The broken seal
Note of the author
Hallo everyone. First of all, I beg your pardon
for my no perfect English, but I wrote this story
in my mother language Italian and apologize for
rough translation.
Any suggestion to improve my English is wellcome.
This story is an old inspiration of mine and I'd like
to share with other people who love Arslan and his
friends.
Thank you for reading.
1. The message
The good news travels slowly but the bad ones have wings, Narsus thought at the words of the panting soldier fell breathless on his knees in front of him and Arslan.
The young Shah jerked violently. Jumping up from his seat he scared Azrael, the falcon settled on his perch next to him.
Farangis, silent and vigilant as always, shared a puzzled and alarmed gaze with Alfreed at her side.
Jasvant seemed to lose for a moment his usual stoic poses and focused a penetrating gaze
on the messenger.
" Disappeared ?! " exclaimed Arslan incredulously, his clear eyes wide open in an expression of dismay. " How can five hundred men disappear? Kishward must have an explanation! "
The soldier bowed down to touch the floor with his sweaty forehead. " My lord ... when I left Peshawar, General Kishward knew nothing more than what I just told you. "
" It can not be ... " Arslan murmured, pulling himself back almost imperceptibly, without even realizing it, as he wished to get away from the reality that Kishward's message forced him to face.
In the glare morning, that lit up the room from the large terrace open to the east, the young face of the Shah appeared paler than ever.
" Elam, please bring some water to this gallant soldier " ordered Narsus, determined to prevent the subsequent Arslan's reaction, which he guessed from the trembling of his shoulders. " May I suggest to your Majesty to go in person to Peshawar and lead reinforcements to Kishward? " he asked approaching his sovereign.
Arslan seemed to understand. He raised his head and turned toward him. He nodded, composing himself. " I accept your advice. I'll go to Peshawar and let you come with me " replied.
The strategist bowed. " At your service, my Lord. "
Arslan glanced at Elam, standing near the soldier, to whom he had brought a bowl full of water. The man was sucking greedily, so great was his thirst. Elam reciprocated Arslan's gaze with an expression of approval in the eyes.
" Thank you, Narsus " the young Shah finally said and sat back down. Azrael cooled down on its perch and started to clean the feathers of one wing with the sharp beak.
Narsus nodded. To remind Arslan that now he was the Shah of Pars and could not allow to himself any sort of impulsive reactions or, worse, emotional, sometimes it was required. Not often, fortunately, since Arslan was a smart guy, but on some occasions it was necessary. Especially when he was hit in his affections. And that was one of those events. One of the most serious.
The soldier gave back to Elam the empty cup and thanked the boy. He was covered with dust,
mud and sweat. His facial features contracted by fatigue under the beard neglected for days. He had reached Ecbatana along the distance between Peshawar and the capital of the kingdom in less than half the time normally requested from the trip. In the effort, he killed two horses and exhausted the third, which collapsed foaming in front of the eastern gate of the city, opened on the Great Continental Road.
" What about Qbad? " Arslan asked in more controlled tone, when the man had caught his breath.
" Marzban Qbad has been bad wounded, my Lord " replied the soldier downhearted.
" Who can be able to defeat Qbad? " Alfreed snapped, unable to overstay and totally forgetful of the etiquette, which should impose to her to stay in silence in presence of the Shah and his advisers. " He is one of the best and strongest warriors of Pars, who could be able to much? "
" Who or what? " Farangis sayed, darkly.
" What do you mean, Farangis? " Arslan asked.
Jasvant moved the first time, turning his head toward the lady warrior.
" I do not know exactly, I just have a foreboding. The Djinn are restless, something is disturbing them " the priestess replied, evasive.
" We are all only too disturbed! " Alfreed snapped putting the hands on her hips.
She totally ignored the shocked expression of Elam as also the gesture of Narsus which was imposing her to keep quiet, indeed the girl snorted impatiently.
