The Empire of Lizards

By Petri Luosto

Cassandra has been kidnapped! The colonists and their friends must try to rescue her. At the same time, there are going to happen things which will influence on the colony and humans on Eden as well.

This is the third book in after "Cassandra and the Unknown World" and "The Mysteries of Eden".

• Language: English
• Publisher: Books on Demand
• Release date: Jan 26, 2017
• ISBN: 9789523399167

Petri Luosto

Olen vuonna 1976 hämeenlinnalainen kääntäjä, joka on erikoistunut kääntämään historiallisesti merkittäviä tekstejä englanninkielestä suomeksi.

Book preview

Afkar

Chapter 1, Cassandra

Cassandra, the astrobiologist woke up because of the morning full of light at the bed in the Astrobiology Department. Eratosthenes, the geographer was at the bed and he was still drowsy. Cassandra had her long and fair hair. Eratosthenes was a man of medium stature and he had light brown hair, blue eyes and pale skin.

Cassandra was wearing only very light and fair underwear which covered her torso and her body to slightly above her knees. She stood up and looked out from the window. Cassandra knew that their relationship was forbidden in the Colony because Eratosthenes was meant to be Gaia´s companion. At the same time, she remembered what happened to the male farmer Coeus and the female mechanist Daphne a year ago. They were caught and because of that both of them got 5 slashes from the whip and they had to work from 48 hours without getting paid. Coeus should have taken the female farmer Phoebe as his companion and Daphne´s designed companion was the male mechanist Dinocrates.

Cassandra knew that the Colony ´s leader, the stout Zeus forced both Coeus and Daphne together. He did the same thing to Phoebe and Dinocrates as well. Zeus explained that the colonists must obey the rules of the Colony. He couldn´t allow the colonists to break the common rules of the Colony as they see fit. Cassandra thought that the way Zeus managed the Colony was cruel but no one dared to oppose him.

Luckily for her both she and Eratosthenes has been very cautious continuously because they didn´t want to get caught. Cassandra had no companions and Eratosthenes´ companion Gaia was out of the Colony doing some kind of geological research. At the same time Gaia mentored younger geographers and geologists. There were two of them, the young female Demeter and the young male Strabo. The younger astrobiologists were the female Hypatia and the male Pedanius and they were collecting DNA samples near the Colony. They were housed at the house next to the Astrobiology and Geography Department so that they couldn´t disturb Cassandra or Eratosthenes.

What time is it Cassie?, Cassandra heard a drowsy voice asking behind. Cassandra stood and turned. She touched the scanner on the table and said: It is seven and thirty.

How could it be morning already? It feels like I went to the bed just a moment ago, Eratosthenes remarked. He raised from the bed slowly. Cassandra noticed that even though he looked like tired he still smiled at Cassandra.

Perhaps their earlier activities during the last evening had something to do with Eratosthenes´ tiredness. They had a very pleasant evening since they knew that no one else from the Colony would disrupt them. That was why that intimate evening was a very good idea in Cassandra´s mind even though it violated the rules of the Colony.

The nature in the spring looks very attractive when you look at that, Cassandra said, turned and looked out. She saw how the border between the forest and forest clearing was moved further from the Colony because the colonial robots have bulldozed to have more fields and acquire more construction material.

Cassandra looked behind and she saw how Eratosthenes was putting his clothes on. She knew that Eratosthenes has to leave. It would be the smartest thing to end an affair with him but Cassandra knew that Gaia didn´t care for him because that was what he told to Cassandra. In Cassandra´s mind the rules of the Colony were strict but it wouldn´t be wise to fight against them publicly.

Cassandra thought that it would be wise to allow Eratosthenes leave and then wait for couple of minutes. In that way both of them could act as they both were awaken from their dreams and they could salute other colonists in the canteen which was couple hundred meters away in another building. The good thing was that the third class with 50 more people wasn´t out yet but they would leave the spaceship in two days.

It would mean that Cassandra, Eratosthenes and their class would have been out in the planet for two years exploring it and building the Colony. At that time, they have found both humans who have arrived earlier and also the presence of the sentient natives in this planet.

Soon Eratosthenes got his clothes on. His clothes were pure white. He walked to Cassandra and kissed her lightly to her mouth. Cassandra smiled back and saw how Eratosthenes walked to the door, opened it, stepped outside and then closed the door.

Cassandra then did put her own clothes white clothes on and took her small scanner with her. Then she went to the toilet and washed her teeth. She knew that today she would have a smaller scanner on her palm. That scanner was just at the development stage but they have developed it diligently because it would free one hand from a soldier and an explorer of the nature or soil to be used more efficiently.

Cassandra remembered how she and Eratosthenes became so close. Two years ago they were exploring a cave when a giant ant emerged from the side corridor attacking Eratosthenes and making him to fall to the floor and wounding his hand as well. All of this happened in the front of Cassandra´s eyes when she had a rifle with a fixed bayonet at her hands. Cassandra´ s reaction was to hit the ant with the bayonet. The rifle was stuck to the head of the ant because of the bayonet. Then Cassandra shot multiple shots at the head of the ant killing it instantly. Eratosthenes was moved to the Colony´s hospital and he recovered from the wound gradually.

