The Fading Waters
Tarron
Castle Kontar
Eseran Province, Goshalion
Standing at the highest balcony at Castle Kontar, Jesah Kontar watched Bura troops march into formation with growing pride. The first time he amassed an army, he only had one hundred thousand soldiers. They were well trained, but not enough to rule a wild landscape like Goshalion.
Now, twenty years later, the Bura clan had five times more soldiers. He had troops sent out around the realm. His initial one hundred thousand soldiers now tripled to almost five hundred soldiers. Bura troops policed the realm, helped him manage dissent, and procured resources to grow their Bura cities in Eseran.
The Council of Seven called him a tyrant behind his back but he never allowed their negativity to impact his goals. It was defeatist to think of the Council of Seven’s thoughts. The members of the council were lost in an ideology born in the ancient past. Surely, if they all decided to live in the past, the future would only crumble.
Shaking his head, Jesah clasped his hands behind his back and studied the young Bura men and women who were now joining the ranks of his forces.
His gaze lingered on Lazuli Kontar, his cousin’s only son and the rightful heir to Castle Kontar.
Jesah had no children, nor had he married, so he too viewed Lazuli as the heir to the castle. The boy was twenty-four this year. He should have already joined the ranks of the army, but he was lazy. He was graduating from the Bura Academy late. Shaking his head, Jesah wondered if Lazuli would be able to shoulder the weight of the future.
He was mulling over the burden of training Lazuli when a tall, well-built boy walked out from the castle. Back straight, braided hair held high in a tight ponytail. He walked with so much confidence, that the recruits all straightened up at the sight of him.
Jesah watched as the boy walked to where Lazuli was in the first row. He saluted Lazuli before he continued two rows back and stood at the head of the second row of recruits.
Jesah’s gaze stayed on the boy, a burning fire growing inside him. It always did when he looked at Tarron Leodi.
Tarron was adopted by his cousin under secretive circumstances. It was before his cousin grew too sick to take care of Bura matters in Eseran. Before Jesah moved into Castle Kontar as the new Lord Kontar. The secret of Tarron’s true origin was also hidden from Anath, his cousin’s wife, and his lover.
Jesah bit back a sigh.
Tarron intrigued him because Tarron’s brain was sharp and intelligent, and his reflexes made him a perfect general-status warrior. His eyes had the red ring of the Bura, but there were moments when Tarron’s eyes appeared gold.
In the right light, Jesah mused.
Those days, he suspected Tarron was not Bura at all, but it could be his paranoia.
Shaking his head, he mourned the fact that Tarron was not older than Lazuli. The young man had turned twenty-three two moon cycles ago. There was no way to make him the next Lord Kontar.
Jesah hoped more of his soldiers were like Tarron. He wanted to keep Tarron in the castle, but the boy had ranked second in the final match. He was made the Border Adjutant by the lawful machine he had created and would have to leave Eseran to guard the border at Hodari.
The Border Adjutant’s troop would be made up of fifty strong men, including Tarron’s own best friend, Jax. Two very strong young men Jesah hoped to place next to Lazuli to create stability for Eseran.
“My Lord,” Jesah’s right hand in command said.
“Yes, Riko.”
“The Council of Seven wants a meeting to discuss the receding waters in Goshalion Mountain,” Riko said.
“All they ever want is to meet and complain,” Jesah said, shaking his head. “They place the blame for the fading rivers on me, but I have done nothing to Asha. She is still in the mountains. They should ask her people why the waters have refused to flow as they did twenty years ago.”
Riko kept his silence.
Jesah glanced at his right-hand man and bit back a smile at the nervous look on Riko’s face. No one wanted to give him an opinion on the former Queen Asha.
After all, they now kept her in a gilded cage inside Kezana House. They dragged her out every six months to pour her blood on the Goshalion Mountain rock near the Azure Fountain. The water came but not as forceful as it did when she was queen. There was no way to solve the matter of the fading waters.
Jesah could not make Goshalion Mountain give.
“What about the pipeline’s progress?” Jesah asked his gaze on the young men responding to their commanding general as they prepared to take up their new positions.
“We have managed to bring in water from the ocean using the pipelines installed in our beaches,” Riko said. “The pipeline has reached our processing facility, but we have not managed to figure out how to send it out to the rest of the realm.”
“Why?” Jesah asked.
