subject: KINGDOM OF AIDNI TSAE: Chapter 1 - Seven Stags of Aidni Tsae [print this page] It was spring 1588 in the land of Niatirb Taerg, the air was dry and cool. Leaves and flowers were sprouting from the trees and the plants. The forest was full of life and the winds were whistling an enchanting song. Seven red deer stags were trotting in unison with their antlers pointed forward as if going for battle. They looked magnificent in their aristocratic attire. The otter trimmings of their clothes covering their fleshy well nourished bodies reflecting their wealth and noble social status. Each had a one-handed, slender, double-edged rapier with swept hilts to protect their hooves hanging by their side.
Nhoj Sknab their leader, asked authoritatively," gentlemen are you ready for the audience with our queen?"
There was excitement in the tone of their reply which was almost a victory cry, "yes! We are ready."
"Remember my friends what we have agreed on and let me do the talking."
Again, their jubilant reply was unanimous," yes Nhoj Sknab!"" Yes Nhoj Sknab!"
In each of their minds, they were replaying their recent discussions on the formation and objectives of Aidni Tsae. Oh yes! It is not just going to be the pursuit of commercial objectives involving the trading of spices, cotton, silk, indigo dyes and opium. It is about monopolistic trading and political colonization. It is going to turn them from mere noble merchants of Niatirb Taerg into governors and rulers over rulers, with the powers of life and death over the local population in faraway exotic lands. It is going to create untold wealth that would feed their families for many generations to come. It is going to give them more political power in Niatirb Taerg. As they continued trotting, the sound of the cobblestones under their hooves re-sounded their determined and purposeful walk to fulfill their destiny which they have planned for themselves.
As the group neared a tee-junction, they found themselves facing a six foot high wall of blackthorn shrubs that has been skillfully grown and weaved to form a formidable barrier. Yet at the same time, this thorny wall was laden with grape-like berries ready for the picking. Either side of thorny wall stretched in a straight line until disappearing into the tree-line of the temperate forest. In the middle of the wall, was a huge arched wooden door reinforced with iron bars that had a smaller gate built into it, which was so narrow that only one stag could pass through it at a time. Crouched in front of the doorway in a menacing poise were three huge bulldogs whose growls was getting louder as the stags got nearer to them. They wore body armors and had an assortment of weapons including axes, lances, swords and daggers.
One bull dog from the middle of the group jumped forward almost in the face of Nhoj Sknab. Nhoj Sknab stood his ground, unflinching, with his eyes scanning all three bulldogs. "Who are you? Why you are here," roared the bulldog that stood in front of his face? The bulldog was so close to Nhoj Sknab that he was repulsed by its foul breath. At the same time, Nhoj Sknab noticed that the other two bulldogs were getting ready to pounce on his friends. Ignoring the stench,
Nhoj Sknab replied in a firm voice," we are noble merchants from the Aidni Tsae Company. We have an audience with her majesty, queen Htebazile."
The lead bulldog looked at his mates and shouted," stop!"
They froze just as they were about to pounce on the stags.
"I am Ttekceb, the captain of the guards. Gentlemen, I am sorry for our defensive stance but we have our orders to examine all, even nobles like you. This is because there has been a recent plot on her majesty's life. Now, can I see the confirmation of acceptance document giving you audience with her majesty?"
Nhoj Sknab immediately pulled out the royal document from his inner pouch and gave it to Ttekceb. After he looked at it, he said, "wait here while I go to consult my superiors about your audience."
As Ttekceb left, the other two bulldogs closed-in to block the doorway entrance with their eyes still fixed on them. They crouch with their muscled and bristling bodies touching each other with an alertness that clearly gave unnerving warning to the stags to keep their distance.
Nhoj Sknab led his friends to the shade of a nearby oak tree facing the bulldogs but out of their earshot. As Nhoj Sknab sat down comfortably, looking at the bulldog soldiers, he commented almost in pity but there was no missing-out of the coldness of his sarcasm.
"How faithful are these mindless dogs? They do their master's bidding even if it cost them their lives just for the leftover bones."
The other stags laughed. Yeldud, the oldest stag among the group gave a mock cry in pain while holding his heart," Ah!" " Ah!" "Nhoj Sknab, I didn't know that you cared so much for our tools for death."
Nhoj Sknab gave a quick smug look at Yeldud before turning his glance back to the direction of the gate.
Nodsnuh, the practical stag said, "it is good to have more mindless dogs like them or else how are we going to become rulers in faraway lands."
The other stags nod in agreement. Nhoj Sknab smiles and in his heart he is glad to have Nodsnuh as his number two in command. But yet he knows each of his friends well enough not to trust his life to them.
Yelhgrub, the pessimistic stag asked Nhoj Sknab, "do you think our queen Htebazile will be willing to listen about our plans for the forming and objectives of Aidni Tsae?"
Nhoj Sknab laughed loudly which got sneering stares from the two bulldogs guarding the gate. "Yelhgrub! We are having an approval audience with queen Htebazile and not an audience for discussion."
" What! Can you explain further please," cried Yelhgrub looking a bit confused?
Nhoj Sknab looked pleased with himself when he turns his gaze on Yelhgrub." Well my friend, I believe in being proactive. So I have already negotiated six months ago with the Droffats the fox who is the royal counsellor for queen Htebazile. It's a done deal."
"What the hell!" cried all of the five stags in unison." Why didn't you tell us the actual news?"
Nodsnuh waved his hoofs to calm the five stags. Nodsnuh said, "Nhoj Sknab didn't tell you all for security purpose. He didn't want one of you to blurt out of excitement about our negotiations with the queen to the wrong persons out there. It's for our good."
The five stags calmed down and started congratulating Nhoj Sknab on his proactive initiative and leadership. Even though they were glad to have him as their leader but deep in their hearts, they distrusted Nodsnuh and him. A stag that call the queen's soldiers as mindless dogs is incapable of true animality. They make a mental note to be careful.
Reading the faces of his so-called friends, Nhoj Sknab knows that they don't trust him. He doesn't trust them either. There is no trust lost among thieves. But for now, they must stick together as the seven stags of Aidni Tsae.
KINGDOM OF AIDNI TSAE: Chapter 1 - Seven Stags of Aidni Tsae