" In short " she sayed: " Kishward asked from Peshawar for reinforcements, in order to restore the peace on north-eastern borders with Turk and Turan, due to a some sort of mess going on there. In response, we send Daryun leading 500 horsemen to give a hand to Qbad, as if it were nothing more serious than put in their place a band of marauders too bold. After all, who else entrust the mission if not him, because he knows those places better than anyone among Marzban?
"And now, Kishward send this messenger to say us that Qbad was seriously injured in a misterious battle against not you know who, and even Daryun would disappear with his five hundred men without leaving any track?!
" I can well imagine that the Djinn are restless! I'm more than restless, because I can not believe Kishward wants play us a bad joke or he is drunk! So, if we're done talking, we could move and go see what the hell is going on! " She concluded and breathed loudly in resume breath.
" Thank you, Alfreed. A perfect synthesis of the situation " Narsus sighed, raising eyes to the ceiling.
" Go you first and get out of the way " hissed Elam, addressed to the girl an arsonist look, instantly reciprocated by a grimace of the young.
" Alfreed is right! " Arslan exclaimed, standing up again. " We are wasting time. Let's go quickly! "
" There is still something I have to tell you, my Lord " said the soldier. " When I left Peshawar, General Qbad seemed delirious. He kept repeat that he has been used as bait to attract general Daryun into a trap, and can't find peace for hading let himself be deceived so easily. "
" A trap? " asked Arslan, leaning toward him, fists suddenly tightened.
" Yes, my Lord. The noble Qbad says that to attack him were men not belonging to any of the tribes of the people of Turk or Turan. Thery were people never seen before, and then ... " the man looked around, uncertain to proceed or not.
" And then? Go on, you can talk without any fear " Narsus pressed and something inside him confirmed to the strategist that his instinct has been right to want meet the Kishward's messenger without the presence of others than Arslan and his most trusted companions.
The man hesitated, then finally spoke. " The noble Qbad says there were some sorcerers... " spake lowering his voice. He stopped, shuddered and again looked around as if he feared the shadows in the corners of the room.
" Sorcerers?... " Arslan repeated in a shocked whisper.
A shiver ran through everyone. Azrael stopped preening its pens and reared up his head.
Narsus pursed his lips and moved a half step, without realizing it. " Qbad would see sorcerers moving underground? " Asked a dry voice. No one in room thought he was joking, as well as doubted of the affirmation of Qbad, reported by the messenger.
The soldier nodded. " Yes, my lord Narsus. General Qbad said the sorcerers shown themselves when general Daryun and his knights reached the battlefield. He also says that ... that soon after everything is blanketed in a thick fog and it was dark how at nightfall.. "
A very unladylike imprecation escaped Alfrida's lips but no one noticed, not even Elam, open-mouthed, hands clenched on the tray with the metal cup.
" As in Atropatena " Gieve said from his corner, where he had been all the time hidden among the curtains, behind the silent Farangis. The priestess not answers, but bowed his head slightly forward, the dark look.
" As in Atropatena ... " Arslan repeated in a choked voice, while the memory of all the atrocities of the old battle, the carnage of Pars's army, lits his eyes of a horrified light.
" Please, keep calm. Qbad is injured and may have been only hallucinations " Narsus interjected firmly, attracting upon himself the attention of everyone. He was not sure to believe to his own words more than his companions, and felt the hearth squeezing in the chest in seeing the dismay of Arslan's gaze. Imposing himself to maintain ontrol, he turned back to the messenger. "The news that takes us from Peshawar are very serious, soldier, and I thank you for the superhuman effort you did to get here as quickly as possible. "
The soldier nodded, prostrate.
" Don't tell anyone else what you just said to us " ordered Narsus, all the severity of the situation contained in the dry tone of his voice. The strategist turned again to Arslan. " I'am arranging now an official communication for the notables of Ecbatana, but this information should not be disclosed, or chaos will break out.
" Please, convened the Marzban remained in the city, your Majesty, and choose one that is ready to moving this afternoon with its ten thousand knights. We have to go to Peshawar, and we must do it soon. "
" May the gods wish that it's not too late " Arslan whispered, looking to the sky on the open terrace to the east.
His companions were silent, even in their silence was contained the same prayer.