36 THE DISCIPLES OF OCHWESI 6

Emperor Lam agreed with Kwanjobo. Then they set up to meet each other again at the eastern gate of Fon Chu, in early dawn of tomorrow and then set out to Mei Lin. After return to the imperial palace, Emperor Lam retold his meeting with the Orcs but leaved out the part relate to the artifacts, and only roughly saying that Prince Nin believes the objects he stolen from the Orcs, will help him in his coup plot. Emperor Lam's words had convinced his officials but it's do not stand a chance before Empress Aucelen's ears. When the couple returned to the seraglio, Empress Aucelen ask her husband again about the meeting. Emperor Lam knows too well that he cannot lie or hide anything to his clever and witty wife, after order all the servants to leave, he retold in detail about the meeting, about the "Abandoned Old Gods", the choker of Ochwesi, and the mystic book. Beside, in matters like this, he thought is wouldn't be a problem to let his wife know, she's an Elvas after all, with her vast knowledge maybe she be able to help. Heard the story, Empress Aucelen became extremely worry, and she insist to follow him to Mei Lin.

"no, I want you to stay at the capital to run the state's affairs. Worry not, I'll be careful and keep Tua safe. And besides, if thing turn for the worst then it'll be best if there's still someone else in the back that I can count on." Emperor Lam said.

Yet Empress Aucelen still disagreed, said "no, I must go with you, dealing with the Old Gods artifacts is extremely dangerous, there must be a powerful mage accompany you…" but Emperor Lam raised his hand to stop his wife

"my will is set, and you don't have to worry about that, Kwanjobo and his brothers are all mage, moreover they had guarding those artifacts for hundreds of years, I'm sure they know how to deal with those artifacts." He holds his wife hand and stroke her cheek. "and I do not wish to reveal my trump card too soon, Mei Lin only 2 days velelis ride away, if after 5 days without hear anything from me, then you must make haste to Mei Lin to rescuer me and our boy, I counting on you, my love."

Reluctantly, Empress Aucelen accepted, that night she barely has any sleep, leaving her husband to face the artifact of the Old Gods makes her anxious, nightmares about the worst things may befell her husband and son haunting her sleep, kept disrupting her rest throughout the night. Her worry is not only stem from that fact but also from other deep secrets, that her and all other Elvas wish no one to know.

To Mei Lin they roweling their velelis, their ride without break till nightfall and rest for the night. They set up camp and have diner, unlike what Emperor Lam had expect, the Brocade Cloak Guards is quite curious about their green skin company, sitting around the camp fire they quickly approach Kwanjobo and his brothers, then the chit chat soon follow suit. Of course, except for the captain, most of the guards is young and full of curiosity, all they know about the Orcs is from the Hundreds Years War's battlefield tales of the old soldier. Kwanjobo is happy to satisfy their curiosity, he even tells tales about the time he fought in the Hundreds Years War, and told them those weird rumours and myths about the Downers, that the Orc soldiers told each other, make the young guards can't help but laugh out loud.

When dawn, they continue on their way, until afternoon, Mei Lin is appeared on the horizon. When they enter the city, everything seems to be normal, the streets still filled with pedestrians, markets are still packed, after a short while they arrived to Mei Lin's mayor office. When they arrived, the mayor and Crown Prince Tua quickly greet their arrival. After that, Emperor Lam ask his son about the Prince Nin and the current situation, Crown Prince Tua said that he still have any concrete lead about Prince Nin whereabouts, but he does know that now Prince Nin is likely to be in Lord Xu Vu mansion in the city, an old retiled court official who also is Prince Nin father in law. Crown Prince has put surveillance on the mansion day and night, to confirm if Prince Nin is actually there. If it's confirmed, Crown Prince Tua will personally bring 200 Brocade Cloak Guards to apprehend the traitor or the crown.

And so they, take rest at the mayor mansion while waiting for confirmation from the surveyors. Everything in the rest of the day is normal, except for a few frightening maids when they saw the Orcs. Nightfall, when everyone else starting to snugging in their blanket. While on his way to his chamber, Emperor Lam saw Kwanjobo kneeling on the hallway, his face faced the moon, hands open and held in front of his chest, mouth murmuring somethings. Curious, Emperor Lam came near to have a chat, seeing him approaching Kwanjobo stand up and politely bow.

"wajam! Emperor of Varlann, the moon is beautiful tonight isn't it?"

"I didn't interrupt anything, am I? why're you still out here at this time?" Emperor Lam asked

"oh, no you didn't. I'm just expressing my admiration to Owayen's beauty, that all" Kwanjobo said

"Owayen? You mean the moon?" Emperor Lam ask

"yes, it is, many name she has, I think you Downers call her… "Chan Gee", if I my memory still serve me well." Kwanjobo said, look at the bright moon on the night sky.

"ah yes, Chan Gee lady of the moon, the moon is beautiful tonight." Emperor Lam said, look at the moon. "the Mid-autumn festival is also near, then does you people have any festival in honour of the moon?"

"ah, of course, in late august there is a festival to celebrate the end of harvesting time in Ubukdin, my firstborn son was born in that time." Kwanjobo said.

"really, so how are your son now? A fine warrior he must be?" Emperor Lam said.

Kwanjobo smile, his wise eyes suddenly filled with sorrow "yes, yes he was."

"was?" Emperor Lam ask

"he has returned to the underworld with Obebe Chwega and my ancestor, Your Majesty. I had buried him with my own hands in the frontline." Spoke Kwanjobo, his low croaking voice filled with sadness when his memory of his son return to his mind. "ambushed, by a lizardmen company of Varlann."

"oh… well… I…" Emperor Lam felt awkward, don't know what should he say next.

"that is war, that is the life of a soldier, you don't have to feel awkward about it, Emperor." Kwanjobo smile.

"my condolence for your lost… well then, I'll stop bothering you anymore, get rest soon, alright." Emperor Lam said.

"thank for your concern, Emperor. Wabonje!" Kwanjobo bow.

Returned to his chamber, Emperor Lam about to go to bed then hear knocking at the door, and Crown Prince Tua voice calling him, saying there something he must council with his father. Emperor Lam opens the door, wonder what's his son want to talk about. But before Emperor Lam can utter a single sound with his son, he felt a sharp pain on his stomach and soon realized there is a dagger sunk deep in his flesh.