STEEL AND FLESH

FAMILY OF CANNIBALS

"Um yes I can remember only a few - why do you think this men might be working for king Brothlander?"

"I have to investigate every suspect I can, I have ordered a thorough search of the residences of my noblemen including my barons."

"Wow. this is serious." Lord Garthine Polion said. "yes it is uncle - and those men of yours, you uncle will find them and lead us to them, we will investigate them and see if they are guilty."

"Okay I am fine with that but you have to let me handle this investigation myself if not you will not get a single word from them. that is if they are the spies you speak of."

King Lauihnio stared at him for a while. "Okay you do it your own way but I want the whole process to go smoothly."

"I give you my word it would go well." Lord Mordian assured him.

"I so cannot wait for things to get back to normal again." King Lauihnio said trying to imagine the good years that the Bauthinians experienced before the news of king Brothlander, even before the joint campaign.

Lord Mordian heaved a sigh. "We all pray so too."

"However uncle, when the Envoys came to inform us about King Brothlander there was a certain man, an Elerian with Bauthinian roots - he spoke so confidently about our history, stories I never heard from any of the scholars and cytix priest that tutored me." king Lauihnio said.

"What tales did he tell then?"

"He talked about the times we knew no peace, he spoke of the times when our men knew nothing other than steel and blood - uncle is this the truth?"

Lord Mordian looked downwards holding his chin. "who told you those tales?"

"Bongan Rodbar." King Lauihnio replied instantly.

Lord Mordian nodded his head like something just occurred to him. "Bongan Rodbar eh - that man is more Bauthinian in the soul than he is Elerian." He said. "He was my comrade - and my student. You see you are not the only one to have learnt the art of weilding the sword from me." King Lauihnio looked alarmed.

"So you are trying to tell me that those tales are true, including the battle of Brondwaz?"

"Every single one of them, including the part Nagan was cooked alive." Though king Lauihnio was surprised he tried to contain his feelings even when this was not the first time he heard such tale. "So our people were cannibals?"

"Our warriors were, you have no choice when as a result of war you are forced to get used to the sight of human flesh and blood instead of freshly cooked oxen to make your day with the bossoms of a maid to rest on."

King Lauihnio smiled. "uncle I have a secret I want to tell you, only one man in this world is aware of."

"Garthine Polion?" Lord Mordian pointed towards Lord Garthine Polion's direction.

"Yes Garthine Polion."

"You know your relationship with Garthine Polion reminds me of the times I served your father, great Oridon he was so argumentative and hard to please - many a time I thought of smacking him on the arse."

"Was he a good swordsman?" king Lauihnio asked.

"The most terrible swordsman I ever set my eyes on, he couldn't swing a sword or weapon without hurting himself." Lord Mordian chuckled. "So what is this little secret of yours?"

King Lauihnio looked straight into the eyes of his uncle then took a deep breath and exhaled. "Promise me you would not speak of it to anyone."

"I swear by Oridon's mace not a word will come out." he partially raised his hands.

"I fancy human flesh - I am a cannibal uncle." Lord Mordian raised his eyebrows and opened his mouth in extreme surprise. he stood up from his seat and moved to King Lauihnio. "You are what?" he asked in disbelief. "I don't know the desire just came up in me and I couldn't resist it." Lord Garthine Polion faced downwards in shame.

Lord Mordian turned away and gave up a sad smile. "So you also have the curse."

King Lauihnio looked confused. "what curse?" He asked.

"Oh you don't know - your father, your grand father and your great grandfather all had the desire for human flesh - including me." Fortunately for your father and grandfather their reign was peaceful meaning the sight of blood and human flesh was rare." He turned to King Lauihnio.

"What of you, you don't sound so fortunate. It seems like you are more like an animal given all the blood you spilled while fighting in the name of the Elerian crown."

"Yes I am a terrible cannibal - I have eaten human flesh both fresh and cooked." he paused. "I drank human blood." he continued. King Lauihnio tried to express how surprised he was, he tried to speak but no word came out. "The many deaths I brought on both men and women affected me, I heard voices in my head, I couldn't sleep, the ghosts of those that perished by my sword haunted me - I planned on committing suicide, but you saved me." tears rolled down from his cheek. "You see the first time I carried you in my arms, you smiled at me, I was filled with joy and happiness - I smiled back at you, it was the first time I ever smiled since your grandfather sent me to Eleria. Before I got married you gave me a reason to live, to love even when I was already a savage beast."

King Lauihnio began to sob. "I always looked forward to returning to Laoia to meet you, to spend time with you - Lauihnio my boy." He smiled at him.

King Lauihnio moved to his uncle and hugged him. "I love you uncle and I would always love you uncle - you always understood me even when no one else would, now I know I am not alone in this struggle, with this curse." King Lauihnio continued sobbing.

"You are not alone, till the day I die you will always be my boy." Lord Garthine Polion on his part felt some pity for Lord Mordian, he however regretted despising him.

"I leave with you this minute and you seize to be a prisoner - we are going to work together and we will get this spies." He held his uncle's face. "Together we will defend Bauthinia." He said.

"I am glad that my dream of spilling blood for my country will soon come to pass. we will slash their throats, sever their heads and spill their guts and the both of us will move far to the hilltops away from our men and we will feast on their flesh." Lord Mordian said putting up a sinister smile.

Lord Mordian was released and he entered the same carriage with King Lauihnio and Lord Garthine Polion which was bound for the palace.