treasury had been raided. According to Commandant Kalmetta, it's possible that Kratos has been working alongside bandits because he and his men were ambushed on their way back by bandits,the timing was too perfect. I have invited the Guardian Council to join us as per procedure to declare war against Kratos."
Evey looked around the room, then back at Zhukov. "To my knowledge, there are five Guardians in the Council. I only see two." Zhael laughed, "You really don't pay attention or listen to announcements, do you? When the Council reformed after Sir Katame and Sir Pai were replaced, they decided to have five instead of four in the Council based on combat abilities. The five were Carina the rabbit, Iridian the human, Golge the chameleon, Gight the bat and Koara Uzima, Sir Katame's successor. They are all here. Golge's behind Kratos' usual seat, Koara's standing behind me and Gight's right above the chandelier."
A sigh came from behind the empty seat, "Not too bad, Your Majesty, Zhael. You are indeed a veteraned soldier. It's no wonder Koara decided to have you as the father of her only child." A kunai flew from behind Zhael and hit the wall behind the chair. A small line of blood became visible in mid-air and then disappeared as Golge wiped it off. A chuckle came from above, "Alright, chaps, we can bicker later, let us stay on the issue at hand." Iridian walked up to the table and placed a small bag onto the table. It opened as he let go and armor badges spilled out, and Evey looked in disbelief at them. "These belong to the Lodisian Army, and from the crescent on them, Kratos' personal elites."
Zhael scoffed, "Thank you, Empress Obvious. Looks like it's unanimous there, Zhukov. What's next?" Carina stepped up and placed three wooden talismans onto the table. "One of mine spies is infiltrating Kratos' kingdom right now. If the eagle talisman burneth, it is Kratos himself who hath lost himself. If the lion talisman burneth, it be his palace, army himself that hath been corrupted. If the bear, the whole country itself needeth purging. Should the bear talisman burneth, your war shalt be approved. If not, a coup d'état shalt be arranged and a possible small invasion if the lion burneth. But for the meantime, we wait. My spy's time limit is almost up."
The eight of them waited in the room, keeping an eye on the talismans.
* * * *
Shinzuu yawned as he relaxed for the first time in a week after they crossed the mountain pass into Polgrams' border. The carriage stopped just outside the city gate and the driver hopped out and unstrapped the trunk from the back. The top cover flung open and Shinzuu and Jack Stepped out. Jack tossed a silver coin to the driver. "Keep the change." The driver thanked them happily before jumping back on the carriage and entered the city. The two of them walked through the market, Jack checking for fresh vegetables to eat. Shinzuu's mouth watered as his nose caut the scent of a freshly slaughtered calf. He followed the scent to a small meat stand. The man inside was a lion-Kin, he stood fairly short and his mane was tied back and wrapped in a bandanna. Shinzuu dropped two Guilders onto the table and looked the butcher in the eyes. The old lion smirked, "You gotta good nose ther', young'n. Give me a minute."
Jack sighed and shook his head as Shinzuu emerged from the market with a large duffel sack on his shoulders. "I guess we're going to Heaven's Riches, then?" They continued down the road until they got to the large, familiar and popular tavern/inn. As soon as they entered, Epoch near tackled them over. "Guys! Where have you been!? The castle was attacked four days ago! Sir Bahamut came by this morning and dropped this off." Epoch handed Shinzuu an envelope and he turned it over, Emperor Zhukov's wax seal. Jack and Epoch walked over to their usual table as Shinzuu dropped off his meat and Jack's vegetables to Maury and sat at the table. No sooner did he sit down, two arms wrapped tightly around his neck.
Sheri cried a waterfall onto his head as she crushed his head against her bosom. "Wah! Shinny! I've been lonely!" Shinzuu choked out, "Sh-Sheri! I was only gone a week. I've been on missions longer than a month and you weren't like this. What is it?" She collapsed onto her knees, hugged his leg and dug her face into his thigh. "It's my brother and dad! They're dead! They died protecting the princess!" Shinzuu heart dropped and placed a hand on top of her head, feeling bad about his ignorance.
