Chapter 33

Of all the Highlords of the Local, Rehny hated Highlord Cebru the most, something he did not share with Desan. They'd sat in a chamber within the fortress of the Highlord of the North Local. The chamber's floors were entirely covered with various rags formed from the skin of both ancient and rare animals including one made from the skin of a Telinete rhino. Rehny could spot the red carapace that spotted upon the rhino's skin that acted as a center piece to the room. It must have cost a fortune to acquire such a commodity. A Telinete rhino cannot be killed so one had to wait for the creature to die of old age hence why every part of the creature fetched quite a hefty fee.

Highlord Cebru entertained his guests with stories about how close he was to the King. Cebru was seated on a chair made of dark wood and he occasionally punctuated his stories to take a sip of yellow wine which was also a rare delicacy. Rehny and Dahli sat propped upon large cushions on the floor with a cup of water in both their hands. Rehny had declined the offer of wine for he felt the matter to be handled at the Ganidan plain required a clear mind and it appeared the Princess shared the same thought. Desan, however, had an entirely different view.

Desan was perched on a chair similar to Highlord Cebru's with a cup of yellow wine in hand. The young Prince laughed like a fool at all of Cebrus's rather unnecessary stories while slapping at the golden armor adorning his lap. Rehny felt uncomfortable, armor wasn't worn for one to sit on cushions and hear tales. He wanted to take all the metal on him and hurl it at Cebrus's head, it might serve to shut the man up! They were there to stock supplies not to hear about his younger days catching Kolotians with King Vayin and making a fortune off their fingers.

Rehny observed the Highlord's sunken eyes and gleaming yellow teeth as he spoke. Gods he hated them! All of them with their pretentious nonsense, arrogance and sense of superiority. Did they ever consider what the end of the road would be for them? Was there a reckoning that they shall face? Rehny found himself hoping there was payment due for what the Highlords were, for what the whole higher echelon of Binoria was, including himself. Gods he hated everything! If only the Gods had chosen another Kingdom to give the Jojoh Meena to. Maybe things would have been better in the realm.

Rehny took a sip of water. It was all just fantasy to hope for salvation within the cruelty of the realm. The Gods were cruel and they'd chosen a cruel Kingdom to favor. Why else would no God arise to help the other Kingdoms? It was as plain as day, the Gods enjoyed the current state of the realm. "Highlord Cebru, thanks once more for your hospitality." Desan said. Rehny turned his eyes to the Prince. Prick! He thought. "There is something I must disclose to you, concerning my intentions upon the Ganidan plain for I seek your wisdom." Desan said.

What wisdom do you seek from this fool? Rehny thought. You have better luck getting milk from a bull. He turned to observe Dahli who'd maintained an air of calm reserve. Cebru had mostly talked to Desan and the few times he'd tried to indulge Dahli all he'd talked about was his eldest son, praising his stature and his intellect and all but offering the man to Dahli dressed in a wedding tunic complete with red petals sprinkled on him by children with a crown of lilacs fastened to his head.

 "He is currently on a temporary hiatus to the desert to search within himself so as to discover a way to get closer to the Goddess Meena." Cebru had said concerning his son. Taking obvious advantage of Dahli's religious nature to raise his son on a pedestal. Get closer to Meena my arse! Rehny had thought. The guy is most likely in a brothel getting genital rot or in his chamber recovering from it. Dahli had reacted to Cebru by simply smiling at him, the smile did not hide the ferocity of emotions behind it. Dahli was not someone whose intention was to be written off as a bride to be. There was more to her and it surprised Rehny with how few people noticed that.

"Speak to me Prince Desan, you are like a son to me and whatever wisdom you may require I shall willingly offer." Cebru replied. Rehny rolled his eyes.

"As you well know I must approach the Ganidan plain for the gift giving with King Gans." Desan started, Cebru nodded vigorously and Rehny thought the man's head will fall off his neck. "It is my plan to return with the King's head at the end of my sword, as my father did before me only now I shall do so without the Jojoh Meena." Rehny placed his cup down. The Prince had doubts about the actions he was to carry out, Cebru had the ability to dissuade Desan from starting a war that his outnumbered men would surely lose.

Cebru stood up, he took several steps towards Desan and knelt before the younger man on both knees. With his hands he reached down and touched Desan's golden armored boots. "Oh Prince! Oh Lavifan! There is no doubt that you are your father's son, there is no doubt that despite the fact that the Jojoh Meena has yet to pass on, glimpses of it can be seen in you." The Highlord raised his hands to the ceiling. "Meena's blessing is surely upon you, go and do as your heart desires for you shall be successful in all you do. Meena is with you." Desan smiled broadly at Cebrus's words.

"You dumb fuck." Rehny said while standing up and flinging his cup across the room. "How dumb are you Cebru?" Rehny pointed at Desan. "He does not have the Jojoh Meena! His eyes do not flicker red neither does his skill go beyond forms of Rage!" Rehny looked a kneeling Cebru in the eye "Don't fill his head with delusions. If anything is to happen to him upon that plain the King shall know of your words."

Cebru tilted his head back and laughed. His laugh was cackling, a sound oddly familiar to that of a hen or a goose. Rehny balled his gauntleted hand but Dahli's slender gauntleted fingers touched upon his balled fist. She stood beside him and shook her head from side to side, urging Rehny not to give in to his emotions. Rehny turned to look at her, the shape of her eyes, the oval shape of her face and the way she cocked one eyebrow at a laughing Cebru, Gods! She looks just like her mother. Rehny flinched and withdrew his hand from hers. Desan stared daggers at Rehny.

"Commander Rehny, I'm afraid you're the fool here." Cebru said once his laughter died down. He stood up and faced the Commander. "The Talisi are weak and cowardly! They'd rather kill their King themselves than raise a hand against the Lavifan! And even if they dare touch the Prince I am certain they are well aware that they shall be wiped out as the Kolotians were, and it will be a shame if we made a commodity out of their scalps with that naturally lovely white hair of theirs." Rehny's eyes widened, Cebru smiled broadly. It appeared there was more at play.

A moment of silence ensued. "Well then," Desan said while rising. "Thank you for your hospitality Highlord Cebru, by noon we shall arrive at the center of the Ganidan plain and be assured as I pass by here on my return journey you shall be the first Highlord to set your eyes upon the severed head of King Gans."

 Highlord Cebru smiled and hugged Desan fondly and kissed the Prince on the cheek. "You're your father's son." He said.

Desan smiled back and nodded at Cebru, he made his way past Rehny and intentionally bumped his armored shoulder upon Rehny as he passed the Commander. His grey eyes never left Rehny's and the hatred bestowed within them was quite vivid. Something told him that what he'd said concerning Desan he shall pay for later, that his life might be at stake or that his career as Commander might meet an early end. Fucking pick! Rehny thought and turned to follow the Prince. He did not give a fuck what the Prince did to him, they were doomed anyway upon the Ganidan plain if the fool went ahead with his plan.

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