During that recovery his and Cassandra´s relations became warmer. They had known each other as long as both of them can remember. After Eratosthenes´ recovery their relations got even warmer than before. Cassandra remembered that with warm and wondered how that has changed the relation between two of them. Earlier they were just friends but now they were much more than that.

Then Cassandra walked to the door and opened it. She walked out and towards the staircase. Then she moved to the lobby which was empty. Cassandra took couple of steps, walked to the door and opened it. She walked to the warm spring weather which was full of light as well.

When Cassandra was out she walked to the canteen. It took her couple of minutes to walk there. At the same time, she saw several familiar people in there. There was the leader of the Colony, Zeus, a stout man with blue eyes and light brown hair. With him there was his companion Hera who was slender woman with blue eyes and dark hair. She was taking food. There were also couple of soldiers present like Cassandra´s old friend and fellow explorer Penthesilea who was a tall dark woman with dark hair and brown eyes. Penthesilea´s body was very muscular and that attracted some attention. Eratosthenes was also present of course.

Good morning, Cassie, Penthesilea said and asked: Did you sleep well?

Thanks for asking. I slept very well, Cassandra replied and asked: And how about you?

I slept like a baby, Penthesilea quipped.

It is going to be very nice day. It is so much spring and so much light, Hera remarked.

You are right about that. How are the tests about that palm scanner going?, Zeus inquired.

We are starting to do them today, Cassandra said and continued: After the breakfast I am going to discuss with the doctors of the Colony on that issue with more details.

It is nice that everyone has slept so well even though Eratosthenes looks like a bit tired, Hera said and was a bit concerned.

At that point they noted that four elder humans arrived. They were Afkar, Brynhildr, Canute and Vidarr. They were not colonist but they were the guests of the Colony and they have spent their time in the Colony. Afkar was a small woman with dark hair and she was a very good archer as well. They knew that she was from a human organization called the Children of Prometheus. According to her, the goal of that organization was to prevent the kaptaurs, the native sentient lizards to acquire human technology. Cassandra knew that the kaptaurs have four legs, two hands and that they are very smart lizards that can run fast and make both bronze and iron weapons. She knew that from her personal experience because she has seen dead kaptaurs armed with swords, spears and bows. They wore leather armours and simple clothes.

Next to Afkar there was Brynhildr who was a tall woman with blonde hair. She was known to be a very good using her spear. It would be unlikely that she would use spear in combat for some time because she was pregnant. Cassandra assumed that the father of the child was Canute who had blonde hair and who was a tall swordsman himself. The last one of them was Vidarr and Cassandra knew that Vidarr could move very silently in the forest and use his bow very well. Cassandra assumed that Vidarr was some kind of a hunter because he was able to forage food from forest very well.

Both Vidarr and Afkar have taught them the tricks how to move in the forest. One such trick to remember was to use the droppings of the herbivore animals to cover the smell of human in the dark forest. That trick smelled very bad but it seems to be that it worked generally very well because the predators cannot smell the human smell if the smell of the droppings cover it. The downside was that the smell of the droppings was very horrible. It looked like both Afkar and Vidarr had adapted to that disgusting smell but Cassandra didn´t understand how that was possible.

While pondering that, Cassandra came to the breakfast food. She took tea for her drink and some bread to be eaten and some fruits as well. She used to eat a breakfast like this. Then she joined to the other people in the table.

What did you think couple of moments ago? It looked like you werent´t present?, Penthesilea asked.

I was thinking about the past. How did we get to this time and this place?, Cassandra replied and observed the other people.

Aren´t you excited to have the new palm scanner?, Hera inquired and added: I would be very excited about that.

I am not excited. Either it will work or it will not work. We will see that very soon, Cassandra replied and wondered if it was a mistake when she promised to be the first guinea pig.

You can always take it off if it does not work, Eratosthenes said.

You are right. There is no reason to stress about that. The device will not hurt Cassandra or her health, Hera added.

You are right. If the device will work then soldiers can be used to gather a lot of information from the nature as well, Penthesilea said.

Cassandra ate her breakfast with great passion. Then she stood and thanked people in present. They replied with grace. Cassandra walked towards the canteen door, opened it and moved outside. There was very much light outside and Cassandra saw white clouds on the sky. Then she turned towards the Colony´s hospital and there she is going to see the female doctor Aceso.

One good side of the Colony was that it was so small. Another good thing was that everyone on the Colony know each other. At this point there were only couple of people on the streets of the Colony and many of them walked towards the canteen of the Colony. Cassandra walked to the hospital, opened the door and stepped in. When she was inside she walked towards Aceso ´s office.

Cassandra saw that Aceso ´s office´s door was open and she went in. She saw that Aceso was waiting for her at the office. Aceso was a woman with an Asiatic appearance, she was short and she had dark eyes and dark hair.

Good morning Aceso!, Cassandra said and looked at Aceso.

Good morning, Aceso stated and asked: Are you ready to get the palm scanner?

Why would I be in here otherwise?, Cassandra replied.

