Kyandi: I just realized it is now 9:27 a.m. and I have been awake for 57 hours straight.
Alair: Perhaps sleep is in your near future?
Kyandi: Perhaps so. After this chapter, I promise.
Alair: I shall hold you to that.
Kyandi: Yeah, I know. So let's just jump right into this.
Alair: A lovely idea.
Kyandi: Everyone, please enjoy and review. Please, please, please review. I live for reviews. They keep me going.
Alair: Kyandi-sama does not own The Heroic Legend of Arslan.
Chapter 9 Coat of Arms
The next day found Alair at the war council, as she promised Daryun. Daryun and Narsus stood behind the prince, Narsus to Arslan's left and Daryun to his right. Alair stood to Daryun's right. As she had said the night before, she had foresaken the sling that morning.
Much to Narsus' annoyance.
She was still favoring the arm, but it seemed she was not in the pain she had been since receiving the initial wounds. She had traded the skirt once more for pants. A symbol in itself that she was ready to return to the battlefield. Arslan was still concerned for her, but she assured him she would be careful of the injury.
At the current moment she stood along side Daryun, listening to the discussion between the Citadel's captains and the prince. The news was not good.
"Are you saying we cannot raise an army!?" Arslan asked in surprise.
"What is this, Lord Bahman? Explain yourself!" Daryun demanded.
"There is nothing to be gained by rushing into this. We do not yet know what has become of his majesty. We need some more time. I'm apposed to sending troops anywhere. Until the year's out at least. How will the kingdom's lords react to this? We should wait until we know that much." Bahman insisted.
"We must restore the Sovereignty of Pars. And to do so, we need an army led by Prince Arslan. Will not our actions determine how the lords react? They will only follow if we lead. Why do you now hesitate to do so, Lord Bahman? I would not call this caution. I can only think you-"
"Stop Daryun. There is no point in quarreling." Narsus said, cutting his friend off.
Daryun looked at Narsus in surprised.
"His mind is made up. We all know that Lord Bahman has never once been bested upon the field of battle. But old age can be cruel. Can we blame him for wishing to spend his remaining years in comfort?" Narsus asked.
Alair stepped in then before Bahman could reply. All eyes turned to the young woman as she crossed her arms loosely over her chest and spoke.
"I believe he has somewhat of a point to be made." Alair said, seemingly in favor of Bahman.
"Alair?" Arslan asked, looking at her.
Out of all of those gathered in the room, Arslan had not expected Alair to side with Bahman. Nor had Daryun and Narsus for that matter. Daryun rounded on her in his shock, staring down at the shorter woman beside him.
"What are you saying?" Daryun asked her.
"Think for a moment. Say you find yourself on a path riddled with twists and turns. Somewhere along this winding road, a hunter digs a pitfall trap. Now say you are part of a pack of wolves returning to the rest of the pack after hunting with the orders from your alpha to be mindful of such traps. Half of the pack rushes, hurried to return to the others because of the same hunter chasing them, while the other half is cautious as the alpha orders. That being the case, when the pack rounds the bends and encounters the trap, which half do you believe will fall victim to the trap and which half will live to see another day?" Alair asked.
Put that way, Daryun saw the point and snapped his mouth closed in frustration. Alair, in her off-handed way, had an uncanny knack for proving her point. Arslan answered the question with the obvious answer of, "Those who rushed, would fall into the trap.".
"Exactly, kingling. Now that being said though, those pack members too old and too cautious, fall behind the pack and fall victim to an arrow in the throat. There is such a difference between caution and fear." Alair added, her eyes fixed on Bahman to judge his reaction.
This was the last straw. Bahman snapped.
"Still your tongue! You know nothing, you arrogant puppy!" he snapped, getting to his feet. "I suggest we cool our heads. We can speak more later."
Arslan stood to stop Bahman, but the old man was gone. Alair watched him go. She had seen various people angry in her twenty-one years, not been the cause of many of those people being angry, but she saw none of the tells of anger in Bahman now. Just weariness and possibly guilt. She stared at the door he had just stormed through, thoughtful on his reaction.
"All I did was make him angry." Daryun remarked.
"No. He is far more cunning. You don't give him credit. He pretended to grow angry and left the room in order to avoid further questions. Alair picked up on it as well." Narsus replied.
Daryun looked down at Alair as she stared after the old man, her yellow-orange eyes flickering like flames. He knew that look, had seen it before. It was the same look she got when she picked up on something a person was trying to hide. He had seen the same look on her face when she had looked at Hodir.
"Something bothers him and I cannot foresee a favorable outcome to it. I fear my remarks may not have been very wise." Alair remarked, concern in her tone.
Daryun laid a hand on her shoulder in reassurance. Whatever was troubling the old man, they would work around it. The war council concluded then, the lords going their separate ways. Alair remained in the hall with Narsus, Daryun, Arslan, Kishward, and Farangis.
"A moment, Lord Daryun." Kishward called.
Daryun turned back to look at the other man, Alair looking over her shoulder as well.
