LEGEND OF NEVETSECNUAC - THE ASSASSINS - SECTION 15
Lord Asger had accepted the distinct possibility that Alec and Duan were but the advance guard of a squad of assassins waiting in the wings to launch the final assault. By preventing Alec from contacting his accomplices, Asger could be sealing their own fate. To determine the veracity (accuracy) of Alec’s claims, and perhaps in due course uncover any collaborators, Asger, with a heavy heart, had finally consented to Prince Nevetsecnuac’s departure at the earliest opportunity.
“He
is a lot tougher and more cunning than
he lets on.” Asger cautioned
Nevetsecnuac, advising him to temper his own impatience, to remain vigilant and
to be wise beyond his years. “The truth in due course will come to light.”
Asger had
scant hope that the two (Nevetsecnuac and Alec) would join up with Lord Shonne
Gulbrand and the amassed armies of General Kundrick Dufo, to realize that long
awaited goal of purging the usurper Zakhertan
Yozdek. What is more, he silently
feared that he could be sending Nevetsecnuac into an elaborate trap.
Asger
looked away to quickly dismiss these inhibitions, concentrating his thoughts
instead on his innate, firm confidence in Nevetsecnuac’s prowess. Clinging on
to the belief that his nephew would circumvent all danger, expunge all the
villains, and return to them in safety armed with the facts.
Regardless,
their security had been breached. Upon Nevetsecnuac’s safe return, they would
have to, Asger, Nevetsecnuac , Teuquob and the twins, relocate elsewhere, till
such a time as a grand action was warranted.
~
When
Alec finally awoke late afternoon, he was allowed to wash up and shared some
sustenance with Lord Asger and Svein (Prince Nevetsecnuac). During this modest
repast, Alec was offered prompt apologies and a very plausible explanation for
his prior incapacitation, which had been seen necessary so as to allow Alec
this period to recover.
Though infuriated (irked), at least he had been spared the indignity of
being bound.
Alec, understanding their reasons therefore,
meekly played along with this charade and acceded to all their wishes, as well,
of him being indefinitely (incarcerated) confined to the small area within the
barn. Subsequently, when it was all said and done, Alec was quietly taken aside
and re-introduced to Nevetsecnuac, as the prince he sought to find. Alec on his
part, feigning surprise, had promptly
paid his homage to his supposed beloved Prince. Later still, Alec was duly
informed of the intended time of their departure, possibly as early as the very
next day, and so elated was he that from then on, he’d remained quite contented
to let things be.
Long
after they had taken their leave, Alec, unable to resist it, partook some more
of the delectable morsels that had been left behind along with a pot of tea,
for his at will consumption.
Overcome
with sudden fatigue, too late he realized that yet again he had been duped;
unable to fight the potent drug’s effects, he was rendered once more utterly
dead to the world.
~
Teuquob
in all this time had been directed (advise) to keep well out of sight of Alec.
She had thus far complied with understanding their innate concerns, but on this
evening at dusk, her curiosity
overriding any reason, she’d on some pretext getting away, snuck back into the
barn.
Guilt
and unease accompanied her hesitant steps as she drew nearer and nearer to the
stranger. Besides which, she inwardly
asserted, she needed to assuage her fears
and perhaps resolve some of those persistent, annoying inner queries, before
her husband embarked on this presumably dangerous, at best risky venture. She
was curious to know also why,
If Asger did not trust this stranger to
have him inside the cabin or at the table, why not then dispose of him and be
done with it; why (would Asger) allow her husband to accompany this purported
foe on the doubtless, precarious escapade?
As she cast her gaze on the shadowy, sleeping
foe’s form, the reasons suddenly were made clear. She knew then that for them
to do otherwise would have been far more hazardous. Inwardly she hoped now that
Asger’s confidence in Nevetsecnuac would not be in vain or misplaced.
As
she had neared still closer, to place a newly filled washbasin over at the
small table by the fire, Alec with his strong survival instincts, detecting a
presence had at once regained consciousness. He did not let on however, and
despite his groggy, dazed state, still managed to discreetly observe her.
Before, during the fierce combat, he hardly had the time to note, to scrutinize
her features, let alone register her exceptional beauty. Then she had been an
object, a key opportunity targeted for sole destruction. But now at this proximity
as if seeing her for the first time, he was taken aback and got quite incensed
by the existence of such an incredible, indescribable magnificence in this
remote dwelling, matchless in grace and most bewitching in allure, presumably a
companion, or a mate to the prince. The prince certainly lacks for nothing! Such
a cozy arrangement! No wonder they have me persistently drugged and
incapacitated! Alec gnashed his teeth.
Soon
however, once again the sleep had claimed him.
~
The
morning of the departure Nevetsecnuac
awoke with a start after a restless sleep and straight away noted his wife’s
moist and puffy eyes, despite her attempt to hide her face from his view.
"What's
wrong?" Nevetsecnuac sat up,
concerned, "Have you been crying?"