“The Council of Seven has refused all our ideas. They prefer to live without water than take any from us. I doubt they will let us install the pipelines in their provinces.”
“Okay.” Jesah scoffed. “Yet they are quick to call meetings in Goshalion Mountain to ask about receding waters.”
“They believe the ocean waters are not as delicious as the water from the mountain,” Riko said. “I’m guessing they are afraid of what we may put in the water.”
“Stupid beggars,” Jesah cursed under his breath. “Well, if they want to die of thirst for the rest of their lives, so be it. Instead of building pipelines in the clan provinces, build water stations at each border point with Eseran. Sell the water we process from there. Let’s see how long they can hold out without a water source. The Goshalion Mountain waters are not going to increase overnight. They might even disappear, then they will all be asking us how to process their water.
“Except the Gare in Aemolas,” Riko reminded him. “They have a freshwater lake where they fish.”
“Yes, Aemolas has managed to provide its people with water, but they are not able to supply anyone else,” Jesah said with a smirk. “Which could make them pariahs in due time. This is a positive for us. The Chief of Aemolas may support our plan to provide processed water sources on the borders if we push him. Remind him that he cannot afford to feed everyone.”
“I’ll prepare the note,” Riko said and started to turn away.
“And Riko,” Jesah said.
Riko paused to look at him.
“Can you ask Tarron to see me before he leaves the castle grounds?” Jesah asked.
“Yes, Lord Kontar,” Riko said. “What about the Council of Seven?”
“I’ll comply with their unreasonable summon,” Jesah said. “Make sure Lazuli’s troop comes with me. He can help drag Asha out of her cage. It’s time for him to get his hands dirty too. We’ll make Asha explain the fading waters to the Council of Seven.”
“I will plan for it,” Riko said and hurried away.
Jesah returned his gaze to Tarron still standing with his fellow soldiers listening to the commanding general call out orders. He narrowed his gaze at the boy.
He had tried more than once to discern Tarron’s thoughts, but he always read compliance in the younger man’s demeanor. He had never discovered rebellion in Tarron, no sense of dissonance. Tarron always looked like the perfect Bura soldier. He followed his orders with perfect discipline. There were never any reports of disrespect from his superiors.
The only real break into Tarron’s personality shield was that he spent too much of his spare time with Professor Daae.
Daae had the same solid wall of compliance.
Jesah could never read where Daae’s loyalties truly lived. Daae was a full-blown member of the Bura Clan, his roots were deep, so Jesah could only assume the man would never betray his own people.
Wiping a hand down his face, Jesah let out a sigh as his gaze shifted back to Lazuli. It was good that his nephew was so easy to read. Lazuli was one of those children with a one-track mind. If you told him this was the path, he would follow it without question, and even recruit others to join in the path.
That was the right man to place in Castle Kontar. The Bura could never lose their dominance after all the fighting he had done to claim it.
The commander released the recruits below and turned to salute Jesah. Jesah brought his hand up to acknowledge the salute and watched as the newly graduated soldiers broke formation.
Shelving his thoughts about Tarron, Jesah turned away from the balcony and returned to his main office ready to deal with the Council of Seven.
****
Tarron felt ice coat his veins when Master Riko came looking for him, claiming that Lord Jesah wanted to see him. He had an hour before he could step out of this gilded cage he had grown up in for twenty-three years. He could not allow himself to crack. His freedom was so close, that he could not allow his true self to crack through yet.
Their family dinner last night was hard enough.
Lazuli spent three solid hours bragging about their final fight. Jesah and Anath ate up his victory story like it was a sweet dessert, while Tarron grinned and fake-smiled through all of Lazuli’s jokes. Shaking his head, Tarron hoped he had not made a mistake that would warrant a delay in the castle.
Biting his bottom lip as he followed Master Riko up the expansive stairs to Lord Jessah’s office, Tarron checked his uniform and made sure he had no faults. The dark coat fit him to perfection. The pins of his merits on his shoulders were placed right, and the one bar at his wrists was in place. His boots were shined to perfection, and his braids were held in a neat ponytail.
It was the one thing he had refused to hide. He liked his hair longer than others. He had no idea why, but it felt right to wear his hair long and in thick braids. So, he was meticulous about keeping them neat so that he would not face any faults from his commanding officers.
Tarron paused outside the lord’s office when Riko opened the door. He took in a deep calming breath, and Riko smiled when he noticed the little movement.
