Bells rang throughout the city as Karik finally returned to Khuykir. The empress was dead, after five weeks of medical struggle. She had been killed by the assassin Zakra had killed at the Jakliai Banquet. Karik had received the news on the boat back to Imtashnu. He had then taken a keelboat up the River Khun.
Karik sat on the boat as it strolled through the river. They were almost at Khuykir, just not quite. The River Khun was a lazy river, and they actually had to speed up using steam engines and water wheels. They only had another day on the boat until they were in Khuykir. Karik was leaning against a railing on the top deck near the quarter-deck at the back of the boat. The keelboat was fairly short, only about thirty feet across from end-to-end. The top deck was about fifteen feet across, the quarterdeck was ten feet, and the forecastle --at the front of the boat-- was five. The boat didn't have any sails, because the Kanfut engineers didn't seem to realize that having the sails would make everything much faster.
Instead, the boat went semi-fast with steam-powered water wheels. the water of the rivers is picked up by the wheel and carried into the steam engine where it is boiled in a large pot over hot coals. The steam then caused various contraptions to move around in the engine and it would push the paddle causing it to repeat the process. Karik had actually asked Rupred Kanfut about it when the engines hit the market and that was the explanation he had given. Karik made his way down the hatch and into the main deck below.
Karik looked around for a game of Halmai. He knew how to play the game, and was fairly decent at it. So, he thought to wait out the time. Karik still had
Karik found a game with an old man who had several dozen stacks of platinum coins piled up in front of him. "This table free?" Karik asked, "Do you see a man at that chair?" The crotchety old man asked. He had balding grey hair, with a thin beard of the same color. His skin was Salkin and his eyes were green. Karik sat down, "I'm white stones, you're black. I start." The man placed six Salms in the bowl to Karik's right. Karik placed six Salms in the bowl. The old man went first, placing a thin, white, stone of circular shape on the board.
The board had dark vertical and horizontal lines. At the crosspoints, there were small circles where stones could be placed. Coming out of the small circles were diagonal lines, the same color as the others connecting to other circles. There were nine rows of circles. Every odd-numbered row had five circles at the intersections of diagonal lines. Every even-numbered row had four circles at the intersections of all lines. This meant there were forty circles to place and move stones around. The old man had placed the piece in the middle of the first row.
There were three types of stones. The thin, round, pieces were peasants. They couldn't move but connected together as one big piece. If peasants were surrounded orthogonally, horizontally and vertically, they could be taken for extra points. The thick, round, pieces were infantry. They were able to move orthogonally or diagonally, leaving a trail of peasants wherever they move from. Infantry units were unable to take pieces. If an infantry piece was surrounded orthogonally or diagonally, it would be instantly taken. A taken infantry piece was worth two points. Finally, there were the thick, cube pieces called brutes. Brutes were able to move orthogonally and could take pieces by moving on to their circle and taking them for extra points. You could only take a brute if it was surrounded diagonally. In that case, the brute would instantly be taken, worth three points.
Karik picked up a black infantry piece and placed it in the bottom-right of the board, one circle to the left of the corner. The old man placed a peasant diagonally down and to the left. The old man wore a smile on his face, he probably thought Karik was inexperienced. Karik placed an infantry piece diagonally down and to the left of the old man's second peasant. The old man frowned.
He placed a peasant diagonally down and to the right. Karik placed a brute orthogonally down and moved his infantry diagonally down and to the left. The old man was deep in thought. "Have you ever lost a game?" Karik asked, "Not on this ship," the man said. The old man placed another peasant diagonally down and to the left of his last piece. His smile returned but did not last long. Karik moved his brute and took the peasant orthogonally up. Karik placed a peasant diagonally up and to the right.
The man had a look realization, and the game progressed. After an hour, the old man had captured the bottom-right side of the board, and Karik had captured the top-left side of the board, with two peasants and a brute from left-to-right. To the direct right of the brute was the old man's peasant. Finally, there was a peasant two spaces diagonally up and to the right. It was Karik's turn.