Good. The scanner itself is rather small but it wasn´t tested on humans yet, Aceso said.

I know that, Cassandra replied and continued: I am ready.

Good, then we are going to do a small surgical operation on your hand where we will glue the scanner and then we will cover it with artificial skin, Aceso answered and added: Everything is ready. Follow me, please.

Aceso leaved the office and Cassandra followed her. They walked to the nearest surgical hall. Cassandra was slightly nervous but she knew that the surgical halls of the Colony were automated. Aceso had probably programmed the right surgical programs on the computers on the hall which then would guide the robots on the surgery.

We are ready for the surgery. Please sit on that chair and put your right hand on the table on the upside open, Aceso instructed.

Cassandra did as Aceso ordered. First the robot put some kind of glue at the Cassandra´s palm. Then the robot planted the new scanner on her palm. It was surprisingly small and flat. Cassandra knew that the small scanner made a connection to Cassandra´s nerve system and was then at the standby mode. One controlling the scanner by her own mind sounds like a very good idea. They needed to test it. Finally, the robot planted the scanner with artificial human skin.

How does that feel?, Aceso asked and looked at Cassandra curiously.

It feels a bit odd. It tickles a bit, Cassandra replied with a smile.

Hmm. Perhaps you should try if the scanner works, Aceso said.

You are right. It would be embarrassing if the scanner wouldn´t work. Does it get the energy from my body motions?, Cassandra asked.

Yes. You do not need to worry about that, Aceso replied.

Good. Then I can start testing this scanner, Cassandra said.

I have brought some flora which you surely know, Aceso told and showed some plants on the flowerpots.

Yes, I know them, Cassandra said and walked towards the plants.

Cassandra moved her hand towards the closest plant and ordered to scanner to scan it by using her mind. The scanner started to read the plant and relied the results to Cassandra´s mind. Cassandra realized that the results were correct but she reminded herself that this was the first test on the laboratory. The scanner required more testing first on the laboratory and then on the field. She has to take a traditional scanner with her so she could compare the results of the new palm scanner and the traditional scanner.

Can I contact to the Astrobiology central computer where we keep our scanning results?, Cassandra asked.

Unfortunately, that is not possible yet, engineer Arachne said and walked in. She was a young woman who was short and stout. She had red hair and blue eyes.

I guess you are planning to do that?, Cassandra asked and wondered how she could transfer the scanning results to the Colony´s computers.

Yes, we are planning to do that but we should use the wireless communication on that, Arachne replied and said: The range of the palm scanner is couple of meters. It does not have a long-range transmitter.

Understood. I wanted to know how you have planned that, Cassandra replied and added: At least the palm scanner seems to scan the plants correctly. It seems to work well on the laboratory but I would like to test it on the field.

That sounds like a good idea. The area near the Colony would be a safe place to test the scanner, Aceso noted.

Cassandra knew that most of the people living in the Colony have not left the Colony. In there, it was safe and the robots were programmed to acquire all the material they needed from outside. If necessary, the Colony would send both explorers and soldiers outside the Colony. It was very fortunate for the Colony that they found those four outsiders; Afkar, Brynhildr, Canute and Vidarr. They have taught us a lot about the world which surrounds us and how we can move on the forests surrounding the Colony unnoticed, Cassandra thought.

I guess I have to go to plan field testing of the scanner, Cassandra stated and thanked both Aceso and Arachne. Then she left, walked out from the hospital and towards the Astrobiology Department to get older scanner.

When she arrived to the department she took the scanner and her weapon with her. Then she contacted to the leader of the Colony Zeus.

What do you have in your mind Cassie?, Zeus asked and added: Is it something about the new scanner?

Yes. I am going to start field testing. The scanner worked well in Aceso´s laboratory tests so I want to test it on the nature, Cassandra said.

Where have you planned to test it?, Zeus asked.

Near the river south of the Colony, Cassandra replied.

That is fine by me. How much time will those tests take?, Zeus asked.

It is morning now so I assume it will take the whole day, Cassandra replied.

Then you should start as soon as possible. Do you need a soldier as an escort?, Zeus asked.

I don´t think so. I think soldiers are preparing to train the next class how to survive on the nature, Cassandra said.

Understood. I was told that for the last six months you have used the Colony´s new rovers actively. Are going to take one of them with you?, Zeus asked.

Yes. I am going to use it to contact the Astrobiology Department´s servers, Cassandra said.

Understood. Good luck, Zeus said.

Then Cassandra walked to downstairs to the garage of the Astrobiology Department and took her rover from there. The rover was a small open vehicle with four wheels. It was designed for one or two people and it could move in any terrain. Cassandra did put her gun and her hand scanner to the rover´s compartment. Then she sat at the rover´s cockpit and turned it on. She drove away from the Astrobiology Department garage and towards the gate of the Colony. It opened for her and she drove through the gate and turned towards south and followed the river to the edge of the forest.

In there she spent a moment to observe the nature. She didn´t see any signs of any predators. Then she left the vehicle. She came here because she knew that there are going to be many different plants to be tested by her palm scanner.