After they calmed Sheri down and she receded back into the kitchen, their food came out and they looked at the envelope as they ate their lunches. Shinzuu had barely started when he picked up the envelope and removed the seal. He pulled out and unfolded the parchment inside as he took a large bite out of his first giant steak, some juice and blood running out of it. After he finished reading, he stopped chewing and swallowed the rest loudly. Epoch and Jack looked up from their food. Almost in unison, "What is it?" Shinzuu lowered the parchment and put his steak on top of the others and, his face pale, stared at them grimly. In a barely audible voice, "W-we've been assigned to carry out a coup d'état for Emperor Zhukov... on Red's old man. We're to join them in the Emperor Chamber Room. If we refuse, he'll revoke his sovereignty over us." They all became somber and ate in silence.
* * * * *
The eight people in the Chamber Room sighed in relief as the talismans began to shake, finally a result after two hours, the eagle burned. Carina picked up the other two talismans and nodded. "Very well. Thine declarations hath been declined. We shalt send Golge and Ko..." Zhukov lifted a hand to stop her. "With all due respect, honored Guardians, I think Kratos should be handled with more than a mere coup d'état. I have something else in store for him. I have enlisted the help of Young Shinzuu Katame and his party and..." Carina slammed her fists hard on the table as Zhael stood up and did the same. "No! I shan't be having that cretin running around freely!" Zhael added, "I agree! That arrogant little brat of a criminal shouldn't be trusted with such an important task! He'll try to take the throne for himself, or even form an alliance with Kratos and come back for our heads! It'd be impossible for him to kill ME, but it'll just create more complications and possibly give Kratos an edge! Evey, back me up here!"
Evey sighed, "I will trust Zhukov's decision in this matter. His history has proven this. And besides, I have some plans of my own for the one who would dare try to hurt my cute little goddaughter." Zhael protested, "But... !" Zhukov stopped him with a wave of his hand. "It's a majority vote. You no longer have a say, now." Iridian, his face completely strewn in disgust at the mention of Shinzuu's name, placed a hand onto Zhael's shoulder to calm him down. "Unfortunately, His Majesty Zhukov is right. Not even we Guardians can have a say in this. Trust me, I don't like this anymore than you do, none of us Guardians do." A voice came out from behind Zhukov, "Well, I'm so glad that none of you have changed over these last few years." Everyone but Zhukov searched the room in surprise of the new voice. Shinzuu appeared at Zhukov's right hand. In an instant, Shinzuu found blades of every kind pointed at him. Iridian, his claymores crossed around Shinzuu's neck, and his eyes flared with rage, yelled, "How long have you been here!?"
Zhukov slammed the table, "That's enough! You will all withdraw your weapons now! This is MY kingdom still, and he is still under MY sovereignty! And for everyone's information, he has been here since before the rest of you with me." Gight sighed, "Which is why he can't be trusted. He has reached a level where not even us, The Council, can sense him. I'm a bat, I see this room as if it were broad daylight and I couldn't see or sense him. But as the Guardian Heads, we shall abide by your sovereignty. Chaps, let's put them away, spot spot." Koara sighed as she sheathed her wakizashi, "But one has to wonder. Why would you, the Hero Emperor and the strictest upholder of the law, would extend your sovereignty over the three most wanted men in all of Gaia."
Zhukov smirked, "Let's just say there's more to the story and rumors than what you've been told. Sure, those men that were killed were innocent, however, it all depends on what you mean by innocent. Besides, he saved my daughter from a bandit attack a couple years ago. They boldly escorted my daughter back to the city despite their bounty and stood before me. The poor boy and his friends were homeless and hunted left and right, though their lives really weren't in danger. But after measuring them, I thought that these boys deserved to at least live a normal life within my capitol, if nowhere else. That's all I'm going to say."
A blue light flashed ominously from Carina's cloak. She reached into her cloak and pulled out a paper rune with the most complex design he had ever seen. Carina wore worried look on her face. "My spy's been discovered. This is an emergency warp rune." She bit into her thumb and drew blood. She drew a cross onto the rune after she set it on the floor and backed up. The rune flashed two more times before turning bright red and then white. With a large bang, the light disappeared and two new figures appeared in the room. Carina yelled, "Philly, you better have a darn good reason for getting caught and using that rune! Those cost two Zera a piece and the Academy goes into the red for a month every time we have to buy another!" Philly talked through his heavy breaths, "I was getting out through the dungeons and I discovered this guy. They heard me unchaining him and surrounded the exit." Carina exploded, fire building up around her hands. "How many criminals are we going to..." Carina stopped as Philly took his robe off the other figure. There, covered in blood and stinking of a lingering, rotting smell of and unkept cell, was Redmond Sky.
