Aaricia and the Noland Army by Richard Shekari (all ebook reader txt) 📕

all unions, may their souls rest in peace.” he turned to the council, “If the one who stands before us is the heir, as she claims, let her show us Azzo’s sword.”
“Yes! Yes!” the men cried.
“Also, we all know that the elders who went to congratulate the new Queen years ago, have witnessed Azzo’s sword hung in her throne room!” Ammakia added.
“Only seven men can identify Azzo’s sword and now, only the great old Griftbear is alive to attest that,” yelled another, “And we know the Queen barely allows him get close enough to see it properly!”
The rest of the council nodded, saying, “Yes!”
“So what are you insinuating, Bouziah?” Ammakia asked.
“All I am saying is, even a blind man could tell the Queen was hiding something on the day of the ceremony!” said Bouziah, “We all know none of us is happy with what the rest of the lands are facing, with all the sufferings and sights of malnourished children. It’s only a matter of time before the Queen lifted her scepter against us!” He emphasized, “Just because our mountains and valleys are green and our cattle, wives and children are living in abundant wealth and peace, doesn’t mean we should turn our backs on our brothers and sisters.” he turned to Griftbear, “We cannot deny that they are our blood, and we are all one. We were one big family. Whatever happened to love? Whatever happened to unity? And if drought befalls upon thy neighbours, should you smile and be glad simply because it hadn’t touched thy roof?” he paused, turned and looked at Aaricia, “I will give my vote to the young woman, not because what she says makes sense, but because it’s the best for the whole of mankind! Queen Assiana’s sword shall soon stretch to our valleys, and maybe we would be deeply asleep to hear the footsteps of her army coming. And maybe then, just maybe, the words of this young woman would bring folly upon the wise. When it is too late!”
“Hold your tongue, Bouziah,” said Ammakia, “Speak for thyself, and not all men!”
“You’re both right,” said old Griftbear, “So, I urge you to raise your hand, if you agree that we release our riders in support of the dethronement of Queen Assiana!”
Only Bouziah raised his hand, the rest of the men turned their faces away. Aaricia was disappointed in her grandfather, wondering why he didn’t raise his hand.
“Well,” said old Griftbear, “All those in favour of keeping to the treaty should raise their hand”  
All the men, exclusive of Bouziah raised their hands, and so did her grandfather.
“Free the men, escort them down to the valleys,” said the old man, “Offer them food and water for their journey!” he limped his way out of the council looking sad.
Aaricia felt let down by what she witnessed. She took a deep breath, bowed and left the assembly in tears of disappointment.


