1/2 The Rose Pendant

Ten years have passed. Bander was now plunged into war.

The Talestrial States led by King Rinas had begun waging wars on the western nations. Since then, King Rinas had only occupied the country-state of Vorska. The state of Vorska was swiftly conquered as their king, King Farquer believed that its small trained force of solider and impregnable fortress of Vorking was able to withstand the attack from the Talestrial army. King Farquer remarked on the first day of the invasion that the Talestrial States was made up of barbarians and was not trained to take on his solider. How wrong was he when his state of Vorska was occupied within a month and he fell at the hands of King Rinas himself.

Following Farquer’s demise, other neighboring states have banded together to resist Rinas. This alliance soon became known as the Desert Border Alliance and they managed to halt the advance of the Talestrial army. They did not underestimate King Rinas’ troops, unlike King Farquer. No one can afford to follow in Farquer’s footsteps. However, they believed they can defeat King Rinas and claimed its capital Talesgard if Vorska was a part of the Desert Border Alliance. However, the Number Knights were invaluable to King Rinas and they proved on many occasions that they can change the tide of the war. It was the Number Knights that ensured that Vorska remained under Talestrial rule. For the last month, a stalemate surfaced between the Talestrial States and the Desert Border Alliance.

On this evening, King Rinas sat on his throne, waiting for the ceremony to begin. This was a graduation ceremony that signified the solider trainees have come of age and was ready for the frontline battle. Rinas was exhausted from his recent battle with the Desert Border Alliance. Finskar was unsuccessful in his attack on Pesdrag while his reinforcements were not enough to break the walls of the capital of Mansfields, a state to the northwest of the Talestrial States and part of the Desert Border Alliance. This recent battle has forced his troops to abandon hopes of taking Presdrag. His men were tired from the long siege and he had to return. He knew these recruits will be sent to the frontline to fight after the ceremony so he cannot postpone the graduation ceremony. Besides there were two recruits he was particularly interested in.

Vinon and Carlem are the two children he had brought up. He had mostly monitored the training of these two children. The children of Touren and Iysedin, who had shamed the human and the elven race, had finally come of age. The vision given by The Prophet will soon be realized. It is now time to send them to the frontline.

He can still remember the day The Prophet can to him. On the day, he finally united the warring states and created the Talestrial States, The Prophet appeared in his room. He wore a dark robe and had a hood over his head. Rinas can only make out a shadowy face under the hood. He reached for his sword but he found that he was frozen in his place. A spell has been cast on him. He thought he was dead as he cannot even use his voice to call out to his guards. However, the robed figure only spoke a few words.

“I am The Prophet and you do well to listen to me, for only I help you realize your dream of conquering Bander.” The Prophet said in a low ghostly tone.

Rinas cannot move but he can sense great magical abilities from this being. He was scared but he can do nothing. His body cannot move at all and he cannot speak. But it seemed the being can read his mind.

“I will reveal to you the location of where the human prince, Touren and his family are and you will do well to follow my plan.” The Prophet said again.

The exiled prince, Touren was banished from the Banderlands along with his family after they found out he was having an affair with an elven princess. No one knows where they settled and no one has heard from them ever since.

“You will dispatch an army made up of rogue elves and humans and attack them and have one of your solider save their children. Make it seemed that the elves wanted them dead.” The Prophet said again. “They will be crucial to your conquest of Bander.”

With that, the hooded figure disappeared and King Rinas found he was able to move again. He carried out the plan and it went smoothly except that they were unable to kill the youngest son, Tuster. Nevertheless he still has Vinon and Carlem and today onwards he was able to see if they can truly help him conquer Bander.

His thoughts were interrupted by a steward who informed him that it was time to say his speech. King Rinas stood up from his throne and walked up to the altar which held a scroll. This was his speech. He carefully unfolded the parchment and as he began to read he also kept an eye on a stern Vinon.

“From this day onwards, you young lads are now members of the Talestrial army. Fight bravely and valiantly for this fine state and protect your loved ones. Even as we speak, most of our countrymen are still fighting at the borders so that we can realize a dream, the world of Bander under Talestrial rule!” With that, the young trainees collectively gave a loud cheer.

He saw the look on the faces on Carlem and Vinon. Carlem was excited as she discussed the plans she had with a fellow trainee beside her. Vinon’s face was more determined. Rinas knew what was on his mind. Revenge. He wanted revenge for the elves for killing his family. Rinas smiled as he stepped down from the altar and returned to his room. He was eager to see how Vinon would perform on the battle frontline.