Khezar Khaganate part 1

Days had passed since the incident. The trio continued forward and came close to a river. On its border were local riders, but none of them were soldiers. Their kevahs were roaming almost freely on the grass while they themselves were fishing. An elderly man with his, most likely grandchild.

The trio approached the river cautiously, observing the peaceful scene before them. The elderly man and the child looked up as Liana, Pema, and Gwon came into view. The man smiled kindly, his eyes crinkling with wrinkles.

"Good day, travelers," he greeted them. "Are you in need of assistance?"

Liana nodded gratefully. "We seek shelter and information. We came across a village that was destroyed, and we wish to know what happened."

The old man's face darkened, his smile fading. "Ah, yes. That village was attacked by the Khelians. They've been causing chaos in these lands, pillaging and terrorizing the people."

"You seem awfully calm?" Liana wondered.

"The old man scoffed. We are on Khezar tribe lands. They would not dare to attack," he said.

"Khezar? Are they a strong tribe?" Liana asked.

"Follow this river and in two days you will arrive in a city known as Atil. Let that answer your question," he said.

~~

The trio traveled along the riverbank, following the old man's directions toward the city of Atil. As they journeyed, they marveled at the beautiful landscape that surrounded them. The river flowed steadily, its calm waters reflecting the vibrant colors of the sky above. The air was crisp, carrying with it the scent of wildflowers and the gentle rustling of the grass.

One day, when Pema was meditating on enhancing his own divinity, techniques learned from his older brother, he spotted a flower. A flower among flowers, but one that did not have any of its kind nearby. A unique one in the field of unique flowers.

He picked it up, took out a piece of paper and placed it on it, and folded the paper. Soon they then continued their journey.

Along the way, they encountered a group of local riders fishing by the river. The riders, mounted on their kevahs, glanced at the newcomers with curiosity but did not seem alarmed.

"Hello there," Liana called out, her voice friendly. "We're travelers in search of shelter and information. Can you point us in the direction of Atil?"

One of the riders, a middle-aged man with a weathered face, looked up from his fishing rod and nodded in acknowledgment. "Atil lies just up the river, a couple of days' journey from here. You're on the right path."

Gwon sniffed the air, catching a whiff of freshly caught fish. "Mind sharing some of your catch with us? We're famished."

The riders exchanged glances, and the man chuckled. "So are many, but we are willing to trade them for something in return."

They knew they had nothing, but Pema then took out the flower he had seen earlier. It was dried up, not looking anywhere near as bright as it was when it was plucked.

"Where did you find that?" the rider asked.

"The field...." he said stoically.

The riders all looked at each other.

"We will give you something better than a fish," they said.

~~

The riders took the trio on their steeds and started to ride fast to the city.

The wind whipped through their hair as they galloped towards the city of Atil. The riders led them through a series of winding paths, their kevahs expertly maneuvering through the terrain. As they approached the city's outskirts, the towering walls and majestic gates came into view.

"Atil, the jewel of the Khazars," one of the riders proclaimed proudly. "Prepare to be amazed."

The gates swung open, revealing a bustling city that seemed to rise from the pages of a fantastical tale. Atil's streets were teeming with life, filled with people of diverse backgrounds and vibrant market stalls. The air was alive with the sound of merchants haggling, craftsmen showcasing their wares, and the laughter of children playing in the alleys.

The wind whipped through their hair as they galloped towards the city of Atil. The riders led them through a series of winding paths, their kevahs expertly maneuvering through the terrain. As they approached the city's outskirts, the towering walls and majestic gates came into view.

"Atil, the jewel of the Khezars and all of the western steppes," one of the riders proclaimed proudly. "Prepare to be amazed."

The gates swung open, revealing a bustling city that seemed to rise from the pages of a fantastical tale. Atil's streets were teeming with life, filled with people of diverse backgrounds and vibrant market stalls. The air was alive with the sound of merchants haggling, craftsmen showcasing their wares, and the laughter of children playing in the alleys.

The city was located where the mighty river flowed to the greorian sea, which was a lake, located in the center of the continent on the sassan world. Vessels from Parsana, and Greoria filled its harbor, but also a large area was designated for small gravity ships to dock. A truly multicultural city of the steppes.

The riders passed the city and were riding toward a wooden palace, built into the center of the city, taking the trio there.

"Where are you taking us," Liana asked.

"To the khagan of the Khezars," the rider said.