“Relax,” Riko said with a small nod. “Your Lord Uncle only wants to give you some words before you head out into the world.”
Tarron nodded in thanks at Riko’s encouraging words. He had yet to see Jesah give positive reinforcement to any soldier. Unless he was speaking to Lazuli. That was the only person who could get a positive word from Lord Jesah.
Rolling his shoulders, Tarron walked into the inner office and found Lord Jesah sitting behind his hideous metallic desk. The desk was forged with intricate metal dug out of the rarest mines in the harshest Bura valley. The desk was created and dragged into the lord’s office the moment the old lord Kontar was too sick to take on his duties.
Lord Jesah insisted on adapting the décor from the engineering department, using schematics of engines created by the Bura on the walls, and gears intricately clipped together as art. All that was left was the use of piping as tiling on the floor, Tarron mused.
He would never mention his thoughts to Lord Jesah no matter what. His insolent ideas would likely get him demoted or killed.
“Young Master Tarron,” Lord Jesah said in greeting.
Jesah sat on a high-backed metal chair with a burgundy cushion to make it comfortable. He always looked too muscular and rough to be sitting on the narrow artful chair.
“Lord Kontar,” Tarron said, saluting with a tap of his right on the wood floors and his right hand pressed on his chest.
“I didn’t say it last night as we were celebrating Lazuli becoming Marshal. Congratulations on taking second place in the annual competition. You’re on the way to contributing to the greatness of the Bura clan.”
“Thank you, Sir,” Tarron said.
“You’re now the Border Adjutant. Your task shall not be easy. There is always unrest at the borders, caused by growing water shortages and the suppression of the Airi Clan. There will be dissenters who fight to convert some of our clan members. I’m relying on you to keep things peaceful at the border. Give our clan a great fierce reputation out there. Restore the quiet at the Hodari Clan’s border and report what you see.”
Tarron nodded his head in a formal acknowledgment of the order.
“This subordinate understands, Lord Kontar.”
“I’m glad. I feel relieved to have you working at the border. It makes me feel at ease. I’m sure there will be no problem. Especially as we start to build water points for the different provinces. My engineers will lean on you for support at the Hodari border.”
“I will provide it, Sir,” Tarron said and waited to be dismissed.
“Tarron,” Jesah said, this time using a gentler tone, indicating he was speaking to a family member.
“Yes, Sir,” Tarron said, maintaining his calm attitude.
“We, your aunt and I hope you can gain your military merits. Then, when you’re ready to return to Castle Kontar, you’ll be able to support Lazuli as he takes on the role of Lord Kontar in the future.”
Tarron fought hard not to show his reaction to this simple intention. Master Daae already warned him that Jesah may have this intention. Tarron suspected it was the true reason why Jesah had called him in here.
Jesah wanted him to find a way to return to the castle grounds. The only way to do that was as a fully decorated General. Bura Generals waged war on innocent victims if necessary to become decorated.
Tarron felt his heartbeat quicken, so he let out a soft breath. To calm his mind. The last thing he needed was for his uncle to send him a watcher.
“I will be happy to support the next Lord Kontar, My Lord,” Tarron said, his tone steady and indifferent. “I will claim my merits so I can fulfill your ideas.”
“It certainly is good to hear you say that,” Jesah said with a nod. “I’m proud of you, nephew. I’ll send a chest of gold with you. You’ll need it to ease your way at the borders. Send a courier if you face any problems with the regional officers. I will help you smooth out any trouble.”
A warning, Tarron mused.
Those same regional officers would be happy to report any misconduct Tarron carried out at the border.
“Thank you, for your kindness, Lord Kontar,” Tarron said.
Jesah nodded his approval and lifted his hand to wave him away in dismissal.
“Go, make us proud.”
Tarron saluted and left Lord Kontar’s Office at a steady pace, not wanting to rouse any suspicion. It was the hardest thing not to break out into a full run as he finally had the freedom to leave the castle.
An hour later, Tarron smiled wide as he sat in the back of the Border Adjutant’s black carriage. Black war horses drew the carriage. Tarron was alone, with only the driver at the front. His carriage was followed by five larger carriages carrying ten soldiers each. His border troops were managed by Jaxxan who was in the first of the larger carriages.
The caravan was eye-catching, but Tarron gave it no thought. His heart was filled with excitement at the fact that he would no longer have to live at Castle Kontar.
****
Chapter Five | Table of Contents | Chapter Seven