"There is something you ought to know. It happened shortly before the battle at Aptropitini. A letter was delivered to Lord Bahman from Lord Varese." Kishward told him.
"What did my uncle write to him?" Daryun questioned.
"I know nothing more than what I have told you. I cannot guess at the letter's contents. But ever since it arrived, Lord Bahman has been different, as you saw. And it came just before the battle." Kishward replied.
"Lord Narsus, would you care to hazard a guess?" Farangis asked.
"Life would be ever so much simpler if I could. Regrettably, I am no clairvoyant." Narsus replied.
"We may not be able to take such a guess, but from his actions, I am willing to say it was a secret that Lord Bahman did not want weighing so heavily on his shoulders. He acts much like a cornered animal in my honest opinion." Alair remarked, thoughtfully.
Alair glanced at Arslan, seeing the concerned and troubled look on his face. She reached out, laying a hand on his shoulder. Arslan looked up at Alair as she gave his shoulder a squeeze.
"Trouble yourself not, kingling. Questions are apart of everyone's life, but answers come only to those patient enough to wait." Alair assured him.
Arslan nodded, giving her a smile. Alair gave his shoulder one last squeeze before releasing it and giving him a slight bow.
"Now if you will pardon me, kingling, I must go see to my wolves before they grow hungry enough to start pilfering people's evening meals." Alair told him.
Arslan nodded. Alair turned to the others and nodded to them before turning to head back to her quarters where her wolves were staying while she was in council. Arslan, himself, went to the Citadel's walls, peering through the battlements to look down at the world below. He, much like Alair had the night before, thought about the road his life had taken. About everything that had happened, was happening, must happen, for the kingdom to raise above it's current predicament.
Then a chill washed over Arslan and he knew somewhere near him, an enemy lurked out of sight. He jolted away from the wall, turning to seek out the enemy.
"Who's there? Show yourself!" he demanded.
"Coming up here without guards. How careless of you."
Arslan took a step back as Silver Mask stepped out of the shadows, evil intent rolling off him. Arslan knew an enemy when he met one. He didn't need Alair's senses to sniff out an enemy to know this man was exactly that.
"I could not have asked for a more perfect opportunity if I had planned it." Silver Mask said.
"I see you wear a silver mask. You're the one in league with the Lusitanians, aren't you!? How'd you get up here?" Arslan demanded.
"I know this fortress like the back of my hand. Gaining access presented no difficulties." Silver Mask replied.
"Leave now, or I'll make you." Arslan told him, hand going to the hilt of his sword.
This only served to amuse Silver Mask, who laughed as Arslan drew his sword. He didn't see Arslan as a challenge, or even a threat.
"I am Arslan, son of Andragoras and the crown prince of Pars!" Arslan told him, taking his stance.
"You lay claim to much that is not your's, prince. Despite your lofty title, you are, in truth, nothing more than a miserable pup born to a wretched usurper." Silver Mask told him.
"I-I would know who you are as well!" Arslan said, inciting more laughter from Silver Mask. "Why are you laughing!?"
"Because life is a funny thing. I sought you desperatly for weeks, sent untold numbers of men to catch you, and now here you are! All alone. The rage I feel can no longer be contained. But I won't kill you all at once." Silver Mask said, drawing his own sword. "That could never satisfy me. Sixteen years of suffering merits so much more. Today I shall content myself with cutting off your right hand."
Arslan stiffened his stance as Silver Mask approached him. The one time he didn't have Lunarwind with him, he ran into an enemy. It made him realize how much he might have taken the she-wolf for granted. But he needed to focus more on Silver Mask. Especially since the man was threatening him.
"Then next when we meet, I shall take the left. If you still live after that, I guess the next logical step would be to take your right foot." Silver Mask said.
Arslan attacked then, but Silver Mask reflected his attacks easily.
"Your crime is being born the son of that bastard, Andragoras. Blame your sire!" Silver Mask told him.
Arslan was knocked back, driven to one knee. He was no match for an experienced fighter like Silver Mask.
"You're making this too easy." Silver Mask said, disarming Arslan. "Defeated already? Then I have a promise to keep. Say goodbye to your hand!"
Arslan grabbed the nearest weapon he could. He snatched a torch from it's holder, brandishing the flames in Silver Mask's face. The man backed up, the sight of the flames frightening him.
"Put it down! I'm warning you!" Silver Mask told him, his eyes riveted on the flames.
"You're scared of fire." Arslan mused.
Farangis appeared then, followed closely by Narsus, Daryun, and Kishward. When Silver Mask tried to run, Lunarwind appeared, furious at his attempt against her claimed pup's life. The fur along her spine was standing on end, her lips pulled back over her fangs as she growled at him. Silver Mask came to a stop, not going a step closer to the large she-wolf.
"I ask you again. Will you tell us who you are?" Arslan yelled.
"Who am I? The son of Osrosis, the previous king. I am Hilmes!" Silver Mask, Hilmes, declared, making for Arslan again.
