***
Mahntra' Bhu was standing in the courtyard of the city's main gate. He'd decided to come out of hiding regardless of the danger. He’d heard news he had to see for himself. One of his contacts had told him the missing nobles had been released from the dungeons. Tranthra' Joh had been holding them just as he thought! His source also said they were released by Siri, his daughter, and Sauros' Bho, the Princess' betrothed, from Sunzha' Nu Geeza -- along with another strange being. Mulda’ fi they'd said!
Mulda’ fi . . . Mahntra could scarce believe what he'd heard. His contact had never led him astray. Was it possible?
Right then he'd come out of hiding and started wandering through the streets. In the main avenue, he saw anxiety in a detachment of black uniformed guards heading for the palace. Mahntra tensed when the leader glanced his way. What would they do? He was trapped!
Then they passed by, paying him no mind. They seemed intent on some urgent errand, eyeing the people as if they thought they'd be attacked any second.
It was while he was looking after the soldiers with relief that he glimpsed two of the missing nobles together with a small group of their armed retainers slip out a side street, purposely avoiding the guards, he thought. They had looked after the guards then headed back the other way towards the city's main gate.
What could they be doing? Mahntra followed. He needed information. It didn’t take long.
Mahntra watched from a distance as the two nobles approached the Captain of the Guard. They started arguing. The Captain called up some of his own guards.
Now I better get involved, Mahntra thought, and hurried over to intervene.
"What is the problem, sirs?"
The Captain looked at him. "This is none of your concern!" Mahntra noted he wasn’t from the city. It was one of those brought from outside.
"Mahntra' Bhu," one of the nobles spoke to him. "We have demanded the guard open the gate. We have some people we wish to allow in."
"My orders are to seal the gate. No one is allowed in or out. No exceptions." The Captain again glared at Mahntra. "My orders come from the Conservator himself. No one but he may countermand them."
Just then there was a pounding at the solid wood gate. It was a dull thumping, and muffled cries were heard. "Let me in! I have urgent news for Tranthra' Joh!"
The Captain looked up to his men stationed on the wall overlooking the gate.
"One man, sir," one of the guards called down.
"Pass him through." He looked at the three guardsmen he'd called over. "Take him into custody the moment he gets in."
"What about us?" one of the nobles said. Why can't you open the gate for us?"
The guard Captain ignored them and started walking over to his men as they held the stranger under bared blades.
"That's Sohorkon' Bho," Mahntra whispered to the nobles. "Why is he here? Is it true that Sauros released you from the dungeon? I have to know!"
"Yes. It's true," one of the nobles said. He turned to the other. "We've got to get the gate open. Sohorkon is the one we've been waiting for." The other noble nodded. "Get the men ready."
"What are you doing?" Mahntra grasped the other noble's arm.
"Your daughter told us! Look, we don't have time to explain. We must get the gate open!"
"Ready," the other noble came up with the soldiers close behind.
"You'll just have to trust us . . . Trust your daughter."
"Okay," the first noble said to his men. "Fan out and cover the guards. Don't worry about those on the wall for now. Try not to kill any, but do what you have to do!"
The guards looked nervous, drew their blades and moved. "It's a good thing there's not too many here. I hope everything's going okay back at the palace. That's where that last group was headed," the second noble said.
"Can't worry about that now," the first said. "We need to do our part. Come, let's start taking back our city.”
"I'll help!" Mahntra said, making a quick decision. He didn't know what was happening, but he did trust his daughter.
They moved over to where the guard Captain was tersely questioning the stranger.
"Sohorkon' Bho?" one of the nobles asked.
"Yes?" the stranger stared at the noble.
"We were sent to help you."
"Here now!" the guard Captain said as the other noble swung a fist and caught one of his guards across the jaw. The first noble drew his blade and engaged another guard. Sohorkon took that instant to snatch back the blade that'd been taken from him by another surprised guard, and swung his fist at the same time, connecting with a dull thud to the side of the guard's head. He crumpled.
Mahntra moved now, stepping in close to the final guard just as he was raising his blade to hack at the unprotected back of one of the nobles. He knocked into the guard, diverting his aim. The guard then turned and swung at Mahntra. He felt the blade slice through his clothing and strafed his ribs. It fouled the guard just enough, though, for Sohorkon, jumping to his aid, to clang the guard on the side of the head with the pommel of his blade. He fell, and Sohorkon turned to catch Mahntra as he started to collapse in surprise. The other guards were down.
"Get the gate open!" Sohorkon hissed. Signal with a red banner. Waive it high just above the gate. Keep waiving it until you see people coming from the jungle. Make sure they get in."
Mahntra could hear sounds of fighting die down and noticed one of the nobles calling to his men to help open the gate. There were no more guards around to stop them.
His ribs felt icy cold. Strangely he didn't hurt, just shocked his legs wouldn't hold him up any more.
"I'm too old for this," Mahntra said to Sohorkon. "My daughter . . . You know my daughter? Her name is Siri."
"The Keeper? Yes I know her. She's here, you know," Sohorkon said with a smile. "She brought us here to help."
"Help?" Mahtra's mouth was going dry. "I wasn't hurt so bad, was I?"
“Just a scratch.”
Mahntra knew Sohorkon was lying, but it didn’t matter. “Help me up, please. My legs seem to have lost their strength. I’m not used to fighting, you know.”
“Wait,” Sohorkon said. “You’re bleeding. We need to stop it first.”
Mahntra heard tearing sounds and realized it was his robe that was being torn. Such a nice robe, he thought. Oh well, he wouldn’t need it if he bled to death. Now where did that come from? I’m not going to die! There’s too much to do. He waited patiently, even fighting back the flinching as he felt his ribs being wrapped. The two nobles were standing over him now, offering encouraging words.