Cassandra took her gun on her back and the hand scanner on her left hand from the compartment which she closed. In the first test the hand scanner showed the same result than the palm scanner. The result looked promising in Cassandra´s eyes but that wasn´t enough for her. She wanted to be sure that it wasn´t a coincidence.

Then she moved to the other plant to test the scanner. This time she also scanned small insects as well. She got the same results from the insects and from the plant using both palm scanner and the hand scanner. Cassandra was very satisfied with those results. It looked like the palm scanner worked as it should be.

Cassandra knew that she would need to do more tests. She knew that it was very lucky that this area does have much more plants and animals to be tested. Then she moved to test a tree and also in that case the test results were the same. Cassandra smiled and thought that the new palm scanner was a very useful thing to have.

After couple of tests she decided to rest a bit. She knew that she was going to do more tests but so far all the tests were very promising. That device was an incredible thing indeed. It would be a very useful tool for them.

Suddenly Cassandra heard a branch snapping behind her. Before she could react, a blunt object hits her on her head. She losses her conscience. It looked like everything was turned off in her eyes.

Chapter 2, Baldr

Baldr was 35 years old human male in the great castle of Ostburt. Baldr had a medium stature, black hair with blue eyes. He was slender and on the top of his head he was bald. He was alone in the great reception hall waiting for the owner of the Ostburg castle and his lord, the mighty kaptaur king Ajatasatru. He has known and served Ajatasatru and his family for his entire life. During that time, he has become one of the most influential human in entire Skanda´s empire. Baldr was one of the key advisers. It was in his responsibility to keep in contact with Skanda´s Imperial Court and to the other kingdoms. Baldr has just received this post and he had received it because he was able to speak and to write the Kaptaur court language and also the most important local dialects as well.

The hall where Baldr was looked like very large and the walls were made of stone. There was a throne on the other side of the hall where Ajatasatru usually sat. Baldr has been numerous times in this hall as a witness when Ajatasatru met Imperial ambassadors from the Emperor Skanda and from different kings. This time Ajatasatru wanted to see Baldr in here without any ceremonies. Baldr wondered what was going on? Ajatasatru didn´t act according to the protocol of the kingdoms because they should be in the council chambers of the Eastland kingdom.

The great door of the hall opened. A group of kaptaur lizards emerged from the door. First there were two bodyguards which Baldr recognized. They were Dhiren and Oorjit. They were wearing heavy armours and they carried large swords on their hands. They were followed by Ajatasatru, the king whom Baldr have served for his entire life. Ajatasatru was 40 years old kaptaur lizards. He had two hands, four legs, his skin was scaly and green. His eyes were red and green and he had hair on his head. Ajatasatru alone came to Baldr and his bodyguards secured the hall entrances and closed the windows.

Your majesty, Baldr said.

Thank you but let´s skip the formalities, Bald, Ajatasatru hissed and used Baldr´s common nickname. Then he continued: I invited you in here for a good reason. I have received a letter from the capital directly from the Emperor Skanda.

As far as I understand all the correspondence goes through my hands, Baldr said and asked: What is going on?

That is true. The Emperor gave the letter to the courier to send to me directly without any middlemen, Ajatasatru stated and added: The Emperor believes that he is going to die.

What? People have waited for the Emperor´s death for last 40 or 50 years. Many believes that he is an immortal. Many believes that he has extended his life using unnatural ways, Baldr said.

Yes, the Emperor is almost 122 years old. Not many noblemen live over 80 years old. Emperor has asked me to travel to the capital and to secure the inheritance of the Imperial throne to his eldest living son, Varisa, Ajatasatru explained.

Isn´t Varisa over 60 years old? Is it wise to make him the next Emperor?, Baldr asked.

That is the will of the Emperor. My family got this kingdom from him almost 100 years ago. At that point they swore to obey Skanda and his lawful successors, Ajatasatru said.

Baldr knew that was true. The young Skanda has conquered this kingdom from the earlier royal family almost 100 years ago and he has installed his good friend to rule it. This friend was the pretender of the Kingdom of Eastland. His friend died decades ago and then the throne was inherited in that family to his descendants. Ajatasatru was his direct descendant and the current King of Eastland.

I am aware of that. The problem is that Skanda does have a lot of wives and concubines. It will be very difficult to sort out and enforce the inheritance. In addition to that some of the 12 kingdoms that Skanda conquered were his relatives. They might have ambitions to gain the Imperial Throne as well, Baldr said and added: There is a rumour that the Empress Saityr would try to make her son the next Emperor. Many coastal cities support her.

In other words, you claim that the death of the Emperor would lead to the civil war, Ajatasatru replied.

I am afraid of that and I fear for your security, your Highness, Baldr said.

You do not fear for nothing. Assassinations are pretty common. Someone poisoned my father five years ago, Ajatasatru stated.

Baldr knew that Ajatasatru´s father was poisoned. In one morning, he was as healthy as a horse and at the evening he was suddenly dead. There were no signs of external violence in his body. It looked like someone poisoned either his food or his drink. Then that poison killed him, most likely instantly.

You are right. The capital Sjorkross can be a very dangerous place. It is the home city of the Empress Saityr, Baldr noted.

