Old Mates

Aliyah and Kayuba were sitting at the verandah, looking at the flowers. Bayu was eating a chocolate bun and was sipping tea. Aliyah asked, "How much can I trust you?" Kayuba asked, "Excuse me?" Aliyah said grimly, "I asked how much can I trust you guys. Demons have always been notorious for their deceit. I have already taken a huge risk by trusting you guys and now if you switch sides, I will be doomed." Kayuba smiled, "Doomed? Who can doom the mighty Aliyah?" Aliyah smiled, "I am not almighty now. All my friends now see me as a mad woman who has ego, arrogance, and bad manners. If anyone gets to know that I have affiliated myself with demons, then things will worsen even more." Kayuba asked, "Are you ashamed of our relationship?" Aliyah said, "Don't get me wrong, Kayuba. But, Xao Chang is also not going to tolerate your insolence too." Kayuba sighed, "Bayu and I have left Xao Chang and the Monastery way back earlier. Now, thinking about them or any consequences is immoral. But, you have to answer whether you trust us or not?" Aliyah said, "I don't know what to do and what to not do. Everything is happening exactly opposite to what I predicted. Alice is unavailable and now two enemies are ready to pound us down." Kayuba smiled, "Bayu and I will manage the ogres. You guys finish your job in Namaria. The ogres won't even know what hit them." Aliyah smiled, "I pray that your words come true." Bayu rose and said, "We should go now. It is almost evening and we should not be absent in our rental house." Kayuba smiled and said, "We should take our leave now. We will meet you on the day of the war." Kayuba and Bayu disappeared in a red mist. Aliyah sighed, "I cannot trust these jokers too much. I have to call my old friends for additional help." She smiled and disappeared in purple smoke.

Aliyah was walking alone through the vast jungles of the Dailo Mountains when three female soldiers stopped her. Aliyah smiled, "I am here to meet your leader, Daina. Tell her it's me, Aliyah. Princess of Elf Kingdom." The female soldiers laughed and looked at her. One of the female soldiers laughed, "Princesses aren't allowed to come. Dancing on soft feet and giggling at the silly jokes of young and handsome princes, royal princesses have no job in the rough and dangerous forest of the Dailo Mountains. Daina won't meet idiots like you." Aliyah laughed, "You call me an idiot. You three are barely twenty years old and you are capable enough to judge someone? Fine. Test me." One of the female soldiers said, "You don't have to do anything extraordinary. Just tell me what is the ancient name of the Dailo Mountains and why was it changed?" Aliyah smiled, "The old name of Dailo Mountains is Mount Rajjas. Rajjas was a popular warlord and found this mountain when he conquered the old city of Namaria fifteen thousand years ago. But, during the First War, the old sages changed to the Dailo Mountains because they didn't think it was right to name a mountain after a brutal person. Dailo is the name of one of the oldest principles of Ancient Elf Kingdom." Daina laughed, "Same as always. Aliyah is the best." Aliyah looked at Daina and laughed, "How are you, old friend?" She hugged her and smiled. Daina said, "I thought that I wouldn't see you ever again in my life. But, here you are." Aliyah smiled, "Times are changing. Palaces have to come in forests for their survival." Daina said, "I have heard about your problem, Aliyah. But, unfortunately, I cannot participate in the war. Dailo Mountains represent knowledge and peace. Wars and violence are not allowed here." Aliyah said, "Tranquility comes only after revolution. Dailo Mountains will also be in danger if Kystion and Kavana succeed in their motives. Dailo Mountains have a very rich vegetation and any intruder will never leave such treasure." Daina sighed, "You always bring trouble along with you. Our military is negligible in comparison to the vast ogre army. We are skilled in guerrilla tactics but open battlefield war is not our forte. We are not going to be able to help you completely." Aliyah smiled, "I don't need your army, Daina. I need your wisdom. Kavana has Kystion, Licha has Halidesus and Vexana has Elgin. But, I am all alone. I need you to be beside me." Daina said, "I cannot leave Dailo and come with you. Just like you, I have responsibilities here which I cannot forfeit." Aliyah said, "I will not force you to come with me if you don't want to. But, remember that you might not be the best warrior, but you are the wisest woman I know. If your wisdom rescues Dailo Mountains from an imperious warlord, I don't see any harm in it." Daina smiled, "You and your clever ploys will never cease. Fine. I will think about it. Now, go." Aliyah asked, "What do you mean by "go"? I'm your guest." Daina smiled, "A guest never brings business at home. Go away and come when you want to meet your old mate." Aliyah smiled, "At least, give me a glass of watermelon juice." Daina sighed, "Fine. You can come." Aliyah and Daina entered the Dailo village.