They entered the immense hall of the khagan, which was filled with treasure, taken not from raids, but from trade. The Khagan sat next to her queen, who seemed displeased and unsatisfied.

The rider that had escorted them quickly walked to the khagan and whispered in his ear, "They have found a daisy of paroxysm..."

The Khagan's eyes widened with intrigue as he listened to the rider's words. He turned his gaze toward Liana, Pema, and Gwon, his expression a mix of curiosity and skepticism. The queen, on the other hand, rolled her eyes and leaned back on her ornate throne.

"Bring them forward," the Khagan commanded, his voice carrying authority.

Liana, Pema, and Gwon approached the khagan, their steps filled with a mixture of anticipation and wariness. The khagan's eyes locked onto the dried daisy that Pema held in his hands.

"You grey-skinned....what people call you?" the khagan asked.

"Grey skin"

"Your people are called grey-skinned?"

"Just grey skin is good," Pema explained.

"Well anyway. You grey skin apparently found a daisy of paroxysm?" the khagan asked, with the queen immediately feeling interested.

Pema showed the dried flower. The entire court looked excited.

"Do you know what you have?" the Khagan asked.

"No,"

"How did you then manage to come by it and know of this,"

"I felt something from it. Felt it was special. The only dull one in a sea of specials," Pema explained.

The Khagan's eyes sparkled with curiosity as he listened to Pema's explanation. The queen leaned forward, her interest piqued by the mention of the "daisy of paroxysm."

"Pema," Liana whispered, concern evident in her voice. "We don't know the true power or significance of this flower. We should be cautious."

Pema nodded, acknowledging Liana's concern, but his curiosity and desire for knowledge drove him to continue. He handed the dried flower to the Khagan, who examined it closely.

"This is indeed a daisy of paroxysm," the Khagan said, his voice filled with excitement. "It has certain properties that uhmmmmm, certain partners would love to have."

"What kind of properties?" Gwon asked, making the Khagan and the entire court feel uncomfortable.

The Khagan looked at Gwon, his expression shifting from excitement to annoyance. "These properties are not for kids to know. Maybe the two kids should wait outside," he replied sharply asking Pema if Liana and Gwon would wait outside.

"They are older than they look. A byproduct of divinity. Their bodies are that of a child, but their minds are mature," Pema said, and then looked at Gwon who was picking his nose," at least one of them..."

The Khagan raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical of Pema's statement. However, he decided to humor them for the time being.

"Very well," the Khagan said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "Let them stay."

"So....you finally got your miracle aphrodisiac and fertility booster," a sassan male said making the queen and Khagan feel embarrassed.

The queen's face flushed with embarrassment, and the Khagan's expression turned sour. The sassan's remark had struck a nerve, hitting a little too close to home. The courtiers exchanged awkward glances, unsure of how to respond.

"I assure you, it has various applications," the Khagan replied, trying to regain his composure. "It is a potent herb with unique properties."

Liana couldn't help but interject, her curiosity getting the better of her. "What exactly does it do? And why is it so valuable to you?"

The Khagan hesitated for a moment, deliberating whether to share the full extent of the daisy's properties. But the spark of curiosity in Liana's eyes convinced him to reveal a portion of the truth.

"The daisy of paroxysm has the ability to heighten certain... senses and intensify pleasurable experiences," the Khagan explained cryptically. "It is sought after by individuals who wish to enhance their romantic encounters and unlock hidden desires."

Gwon burst out laughing, unable to contain himself. "You mean it's an aphrodisiac? A fancy flower that makes people horny?"

The courtiers gasped in shock at Gwon's brazen words, while the queen's face turned a shade of red deeper than the sunsets on the steppes.

"We need mainly for our country, as you see we..." the khagan was saying.

"The queen is barren as the Gedroasian desert," the same sassan who blurted out the properties of the flower before yelled once more the entire picture.

The court fell into an uncomfortable silence, with everyone's eyes darting between the sassan and the embarrassed queen. The Khagan's expression turned from annoyance to frustration.

"Enough!" the Khagan shouted, his voice echoing through the grand hall. "You dare speak of such matters in front of the court? Leave at once!"

The sassan bowed his head, a smug grin still lingering on his face, and swiftly exited the hall. The tension in the room began to dissipate, and the courtiers returned their attention to the Khagan and his guests.

"I apologize for his impertinence," the Khagan said, his voice tinged with annoyance. "Please, let us continue our discussion in a more appropriate manner. Let us discuss more about this in the evening at dinner. You are now our guests"