This is Me

Chapter Two: Welcome Back: On Your Marks

Roman still stays quiet. The vision he saw keeps playing right in his head. Roy sees his brother is so lost in thought. Roy calls Roman saying; "Roman! Roman!! What is it?" All he could do to respond is give a nod to Roy's question.

Seeing him with the puzzle, Roy gets the signal that the time is right to go home. The brothers therefore begin their journey back home through the Bora route.

Alberom is so lively. Everyone seems to be going about with their normal daily activities. It is a bright morning in the Alberom market where buying and selling are going smoothly. Finn is looking happy. He has just sold all his fruit items in just two hours. He is so happy and he gets set to return home in order to prepare for the next day.

"You are done for today my friend. Can we go home" says Aaron. He is Finn's neighbour who has just finished his shopping in the market. "Let's go home now. I am super excited I am done for today in quick fashion. I will have to come back extra loaded tomorrow. You know this is a season for fruits."

Finn quickly packs up, locks his shop and joins up with Aaron whose company he enjoys always. Aaron is a jovial young man who loves history. On their way home, they observe a huge crowd close to the Alberom Palace. A distinct whisper of a child saying, "He is here, our King is here".

Indeed, the child's whisper addresses the arrival of the King of Alberom, Roman and his number one general and brother, Roy.

The two heroes were back from their long search for the unification puzzle known as the Team Puzzle. Alberom in her current state is filled with the euphoria and anticipation of a prospective great nation.

Queen Vera, Princess Rhea and Princess Rita are happy to witness the return of their beloved husband and father. The excitement is pretty evident on their precious faces.

"Dad welcome back." says Princess Rita. "We have missed you so much." Princess Rhea adds. Queen Vera's joy is so radiant and she says " Your family missed you and of course your people missed you as well. You have come back a hero. Welcome back my Love. Welcome my King."

"It is good to be back home. It was not an easy journey. Nice to see everyone especially my family" King Roman says.

Queen Vera serves the meal she had prepared to welcome the King on the dinning table. She loves preparing and serving her family's meal all by herself because of the fear of the unknown. The maids and other servants are charged with all other responsibilities except cooking and serving her family. She does that exclusively.

"Please eat. You know you will have to get some rest before evening." says Queen Vera.

Tradition has it that after every successful expedition, the heroes of Alberom are welcomed with a dinner party to celebrate all victories. King Roman eats his food in a special manner and says "When was the last time I ate a balanced diet as complete and delicious as this. Wow! Thank you my love." Roman quickly finishes his food, takes his birth and rushes into his room to get some sound sleep he had not enjoyed for a while."

Samy, Roy's only child somewhere in another chamber in the Alberom palace welcomes his father back home. Roy had refused to have another wife or child since the pain of the death of his wife and child. His wife died some ten years back. Roy lost his wife and child during child birth as Samy was lucky to make it out of his mother's womb in time. His twin brother did not make it out of his mother's womb alive. Roy sees joy in sleeping around with different mistresses. He made sure they do not get pregnant. He has his mind made up against taking a new wife and having another child.

Roy is so tired that he takes his birth and goes straight to his room to have a peaceful sleep. He requests that his meal be brought into his room. He finishes his food right in his room and sleeps off.

"Hurray they are back we celebrate with a joyful heart." Everyone in the room shouts "hurray".

King Roman and General Roy enters the room to meet a huge cheer from everyone in the room and beyond. The party is already at its peak but before the roof is blown off with lots of celebration, King Roman must give his speech. He climbs the podium to address the people of Alberom. He begins in silence. His words fails to come out no matter how he tries. A tough leader that he is, he finally summons the courage to address his people. He says,

"So far, this generation has stood firm and defended what our fore fathers fought for. Our fathers had dreams and we are about to affirm it. Our history is about to take a new turn. We are about to witness a unique experience. We must consider ourselves lucky. Lucky to be witnessing this huge curve in history. Our generation will be known for making history for the generations to come to protect. Not just ordinary history but a positive and significant one. However my people, this is just the beginning of great accomplishments. We are about to start a new journey. We must be stronger than ever. We need lean on ourselves to achieve a success story. I can not do it alone. The ruling class can not do it alone. Your support is needed to achieve our reality. We must standfast and be there for each other."

King Roman receives a cheerful standing ovation as he walks down the podium. He exchanges short indistinct conversations with his high chiefs, shakes their hands and disappears from the scene. He retires to his room to catch some further rest.

Roy a party freak stays behind to party hard till the end.

