Traveler of the Void
Epilogue - Falcon Flying Through the Void
Each of the Island Guardians received the Three-Day Judgment. They were imprisoned for the entire length of their sentence and new Island Guardians were chosen from among their sons and siblings. The King said to these new Island Guardians, “You must swear loyalty to the nation of Sangal, and that you will never engage in traitorous relations with other nations. Swear this, and there is a chance that after the war the imprisoned ex-Island Guardians will receive some compassion.” Thus, their brothers and fathers were held as hostages to ensure their loyalty.
As for the King of Sangal's foreign guests, those that had observed the assassination attempt on Prince Karnan in the banquet hall censured the King harshly. New Yogo, Kanbal and Rota were the only nations that knew the whole truth of what had happened. The guests of other nations were further angered by the fact that representatives of New Yogo, Kanbal and Rota had concealed weapons in the banquet hall.
The King of Sangal honestly and forthrightly told all his guests that the actions of his allies had managed to save Sangal from Talsh invasion. So much was clear from looking at the casualties: New Yogo and Rota had each lost men in Sangal's defense, and many of Sangal's guards and soldiers at the palace had died.
Sangal had the role of defending the northern continent against the south. Consequently, it had been the first to face the threat of a Talsh attack. The King used every means at his disposal to convince the nations of the northern continent to support Sangal as much as possible to fend off the invasion of their own nations by the Talsh empire. The Sangal navy gathered in the harbor and goods were shipped to the capital in large quantities to prepare Sangal for war. The southern sky was as blue as it always had been, but people looked at it with growing unease. The threat of the huge empire to the south spread fear over Sangal.
Tarsan wasn't able to see Chagum off—instead, Chagum said goodbye to him before he set out with the navy for his first battle. Tarsan was set to board a ship the morning before Chagum returned to New Yogo. Before he left, one last feast was held for Sangal's foreign guests. Tarsan presided over the farewell ceremonies.
First, Tarsan relayed the King's orders regarding the steps Sangal would be taking to secure the kingdom. In the wide open space, Tarsan's voice carried as well as his father's did. He declared the truth of the Talsh plot with the strength and conviction of his own life behind it. His posture was stiff from the rigor required for the ceremony. The pose made him appear even taller and stronger than usual.
As musicians played on shaguram flutes, Tarsan offered each of the King's guests a personal farewell. When Tarsan stepped in front of Chagum, he was briefly overcome with emotion and bowed deeply. “Crown Prince Chagum. I will never forget what you have done for us.”
Chagum looked at Tarsan from behind his face covering and offered him equal thanks. Tarsan's polished armor gleamed, reflecting the lights in the hall. Suddenly, the reality of Tarsan being sent to war hit home for Chagum. He might never see Tarsan again. He was the first friend of his own age that Chagum had ever made, and this was goodbye. Was Tarsan scared? What did he think of going to war and attacking people, and being attacked in turn?
Tarsan held his head high, his eyes shining with strength and pride.
“I pray for your success in battle, Prince Tarsan,” Chagum said. “I will never forget you.”
Tarsan grinned widely at him. He leaned in a bit closer and whispered, “Your Majesty, I need to apologize. The first time we met, I got angry because of that face cloth that you wear. Hiding behind it so that people couldn't look at you directly seemed a little...well, to tell you the truth, I still don't like it. I can't see your eyes.” Tarsan smiled warmly. “I guess I'll have to win this war quickly so I can see your face again.”
Tarsan bowed once more, then moved away to bid the other guests farewell. Chagum watched him go, his face flushed from the heat and having his head covered. He felt the distance between them growing. He missed Tarsan already.
I hate the face covering, too. I've always hated it.
But he and Tarsan were princes. Chagum wondered if Tarsan understood the face covering in that context—as something duty demanded. He watched Tarsan lead a long line of proud, strong soldiers out of the hall. If Chagum was ever in the same position, he was sure he wouldn't feel pride or strength, but pain. It would hurt, leading men off to die.
Light rain fell steadily on the roof at dawn. Surina was at Rakora's, boning and gutting the small fish she'd caught while listening to the rain. Eshana was still asleep. She'd been greatly weakened by her weeks spent as the Eyes of the Nayugul Raita. Her fever still hadn't gone down. As soon as she recovered, Surina intended to take her home to her mother.