Farangis tried to stop him but he knocked her aside easily. Just before Hilmes could reach Arslan and deal a killing blow to the prince, Bahman stepped in his way, taking the killing blow himself, saving Arslan. Much to Hilmes' surprise.
"Bahamn, what have you done?" Hilmes demanded.
"To meet like this after so long. I'm sorry, Prince Hilmes." Bahman replied.
"Why did you get in my way?" Hilmes demanded.
"I did as my friend asked me. Before his death, he asked that I protect Prince Arslan. If you would, please withdraw your sword." Bahman replied.
Hilmes pulled his sword free from Bahman's gut, the old man falling to his knees before Arslan, who rushed to his side, calling for help. Hilmes stared down at Bahman and almost missed the flash of flames. He turned just in time to deflect the blow from a glaive that still managed to send him staggering back from Arslan. Arslan looked up.
"Alair!" he cried in relief.
Alair, her long, red-orange hair swinging behind her, stood before him, her glaive in hand. Wolfsbane and Greyback stepped up on either side of Arslan, growling low in their throats as they bared their fangs. They remained there, waiting for any order from Alair to attack. Until she gave that order, they would not move to attack Hilmes.
"You!? You step in my way now?" Hilmes demanded.
"I have made it no secret, my loyalty to the kingling." Alair replied. "I believe I have already made it clear to you."
"You should be serving me! Standing at my side, not his!" Hilmes snapped at her.
"No. I owe you nothing." Alair replied calmly.
Hilmes eyes went from Alair to Arslan. His teeth grit as his grip tightened on his sword. His eyes went back to Alair, fixing in on her blazing gaze. She stood firmly in his way, blocking Arslan from any more attacks. Hilmes' eyes went back to Arslan, his anger only growing.
"Why do you have such loyalty? You have one of the world's fiercest warriors at your disposal and do not even realize it." Hilmes told Arslan.
Arslan's eyes went to Daryun below. To him, Daryun was the fiercest warrior there was. Hilmes, though, didn't agree.
"No. I do not speak of the hound. You have a fiercer warrior than him. One who retains their military prowess despite falling from their royal post!" Hilmes snapped.
To Arslan's surprise, Alair tensed up, her grip tightening on her glaive and her back snapping straight. All three of her wolves grew even tenser as the tension they felt from Alair, increased. From where they stood, the others could see the change come over Alair's features. Her eyes narrowed, blazing like fire, her body tensed up, like a wolf readying itself for a kill.
"Be gone before I force you." she warned Hilmes, her voice dripping with venom.
She shifted her stance, her feet spreading and her guard rising. Hilmes grinned, laughing at seeing that expression on her face and hearing that venom in her voice. He pointed his sword at her.
"Come at me then...Alairanna!" he declared.
Alairanna?
Alair did not remain still for the questions that her companions wanted to ask. Faster than they had ever seen her move, she reacted. She was in and under Hilmes' guard before he could react. His sword barely made it between them before her glaive's blade could cut through skin. Alair didn't let up, even with the pang of pain in her left arm. She rained hits on him, backing him up away from Arslan, her eyes intensely set on him. Hilmes blocked her attacks, looking for an opening. When she slid back a foot from the force of one of their collisions, baring her left side to him, he saw the opening.
Hilmes darted in, free hand reaching. Alair's eyes widened and she twisted to block him, knowing exactly what he was aiming for. But, she could not move fast enough and his fingers caught on the bandages around her left arm. He yanked as he jumped back, ripping the bandages clear of her arm. Alair grit her teeth as her left arm was bared. Two, red gashes just starting to heal, crossed the flesh of her arm, but caught between them was the burned on coat of arms of a tribal outline of a wolf with glaives crossed in the background.
Everyone froze, knowing from history lessons what the mark was.
"That's the royal coat of arms for the Alhirian royal family. Every member bore the symbol burned on their flesh." Narsus remarked.
Hilmes' grin grew as Alair covered the mark with her right hand, her nose wrinkling as anger flared to life in her eyes. None of them had ever seen anger on her face. The emotion was so strong, it made her eyes resemble the hottest of flames.
"There's that anger. Princess Alairanna de fleur Alhir. If you wish to kill me, then come at me. Avenge your fallen kingdom, princess of Alhir!" Hilmes declared.
The words had barely left his mouth, before Alair was nose to nose with him, so close he would not be able to block her slice towards his head. The hit landed before he knew it, knocking him off his feet. He had only the sight of Alair's blazing eyes before he hit the ground.
END
Kyandi: And part of the truth is revealed.
Alair: I really dislike my full name.
Kyandi: That makes two of us. It really annoys me when people know my middle name.
Alair: At least your first name is not very long.
Kyandi: Seven letters. Pretty easy.
Alair: I have proven my point. Now everyone, enjoy and review.
Kyandi: Please, please, please, PLEASE, review. I've only had one person reviewing. And while I love that one person to death for their continual reviews, it would go great lengths to increasing my confidence as a writer if someone else would review too. Please and thank you.
Alair: We will return soon.
Kyandi: Bye-bye