“Have Sohorkon’s people come through yet?” Mahntra asked. “What are they going to do?” He trusted his daughter, but wanted to be sure. His people would be helpless in this confused state.
“They’re almost here,” Sohorkon said. “Don’t worry. We’re here to help you take back your city from Tranthra’ Joh. We won’t be fighting anyone who isn’t in a black uniform. Will your people understand? We just want to create enough of a stir to draw all Tranthra’ Joh’s attention so your daughter, my brother . . . and a friend can get the Princess out, away from harm.
Once she’s safe, we’ll provide protection while she’s out speaking to the people about Tranthra’ Joh’s treason.”
“A good plan,” Mahntra said. He looked up at the nobles. Relief crossed their faces as the realized that the former Keeper supported what was going on. It seemed they were barely trusting, though they hadn’t known how else to serve. “You’re good men,” he said to the nobles. Then he looked back to Sohorkon. “Are you done binding me up? I need to speak with the people. We need to convince them to help.”
“That’ll be good,” Sohorkon said. “Be careful. The wound is pretty deep. I think I’ve stopped the bleeding. I’m no doctor – as your daughter can attest.”
Mahntra caught his br
eath. “My daughter! Is she hurt?”
“She was,” Sohorkon said smiling. He wouldn’t smile if she was bad off, Mahntra thought. “She was stabbed by one of Tranthra’ Joh’s minions and left for dead when they captured the princess. I found her and bound her up, just like I did you. I’m pleased to say she has almost fully recovered. Just like you will, but don’t push it.”
“You’re sure.” Mahntra started to struggle to his feet.
“Very sure. We have to get moving if we’re going to help her stay that way.”
“Yes,” Mahntra said, allowing the nobles to reach down and help him up. It hurt like the devil. He grit down on his teeth and only breathed hard for a moment before looking around. “Someone shout to get the crowd’s attention. I need to speak with them. I’m afraid I can’t speak very loud without groaning.”
One of the nobles immediately raised his voice and shouted for the gathered crowd to come in closer, the Keeper wanted to speak with them. Mahntra almost protested, saying he wasn’t really the Keeper anymore. That would be sorted out later. He couldn’t waste time with foolish clarifications. If they listened to him like a respected Keeper, all the better.
He waited as the sizeable crowd came closer. Some looked out the open gate and cried a warning. An invading army was coming! The crowd seemed hesitant, not sure what to do. Some started to run.
“Wait!” Mahntra cried. The effort made his side hurt. “Don’t be alarmed. They’ve come to help! They won’t harm any of the people of the city. You must listen!”
“Listen to the Keeper,” one of the nobles cried. “He’ll tell you what to do. Listen!”
Mahntra took a deep breath, flinching in pain. “Tranthra’ Joh and his soldiers have the princess captive in the tower. These two here,” he gestured to the nobles. “You know them. Tranthra’ Joh siezed them illegally and held them captive in the dungeons, all the while telling us that they were away with the Princess on a secret mission. It was a lie! He was saying that to keep us ignorant while he seized control.
“Note that he brought in only his own guards to run the palace. All the Princess’ former guards were sent out of the city. Then Tranthra’ Joh brought in the Pontu’ Gi, and placed them solely under his command.
“He has issued illegal proclamations. You’ve all seen it. You know I’m right!”
“Is it really true?” a voice called from the back of the crowd.
“Yes,” one of the nobles spoke up. “We were taken while in the palace complaining that Tranthra’ Joh was overstepping his authority. We wanted to see the Princess, talk with her. When Tranthra’ Joh couldn’t dissuade us, we were taken and placed in the dungeon.”
The other noble spoke up. “Many of you must have heard by now all the nobles have been freed. They are gathering the people, telling them, just as we’re telling you. It’s all true. The Princess has been held. There is a rescue effort going on even as we speak. We need your help!”
Shouts of indignation filled the crowd. “What do we do? For the Princess! How can we help?”
Mahntra raised his hands for quiet then turned to Sohorkon. “Do as he says.”
Sohorkon stepped forward. “My people are here to help only. We will fight only Tranthra Joh’s men. Come with us.” He turned just as the first of his small army was coming through the gate. He saw his second in command. “Over here, the rest of you hold there!” Then he turned back to the people. “We need to create a distraction while my brother . . . and his daughter –“ he gestured to Mahntra – “try to free the Princess. If we run into any of Tranthra’ Joh’s soldiers, we need to get them to lay down their weapons. If they don’t . . .” He paused and looked over the people staring at him, “then we’ll have to make them.”
“Right! Yes!” Came voices from the crowd.
“If we run into any Pontu’ Gi. Don’t move against them. Wait for their brothers who’ve come with me to convince them to lay down their arms. They are victims just as much as you. Their fellow warriors have come with me to bring them back.” Just then, Mahntra noticed a larger group of the Pontu’ Gi come through the gate. Their lithe, quiet steps were a dangerous contrast to the louder marching soldiers of Sunzha’ Nu Geeza. The crowd breathed a hushed gasp of exclamation. “Wait!” Sohorkon held up his hands. “They are allies! They were in my city too. Once they knew they were being misled they joined us. They want to help!”
The crowd still seemed nervous. Sohorkon was asking a great deal of them, to trust their city to such as had been on the side of Tranthra’ Joh. The nobles looked at Mahntra, who was looking at Sohorkon. “It’s true,” Sohorkon told him. Mahntra hesitated then nodded. His daughter had trusted this man. If the nobles hadn’t confirmed it, he wouldn’t believe himself. I sure hope Siri is right, he thought.
“What are we waiting for?” Mahntra said, louder for the benefit of the crowd. “Let’s get moving.”