It is a very wealthy city where the sea, four major roads and a navigable river cross each other. It is a very wealthy trade post and the local administration was in charge of Saityr´s family, Ajatasatru said.

Saityr is not willing to give up her throne to anyone except her eldest son, Baldr replied.

As long the Emperor is alive Saityr does not dare to attack any noblemen, Ajasatru said and added: It would make new enemies against her. In addition to that both her and the authorities were obliged to allow every nobleman, who came to see the Emperor Skanda. That oath was sworn in the name of the 12 of our main Gods and violating that oath would enrage the Gods and the clergy likewise.

You believe that Saityr will not dare to attack on you?, Baldr asked.

As long as the Emperor Skanda is alive that will not happen. The situation will change when Skanda dies. Then anything will be possible, Ajatasatru said

A year ago Saityr´s cousin Raktavija was assassinated and that made every kaptaur noble even more paranoid. They generally claim that he was assassinated by a human but the kaptaur nobles are not sure why he was killed. Someone said that he died because he treated humans poorly and other one says that he died because of the plotting among the kaptaur nobles, Baldr said.

That was the most important assassination of the last year. The only thing which is known is that someone killed Raktavija. It looked like the assassin either escaped or vanished, Ajatasatru said.

Yes. I have heard numerous speculations what happened to that assassin. The most daring one claims that he would have escaped to the dark forests in north and then the wild animals have eaten him alive, Bald replied and have a thoughtful look at Ajatasatru.

That would be a fitting end on that assassin, Ajatasatru remarked in a laconic way.

The consequences of that assassination were more important that the fate of the assassin, Baldr said.

You are correct. The relatives of Raktavija claim that an organization of human extremists killed him. In rumours many kaptaur nobles were connected to that murder, Ajatasatru replied and added: According to my spies even I was implicated.

In Baldr´s mind Ajatasatru was the last person who would use assassins during peace time. Ajasatru was known to be a very honourable kaptaur nobleman who strives to rule his kingdom with justice and temperance. He would not gain anything by assassinating Raktavija. Baldr really didn´t believe that Ajatasatru would have assassinated Raktavija. How are you going to response to that invitation? You cannot refuse the Emperor´s invitation without a good reason, Baldr stated.

I know that. I must consider that issue and discuss with my advisers. I cannot make this decision at the moment´s notice, Ajatasatru replied.

This was something Baldr really liked on Ajatasatru. Even though he was the king but he was interested in his advisers´ opinions. It looked like he was planning to have a council with them but before that he liked to see their reactions individually with his eyes. The relations between the Emperor and Ajatasatru were very good because Baldr knew that Ajatasatru´s family did get the title of Marshal of the Empire from the Emperor more than 50 years ago. It meant that at least in theory Ajatasatru was the Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Army and the second most important military officer in Empire after the Emperor. Another issue is that how well will other kaptaur nobles respect that title in practice.

In theory as an Imperial Marshal you are obliged to meet the Emperor when he invites you even if it is not safe, Baldr said.

You are right. That is why I wanted to ask my advisers´ opinions before I am going to make a decision, Ajatasatru replied.

What are you going to do regarding that issue if I may ask, Your Majesty?, Baldr asked.

I have not made a decision yet, Ajatasatru said laconic way.

If you are going to go then the court language you must find. You must show that the Empire has only one mind. Everyone desires power but ambition makes people to instincts lower, Baldr said in the poetic way.

Oh no. I don´t like the court language. It is so impractical, Ajatasatru cursed.

You should improve your skills in the court language and etiquette if you want to travel Sjorkross, Baldr said laughingly.

That could be a good reason to refuse to go, Ajatasatru laughed, hissed and added: Do you remember my family´s motto?

First and foremost, do your duty, Baldr replied.

What does it mean in this situation? What duties do I have? Do I have duties towards the Empire, my kingdom or family?, Ajatasatru asked.

You have duties on each of them, Baldr noted.

True, but which are my first duties?, Ajatasatru asked.

I cannot answer to that directly, Baldr said and thought that Ajatasatru have made a tough question on him.

Even I cannot prioritize my duties instantly, Ajatasatru replied.

That is interesting to hear, Baldr said and added: The real question is that what are you going to do with the Imperial invitation?

I have to think about that. I have not decided what should I do about that, Ajatasatru stated.

I guess you will gather our council to discuss about the issue. The Financial Advisor Bajata, the Marshal Sakti, the High Priest Purohita and the Spymaster Jasusa are the people whose opinions you should ask, Baldr said.

I have discussed with Bajata and Sakti. Both of them were very sceptical, Ajatasatru replied.

What did they say exactly?, Baldr asked.

Neither of them want me to go capital. They say that I will put my life in jeopardy by doing so, Ajatasatru said.

They are right about that. You have not discussed with Purohita or Jasusa?, Baldr noted.

No, I have not. What do you expect that they will say?, Ajatasatru asked.

Purohita will most likely emphasize your duties to the kaptaur gods and to the Imperial family. Jasusa will most likely say that he cannot guarantee your safety, Baldr replied.

