Agur Suhi stared at him with his eyes wide open. "Dan …"
Jusha Lale sighed. He reached out with his other hand as well, clasping Agur Suhi’s between his. "I know that this is much to ask. Especially on such short notice. But what else can I do? Please, promise me that you will do this. At the very least, for a while. If you really do not feel up to this, you can choose somebody else afterward. But just for the time being."
Hearing the dan repeat his words, Agur Suhi was even more agitated. "But dan! Where are you going that you would consider such a thing? You’re merely twenty-four years old. There’s no reason for you to think of … such things."
Jusha Lale took back his hands and straightened up. "I have thought it through. There is not enough information to enable the zhireng to defeat the demon. I do not have the blessing of the gods in the same way he has so I cannot help much. In this case, the only thing I can do is going with him to be the demon’s bait.
"It might not necessarily work but it will heighten our chances by a large margin. I … I cannot deny that I am a little afraid of death. But as the king, it is my duty to do everything for my people. If the chances are the highest like this, then I will do it."
Agur Suhi looked at him without knowing what to say. He tried to speak up a few times but no words wanted to come out. Finally, he hurriedly shook his head and then cleared his throat. "Dan, no! I know you want the best for the people but that can never be you having to pay with your life. Your people need you. Now more than ever. If you were gone … the chaos that would ensue would be even worse than when the demon appeared."
Jusha Lale gave him a faint smile. "Thank you for thinking so highly of me. I know I wasn’t always regarded like this. So hearing you say this before I have to go really makes me feel better. I guess that despite the fact that I only had a few years as king, I must’ve done something right.
"Anyway, I have already decided. The demon might cause everyone to lose their lives. Even if they can escape with it intact, they will lose their homes. As the king, how can I let that happen?
"Don’t worry. I will write an edict so that nobody will doubt your words when you say that you are the one I asked to take over. This will ensure that there will not be too much chaos. You can take over, make sure that everybody can return home if the demon is defeated, or settle somewhere else if it isn’t. After that, I will leave it up to you how you decide. Maybe you would rather have somebody else be the king. It will be in your hands by then."
"Dan …"
Jusha Lale sighed and looked out of the window, glimpsing the sky that was still bright and clear. "It is as it is. Anyway, I have told you what I wanted to say. Thank you for everything you’ve done in these years. Thank you for what you are about to have to do.
"I will write the document and then I will leave. According to the zhireng, no time can be lost. The journey was already a long one. If I wait any longer, the demon will only grow stronger." He got up and called out to Shunche, asking for him to bring in paper and a brush.
Agur Suhi was too agitated to form any coherent thought. He only knew that he couldn’t let this happen. Their dan … he was too important to just let him go. He could not be put into this kind of danger.
By the time Agur Suhi had thought it through himself, the edict had already been written.
"Very well. It is done. Keep it with you at all times. Who knows when the message of my death will come in? You have to be prepared at that time."
He gave him a long look and then got up only for Agur Suhi to leap his feet as well and hurriedly grab his arm.
"Dan! I plead with you, do not do this. I’m sure that there is another way. We will find one."
"I have looked for the zhireng everywhere. There is none left in the borders of my kingdom. And what else can be done? We know that even a whole army would not be able to kill a demon. Just them. So what else can I do then to help out that zhireng with this task? Sometimes, life is just like that."
Agur Suhi watched as the young king turned around and then left the room. He did not know what he should do. He knew that he couldn’t let this happen. He had to save the king. But … the only way to do that would be to supply that zhireng with information. And he really did not want to say what he had thought of in front of anyone. He just couldn’t bring himself to do so.
He closed his eyes, muttering to himself. In the end, he could only sigh. "Reng, my old friend, I’m afraid that I cannot keep this secret any longer. Believe me, I wanted to take this to my grave just like you did. But now, your nephew’s life is in danger. I think that you also would not have wanted to see this happen. In this case … I can only betray your trust and speak about it after all."
At that time, Jusha Lale was on his way out of the city, to wait with Shunche not far from the gate. After this, Susha Unhuor was supposed to meet him out there no matter whether Agur Suhi had actually confessed or not. Anyway, they didn’t really have much of a choice there.
With Shunche leading the way, it was not a problem to pass by the guards without having to give his identity. Soon enough, they reached the small hill with the pavilion on top. Jusha Lale got off the horse and handed the reins to Shunche before he went up the hill, standing below the roof of the pavilion. He turned to the city that they had just left and looked towards the gate, watching the path leading towards them closely.
Even though Susha Unhuor also said that it would be best if he accompanied him to the capital city to speak with the high priest, he still wasn’t quite sure if the zhireng would keep his word. He didn’t doubt that he would actually go and fight the demon but he could imagine that he would try to take another path to get to the capital city and actually leave him here.
