The preparation has started. All we need to do is to bring these men to Kehina. Goodbye, Haganalopolis! For now. We leave at dawn. The time is strange for our departure, says the Admiral who is the secretary of my aunt Ç (Se-di-la or Se-dil-ya) - he is Quejaxo (Ke-ha-ho). I am going to save the crying for later since I have some work to attend to. I am sorry to my mom, to my aunt, and especially to my son. For departing so early, despite getting myself home. If ever this war might end soon, I am planning to hold a vacation for a year or so. Lady Wellicia, I beseech you. Please hear our cries and the wailings of the fallen. Kehina has been compromised for the past several months now. Gladly, the situation is going on our side for now. Allies all over the world are expecting that their sacrifice and relief offers won't go wasted. Glory to Kehina! Glory to Haganalopolis!
"Lord Geoff. We are ready as always." in a confident tone, as the admiral ensures.
I bop my head, saying: "Let us sail across the waters. Onwards, Captain! To Kehina!" shout with full of passion and the cry that filled with enthusiasm, as I point towards with my finger to the direction of the destination. Quejaxo smiles at me and says: "Aye, aye, milord!" as he plays along to the rhythm.
The waves of the water are lenient with not so much swaying as the gust of the wind feels tranquil. This is not always that I am away from Kehina and the queen. The boys will be fine but considering not for the ⅕ (a fifth) or that crazy man in precise description - our Augur of Kehina. Lord Gervðas is the one who worries the queen the most. He ventures towards the realm of the uncharted lands (terra incognita) without fearing for his life. The man has balls of steel, I admit it. Barely, no clothes and no money to set out for a journey. His bravery and his dedication is admirable, no questions when talking about his masculinity because he proved it all along during his tenure of being absent in the council of inner circle. In view of the fact that sometimes, being brave or having a valor of gaiety is not measurable when the lad is lying on the ground and not breathing. Lord Gervðas’ notion of gallantry differs from what the common minds would interpret. He is a staunch pacifist. An act of reprisal is out of his league. Out of the question, he would not do it. How noble and how kind of him.
“Lord Geoff, look!” as Quejaxo jabs finger from behind, denoting the sun is rising, like we are racing against the rays of light before it touches us.
“Captain,... guten morgen, Admiral Quejaxo!” I call, as to show off my linguistic skills.
“Likewise, Lord Geoff. Good morning!” continuing his smiles, as he responds with courteous reply, as well as Captain Quejaxo hoists his pershing cap in a genuflected manner.
I’m traveling by the sea; the waves are lapping, and the sun is shining where we are about to get chased by its rays. Of course, I am with the crew of the captain - our military attache who will be helping us to repel the intermittent onslaught of the Inglovian Armada. Once again, he is Admiral Quejaxo. It’s a calm day, the perfect day for sailing as we have already drifted at the earliest hour of the morning. All I can hear is the gentle sound of my ship cutting through the tranquil and serene waters. The waves are non-existent. True to the part of having to crank it up before another conference will be held without my presence.
The sky is a brilliant blue, dotted with white puffy clouds and across all of the nimbus present in the heavens that glide past me. The water in the sky is the same as the water beneath us. It astonishes me how placate these vast areas of ocean with no any interruption. Me and the boys of Haganalopolis. Yes thanks, Haganalopolians! Your efforts will not be squandered, aunt Ç. Every now and then, I spot a seagull or two. I presume a different kind of bird but well, they are soaring in the air. Gliding. And, cruising. The horizon stretches out in front of me endlessly, making me feel so small in comparison.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
I bask in the gentle wind, feeling a cool breeze to my face as the pilot of this ship steers to the starboard side towards home. Kehina is slightly to the north of the direction. No monsters lurk beneath the surface. Kraken, Hydra, or even Leviathan seem to have a hibernation period since it is just past spring time. Most of the monsters of the seas are not so dormant in these places or these regions of these waters. Nor are there any pirates to harry our way towards Kehina. Or other sea traffic nearby to worry about. The ‘Inglovian Sea Reconnaissance Team’ seems to have a lot of work to do aside from stopping us and arresting the likes of us. Just me and the boys and our trusty vessels gliding along towards the destination. Home. Kehina. With men of ten thousand (10,000) strong and boats of a hundred (100) galleys, this support helps enough. The journey has been long and arduous but we are almost there now. After three days in the sea, whereas I could not care less since we are traversing with no opposition - raiders, monsters, and even the Inglovians themselves. They are not here! The shore from a distance is of a familiar landscape…
“Lord Geoff!” as I get out of my cabin, heeding to the call of the captain.
“Where are we?” as I vouch, asking.
Alas, Kehina, it is. I am excited to deliver the news of my success to Lady Anda! Nevertheless, something ensues me to halt at my endeavors. I am at the royal villa where there is a commotion going in the midst of the hall. Quejaxo follows me through leaving the ships at the hands of his crew. To usher Quejaxo’s presence, I let my cortèges escort him towards the royal toll thorough on behalf of my name and of my stamp. What I encounter is a mangled and undistinguished man hanging around the arms of Lord Ameniah.
“Lord Ameniah, who is that lad on your shoulders?” curious, as I ask with candor.
“Oh, this? Him? You may regret it when you hear the name.” Lord Ameniah replies, as he is trying to be as cryptic as possible.
I insist, yet again; I inquire: “... is he some sort of estranged hermit or something or wh-...“ in a rather polite way of speaking.
“It is the Augur himself. It is Lord Gervðas. The religious chaplain of Kehina. The redeemer of the faith of 'Hrililal'.” as he interrupts me while I was rambling during the conversation.
I detect the presence of Lord Guan whom he bothers approaching towards us. Before Lord Guan adds himself to the mix, Lord Ameniah alongside with the Augur - Lord Gervðas, dismisses themselves to treat the wounds. To be honest, I am shocked at myself and simultaneously, not at all. It is for the reason that he’s been risking his life to propagandize the masses of a different society, religion, social stature and the likes of those at his peril. He learned the hard way but I would assume he is that headstrong to reckon my words upon me. Thus, it is futile to reason about something one’s is not crucial to one's ear.
"Your esteemed lords of Kehina. I am Quejaxo (Ke-ha-ho). I will be assisting in your upcoming wars against the juggernaut of Inglovia." Yes! This guy who’s been following me all along; generating such attention that can not be unnoticed, he bows and after that, he delivers a genuflection with both knees on the pavement, to concur his action (we also do the same).
"... hello, good evening! My name is Guan. Drop the formalities- you may include the title 'Lord' or whatnot. As long as you are comfortable, what salutations you refer to me is according to your discretion." Lord Guan states, as he seems anxious as it looks, I can’t blame the man.
After the man (Lord Guan) is playing unpretentious, we (Lord Aisla and I) intervene to uplift his name and to expose his recent exploit for the military ambassador to recognize. Quejaxo reciprocates the sentiment by implying: "Lord Guan of the Kehina. You have your command over me. Please accept my submission." as lofty as he deems to look at it. Meanwhile, the queen demands our audiences: Lord Aisla, Lord Ameniah, Lord Guan, Lord Gervðas and myself.
"Gentlemen, I have news to speak about." says the chieftess of Kehina, bringing eerie sensation to it upon speaking those words.