The Feathered Friends

   
Griftbear walked to Aaricia as her men were being moved from their confinement and were provided with bread and water as instructed.
“You turned your back on me, Grapapa!” she cried, “You turned your back on me! You let me down!”
“It is for the good of us all,” he said softly, as he sat on a small rock, “I love your sister as much as I loved you! You are both my own, I cannot choose sides even though her ways appear evil and dark. But here’s something I’ve written, it’s not much but maybe if you lend it your eyes, you might find a better way to approach your sister, without any bloodshed.”
“Then you are on her side,” she said, “She has Azzo’s sword, she has the throne!”
“Says who?” asked the old man as he laughed, “Your father trusted his wife, the Queen, she on the other hand trusted only two people in her life; her father, and the other, her husband’s secret adviser.”
“You chose Assiana over me,” she cried, “You refused to stand by me! You even acted as if you didn’t know me!”
“No! No, little Ricia!” he said, “You know, you are the apple of my eyes as was your mother. You have no idea how these bad tidings weakened my frail heart about your mother, and what happened to the rest of the family. I cannot afford to lose you, again. Stay with us, let your sister rule as long as the world would tolerate her. From the day her soul crossed through the star dust and into this world, I sensed her as a vessel darkness would use to rain terror in the kingdoms. But I was hoping to be proven wrong, I’m still hopeful! Do not worry, her heart would be bitten by its own fang in due time. And then, we would match into Azzodonia and hand you over the very throne that’s rightfully yours.”
“I can’t, I have waited long enough!” she said, “I want the peoples and the lands be free from her wicked chains, if it’ll cost me my own life, then so be it.”
“Such sacrifice is not necessary!” he said, “Just like your mother, compassionate and always motivated by challenge!” he smiled, “Are you going against her over the man she snatched from you or for the sake of the subjects that suffer under her reign?”
Aaricia turned and looked at her grandfather, “You know about…”
“Yes,” he interposed, smiling, tapping the rock as he beckoned her to seat next to him, “When your mother faked your death, she made it appear as though you accidentally let the candles in your bedroom burn to the extend it suffocated you and burnt down your bed while you slept.” he giggled, “The entire kingdom bought it, and the matter was not properly looked into. Well, when she asked Nigel to look after you, he came to me but I told him to take you to a much safer place, away from the oculus of the kingdom.” he snorted, “If you were here with us, the Queen, your sister might have launched an attack on these mountains, because she would fear you would one day fly the gryphons over her castle and seize that which is hers’.”
“She was a wise woman, mother!” said Aaricia.
“Her mother taught her well,” he said, “And I did the best I could as well! The gryphons cried all day when she passed away, even before the news got to us, they could tell!”
“Can I see them before I go?” she asked looking into his eyes.
“Yes!” he nodded, “Why not! But I’m more interested in knowing how you were able to raise these royal subjects of um…handful of an army!”
“They’re not an army,” she said, “They are family now!” she sighed.
“Hmm, I see!” he remarked, “Family indeed!”
“Well, Grapapa, since you’ve asked,” she sighed, “The young one…”
“The young handsome one among them?” he asked, “He likes you, doesn’t he?”
“Yes, the uh…good looking one!” she grimaced, “He found me lying unconscious by the river, months back. Took me to his place and looked after me. Well, these men came one night, burnt down his place and took us hostage!”
“Hmm! Interesting!” said the old man, “And how were you able to transform such foes into allies?”
“Well, Grapapa!” she said, “Let’s say it’s just a girl’s little secret!”
“I see fate in action, little Ricia!” he stood to his feet grunting, “Sometimes the best things come to us in our darkest moments but, because of our condition and situation of things, we hardly notice those great things or even acknowledge their presence!”
“This is no time for love and play, Grapapa,” she said, “I just want to…”
“Take out your sister, the Queen, bring peace to all the lands and maybe sit on that throne alone and basked in your lonesome!” he giggled, “Do not act like a blind man sitting next to fire, don’t say you don’t feel the passion burning from this young man’s heart towards you! He has a good heart and, I think he’d make a good mate for a great and beautiful Queen!” he turned and smiled at her, “Unless if you’d allow your sister to see this one too, and seize him like she did Gerald!”
“You’re right, Grapapa!” she said, “You’re right!”
“Look,” he knelt and plugged a beautiful flower, “This one I just plugged off, will wither, it is cut from its lifeline, cut off its life support, and the rest will continue to grow and blossom.” he sighed, “The heart is like that, Ricia. Assiana might think she took away the only man that had ever loved you, but what she did is, she plugged his heart from its life support! He shall wither and would not experience true love, because he is a flower plugged from the ground and placed in a vase!”
“Grapapa,” said Aaricia, “What do you know about Azzo’s sword?” she smiled, “And why does it matter so much?”
The old man looked at his granddaughter and stretched his old face muscle to smile, “The sword amplifies, strengthens, and obeys the heart of he that wields it, instantly executing the true desires of his heart. The blade shall first set an example with he that handles it, and show that which is bound to come to the kingdom, if such a man reigns over the kingdom!”
“Could you simplify that just a little, Grapapa?” she said as she held him.
“That’s simply put, Ricia!” he replied, “If I am to say it as written in the scrolls, in the Zodan tongue, none a word you can comprehend! The sword was given to your great-great-great grandfather, Azzodo, after he found a man at night who was wounded and left to die. He took the man home and treated his wounds, unknown to him, that man was a being that fell from the stars. So when the man was about to leave, he told Azzodo to ask for anything.” He smiled, “Well, Azzodo begged the man to give him some time to think, and after days of thoughts, he came back and told the man he wished for one thing; a sword that would amplify, strengthen, and obey him. The man agreed, but he warned him also by saying, ‘I thought you’d ask for wealth like all men do, but I can see in your heart, you desire peace for all mankind. I shall grant you one wish and make your seeds and ones to come royal, and they shall rule the lands but know ye also; the sword shall not only amplify, strengthen, and obey the heart of he that wield it, but shall instantly execute the true desires of the man’s heart, by first setting an example with the man, that which is bound to come to the kingdom, under the man’s rule!’”
“So, that’s how the myth about Azzo’s sword came to be?” she asked.
“Myth?” asked the old man, “Hmm! We shall see!”
The old man led Aaricia and her men to an open green land on one side of the mountain. On their arrival, all they could hear was sound of the wind, as it blew and whistled through the meadow.
“Where are they?” she asked excitedly.
“You have Ghourakan blood in you,” said the old man, “Just whistle!”
“Whistle?” she asked.
“Yes, Ricia,” he added, “Just whistle!”
Aaricia began to whistle but only