STEEL AND FLESH

AN AVERTIBLE WAR

"Then how did one of your envoys inform us about the presence of spies in these lands?" King Lauihnio asked.

"King Waigni himself directed us to inform you about King Brothlander's plan of a reprisal attack, and the presence of spies in these lands. I personally asked him for the identities of these spies for he knew them, but he said it was not necessary. As a Bauthinian by origin, I did everything I could to get the identity of these spies even offering some of the scouts who fed him with information about King Brothlander good money, but they all refused to accept my bribe. They said it was the king's order to remain silent about the spies in Bauthinia. However I understand your frustration, and I would not be surprised if in your rage you plan to torture me to death even though you are aware of the consequences that would befall your kingdom if such happens. In other words I beg you king Lauihnio, as a soldier myself, I do not wish to die defenseless, beaten like a thief, give me a chance to defend myself, give me cresor, give me a sword and arrange a duel for me at the arena even if it is this moment, you can bring your champion, your army commanders or any of your veteran soldiers. So that if I die I know I died with honor, I know I died defending myself, I know I Bongan Rodbar fell at the arena."

The king finally believed Bongan at this speech of his, but he burned with rage because he felt outwitted by king Waigni given the risk he took by torturing Bongan.

"You could have a chance to kill me yourself." Bongan gave a one sided smile in his face that was smeared with blood and sweat.

"I heard news of how ruthless you were against the Quanians at the joint campaign, I would feel privileged to see how ruthless you are with the sword. But -" Bongan propped himself up with the Stony wall still bound on both hands and feet. "I must warn you, if I die in these lands, king Waigni would take it as a slap on his face and he would declare war on Bauthinia and he would stop at nothing until Bauthinia burns to the ground."

Meanwhile a man walked into the cell, he wore an Ash knee length tunic and a black cloak while wearing a sword in his scabbard. He whispered some words into Lord Garthine Polion's ear which made him look alarmed for a moment. With the man done whispering at his ear Lord Garthine Polion moved to the already enraged king.

"My king, it is true, my scouts have confirmed it, king Brothlander plans to attack us." He said. King Lauihnio's heart skipped for a second, he gasped with wide open eyes like he heard the news for the first time. He turned to the man wearing the Ash knee length tunic, grim and tensed.

"What is your report?" King Lauihnio asked. The man stood at attention, chest out and chin up.

"My king we saw a large army marching across the Hauzani plains, those plains only lead to the Raban river and if they cross the Raban river, I am afraid they would be stepping into our lands."

"What army did you see, was there any way you could identify this army you said were crossing the plains of Hauzani in Lexiana?"

The man took a deep breath. "To be honest my king I only saw them from afar l..."

"I said do you know the army that was marching towards my lands!" King Lauihnio yelled angrily.

"I saw a dragon standard a bronze dragon standard with a painting of a red fire breathing dragon on a blue flag." The man said shivering and sweating.

"The Quanians!" Garthine Polion muttered. King Lauihnio began breathing heavily, filled with rage, he thought of how possible it was for king Waigni to be ahead of his scouts on an intelligence that concerned the security of his lands. He felt outplayed by king Waigni, given the fact that he did not give the identity of the spies to a man he felt was a trusted servant, and agent of the Elerian crown.

In anger he went to one of his soldiers and drew a sword from it's scabbard and charged towards Bongan in an attempt to kill him.

Lord Garthine Polion quickly noticed king Lauihnio's intention to kill Bongan and he closed him down holding the king tightly to himself.

"My king this is very unwise of you to do, I know how angry you are but you need to calm down!" Lord Garthine Polion pleaded.

"Leave me Garthine Polion, these people are trying to trick us thinking that we are weak, I will prove to them that we are not afraid of their battalions or artillery that makes them feel they can go to any kingdom and get whatever they want!"

King Lauihnio tried to wriggle free. "Leave me Garthine Polion, I order you - soldiers take this man off me."

The soldiers were shocked and afraid, no one moved, they knew what the consequence of the king's action would be, they shivered looking at each other wondering who would be bold enough to free king Lauihnio from the grip of the commander.

"That is an order you bastards get moving!" He yelled once more. No one moved.

"My king these men are loyal men and they would do anything you wish them to do but at the moment my Lord what you want to do will put our lives in a bigger danger than that which is already upon us." Lord Garthine Polion said. "I beg you my king be calm and think this over there must be a way out, there must be another way we could find these spies - I beg you."

The king quit struggling to wriggle free and he dropped the sword.

"Okay Garthine Polion, I have heard your plea now let me go." King Lauihnio said breathing heavily with rage written all over his face.

"okay my king." He carefully let go of king Lauihnio and he immediately picked the sword from the floor. After being free of Lord Garthine Polion's grip he stared angrily at all his men in the room and walked out of the cell. Bongan chuckled.

"Well that was quite a drama." He said. "Shut up or you will receive more whips from these men." Lord Garthine Polion said pointing at Bongan before stepping out of the cell.

********

"Ahhhhh." Bongan grunted as an elderly man who was a healer was stitching his already battered back. "Oh great Oridon, how long before I can feel my back." He asked.

"It should be about a day or two sir." The healer replied.

"Damn it, those grim bastards."

Lord Garthine Polion walked in with a grim look on his face after which he took a wooden stool and placed it beside the chair Bongan was seated on.

"How is your back." He asked. "Well thanks to you I would not be able to sleep on my back for the next two days." Bongan said frowned at Garthine Polion. Garthine Polion stared at Bongan's face.

"I am sorry for that however you know fully that it was not my idea to this to you, it was king Lauihnio's order. Bongan sighed.

"Ahhhh." He then winced in pain. "Take it easy old man." He said. The whole place was silent for a sometime.

"I know this was a painful experience for you and the king would love to send his sincere apologies to you. However the king did not mean any harm towards you, and it was out of frustration he acted the way he did back in the dungeon, as a soldier I hope you don't take it too personal?"

"I do not blame king Lauihnio, any king would have done that, however I hope he finds a way to successfully defend Bauthinia from the Quanians since he doesn't want Elerian help."

"You are a good man Bongan and I do know a part of me tells me that you can be trusted with Bauthinian affairs - anyway that would not be at the moment, what I would like to say is that king Lauihnio is offering one hundred and fifty yaserii coin, to keep your mouth shut about the torture - your back." Lord Garthine Polion motioned at the direction of Bongan's back.

Bongan smiled. "I knew this was going to happen. Anyway I wouldn't want to sweat it, make it two hundred and fifty."

"Two hundred." Garthine Polion said immediately.

"Okay deal." Lord Garthine Polion offered him a hand shake and both men shook hands.

When Bongan tried to let go of his hand, it was stuck with Garthine Polion hand as he refused to let go. "Swear to me by Oridon's mace that you will not say a word about your torture."

Lord Garthine Polion looked sternly at Bongan. "I swear by Oridon's mace, not a word about this torture will drop from my mouth even to my family members, I am good in telling tales, old, new, true and false, and when words come from my mouth every one who hears it has no choice other than believing me."

"Good - deal then." Lord Garthine Polion turned to walk towards the door.

"Hey Lord Garthine Polion." Garthine Polion turned to face Bongan. "Would you also be able to arrange a beautiful maid I could hump so I could ease my pain a little bit." Bongan put up a one sided smile.

"Okay - however I forgot to tell you, the king invites you to have supper, do well to be present."

"By Oridon's will I would be present." Bongan replied.