The Three Kingsby Slawomir Rapala |
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Chapter III: End of Days
part 3 of 5 |
Vahan and Aezubah often talked to him about the South and its history, knowing that such matters were useful to a warrior and a Duke. So now the boy could recall that the Kingdom of Tha-ka bordered three Realms: Argaron, Surath and Nekrya.
The first two lived in relative peace with the Tha-kians and had established large trading networks with the brown race, largely dependent on an exchange of slaves and goods. On the other hand, Nekrya was an outspoken enemy of the Tha-kians as well as a forthright opponent of slavery. Often she lived in a state of war with the Kingdom of Tha-ka, aided by the Southwestern countries: Estrata, Bandikoy and Burrodha.
The Southern side of the ocean was divided into two opposing camps then, two sides that suspiciously eyed each other’s every move. The strength, however, lay with Nekrya because this powerful Kingdom, ruled by the mighty Nekryan Lion, could easily keep its opponents in check all by herself.
Among many other things, what alienated the two sides was an ongoing dispute over the legitimacy of slavery. Nekrya and her allies had long vowed to abolish it within their borders, but the Kingdoms of the Southeast refused to do so. They flourished primarily because of the shameful trade and would not relinquish it freely.
Long ago when the Southern Lion was still young and temperamental, Nekrya and her allies waged a great war against the barbaric Easterners whose continual ravaging of their countryside in search of slaves was growing bothersome. It ended with the victory of the Southwestern Kingdoms, and one of the stipulations of the peace treaty was that the Tha-kians and their supporters would abolish slavery and set the millions of their captives free.
The treaty was agreed to and signed, but more than twenty years had passed and still slavery flourished. The Kingdom of Tha-ka relied extensively on the industry; not only was it a part of their culture, but the Tha-kians also realized that their entire economy would collapse if wage-work were introduced within their borders.
So there was still no peace between Nekrya and the Tha-kians, who to this day sent small war parties into Nekrya’s interior whose primary aim was to round up slaves. The war continued, then, but it was no longer full-scaled warfare. The Nekryan Lion grew old and hesitated before another invasion, hoping that the matter could be solved peacefully. But hatred continued to grow between the two Kingdoms and conflicts arose from time to time. The treaty was never honored and Nekrya had one more reason to distrust the treacherous Tha-kians.
Unfortunately though, the world was full of villains, so even in a Kingdom such as Nekrya some people busied themselves with the disgraceful trade and still others kept slaves to save gold on labour. It was just as possible then that Iskald would be purchased by a wealthy aristocrat from Nekrya just as well as any other Kingdom that allegedly opposed slavery. He could wind up anywhere, therefore, not necessarily in the land of the Tha-kians or even in the Southeast. And if he were forced to venture into powerful Nekrya, Iskald’s fate would not be bettered at all.
Nekrya and Lyons had been enemies for as long as the civilized world had existed, as were much of the South and North. Following the time when eons ago Northern barbarians had overtaken the South and conquered mighty Azmattia, Realms on opposite sides of the Ocean had distrusted one another.
The Southerners had never forgotten how much time, blood and effort it took to drive the barbarian hordes back across the vast waters. The South and the North had then limited contact between one another as much as possible, whether it was in war or trade, and this situation had continued until present day.
Lyons and Nekrya, two Realms with rich tradition and history, exemplified much of the hatred and distrust that lingered between the North and the South. Stories were told of time long ago, when the Order of the Wolves had kidnapped a beautiful Nekryan princess and brought her across the ocean.
A Southern legend spoke of a mad Duke who fell in love with the princess, took her by force and when she would not have him, he ravaged her and then crucified her as punishment. Then, having realized the extent of his madness, the Duke killed himself that same day.
The legend was related differently in the North: the treacherous Nekryan beauty swore to marry the young Duke of Lyons, but she cut his throat the day of the wedding and then torched his residence. The angry mob seized her and crucified her as punishment for the murder of their beloved Duke.
The truth was that no one recalled anymore what had really transpired in those ancient days. The hatred remained, however, and it grew over the years and continued to fuel the murderous instincts of the Northern Wolves and the Southern Lions. Vahan had often invaded Nekrya’s shores and the Nekryans did likewise. There was no peace between the two Realms, but neither were they in a state of war.
Though a sovereign Realm at one point, Lyons was presently much too weak and politically insignificant to challenge the colossal armies of Nekrya. Vahan and the leaders before him had often pleaded with the ancient Biyack for aid in the feud, arguing that the Nekryans were a continuing threat to the stability of the Empire. They were refused each time, however.
Biyack the Cursed was no fool and he realized that his days of glory were long gone and that all he had left now were the memories of his past notoriety to keep his opponents in check. He could not clash with a Kingdom as powerful as Nekrya, especially not now, when the Vikings pressed hard from the Far North.
In fact, the dark King had already quietly decided that were the Nekryans to attack he would not engage them in battle over the Estate, but instead cut his losses and sign a treaty handing the rich peninsula over to the South.
Copyright © 2008 by Slawomir Rapala