You are probably right on that. Bajata and Sakti guessed that you would agree with them and you don´t want me to go to the capital, Ajatasatru said.

That wasn´t very surprising in Baldr´s mind. Those two kaptaurs were very known of being so cautious. Neither of them do not want to jump to the unknown. That was probably the reason they opposed Ajatasatru´s journey to the capital. It would put him in a great danger.

Do you have that message with you?, Baldr asked.

Yes. Here is it, Ajatasatru said and gave the message to Baldr.

Baldr looked at the message and he noticed that there was an Imperial Seal. He has seen that seal so many times. The message itself was quite short:

"The Honourable King of Eastland Ajatasatru

His Imperial Highness, to the capital you are asked to come,

it is our duty to make this request so you cannot stay at home,

the Emperor Skanda waits patiently you at his bed,

it would be good if you arrive before the Emperor would be dead.

The Imperial Secretary Saciva"

Baldr knew Saciva by name because he was in charge of the correspondence of the Eastland kingdom and the capital. According to that he was convinced that the message was genuine. There was a typical court poetry in the message which is only used between the Imperial Court and the client kingdoms. When the kingdoms correspondent with each other they use the normal kaptaur language with alphabets and without poetry. They use the old kaptaur only in religious texts and ceremonies. That language is written in pictograms. Baldr knew that he cannot read the old kaptaur. In practice only the clergy of the 12 kaptaur gods were educated to read it.

That is a legal message, Baldr said.

That is true. It is my duty to obey it, Ajatasatru replied.

If you have decided to obey it then why did you ask my opinion?, Baldr asked.

I wanted to see what dangers could you see if I decided to go capital, Ajatasatru replied.

Then you will have a trick in your mind?, Baldr remarked.

Ajatasatru smiled and concluded: Yes. Now I want to meet my priest Purohita and spymaster Jasusan.

In that case I will go to my office, Baldr said.

I want to meet five of you here in two hours, Ajatasatru ordered.

Understood. I have to do some correspondence. When it is done then I will come here, Baldr replied and bowed very gracefully.

Then Baldr walked from the great hall. Ajatasatru´s Ostburg castle was one of the greatest castles in the kingdom. There was roughly one square kilometre of land inside the castle walls. There was enough food for 10000 soldiers for one year in the castle and the walls which were 10 meters high and 4 meters thick prevented anyone to take the castle quickly. The castle also had very own well for water. The castle was built during centuries and then Eastland was a battlefield between different kaptaur nobles. No one sieged and took the current Ostburg castle. Skanda´s army was able to conquer it a century ago because the soldiers inside opened the gates and allowed them to enter the castle.

Then Baldr walked towards his office. He opened the office door and stepped in. He walked to his desk and sat to his chair. He had to write letters to the nearest large trade cities mayors of Nyrborg and Lykovagr regarding trade and taxation. The cities wanted to lower taxation and to promote trade between them and the Kingdom of Eastland. However, the Kingdom of Eastland needed more tax income and that was the reason to increase taxes on trade as well. Those cities and the Kingdom of Eastland depended on each other. The Kingdom of Eastland exported the basic construction materials like stone and wood. Also, those cities got through Eastland leather, furs and the salted tundra cow meat from the nomads. The trade cities sold luxury goods like wine and silk to the Kingdom of Eastland and to the nomads.

West of the Kingdom of Eastland there was the Kingdom of Forestland. The capital of Forestland was the castle of Morkburg. Skanda was originally the King of Forestland and in that way, he conquered Eastland and gave it to the Ajatasatru´s family in the condition that this family would swear loyalty to him. Baldr reminded himself that Ajatasatru´s family swore loyalty to Skanda who later became to be the Emperor. They didn´t swear loyalty to the Emperor or Skanda´s relatives. It would mean that when Skanda would die, Ajatasatru could swear his loyalty to anyone he chooses.

Who would Ajatasatru swear his loyalty? He definitely would not swear his loyalty to the current Empress Saityr who is a daughter of a merchant family at Sjorkross. That marriage united the continents 12 kingdoms and the coastal cities to the one larger realm. At the same time, it gave the coastal cities an opportunity to occupy coastal cities in the neighbour islands and to become stronger when polarization in this continent ended. The coastal cities like Sjorkross, Lykovagr and Nyrborg have occupied several cities on the neighbour islands coastal regions using mercenaries and have loaned soldiers from different kingdoms as well. Now those cities are very rich and they are using their riches to become stronger and making alliances with other cities and kingdoms, Vidarr reminded himself. During the last 20 years, they have become stronger while the kingdoms have remained very much the same.

In his work Baldr noticed that the time was going so fast. It has been almost two hours when he met Ajatasatru. He has written the letters to Nyrborg and Lykovagr ready. In those letters the Kingdom of Eastland informs them at they will raise the tax level mildly. It would not be wise to increase taxes too much because then there would be a risk that the merchants will avoid Eastland to find new and cheaper trade routes. Eastland needs money because it can barely live with the current level of income and the wealthy merchants from the trade cities can afford to pay some more taxes.