Aliyah looked at the house and said, "Your house has changed quite a lot since the last time I visited." Daina smiled, "The last time you visited my house was not even built. Father always wanted us to live in the ancestral house deep inside the Dailo Valley, but after Krymon killed him we decided to move here. I wanted to avenge my father's death, but you killed him earlier." Aliyah said, "Krymon was a very bad man but he was trained by Kystion. Therefore, killing Kystion will be much more of a tribute to your father." Daina said, "I'm not worried about the war. Dailo Mountains are still quite far from any raider's eyes. I'm more worried about the internal war here. After my father's death, my uncle and his wife claimed dominance on the old house. We were helpless and had to leave that house to survive. We worked hard and build this house without sufficient money and resources and now when we are finally becoming a little rich and happy, my uncle is trying to capture this house also. The army that we have here are for that upcoming war and not to protect us from foreign invaders." Aliyah smiled, "Domestic fights don't scare me. I have seen thousands of such small scuffles between families all my life. Your uncle and his wife will not be able to do anything once you claim ownership on Elf Kingdom. Vexana and Elgin re planning on going to the mortal world and I think you will be a perfect person to become the new queen of Elf Kingdom. Then, you can make Dailo Mountains your province and no one would dare to do anything." Daina asked, "Why are Vexana and Elgin planning to go to the mortal world? What's wrong in staying here?" Aliyah narrated the whole incident to Daina. Daina sighed, "They are right to think about such a drastic change. Even though, going to the mortal world won't change anything at all. They are elves and surviving between humans will not be an easy task at all, especially if they decide to stay amongst them. That is their personal choice and I won't say anything further. But, I cannot succeed Vexana as the queen of the Elf Kingdom. I'm not of royal blood and the elves will not be happy with me becoming their queen. I cannot accept your request." Aliyah said, "Fine. We will decide the queen after the war. For now, I have to return to the palace." Aliyah rose and hugged Daina and disappeared in purple smoke.

Kystion, Kavana, Nakamura, Assayah and Kenchi were sitting at the dining table and eating food. Nakamura swallowed his food and said, "Thanks for inviting us. We are happy that you have agreed to take our help." Kavana smiled, "We had to. It is better to befriend the powerful than to make them an enemy." Nakamura smiled, "Wise words. But, how are you going to reward us for our help?" Kavana said, "Name what you want and you will get it." Nakamura gulped down wine and said, "Master Xao Chang is not happy with the way the Elf Kingdom is now. There should be no prosperity or any sort of tranquility in this vile land. We would like you guys to come to the Monastery and join us in watching the complete destruction of the Elf Kingdom. It's high time that we destroy every fucking trace of our arch enemies." Kystion asked, "What about our people who have spent their entire life buliding their homes? Where would they go?" Kenchi smiled, "Sir Kystion. There will always be some collateral damage here and there. It is unavoidable. Think about the glorious times that are waiting for you in the Monastery. Xao Chang himself will bestow you with the position of the new commander of his ogre army." Kavana asked, "His ogre army"? Nakamura smiled, "Yes. All armies will be together. There will be no ogre or demon. Only soldiers." Kavana said, "But, won't be much better if we stay here and create an epitome of our victory?" Nakamura smiled, "Epitomes can be made anywhere and anytime. Victors write history and we are fucking creating history. Once, we have the Blood Spear, nothing will be different. We will all be heroes. Don't you want to be heroes?" Kystion smiled, "I have heard these words several times. Tell me your real intention." Kenchi smiled, "The only real intention is to defeat the elves and bring Xao Lin in this world." Kystion asked, "Why do you want Xao Lin to come?" Nakamura smiled, "Because his appearance will mark a new era. Xao Lin has been imprisoned under the Mountains of Blood Temple. If we stop the Blood ritual and kill the bearer of the Spear, Xao Lin will become powerful once again and no mountain or temple can stop him." Kavana said, "I don't feel much assurance in your plans. You guys are too much superstitious." Nakamura smiled, "Doesn't matter. We are more powerful and you guys need us to be at your side." Kystion smiled, "Yes. Mutual cooperation is key to successful ventures. We will attack the Elf Kingdom after two weeks." Nakamura smiled, "Good. I will tell Xao Chang to send some of my friends here." Kavana asked, "Which friends?" Nakamura smirked, "It will be a surprise for you guys." Nakamura, Kenchi and Assayah disappeared in red mist. Kystion looked at Kavana and said grimly, "I'm not getting a good feeling about them." Kavana sighed, "It doesn't matter. Nakamura is right. They are more powerful than us and we need them whether we like them or not. Call Libitina and tell her to call the army from my home. If Nakamura brings his friends, no one will be safe." Kavana walked outside the room. Kystion sighed and sat down to finish his lunch.

Aliyah returned to the palace and saw Vexana was sitting on her bed. Aliyah asked, "What's the matter? Why are you sitting here?" Vexana rose and coughed a little and said, "I heard from someone that you visited Dailo Mountains a couple of hours ago." Aliyah smiled, "Yes. I went to meet Daina. She called me to show me her new house." Vexana smiled, "Of course, she did. But, still you won't go to Dailo Mountains all of a sudden without any reason. I also heard that some unidentified people were present in your room four hours ago." Aliyah asked angrily, "Are you spying on me, Vexana?" Vexana sighed, "I don't have to spy on you, Aliyah. You are already quite renowned for being a troublesome person. Everyone stays alert around you. One of the maids heard you talking loudly inside your room. She didn't recognise the people but from what she heard, you were plotting something with them. So, what are you plotting, Aliyah?" Aliyah smiled, "How can you believe the words of some stupid maid? These people are not knowledgeable and imagines everything and exaggerates it meaninglessly." Vexana said grimly, "I would have ignored the maid's words but your sudden trip to Dailo Mountains has raised suspicion in my mind. I don't know what game you are trying to play but remember one thing that unity is the most important thing right now. If you don't trust us completely and share all details frankly, then things will surely get murky. Our enemies are waiting for such opportunities and we have to be extra careful in every step." Vexana disappeared in turquoise smoke. Aliyah sighed, "You talk about unity. But, you are the one who has broken the unity. Hypocrisy and stupidity has surrounded all of my friends and only I haven't been infected by this disease. Be it demons or be it savages like Daina, whoever can help me, I will readily approach them." She disappeared in purple smoke.....