She also had to consider what she would do after getting back to Kalsh. She wanted to see her family again, but if she headed to the islands where the Talsh kept their slaves now, there was a high possibility that she'd get mixed up in the war between Talsh and Sangal.
I kept my promise. I'm sure Dogol did, too. My family is safe on those islands. I'm sure of it. Surina did her best to encourage herself as she continued preparing the fish. She wanted to return to Kalsh soon. If she had her way, she'd never go near Sangal's royal palace again.
Whenever she remembered what Princess Saluna had told her on the morning she'd woken up in the stone cell with Eshana, a shudder went through her whole body. She didn't understand why anyone would want to poison her and Eshana. They had nearly been crushed between the royal family's fingers like wharf roaches crawling along the hull of a ship. It was a bitter experience, one she wouldn't forget. She wanted nothing further to do with the palace.
The wind blew over the sea up to the boundless sky. She missed the sound of the waves lapping against her small ship. She'd return to Kalsh very soon. Eshana's mother would probably weep for joy when she saw her again. The King had also granted Surina a large monetary reward, so she could bring the islanders many strange and wonderful gifts from the capital. Everyone would be happy to see them. When she thought about that, her heavy heart got a little lighter.
Chagum and Shuga prepared for their departure while listening to the drizzling rain.
“The rain just won't stop,” Saluna grumbled as she watched Chagum board the oxcart.
“I'm sure we'll see each other again,” Chagum said.
Saluna gave him a lonely smile, then nodded.
Chagum's cart traveled slowly, step by slow step, away from Sangal's royal palace. The cart stopped at Sangal Hasai, the Hill of the Full Moon, for a short rest, just as it had before they'd arrived at the palace. It was just about noon when the oxcart halted.
As Chagum stood high up on the hill, the rain stopped. Chagum could scarcely believe that only twelve days had passed since he'd last stood in this place. He felt Shuga's presence behind him and looked down at the thin clouds reflected on the surface of the ocean. The clouds drifted slowly overhead. The light of the sun was dim, but far away along the curve of the horizon, golden light was barely visible.
It was silent all around, like the silence before a great and terrible storm. The continent to the south was no longer just a passage in a history book to Chagum. He wondered what form the Talsh invasion would take and what he would do when it came. Buffeted on the advancing waves, his heart longing for the light on the horizon, constantly chasing it...
He heard the whistling call of a bird. A falcon glided over the ocean, between the sea and the sky.
“Shuga.”
“Yes?”
“I'm kind of dangerous as a Crown Prince, aren't I?”
Shuga's eyebrows rose. He frowned as if he were trying to figure out what Chagum meant.
“Sometimes, I can't be held back,” Chagum said. “Being a godlike prince of New Yogo is like that. Unrestricted. Unrestrained.”
Shuga offered him a pained smile. “I suppose you're right.”
Chagum didn't turn to look at him. He kept his gaze fixed on the sea and the bird flying above it. “When I was falling to my death with Eshana, you didn't let go of my hand. You've given me something far more than loyalty or duty. Thank you.”
Shuga blinked and said nothing.
“Forgive me, Shuga. I'm dangerous, so I might destroy you one day without meaning to. I might try to drag you down with me. If you ever feel that happening, I want you to let go. I don't want you to hate or resent me, and I don't want you to die. Live. Find some other way to help the country.”
“Your Majesty...”
The falcon flew farther and farther away until it was a speck on the horizon. Chagum tracked it with his eyes. “I intend to keep being dangerous. Like a falcon flying through the void between the sea and the sky, connected to both of them but influenced by neither. I'll do nothing but fly. I want to make a country where soldiers' lives aren't sacrificed like pawns in a game, and where I can talk to my people without the need to hide my face from them. Do you think that's just a dream? Even if it is, I'll fly with it. I'll keep it in my heart.”
Chagum turned to face Shuga. “I don't think your genius is limited only to star reading and matters of government. When you see the other world, keep looking at it. Experience the new perspective and don't close your eyes to it. Never blind yourself to the other world.”
A single tear fell down Shuga's cheek.
Above their heads, the clouds parted, bathing their shoulders in bright light. It was a light from the southern countries, clear and strong and golden.
This is the end of Traveler of the Void. The story continues in Guardian of the God - God's Appearance.
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