Baldr was satisfied with his letter. They have decided those tax increases a week ago. Now the steward Bajata delivered detailed information about them to Baldr´s desk. Then Baldr wrote the letters in which he informed on the tax increases and the exact focuses as well. They were going to increase taxes on luxury goods. Then Baldr stood from his chair and walked back to the great hall. He saw that the other key members of Ajatasatru administration were already there.

What took so long, Bald?, Ajatasatru asked.

I had to write letters to the trade cities, your majesty, Baldr replied.

Was that about the tax increases we agreed a week ago?, Bajat asked.

Yeah, Baldr replied.

I am sorry that I was able to deliver details on them no sooner than yesterday, Bajata apologized. Bajata was a young kaptaur whose clothes were very luxurious and he loved to be refined. His hair was red as well.

It seems to be that issue is in order, Ajatasatru remarked and added: Now that you have seen that Imperial letter I want to hear your opinions.

Your majesty, you cannot go to the capital, Sakti said. He was the Commanding General of the Armies of the Kingdom of Eastland. He wore a heavy armour and there was a sword in his belt. To emphasize his message, he knocked the ground by using his legs.

The Gods will protect those who will follow the Imperial orders, the High Priest Purohita said and continued: The religious leaders of the capital say that it is the Divine will to follow the orders of the Emperor. Purohita was a kaptaur with a slender body. He was old and he had grey hair.

Can the Gods protect our lord against assassins?, Bajata asked.

They cannot but my spies can supervise the areas near our lord, Jasusa the Spymaster remarked with a confident tone in his voice.

Sakti looked at Jasusa intensively and asked: Do you mean that our lord should travel to the capital?

That is enough, Ajatasatru said and added: I want that you will vote on that issue. If you agree that I should go to capital, then you will say Yes. Otherwise you will say No.

No, said Sakti.

No, added Bajata.

Yes, said Purohita.

Yes, remarked Jasusa.

No, said Baldr and he was the last one to cast his vote.

It seems to be that there are three against and two for, Ajatasatru said and added: It is my duty to go there and that is why I say yes. My plan is to travel there in disguise with two bodyguards while the royal entourage will go there among the coastal road as a decoy. There will be a person pretending to be me in this convoy. I will see you at the capital. Have a very nice journey! Good luck!

Chapter 3, Hebe

A young slender woman with dark hair and dark eyes walked in the nomad camp. She was Hebe, the former administrator of the Colony and new the guest of the nomad tribe the Borgijids. She was wearing the typical nomad leather clothes. She also had small pieces of jewellery in her hands and on her hair. In the Colony, she didn´t wear any jewellery but she has seen the nomad women wearing them and using different kind of decorations. The nomads were going to send a trade expedition to the south on the trade city of Lykovagr. The journey on that direction will be long and they are going to travel there among the river.

The purpose of that trade expedition would be to deliver the skins of tundra cows, furs and salted meat. Also, the nomads planned to buy iron tools and iron weapons. The members of the tribe also most likely intended to buy luxury goods such as cloths and wine. Hebe has spent almost a year among the tribe as their guest and she has seen them wearing practical leather or fur clothes. However, when they celebrated they usually wore beautiful decorative cloths.

Hebe knew that usually the nomad tribes sent larger trade expeditions with people from many tribes to the south. This time the Borgijids would supply the expedition with 100 people and five other tribes would also supply it with 100 men each. It would be safer to travel in large expedition than in small groups. Hebe was told that there were many risks in the journey such as brigands and arbitrary kaptaur nobles who would tax the traders as they see fit. When one would negotiate with them it would be good to have some power behind because then the tax would be lower. The Kaptaurs wanted to collect taxes because for them it was the matter honour. It would be wise to pay them something but with skilful negotiations and strong trade expeditions the payment would be lower. Kaptaurs do not generally want to lose soldiers which means that they may be satisfied with lower tax payments.

The Borgijids have taken tundra cows to carry the trade goods. Now they were loading those trade goods on them. The idea was to carry the bought goods back as well. Hebe was surprised to see another thing which was called as money. She was told that they measure prices of all goods at Lykovagr in gold coins. They also told her that the value of one gold coin was 100 silver coins and one silver coin´s value was 100 copper coins. They added that in Lykovagr values of all goods were measured in that way. Hebe knew that trade was based to the fact the prices of goods were very different in various places. Among the nomads, the price of one tundra cow skin was pretty low but in the trade cities in the south it was quite high because the skins were very desirable trade goods and also quite rare in there.

Hebe assumed that they were going to Lykovagr there were larger markets. It is a large city and they told her that there are about 100000 inhabitants in there, both kaptaurs and humans. It seems to be that some people in there were quite far away. Hebe wondered what kind of place did have housing for 100000 people. She has heard stories on the large white houses in Lykovagr at the coast or next to the river.

Hebe looked around and saw that the nomads continued loading the trade goods on the backs of the tundra cows. They have already loaded a lot of trade goods but they still had some goods to be loaded. Hebe wondered how fast they would be able to make the trade expedition ready to leave and when the tribe´s female leader Todgunj would give the order to leave. According to Hebe the people from other tribes would join the trade expedition outside the Borgijid lands. That was the rule of courtesy and the members of the other tribes gathered at the Borgijid border where they waited for the Borgijids.

