part 1 of chapter 4

finally, here comes the 1st part of chapter 4, which will be considerably shorter compared to the previous one..

Chapter IV: Tidings from the Queen and the High King

Two days later, Master Khai the Judge was having lunch with Master Shang, and they purposely had their meal near the balcony, so as to look outside.
“You seemed happy today. Quite an unexpected sight.”
“Master Khai, if you know that someone you devoted is coming to you, what’ll you feel?”
“Oh… I knew it!” exclaimed Master Khai, “The Archpriestess Lady Yen is coming today. Am I correct for this?”
Master Shang nodded his head, his patience failing with every moment past. He had already two sleepless nights in anticipation of the coming of Lady Yen, thus he looked quite tired, though he worked hard to cover it up. Then Master Kang entered the scene, and he said, “There’s no need to feel like that, as grief will cloak your clear mind in one way, endangering your friends and foes.”
“If you are the one waiting for her two days and two nights, then you’ll feel the same as well. Master Khai, kindly look westwards, report any sightings to me.”
He then left, and Master Khai spoke,
“He is surely happy, but as you know, there is something in him that grieves his heart. I pray that the Archpriestess will come alone. If she arrives with Lord Jason behind, he’ll surely be infuriated, and he’ll try to kill him as well.”
“I don’t believe it, why?”
“Master Kang, you see that he has an unpredictable manner of anger. For some reason, anger can change the nature of the person entirely. It is of his nature to admonish without any questions asked. His unreciprocated love also hardened his heart. He is no longer that welcoming to any outsiders anymore.”
This statement shocked Master Kang, as he had never expected it. He then took his time, drank his coffee, and continued the discussion.
“Well, this simply means that we must try our best to restrain our friend from getting violent, am I right?”
“Yes,” said Master Khai, “Furthermore, if people like Lord Jason arrived with her as well, we must also block him from the presence of Master Shang, for his own good.”

Three hours later, out of the western walls they saw a rider of great power riding a unicorn (white in color) riding towards the gate in haste. Initially both of them did not recognize her, but when the rider emanated a white light from her staff, they were finally aware.
“Tell him that she has arrived.”
Master Khai obeyed the order from Master Kang. To him, unity between them was of utmost importance, and thus he was steadfast to the friendship between them, to the extent of taking orders without question.
On the other hand, Master Kang opened the city gates, and awaited her right in front of the Tower of the Guardian. The rider cast down her hood, and he bowed as a sign of respect.
“Master Kang, I send my greetings to all of you. There is no need of the formalities, as now I am a messenger to you. By the way, how fares the Archknight?”
Though he expected that, he nonetheless answered, “Greetings, Lady Yen. For your knowledge, he is not right for these few days. It seems to us that he is trying to keep something from us.”
“What?!”
“Apparently he expected that you won’t come alone, and he is trying very hard to conceal it. Yet, we know him too well. He can’t hide from us.”
The doors were opened, and from within came Master Shang and Master Khai.
“Greetings,” said Master Shang, whose voice did not seem to be any different, but there was something in him concealed, “I hear that you bring messages from the Elven Queen, the High King and from you. Times are getting perilous, and the Elves brought to me ill news. By the way,” in a sarcastic manner he asked, “where have Master Ran and Master Hong been?”
Master Khai smiled, glad at the good mood of his friend, and he answered, “Both of them have their ‘special someone’ to devote to, thus they are currently somewhere in the city.”
Both Master Shang and Master Kang laughed at that answer, and the former said, “Then leave them alone with their romantic stances. Let us enter the Tower and discuss the important matters.”
“Is your friend always like that?”
“No,” answered Master Kang, “but what do you see in him?”
“He is looking very tired, and he is cloaking his own concern in his mind.”
“Well, my lady, this is a long story. It has been so since you nominated him to be the Archknight and was sent here. He feels that it is an exile from Ossiros. Thus, every time he thinks of you, his mind will be very unstable.”
Lady Yen was shocked by the High Master’s words, and she could withhold it no longer. “To him I must explain, I never tried to convince the High King to put him in this. I now bear the risk of incurring his wrath by coming here. I’ll need your help.”
Then Master Khai interrupted, “There we go. The Archknight hates to wait for us.”

part 2 will come on 12th december 2008...