Throughout the game, the old man was cocky. He occasionally would brag about his prowess in the game and even raised the ante one time. He had bet an additional six Salms. Karik took the peasant on the brute's right, and placed a peasant where the brute had been. This captured the old man's piece diagonally up and to the right of the brute. It also captured every piece the old man had on the bottom half of the board. The old man held out his hand, "I yield," he said. Karik shook his hand and took the Salms into the coin purse. Karik had captured all thirteen of the man's pieces and captured fourteen circles. Just then, as the sound of bells grew its loudest, the ship stopped moving.
Karik was back at Khuykir.
Karik walked into Zhala Tower. He was finally back in Khuykir at his tower. He would have work to do though. Karik suspected Su'i was a spy, he would need to fire her. Karik would then need a new assistant. A nobleman without an assistant was an extremely busy nobleman. Lastly, he would need to write a letter to the mercenaries in Zhrulaz. Those mercenaries were waiting on a letter to conquer the Kuy Mishin Province.
Karik walked up to Su'i, "Welcome back master, I hope your trip to Shinkil was good," she said. "Yes, it was," Karik said, "although there is something I need to discuss with you." Su'i looked concerned at Karik's tone. "What is it?" Su'i asked. "I have learned information that has lead me to a conclusion," he said, "I am afraid I have to fire you." Su'i's expression did not change, "I will gather my things," she said while walking into the elevator. Su'i knew that she would have a hard time finding a job as an assistant if word spread she broke down after being fired. Handling it this way, Karik knew, was best for her.
Karik watched as Su'i carried a large wooden crate of items out of the elevator and then the tower door. He stepped into the elevator himself. When the elevator reached the penthouse, Karik sat at his desk. It was a maple wood desk with a small drawer on the inside. Tomorrow, he would hire a new assistant. Right now, Karik would write the letter. He took out his pen and scroll, a jar of ink already on the desk. Karik then started to write.
To the mercenary captains Talib, Kuesi, and Kistry,
You must attack now. As you are receiving this, it is the perfect time to strike at the Kuy Mishin Province. Send your armies east to Mishn. There, declare that all who submit will be treated with mercy. All those that continue to support the Jakliai scum shall be treated with fury.
In Zhala Tower,
By Karik Zhala's hand
Karik finished the letter with his signature and moved on. He took the small book out of his pocket and opened it up to another passage. He needed some broth to go alongside this. "Su'i!" He called out. A force of habit. Karik got up and told one of the servants to bring him some broth. The servant rushed to get him this, going into the elevator, and down a floor. Karik grabbed the book off of his desk, and sat in his chair, finger holding the page. Soon after, the servant came back with his soup broth and Karik began reading.
The Game of Halmai originates in Zhrulaz, made by an unknown person around nine centuries into the Third Era. It was not only fun, but practical. The game itself could be used as a test of seeing a war as one big battle. Merchants eventually brought the game to Salktum in the late Fourth Era, where it became an art all knights and rulers must know. The game eventually became popular in pubs and parlours as it spread, being especially popular in the area surrounding Khuykir. The game even sparked the interest of poets.
Around one thousand years into the Third Era, King Mashoen II of Silzhuai commissioned the Epic of Haluymai. It was an epic poem fifty-thousand words long using the game of Halmai as an allegory. Every stanza was predated by what move the player performed. The poem was about a warlord named Hauylmai who is surrounded by his enemies. As a last stand, his ogres clear the way for his army to flee. It then details his various battles, both successes and failures. At the end of the poem, the warlord finds himself on the other side, surrounding an army; only to be pushed through by ogres. What follows is a sample from the beginning of the poem.