Hebe´s role was to be the tribal chief Todgunj ´s servant. Todgunj would lead the trade expedition. The female chief Todgunj was a tall woman with dark hair and blue eyes. She was about 30 years old. Hebe knew that in earlier years she had participated on couple of trade expeditions to the south. She had not led an expedition earlier. When she was away the acting tribal leader would be Avarga who was Todgunj´s leading supporter. He also had dark hair and blue eyes.

Hebe knew that Todgunj wore decorative clothes because she wanted to show that she was the tribal chief. Among the nomads, it was very common to show one´s position to the people that one didn´t know so that they would know who they were dealing with. One of the most important tasks of the tribal chief was to communicate with the ambassadors from other tribes. They told Hebe that the ambassadors usually listened a chief with decorative cloths than a chief with modest cloths and who was reclusive.

Hebe noticed how Todgunj walked and watched carefully when the tundra cows where being loaded. Hebe´s impression was that Todgunj was satisfied observing the loading operation. The trade expedition would have lots of trade goods and carrying those trade goods to the larger markets would give them a lot of money. Todgunj noticed Hebe and approached her.

How are you, Hebe?, Todgunj asked.

I am well. How is the loading proceeding?, Hebe replied.

It is going alright, Todgunj said and added: It will be ready soon.

How are we going to travel in practice? The route goes along the river all the way to the shores of the sea., Hebe asked.

There are smaller towns next to the river. In one of those town we are going to rent boats and we will move trade goods to the boats. Then we will sail to Lykovagr, Todgunj told.

You do not go on foot following the river?, Hebe asked innocently.

It would take too much time. It would also weaken our tundra cows. Some members of the trade expedition will return the tundra cows to the tribe once we have unloaded them, Todgunj explained.

How much does that decrease the size of the trade expedition?, Hebe inquired.

About quarter of us will go back. We will have 50 tundra cows with us and every one of them can carry a weight of 5 full grown men with them. They are all fully loaded, Todgunj replied.

Hebe rapidly evaluated that they had 20 tons of trade goods from the Borgijid tribe alone. The other five tribes would have around 100 tons of trade good altogether. Hebe wondered if this was the largest trade expedition that the nomads have ever sent. That 120 tons of trade goods indicated that they believed that they would sell a lot of stuff even if they would lose some during the journey.

How many kilometres are we going to travel on daily basis?, Hebe asked.

On foot we are going to travel 10 hours per day. I would say that during one day we are going to travel 30 or 40 kilometres depending on the terrain which will be quite flat, Todgunj replied.

How long distance shall we travel on one day using boats?, Hebe inquired.

When we are going towards the downstream we will let the stream move the boats. Then we can travel from dawn to dusk. The speed will also be a bit faster. I would say that we will travel by bots 50 or 60 kilometres per day, Todgunj evaluated.

Are there other advantages using the boats?, Hebe asked curiously.

In the boats, most of the expedition members can rest. The stream will be quite wide and there will not be any waterfalls, Todgunj replied.

It seems to be that they use the river as a trade route quite much, Hebe said.

Yes. That is the main vein of trade and that is why it is so good source of taxation to the kaptaur nobles, Todgunj replied.

How well do the kaptaurs tolerate the nomads?, Hebe asked.

For kaptaurs we are the source of income. They will tax our trade expeditions but that taxation will also increase the prices of our trade goods at the destination, Todgunj explained.

Doesn’t that mean that there will not be available furs, skins or meat at the destination?, Hebe remarked.

Yes. Generally large expeditions are rare. During the spring and the summer couple of expeditions will travel there, Todgunj told.

Hebe thought that the distances were very long. The nomads will not large expeditions often to do trading because the demand of the large size was difficult to achieve. The expedition should also have enough furs, meat and skins that the expedition would be profitable. It would make no sense to send a small expedition with just couple of skins and furs because that kind of expedition would be easily robbed. Larger expeditions were the safest way to transport trade goods.

Do you have all you need for the journey with you?, Todgunj asked.

Yes. I am ready, Hebe said. Then Todgunj left and walked to inspect the tundra cows and their cargoes.

Hebe didn´t have much to carry. She had to carry her clothes with jewellery, her hygiene tools and her scanner which was hidden. Only couple of people knew that she had a scanner with her. She got one from the Colony and it would be useful making notes. That was the reason why she asked to have one of them with her. The members of the Colony visited the nomads many times during the last almost a year.

Hebe was excited about the journey so that she could make observations for the Colony. She was convinced that those observations would be useful for the Colony in a long run. It would be good for the Colony to gather information from the surrounding world and both opportunities and threats. Perhaps the Colony can exploit the information which Hebe will gather in some way. That would be very good indeed. Hebe assumed that people have always been curious to some degree.

Hebe knew that it would be better to be a nomad outside because outsiders would consider her as a nomad. If someone would realize that she is something else. then there could be a flurry of awkward questions. Hebe would be very reluctant to answer to those questions. That could be a way which would expose the Colony. That