“Quiet!” demanded Vand. “I want to hear the report. Speak Xavo.”
Xavo moved to stand before Vand. He bowed low and reverently before straightening and smiling at the Emperor.
“Aakuta thought he was clever,” reported the mage. “He used a spell of fog in an attempt to avoid being captured, but it did not work. He fled into the jungle and everyone lost sight of him. A sound was clearly heard some distance away and most of the groups converged on it. I did not. I remembered your demonstration of the air tunnel and knew it was a trick. Instead, I led my troops in the opposite direction. We left the jungle trail and moved silently through the dense foliage. That is when Aakuta struck. He attacked my men with some hideous light spell. My men immediately died, but I avenged them. I struck Aakuta down with a powerful fireball.”
“What nonsense is this you spout?” scowled Vand. “Aakuta was cursed. He had no mind for using magic, yet you speak of fog, and air tunnels, and even some light spell of death. I will not tolerate such lies in my court.”
“These are not lies,” Xavo quickly replied as he pulled a glass bottle from his pouch. “Aakuta found away around the curse. We found this bottle in the forest behind the temple where Aakuta must have been spying on us. I think it contained some type of elixir that negated the curse. That is the only explanation that I can think of.”
Vand held out his hand, and a guard swiftly raced to Xavo and took the bottle from his hand. The guard brought the bottle to the Emperor and placed it in his outstretched hand. The Emperor held the bottle up and gazed at the slight accumulation of liquid in the bottom. He uncorked the bottle and sniffed the contents for several moments before throwing it to the floor in disgust. If anyone had been close enough to hear the Emperor mumble under his breath, they would have heard him curse his daughter.
“Where is Aakuta’s head?” demanded the Emperor.
“My fireball was much too powerful,” answered Xavo. “Aakuta’s body was burned along with a large section of the jungle. Soldiers are still fighting to put out the blaze.”
“Then we have no confirmation of his death,” scowled Vand. “That is unacceptable.”
“We have many witnesses,” offered Xavo. “Indeed, I was dragged out of the fire as I sought to take Aakuta’s head regardless of the peril to my own life. I knew that bringing his head here would please you.”
“Where are these witnesses?” asked Vand.
A dozen men raised their hands. Santiock was one of them, but he frowned at the number of others who were claiming to have helped. Santiock stepped forward and bowed before the Emperor.
“I was nearby,” Santiock offered to the Emperor. “While some will make false statements in your presence to gain your favor, this is not such a case with Xavo. I witnessed the attack on his men. The spell was indeed deadly, and their bodies were instantly shredded. Xavo did indeed strike down Aakuta with a fireball, igniting the brambles present there. He did indeed draw his knife and attempt to sever Aakuta’s head. I, along with two others, pulled Xavo out of the flames. He was not happy that we had done so before he had retrieved the head of Aakuta, but we had to save his life.”
“And you are sure that Aakuta could not have survived the fire?” questioned the Emperor.
“Not a chance,” replied Santiock. “The flames were intense, and the area was completely surrounded by your troops. Aakuta is dead. I saw his lifeless body burning in the flames. There can be no doubt regarding his death.”
“Let me add that I had already succeeded in cutting most of the way through his neck,” interjected Xavo. “No one can breathe without a throat, nor can they use a head that is no longer attached to the spine. A few more seconds and I would have presented a trophy to you. That is why I was angry with my rescuers. I only needed one more cut.”
“You should thank your rescuers,” smiled Vand. “I do not need a trophy when the kill is confirmed. Had you died trying to get Aakuta’s head, you would not be alive today to receive my praise. Your name shall be exalted this day as a valiant Disciple of Vand. Let my empire know that Xavo is favored with my graces.”
Xavo beamed as everyone applauded him. Even Santiock genuinely applauded although he had often thought little of the braggart mage. When the applause stopped, Vand focused his attention on Santiock.
“You also must have seen Aakuta’s use of the air tunnel as a diversion, Santiock,” declared the Emperor. “That shows good thinking and analysis. Your actions in saving Xavo must also be rewarded, as will the actions of others who pitched in. I will notify my generals that you are to be promoted. You are to determine who else has taken actions today that warrant my favor.”
Vand rose and left the throne room as men crowded around Santiock to discuss the merits of their inclusion on the list to be favored by Vand. Xavo frowned heavily as Santiock became the center of attention rather than himself. He turned and stormed out of the throne room.
Chapter 8
Aunt Kanis
Princess Alastasia viewed the battleground. Galantor stood facing her with his large two-handed sword. The elf officer stood poised to strike her down. Beyond her opponent Alastasia saw Tamar with his back to Galantor. He stood in a pose like Galantor, but he was facing Princess Alahara. Alastasia caught her sister’s eye and nodded a signal. Alahara grinned and nodded back.
Princess Alastasia dove towards the ground. She pulled her staff in close to her body as she hit the ground and rolled past Galantor. When she came out of the roll, Alastasia swung her staff hard into the back of Tamar’s legs. Tamar’s legs buckled and he dropped to the ground. Even before his body hit the ground, Alahara was in motion. She charged towards Tamar and leaped over his falling body. Her own staff moved in a blur as she swung it at Galantor’s legs. The elven officer had been turning around to see where Alastasia had gone when he was struck. A sharp crack split the air as Galantor howled and hit the ground.
Alahara and Alastasia raced to Galantor’s side. The officer rolled on the grass, one hand clutching his left shin. Tamar got up off the ground and joined the small group.
“What is it, Galantor?” asked Tamar. “Are you hurt?”
“I can fix it,” Alastasia offered quickly as she gently moved the officer’s hand and replaced it with her own.
“My leg may be broken,” groaned Galantor.
“This is supposed to be practice,” sighed Tamar. “You girls are not supposed to kill your tutors.”
“I was supposed to strike his legs before he turned,” apologized Princess Alahara. “I was too slow. I caught the side of his leg instead of the rear.”
“That is the first time I have ever heard anyone use the word slow while talking about you,” chuckled Galantor. “I would prefer to think that my reaction was just faster than you had planned on.”
“It’s not broken,” smiled Alastasia as she cast a healing spell on Galantor’s leg.
“That is a relief,” sighed Tamar. “Galantor has duty tonight. These practice sessions are getting a little rough recently. Where do you girls get your moves from? What prompted you to switch opponents?”
“One has to gauge a battle in the view of the overall battlefield,” answered Princess Alastasia. “You should never isolate your thoughts to only one opponent. It limits your possibilities. Those are my father’s words.”
Tamar’s eyebrows rose in appreciation. “One does not argue with the words of the King of the Elves,” he smiled, “especially when the words are correct. Your tactic took us totally by surprise. How did you coordinate it?”
“We talked about it, among other things, before you two arrived,” grinned Princess Alahara. “It was just one possible strategy depending upon the placement of our opponents. When we got you lined up back-to-back, MistyTrail gave me a nod.”