Brute takes infantry to its right, "Tell me, oh warlord, how did you break through that mighty wall of men and magic?" Right as the battle was near fallen, And the men fell like flies. One man, Haluymai, led his people through. He took them to the east, leading one last charge. The largest of his troops led the way, The mighty ogre fortress, with great walls atop its back, Broke through the enemy and let us flee. From there they chased, not letting us go. Through mountains, rivers, and trees, they hunted. But when we had reached our great walls, The great castle on the silver river. What few remained hid inside, And the enemy that chased us, finally stopped. Karik fell asleep right after he finished the passage.
Karik waited outside the tower for applicants to come arriving. He'd had servants put job posters all over the city for a new assistant. Today, Karik would interview some. After a few minutes, a line formed. There were only two people a human and a Kalmgy. First, was one of the humans. Karik rode the elevator up to the penthouse, where he would wait for the applicants.
The first applicant walked into the penthouse, marveling at the penthouse. "I am here for the assistant application?" He asked, "Yes, come on in." Karik said. "Resumé?" He asked. The man handed a small piece of paper to him. The man's name was Tas Narul, he was from Imtashnu and previously worked for the Valazim. That was a disqualifier. "Looking at your resumé, you worked for the Valazim?" Karik asked, "Yes, for a branch family called the Vatzalim." Tas explained.
"I will keep you on file," Karik said, "Next!" He called. Tas rode down the elevator. Soon after, a short Kalmgy man came out of the elevator.
The mushroom man had a light blue cap with lime green spots dotted on it. He wore a wispy grey beard. "I am Jukumutamaka'ilusamantaporusantaroeqa, but I am also called Juku." He said. That name was a lot to take in. Juku was not a lot though, so Karik made sure to remember that one. "Here is my resumé," Juku said, handing Karik a piece of paper. The thing was extensive. He had served almost half of the many minor houses and was fiercely loyal.
"This is some amazing work you've done. I have one question though."
"Which is?"
"Why did you stop working at each one."
"I'm going to be honest with you, I deliberately got myself fired. I worked my way to the best minor house, and now a major house."
"I see." Karik put the papers down on his desk. "Well, I see you chose the best one."
"I did." Karik held out his hand towards Juku,
"You're hired." Juku immediately shook his hand. "Thank you."
"I'll be in touch."
The small mushroom walked out of the room. That wasn't hard. Now for the next order of business. Hessan Kassald.
Karik walked into Belfry Kassald. He had one more thing he had to do. The room hadn't changed much since his last visit, but soon the whole tower would be his. Jumu walked up to him as he entered. "Hello, Governer Zhala." He said.
"Hey Jumu, is Hessan available?"
"Yeah, no one's been visiting him because of the injury. Go on ahead." Karik walked into the elevator. The ride was short, but during that time Karik thought about what he would do. His plan for the meeting. Karik twiddled around with a knife. He needed it in case things went south. The elevator finished with his plan complete. Now it was time to execute it.
Hesan sat in his chair, with one leg on a stool and the other on the ground. The leg on the stool had a large amount of bandaging on it, with his toes just barely peeking out of it.
"Governor Kassald! Good to see you, how's your leg?"
"It's bad, but healing. Should be done in no time."
"What's this meeting for?" Karik sat down in the guest chair.
"Well, I need you to do something for me. It is very important, and the fate of my political career is on the line."
"What is it?"
"I need you to renounce yourself as heir to the throne." Hessan's face changed completely from joyous to stern.
"Karik- Governor Zhala- I can't do that. You know my political career hangs on that too. I may be injured, but I can't give up this powerful ability-" Hesan was cut off by Karik stabbing him in the free leg. He let out a yell of pain. "What did you do that for?" He yelled. "If you aren't going to give me the heirship, I have to take it. I will take it, your lands, and your tower." Karik locked eyes with Hesan. Karik stabbed Hesan again. The knife went through his eye. He stabbed it through the other eye, and then into his head. Hesan still had some life in him. Karik started to walk away but looked back briefly at the dying Hesan.
