At the same moment the Palansetna priests, the personal servants of Setna, were preparing for their difficult task in Tena-lo-Ghan. They were gathered in the prince's house, where they had also spent the night, in the faint hope that the prince's condition might change after all. Of course, he hadn't changed. And now they waited for the one who would accomplish what they all feared. He was the volunteer. The only one of all those involved who could count himself lucky in a clear conscience to do the right thing for the good of the people.
"I'll do it!" He had said at the meeting of the Board of Governors. He was a very skilled fighter from among the warriors, and his determination was known to all.
But where was he now? Had he changed his mind? The palansetna became restless, morning was already advanced and it was not advisable to wait any longer. The inevitable would only be pushed back further and further, the problem would not be solved.
Finally, the high pr
Then there was nothing left but waiting. Waiting for death.It wasn't long before the volunteer began to groan. At first quietly, but finally he was clearly gasping for breath. His eyes, which no longer seemed to see anything, rolled into their sockets, his Adam's apple jerked violently upwards from below. Some of those present lowered their gaze, it was mainly the priests, for the warriors continued to pay their last respects to the volunteer by looking at him until his last breath.His body began to sag and that was when he slumped onto his side from his upright position. The priest at his side wanted to see him, but the Hyaunset suer quickly raised his hand. It wasn't that far yet.Indeed, gurgling sounds came from all of their ears, and white foam emerged from the volunteer's nose and mouth. An uncontrollable twitch went through him, his hands clawing the mat. He reared one last time and then fell back lifeless on the mat. Then it was quiet.Only now
PrologueFate was watching him, every move he made, he knew that very well. It was just waiting for him to make a mistake so that he could punish him afterwards. Because fate was inherently malicious. Still, he couldn't help it. He had to do it.But actually he was forced to, it wasn't even his own will. Or is it? Raen shook his head, who was still watching in this mess. The war confused people's minds. In war, the good deeds were indistinguishable from the bad.********Roman paced restlessly up and down the door. He nervously chewed his thumbnail. Behind the door his wife Alea was in labor. It was not his first child who was just about to make its way into this world; his wife had given birth to a young daughter two years ago. Roman sat down, but immediately jumped up again. It was earl
“ We should leave here and leave Shari? ”Her eyes filled with tears.Roman nodded again. He didn't like the idea of having to give up his homeland, either, but it was the only way to save the people of the clans north of the Junghal Mountains after the fall of the provinces in the south. If the enemies took the pass over the mountains and advanced into the central land, the river would be a difficult obstacle to overcome."It must be. Pray to Hyaun that we can return soon. ”-“ That we will return at all, ”he added in his mind, but managed to smile confidently. He handed the infant to Alea and teasingly stroked her cheek. "You did well." Roman jerked his chin in the direction of the child and Alea beamed proudly. It was a little balm on his tormented soul.After that they were silent for a while, the midwife was also silent and looked worried. Her future was uncertain.Outside the orange sun rose slowly over the snow-covered h
Finally, the seemingly bloodless lips moved: "Are you Hyaun-Banskeid-Roman-Ra-Roido-adh-Chor-Shari - warrior Hyauns, son of Roido from the Shari clan?"Roman blinked. “Yes, I am.”“My name is Solrhan, I am a disciple of the venerable oracle Soghul of Tulga and I bring you a message!” A hand, as transparent as the skin around his bright blue eyes, parted the fine, white material of the cloak and held out a letter to him. It bore the unmistakable, black seal of Tulga. “It is a message that is only meant for you, Banskeid Roman. No one else is allowed to read it or know anything about its content, except you. You know what I'm talking about? ”Roman nodded and held out his hand. The folded paper touched his palm as light as a feather, but his hand began to tremble, heavy as if under a steel load. The thoughts were racing in his head. Why did he of all people get a message from the oracle? He was just a simple warrior, as insignif
When he looked up, the first ice-cold drops of sleet burst into Roman's face, but he barely noticed . His mind whirled like a swarm of angry bees, ready to stab relentlessly. And they did. Raen! His just born son, should he think differently? One who stood against fate? One who broke tradition? The enormity of these words sent a shiver down the scalp and back of Roman, and involuntarily he ducked against the rain as if the drops were blows. Nobody could face fate and challenge it without being punished by it! The oracle must have been wrong. It should! Little did it know that Raen had been born less than a Ka-hour ago today.Or is it? Oracles know more than ordinary people. They speak to the gods, are in possession of truthfulness. Every fiber in Roman resisted what his fingers were holding. He looked at the prophecy. Although the paper was already wet, the ink remained legible. An oracle was always right. This realization shocked him more than the fear of war. It would turn
When King Katthike saw the pool of blood around the dead prisoner, he began to rage. He knocked down the guard next to him with a single brutal blow. His legendary anger was unleashed before those around him had managed to get to safety. Excited, he ran in a circle around the body of Hy, lying on the ground, limping badly. His stocky muscular figure sent out hot waves of anger and everyone present crouched in fear when he came near them.“To hell with you all! How did that happen? ”He roared into the silence of the dungeon room, and his powerful voice echoed off the walls."Am I just surrounded by useless and miserably stupid idiots?" He came to a stop in front of the second soldier and stared at him with his ice-blue eyes. The soldier immediately lowered his gaze and stammered: "Your Majesty, e-he ... somehow he overpowered the guard and h-stabbed himself with his knife!"The king grimaced and bared his teeth as if wanted like a wolf at his opponent
"Listen to me all!" Katthike's irritated voice blared across the square. “And I mean, really good! My precious prisoner from Hy is dead. He took his own life because one of you helped him. One of you is a traitor! ”He paused to let what was said take effect. Then he continued:“ If the traitor reveals himself, or the one who knows something about it gives me his name, then I'll spare him Rest of you. I don't care what you do, if I don't get the traitor I'll have you all executed! Out there, ”he pointed over the wall,“ enough willing people are waiting to take your places! ”A horrified murmur made the rounds and the fear now emerged openly. But nobody moved. Everyone eyed their neighbor suspiciously. Who was the traitor who cowardly hid himself between them and wanted to drag them all with him into the abyss?"Well, I hear?" Katthike drew his sword, which blinked ominously in the dull light of the winter morning. Another groan went th
After he had calmed down a bit, King Katthike sat brooding in his library, which was crammed with a seemingly confused mixture of books and maps from different corners of the continent. But everything was in its exact order, and for Katthike the books were what he simply called the source of knowledge. They were a window into the head of the other peoples and that is why he went to great lengths to have many of the works he had acquired translated into Askharic. He looked at the rows of spines. Some were unadorned, but some were also embossed or even adorned with golden patterns. He inhaled the smell of parchment and dust. It was here in this inspiring place that he forged his plans and planned his cruelties; Here, many years ago, he had the ambitious idea of creating a memorial for himself, which would raise him above all previous kings of Askhar and make him immortal. His insatiable hunger for power and recognition has long been limited to that of his descendants as well as to his