"My precious King. Let us take more than forty thousand men to Kalif. We have to crush them in one precise attack." This is General Base's voice. He advices King Roman to take along more than forty thousand men to capture the nation of the Kalifs. General Benson begs the King to give him a chance to go to Kalif and settle things diplomatically without any blood shed. He says, "My King. We are yet to approach the Kalifs with our intentions. I am of the opinion that we solve this with a conversation. I am optimistic that they will commit to us in full." The Kalifs is considered one of the territories of the old Alberom Empire. This is why General Benson seeks for a diplomatic approach rather than a violent approach. General Benson continues by stating that; "it will be like declaring war against one of our own. Killing our own people. Our blood. Let us remember what we shared with them in the past. I am sure our ancestors will not be happy about going into war with the Kalifs". General Stead who is fourth in command in the Alberom army behind Benson, Base and Roy concurs with General Benson. He says; "Trust me when I say I understand where everyone in this meeting is coming from. I thereby go with General Benson's idea. We have to put into use the dialogue approach first before we declare war on the Kalifs. "

King Roman looks at General Roy. General Roy nods affirming what is said by General Stead. King Roman coughs and says: "We have to take the two approaches. A dialogue first. We attack once the dialogue process takes too long or fail. General Benson!"

The general answers; "Yes Sir". King Roman continues; "I will not send you or Stead to dialogue because all Alberomans need you two. I need you both. This is why we will have to send for Thoms the Wise to lead a peaceful expedition to present our request to the Kalifs."

Thoms the Wise is the second chief negotiator of Alberom. He is the deputy chief negotiator to Collins the Wise who is a little incapacitated at this time. General Roy calls out Martin, his personal messenger to send a word to Thoms the Wise for the King's needs his attention.

Martin arrives with Thoms the Wise in just about fifteen minutes. Thoms kneels and bows to his king saying; "My Lord. My King. The brave one. The most wise. I am happy to be here for I know you have something positive to say. My Lord, I will serve you forever". Roman tells him to rise on his feet. He tells him his current assignment and stresses the importance of returning with a good news. However King Roman warns him of the danger involved. King Roman says; "My old friend, you may never return". Thoms the Wise coughs and replies his King by saying; "I swore an oath to you, and before you, your father, King Albert as well as your grand father to do whatever it takes to protect this land and ensure the unification becomes a reality. If I die on this mission, I will be fulfilled that I died an hero in battle for the unification. I am ready my King. When do I leave my King?"

Tomorrow at first flight, King Roman replies. He continues by saying ; You have my blessings my old friend. Thirty soldiers will accompany you. I am sure you will return successfully."

"You can count on me like 123". the old man says.

Off he goes out of the meeting chambers and return to his chamber in order to prepare for the task ahead.

Immediately the old man left, King Roman gives specific instructions saying; "Roy monitor Thoms the Wise's steps. Go with additional two hundred soldiers. You're to be on standby in a nearby settlement close to Kalif. You launch an attack at the news of any failure by the old man's team. General Base and General Benson should also prepare forty thousand soldiers to reenforce and support General Roy's two hundred men. I will lead that army with you two by my side. General Stead will be here to defend and organize the Kingdom. Is that clear?"

All his men answer in unison; "Yes Sir"

King Roman leaves and this signals the end of the meeting. All parties in the meeting retire to their various chambers to begin their assignment as spelt out by the king.

Thoms the Wise leaves his quarters in order to pay Collins the Wise a visit. Collins the Wise is very sick and he lies hopelessly on his bed. His condition has worsened. Doctor Ruben confirms to Thoms that his senior colleague is in a comma. Doctor Ruben is very concerned about Collins' health.

Doctor Ruben explains to Thoms saying; "He was recovering very well. He even had a walk though the garden yesterday. He feed himself and could talk well. All these things he did yesterday. It was a shock when I was sent for. I was told he slumped. We quickly set him up for immediate medical care right here in his chambers and he has since been in a comma."

"Hmmm. That is huge. So pathetic too. What are his chances Doctor?" Thoms the Wise asks.

Replying him, Doctor Ruben says: "It is a little bit to the right and the left. His life is in the balance. It is a fifty fifty thing." "Let us be positive. He is a fighter". says Thoms the Wise.

Collins the Wise's current age is a hundred and twenty years. He is forty years older than Thoms the Wise and taught Thoms everything he now knows about the negotiation business. He is so knowledgeable and intelligent. Thoms knows his senior colleague and teacher is about to die. He came to brief him about his mission to the Kalifs but he obviously will have to embark on the mission without having a word with the old man. The thought of knowing that Collins may even give up the ghost before his return is a severe mental pain. Thoms the Wise hereby sort for a few minutes with Collins. He wants to be alone with the helpless Collins who lies unconscious on the sick bed. Thoms begins to say some words to Collins. He says; "I know you may not hear me at this point. I appreciate all the teachings, advices, morals and every single thing I was able to tap from your in your lifetime. I am about going for another journey. Though you have taught me well, I still feel the need to tap from you one more time as I have always done. I hope you become conscious whenever I come back for I do not want to say goodbye to you this way. Definitely not now. I will be back old man. We will see soon. Please have a speedy recovery my master for life."

The restless old Collins appears to be breathing so fast. The breathing seems uncontrollable that it needed Thoms seek the Doctor's attention.

Thoms stands up, in order to allow the Doctor take charge of the situation. He sincerely hopes his senior colleague does not give up the ghost.