Edda was aware of the large armored Guards whose eyes trailed her. Their faces beneath their visors were undoubtedly scrunched with rage for she'd bested them, a Remu had bested them, a Remu woman at that. Sure, they'd in the end managed to pin Rehny and her down but that won't negate the fact that four of them had been lying unconscious on the ground before they'd laid their hands on her. The Talisi army was not egalitarian in nature, women were strictly forbidden from joining the Regiments. War was seen by the Talisi to be a man's sport, something only men were equipped to partake in. Edda felt like laughing at the absurd notion, the Talisi's mindset caged them from realizing the full potential that lay within their women. The Remu had seen this potential centuries ago and abandoned their limiting beliefs. Drafting women into the Remu army had come to yield undeniable benefits. Edda turned her head slightly to meet a Guard directly to her side. Especially when it came to combat with men who underestimated women.
"Rehny, what do you make of this?" King Gans asked the Comm - former Commander of the hundred Legions of Binoria. They stood in the midst of the charred bodies of what appeared to have been Red priests. Edda found herself wondering as to why the King had summoned her to join him here. It was odd provided he'd not acknowledged her since her arrival but now after Ishar had placed his hand on the King's chest the man suddenly required her presence. What did Ishar do to him?
Edda was aware of the numerous Talisi women crowding around the smoldering tent, their eyes on her and her black pants, a choice of attire that was no doubt frowned upon if worn by a woman in Talisi. Edda had tried to persuade Ishar to head West, to where the Remu were, instead he'd journeyed North to this backward Kingdom that carried an unnecessary burden of misguided beliefs. Their beliefs were one of the reasons the Remu far exceeded the Talisi in matters of commerce and education. There can be no progress to rival the Remu as long as the Talisi maintained their tight grasp on outdated traditions.
The Binorians had taken advantage of the Talisi mindset, weaving fear in the hearts and minds of the Talisi by eradicating any belief in the Talisi Kingdom's strength or capabilities. Making the Talisi helpless followers of Binoria. Talisi had been the first to embrace the Binorian Red Priests, adapting their image into the very structure of their Kingdom for fear of what Binoria would do to them if they did not comply. Remu had fought for their culture and lost, eventually succumbing to the same course of action as the Talisi, but at least they'd fought. The Remu knew that chances of victory against Binoria were higher if they combined forces with the Talisi, but knowing the hill huggers these people would most likely go to Binoria and tattle the minute a Remu convoy approached with the suggestion of combining forces. Cowardice ruled Talisi hearts, even the Binorians ridiculed them for it.
"Why did you call us here, King Gans?" Rehny asked after a moment of reflecting on the King's question. Edda did not know whether to trust the Binorian or have her eyes on him at all times. She stood behind him, right where she could see his every movement and could take him out with a Form of Pride when the need arose. Though, she wondered if she'd be able to match him in combat. The Guards stationed around them surveyed Rehny just as much as they did her. He was a force to reckon with, Edda had never seen a man switch Forms so easily. Still, Ishar sort of liked Rehny by the way he acted in Rehny's presence. But is that enough reason to trust the Binorian?
"I called you and Edda here," Edda turned her attention to King Gans at the mention of her name, "because I want both of your opinion."
"I don't know why these people are dead, it looks like there was a skirmish here." Rehny said while surveying a charred body that had a knife sticking out of its torso. "A skirmish and a fire." Rehny turned his head to King Gans, looking down on the shorter man who had his silver adorned hands clasped behind his back. "I did not play a role in this."
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King Gans turned his head to Edda, causing Rehny to turn around and look at her too. "Your internal disputes hold no interest to the Remu, whatever happened here is as a result of your people's own hand." Edda did not hide the malice in her voice. The Talisi were not going to implicate her in their nonsense.
King Gans nodded and to her surprise he let out a laugh, causing all attention to turn to him. "I never really liked the Red priests, to be honest, they were a massive pain in the arse. A bunch of attention seeking bigots!" The King kicked at a sprawled body before him that had a knife sticking out of its back, his action caused gasps of alarm from all those watching. Gans turned to Rehny. "The opinion I wanted from the both of you concerns the approaching King Vayin Vigon."
Rehny nodded. "He is coming for Ishar."
"That is why I pulled you both away from the tent where he lay, to discuss this in Ishar's absence." King Gans said.
"We cannot allow Vayin to have him." Edda said, causing Gans to turn to her. She was aware of the fact that the Talisi cannot attempt to meet the Binorians in combat. Not solely because of their cowardice but also because the Hundred Legions outnumbered the current Talisi congregated army a dozen to one. Fighting would be suicide. "We can depart, Ishar and I, and head straight to Remu where he can be hidden from Vayin."
Rehny nodded, his eyes on the ground as his mind worked. "The boy channels a God, he is the only thing standing in Vayin's way and the only chance the realm has of breaking free of Binoria's limiting cage." Rehny lifted his head to meet Gans's eyes. "Let Ishar leave with Edda. I'll stay behind and when Vayin comes you can hand me over to him, doing so and also claiming not to know where Ishar is might save the Talisi from Binoria's wrath." Edda was shocked at Rehny's words. He would sacrifice himself?
King Gans turned his eyes to something behind Edda, causing her to turn to where the King's daughter and Mairek stood. Tari's eyes were fixed on Mairek, rage and surprise evident within them. The Talisi young man however, had his attention on King Gans. "Your opinion is sound, Gods know I would have taken it into consideration a while ago, but now I feel... Different." King Gans turned his head and motioned for a Guard to come closer. "Gather the Sergeants, Lieutenants and Captains." "Sire?" The Guard asked.
"Gather them and have them meet to the south of the tents. Have the women sharpen every blade and spear head before packing their things, ready to depart at a moment's notice." King Gans said. Edda's heart could be heard from within her chest. Her fingers trembled, she could not believe what she was hearing.
"Father?" Princess Tari asked while approaching. Mairek remained where he stood.
"Tari," King Gans said while turning to his daughter and taking her hand in his. "You'll be allocated a Guard and the fastest steed, come the morrow you will ride for Talisi Central and do not stop riding even when night falls. Go to your brother and tell him to prepare the city, incase we fail a siege is likely to occur. And-"
"Father!" Tari's voice was full of alarm. "What are you planning to do? The Kolotian has bewitched you father! Please, let us go see a healer." Tari tagged at her father's hand but Gans stood in place.
"Ishar has opened my eyes Tari, he has opened my eyes." Gans said and cupped his daughter's face in his hands. Tears streamed down her eyes. "Tell your brother and sister that I love them, tell them I had to do this. Your brother will know what to do, I have spent all my life preparing him for it, I just didn't know it would come to be this soon." "Father.." Tari sobbed.
"King Gans. It's suicide to face Binoria in combat." Rehny said. Gans turned his head to him and smiled. There was a crazy look to his narrow eyes that reminded Edda of Ishar. Gods! What have you done Ishar?
"But a moment ago you were willing to give your life away, Rehny, for our survival. Allow me to do the same, but for a more mundane reason." King Gans replied.
King Gans turned to the still present Guard, his hands falling from his daughter's oval face. "Bring me my twin axes and raise the black banner. Talisi goes to war." At his words Edda realized that she might not have had an accurate assessment of the Talisi after all.