He could not accept that. Even though Susha Unhuor might not like it, this was not just his fight. Even if he couldn’t pick up a weapon and physically harm the demon banish it to where it had come from, he could at least do a small part in helping with getting information and accompanying him on the way.
Doing this would actually make him feel less guilty for involving another person in what was likely his own family’s fault. Truly, did he even deserve to be king? If not for him, this never would have happened. Anyway, it couldn’t be changed anymore. He could only change what he would do going forward. He had made up his mind. Now, he only needed to wait for Susha Unhuor to come here.
The person in question was currently riding down the main road of the city at the slowest speed possible. It wasn’t far to the gate so if Agur Suhi did not make up his mind soon, he would miss him. Then, it would’ve been futile.
Susha Unhuor glanced up to the sky and couldn’t help but wonder if what they were doing was actually right. Yes, Agur Suhi might have an idea of what was going on but it wasn’t for sure. If they couldn’t get anything out of him … And anyway, exposing to him that the king had returned might also be troublesome. After all, what was if he had always been in on this? What if the plan to make the king give up on his throne had actually been something Shaun Reng and Agur Suhi had come up with together? Why hadn’t they taken that possibility into consideration?
He cursed under his breath but it was already too late now. If this was indeed the case, they could only deal with it when it happened. Now, was not the right moment for that.
There were only about two hundred meters left until the gate of the city. Just then, a voice sounded from behind.
"Zhireng Susha! Wait!" There was the sound of hooves clopping and then, Agur Suhi caught up with him. The man was actually a little out of breath, probably more because of being scared he wouldn’t make it in time than because of any exertion.
Susha Unhuor raised his brows and looked at him as if he had no idea what was going on. "Minister Agur, is something the matter?"
Agur Suhi glanced around nervously before clearing his throat. "That … I guess you could say that. I would like to have a word with you if possible. Would you have a moment?"
Susha Unhuor naturally did have the time to do so but he gave him a complicated look instead of agreeing immediately. "I’m on my way to the capital city. I think it is about time to confront the demon."
Agur Suhi’s expression turned subtle. "I … I heard. Actually …" He glanced around again and then leaned closer, lowering his voice. "That person came to see me about it. I … I’m afraid I did not realize previously how dire the situation really was. You asked me if I had an idea of what might have been the reason for Shaun Reng’s involvement in this. I said that I did not know but … I might have an idea after all. Could we go somebody to talk without the possibility of somebody overhearing us?"
Susha Unhuor looked around, taking note of the people that were going down the street. Considering that everyone from the capital city had been relocated to the surrounding towns and cities, it was hard to say who was from the capital city and might have a special interest in finding out what was going on and who had been from this city originally. "Do you really believe that this information could help me against the demon?"
Agur Suhi gave a faint smile. "If you believe that the information of why Shaun Reng would have an interest in summoning a demon would help you, then the answer is yes. If that alone is not enough, then I guess you could ride on. Personally, I would prefer it if I did not have to say it."
Susha Unhuor slightly narrowed his eyes. It seemed that while he had gotten some things right, he had also gotten some things wrong. If it was just that Shaun Reng had wanted to assassinate the king and take the throne for himself or his children, there would be no reason to be like this. Thus, there had to be another, equally or maybe even more so worrisome reason.
After a moment, he faintly nodded. "Very well, let’s go somewhere where we will not be overheard." He turned to Chomong who was waiting not far away and wanted to call out.
Before he could do so, Agur Suhi reached over and grabbed his arm. "Please, could we not involve the Dan’s guard? I’m afraid … this is something that should better not be overheard by anyone else."
Susha Unhuor slightly raised his brows. "You mean to say that it would be best if this was between just the two of us? Not even the Dan himself should be aware?"
Agur Suhi’s expression became even more complicated. "You need this information to vanquish the demon. If you are unable to do it … what good would it do for the king to know about this? I think it would just bring him more trouble instead of helping him. Thus … I really would prefer if only you knew about it."
Susha Unhuor didn’t know what to think about it but finally nodded. Anyway, if he knew, it was more than enough. "Very well. I guess in that case, we will not be able to rely on him though. Is there a place that you know of that we could go to?"
Agur Suhi thought for a moment and then nodded. "Yes, follow me." He rode into one of the side streets, then got off the horse and left it there, walking through several streets and alleys before coming to a stop at the entrance of a courtyard.
Susha Unhuor glanced around and noticed that this place seemed to be completely enclosed by the buildings around it. There were no windows or doors leading here and the walls around were overgrown with greens as if it was just an abandoned space that nobody even remembered. "This place is …"
Agur Suhi gave a faint sigh. "When Shaun Reng and I were younger, we went to explore the capital’s surroundings. Once, we stumbled upon this place. It isn’t easy to find actually unless you are looking for it. Also, not many people pass by here. We can talk here without having to fear that someone will notice."
Susha Unhuor nodded faintly. "Very well. In that case, let’s get straight to the point. What is it that you know?"
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