Chapter 78

The King's Castle. Havila.

"What are the tidings you brought from Poseidon?"

The Emperor's authoritative voice flooded the throne hall. Everyone seated was hit by its wave. Every new time he spoke seemed to canvass another level of the mystery in his voice. Probably it could be owed to another token of black magic. Pretty hard to judge.

He had addressed the question to the brother of Aojen and the third warrior. Both seemed to cherish the implication of their names so much that they wouldn't let it out.

The two were seated opposite each other. The emperor was seated at the edge of the table to the North. Jim and Tzu were opposite too, next to the two warriors respectively. While the remaining seats were occupied by the chiefs.

They were having a royal lunch amidst which the emperor had birthed a wave of discussion.

Aojen's corpse would had been cremated and the ashes sprayed in the sea, but fate always had its mysterious ways.

"Not that of which you do not, Emperor."

Aojen's brother shot. His voice was unusually thick and seasoned. Like twas under the influence of a supernatural figure. Probably stirred by the wiles of the traits Poseidon had deposited in them.

"But won't you have to watch your back? Poseidon wouldn't give up on you."

The emperor made sure to explain, picking the two occasionally with his demanding gaze. His expression spoke louder and clearer than his words.

"Twas because he didn't give up on that stranger that made him get to us."

The third warrior started. You could see struggle splattered on his face. You could tell that he was trying to find the appropriate words to support what he had started with.

The other guy came to his aid. They seem to have each other's back.

"He meant to destroy him."

Aojen's brother was firm and emotionless. Jim decoded what the discourse was about. Twas about their brother, Ja Lia. Like you would guess, he hopped on the discourse.

"He's dead already. What's the point of recruiting you guys? Plus his name ain't 'a stranger'. He's Ja Lia. Or say, Ja."

Jim corrected, meaning to shoot them a glare. If he did succeed with the glare, he might stir unnecessary attention. He tamed the beast snarling in him.

"That's some Chinese name, how'd you ended up in Havila, Rome's county?"

That chief who had been supportive of the Emperor asked.

"It's a historical shit. I see no relevance to this topic."

Jim shot back. He couldn't hide the ogle anymore.

The other chiefs who caught Jim's expression murmured. Those chiefs who had served Aojen and should had been killed were spared by the Emperor. He had argued that, twas their duties; to serve whoever was the new Emperor. Whether the fellow had attained the height by merit or force.

"Yes, he was killed by Aojen. How do you seek him then?"

The emperor joined in. His knowledge was limited at that moment. He didn't have the mat anymore, and consultation without the mat wasn't no cake walk.

"He isn't dead, your highness."

Aojen's brother argued. There was an expression of consent and affirmation seated in the face of the other fellow. The third warrior.

But beyond him, every other person was surprised, including the emperor.

"Beg your pardon! We saw the guards bear him to the sea and dump his corpse there."

That same chief argued. That was the only thing he only seemed to know how to do best.

"Call the guards who bore him there here."

Aojen's brother ordered. One of the guards hurried to him and bowed before the emperor,

"Both of them died during the attack."

The emperor waved the fellow away. He understood what he meant.

"How can you prove this, Aohen."

The Emperor challenged. Aohen, Aojen's twin brother took that as an opportunity to let everything out. And never as a challenge.

"I keep having a nightmare every night. And I keep seeing the same thing. That same stranger, Ja Lia."

He corrected when his face met with Jim's. Aohen continued,

"I see that he's alive. He became a great threat to us all and wiped everyone out. Everyone who saw to his end. And he flourished so greatly. He became a great man owned a great investment. But only one thing I get worried about is that, there's a great raven which bore him about in its huge claws. The Raven drops him at every height. I'm sure Poseidon shows me this, but I do not owe an explanation to it all. Perhaps, your highness has an explanation."

He quit talking. Jim had been wrapped in the awe of the tale. He didn't know what to make of it. How could that be. He didn't know what to feel now. Whether sad that his brother was dead or happy that he was alive.

"Yes, come Ja. Right the wrong."

Jim called instead. Ego in his tone. He was sure that if what Aohen had said was true and Ja came there one day, he would be so supportive of him. And he would take out the Emperor firstly. Then he would return to Ikpala to meet his lover. Both himself and the queen would be equal in status by then.

"If you're not sane, you'll live in a pit till he arrives, if ever he would make it."

The emperor threatened Jim. Jim didn't seem moved by that. He had that long face filtering his rage.

"I knew that that Raven was up to something odd, coming here always. But pending the time, there will be a group search for Ja Lia. He should be dug out of wherever he is hiding. Whether under the sea or anywhere. And whoever finds him gets a great reward."

The emperor paused.

"Is that an order now?"

That same chief quizzed,

"Now an order! All guards in groups of four should scatter abroad in search of Ja Lia. Or whoever sees the Raven should tail it. Twould lead us to him. No lagging."

He stood up from the table and headed to the corner of the royal chamber. He stopped midway,

"If no success after few days, I'll resort to dark magic. We'll give it all it takes. Come with me Aohen."

The emperor called and disappeared into the height of the chamber.

Merging black magics should do no harm.