Turning away, she was about to
spring out of bed, when he tugged at her sleeve to hold her back. "Oh, you
mustn't worry about my leaving, my love. There really is no danger involved in
this undertaking.” he then embracing her whispered reassuringly into her ear,
guessing at her concern. "Our parting will be so brief you won't even have
the chance to miss me." He did not
dare tell her more. Then accordingly, in an excited voice spoke of his duty and
obligation to not only the living but those long dead. Then, for Teuquob's sake,
he spoke of their hopeful future and his triumphant return to her and their son
and daughter, how they would then live out their lives under better
circumstances, in relative safety, in contentment and joy until their hairs
turned gray, with justice, peace and prosperity restored to the land. "You must look ahead and rejoice in that
future happiness not shed tears. Unless, that is, you doubt my ability.” he
gently admonished her.
"It's
not that.” her lips quivered, and she once again turned her face away to evade
his questioning eyes. Though she tried to resist, her heart was breaking so
much that, in defiance, few tears fell, coursing (trickling) down her cheeks.
Nevetsecnuac
again gently took Teuquob in his embrace and touched his lips to her tears. "Won’t
you give me a big, bright smile?” softly, in a broken voice he implored her.
"I want to go away remembering you such."
Concern
for him gave her the will to stop. She wiped away the tears then, forcing a
smile to her lips. Then in a whisper, stammered, "Please love, keep
yourself safe and send for us with due speed. Lord Asger and I will not rest
easily until we receive words from you."
"You
left out the twins; they won’t miss me I suppose.” Nevetsecnuac jested with an
exaggerated pout.
"Oh!
You can be so exasperating sometimes!"
Teuquob mockingly punched his shoulder. The fiery radiance in her eyes
melted his heart when she next raised her flashed face to look into his eyes.
"Why
must you tease me in this way?"
Teuquob pursing her lips turned her head away, then just as quickly,
swiveled back with such a loving gaze that “Nevetsecnuac’s chest heaved with
the intense emotion surging up within him. Laughing, he tenderly embraced his
wife anew and showered her face with kisses.
A
gentle knock on the door just then interrupted this tender moment announcing Asger’s
presence; somewhat reluctantly Nevetsecnuac got off the bed and greeted his uncle
who simply said:
"Alec,
in his eagerness, has already packed and is even now readying his steed for the
journey. When you are dressed, I wish to have a private word with you in my
room, please."
When
Nevetsecnuac next saw Asger, his uncle was fully clad in white ceremonial garb
and was in the act of pouring pure, chilly water from the melted snow over the
swords. After the ablution, which drove out all evil influences from the forged
steel, Asger held the twin swords high over his head, their blade catching the
morning light that streamed in from the
window and said a votary (invocation) to the ancestors within. Once again
reunited with the swords through this ceremony, Asger then held it out one of
them, hilt first, to Nevetsecnuac.
To
Asger the ancestor swords were objects of profound veneration. Forged at his
birth amid many rites of purification and prayers to his ancestors, the pair
had hung above his bed until his rite of passage into maturity and then had
been given to him to learn their use. It
was believed by Asger, and by his ancestors, that such a pair of swords carried
the mental, physical, and spiritual powers of their owner and his family. Hence, on termination of Asger's life, he
expected the right to be buried with them at his side.
Understanding
the deep significance of such a gift, or rather a loan, Nevetsecnuac knelt to
receive one of the ancestor swords of Lord Asger Thuxur Marrog Zhon. When the sword passed into his hands
Nevetsecnuac, with deep reverence, touched the base of the blade to his
forehead and vowed to use it only in the cause of justice, righteousness, and
mercy.
"I,
Prince Nevetsecnuac Alric Therran Valamir, son of Prince Shon Alric Therran Valamir,
and grandson of His Highness Zuronghan Alric Therran Valamir, hereby promise to
avenge the wrongful deaths perpetrated by Zakhertan Yozdek and his followers. I further vow to restore order and peace to
this land. These vows fulfilled, I shall return to your presence, Lord Asger
Thuxur Marrog Zhon, to pay my respects and entrust this sword once more into
your keeping."
Asger
smiled in approval and uttered encouraging words to the prince, ending with,
"May Heaven assists you in your fateful task, my Prince, and may the sword
vanquish all enemies in your path."
After
Nevetsecnuac’s farewells to his wife and his loving children he exchanged a few
more private words with his uncle, at the end of which Asger patted his
shoulder affectionately and said, “Rest assured, my Prince, all will be well
here. I give you my solemn word that I shall take diligent care of Teuquob, Alric
and Lueling. I will shield them from the least harm and safeguard them with my
life. All I ask is that you return to us safely (safe and sound). Now at the risk of being redundant, remember
that once you leave here you must concentrate your thoughts only on the task at
hand and nothing else. "
At
the moment of their final parting, despite her promise to herself that she
would be strong, Teuquob’s defiant tears had come perilously close to gushing
out and so she bit her lip and lowered her head, missing Nevetsecnuac’s one
last look back.
A sudden cry from one of the twins inside the
cabin just then beckoned Teuquob. Lord Asger stance however did not change one
iota as he, with a somber face, continued to gaze after Nevetsecnuac leading
Fiery Comet down the steep path slightly ahead of Alec and his mount.
Abruptly
the air at that moment grew much colder, the strong rising winds that had just
then herded dark clouds over the blue fields of the sky, turning day into night;
icy chill presently pierced Asger to the marrow, causing an involuntary shiver to
pass through him. Dancing flakes of white snow sprinkled his garments, turning them silvery white with random sequins.
Refusing to go inside he stood woodenly, staring at Nevetsecnuac’s diminishing
figure until they had entirely passed from his view.
(END
OF SECTION 15)