Shinzuu ran to his friend, "Red! Red, are you alright!?" Red looked up weakly and his voice rasped as he spoke. "Shi... zuu? Am I dreaming?" Shinzuu took off his cloak and wrapped it around his friend. "You're not dreaming, Red. A spy found you while they were leaving and got you out." Zhukov stood up and faced them, a look of horror on his face. "Dear Gaia, what have they done to you, my godchild?" He turned to the others. "We'll continue this in the infirmary, I'm going to wake the cooks."
* * * * *
They carried Red into the infirmary, where a cleric cleaned him up and began to slowly heal him. Zhukov came into the infirmary with food and water. After Red finished, he told everyone about what happened. About him getting caught going out, his torcher and everything he overheard from the attack on Linkshire to the assassination attempt of Zhukov and his daughter. Shinzuu, a worried look on his face. "Where are my parents? A hundred soldiers are nothing for them, so where have they run to?" Red shook his head, "No. They did not run, nor did they kill anyone. They had stayed in Linkshire to protect it, and took on more invasions. So far, they have severely injured over five hundred men, but none fatal. My father is planning on gathering up the rest of his men to take down Linkshire. My estimate is that he'll keep a hundred of his remaining best and send the last fourteen hundred."
Zhukov grunted as he though hard. He finally raised his head and spoke, "Very well. Shinzuu and his party shall continue as planned with the coup, and I shall take the Knights and my elites with me to help protect Linkshire. Those two could probably still handle that number without effort, if they kill them, but they're not going to. And what's worse, they haven't been Guardians for a few decades. Their bodies are catching up with them, and they have aged greatly."
Zhael stood up with a smirk. "Save your men for another day, I'll take their places." Evey stood as well, drawing her sword and saluting Zhukov. "As will I. Since those two will not be killing, their aging will be a great handicap. Shinzuu, if your performance satisfies me, I'll extend my sovereignty to you and your friends as well. Exceed that, and I might push a vote for your full pardon. However, if you fail, I'll kill you myself." Carin began to protest but stopped herself, seeing Zhukov's glare. She had to remember that her duties as a Guardian that she's honored this last millenia had to come before her personal feelings. Red grabbed onto Zhukov's robe. "I'm coming, too." Zhukov turned to Red, "No, you need rest. Your wounds may have healed, but I cannot allow you to go back. You're next in line and the only heir to Kratos' throne." Red looked at Shinzuu. Shinzuu sighed, "I'll take him. Jack, Epoch and I grew up with him and helped treain him. He can be in my party. Don't worry, Your Majesty, he's in good hands." Zhukov gave him an unsure look, but sighed. "Fine. But when you get to Kratos' castle, beware of his right-hand governor, Baron von Vladimir XI. Not many people know it, but he's one of the few blademasters in Gaia. Take him to the armory and meet us out front. We move tonight."
Post Merge: January 12, 2010, 08:13:31 AM
More story notes:
Clerics - Like Cosmic Magic-users, Clerics are also a class of their own. Their magic "element" is that of light. The element pretty much fall under the following categories: Wind, Water, Fire, Earth, Light, and Dark. Their magic is only capable of healing, curing and the like. They have no attack magic.
Magic Wheel - Each magic user falls under one of the six spectrums of the wheel, and in each spectrum, one dimension. For instance, Aviana, lightning and thunder magic-users all fall under the Wind spectrum. However, the dimensions of their magic capabilities are completely different, as they represent different dimensions of that spectrum. White, as you know, is an Ice Magic-User, but he falls under the Water element. get it? However, even though they fall under that Affinity, they are limited to only that sub category. White can only cast ice spells. Can't cast water.
Carina's issue with Shinzuu and his friends - Normally, Guardians have pledged their duty over their own personal feelings. You'd think that after more than 1,000 years as a Guardian, Carina wouldn't lose herself like she does in this chapter. The reason is that, like all the other Guardians, Carina looked down and loathed Kagatou and Ling for having broken the sacred law of mating, especially since she looked up to them since they became Guardians. Now, that is only part of it, the other part is that Shinzuu's party's so-called "treachery" that they're most known for was the first since the Crimson War, and therefore she views Shinzuu the same as Kronos.
Topic: The Kin Chronicles: The Black Kat (Read 15659 times)