Champion of the Gods
Copyright© 2025 by QM
Chapter 22
“What do you intend to do with this potential cavern for the dragon?” Darras asked after Venicia had left.
“I’m going to send you to ask Gemoldus to get the Dwarven Realm looking for it,” Erren replied. “The Dwarves are best suited to looking around mountains for caverns.”
“They already have people in Ismor repairing the irrigation system, so more Dwarves won’t be noticed,” Darras nodded.
“Yes, my love,” Erren nodded. “Though I’m somewhat suspicious of the evidence Venicia presented.”
“Too specific?” Darras asked.
“Yes, little as I think of my brother, he doesn’t reveal his plans to his allies unless he has to,” Erren replied. “There would be no reason to ask Bimmlat if there was a cavern with a transfer circle, as Casal would know of it.”
“If he can open a transfer circle, that means he knows where they all are?”
“Yes, unlike the gateways,” Erren explained. “Unfortunately, I can’t, as I cannot access the dream realm.”
“Seems a bit odd that mortals can, but gods can’t,” Darras chuckled.
“As we don’t dream, to us it’s not there,” Erren smiled.
“Surely you could examine an open one in some sense?”
“I don’t know; it’s never occurred to me that I should try,” Erren frowned.
“Not that anyone could open one for you,” Darras chuckled.
“True, though I suppose I could form one here and examine it,” Erren smiled. “This body should be able to do that.”
“Something to play around with as you keep an eye on the world, Tsumi might be of some help too,” Darras replied, cuddling Erren.
“It will hopefully give me the exits available,” Erren nodded. “But I’ll still get the Dwarves looking.”
“The distraction is set?” Casal asked the Dark Lord.
“It is, hopefully, my sister’s agent will waste time seeking out what isn’t there,” the Dark Lord replied.
“You are certain this Erren will receive the information?”
“She will, I surmised that my lesser allies talk to that fool Szavona, and she passed information along to my sister, somehow,” the Dark Lord explained. “This is how we were thwarted in Chezruul.”
“I see,” Casal nodded. “And the true plan?”
“Will carry on apace.”
Casal thought quietly after the Dark Lord left. He considered the foolishness of trying to attract this agent of Erren into exploring a mountain range, realising that this was unlikely and that Erren would use other allies ... or ignore it for the potential trap it might be. The real plan, forming a dark kingdom in Gresh, was going well, though Casal was well aware of the chance of discovery here, unlike his master. ‘He has power, vision and ability, but he is no strategist, ’ Casal sighed.
Darras came through the gateway in Sorrak and made his way to the temple of Gilmea, as the Dwarves called Erren. There, he met his friend Gemoldus, the senior priest of the Dwarven branch of the temple.
“So, Gilmea would like us to survey the mountains that form the Forest Kingdom and the Ismor border?” Gemoldus queried.
“Yes, looking for large caverns big enough to become a dragon’s lair,” Darras chuckled.
“Odd thing to look for,” Gemoldus smiled wryly. “But yes, I can arrange for a mineral survey team to go in and look.”
“Just remember, if you find anything valuable, inform Kings Leandomus and Danvas,” Darras replied.
“We will,” Gemoldus promised. “The Dwarven realm remains cordial with Iversirion, and many of our best travel there to the university to study advanced fire magic techniques.”
“They may allow you permission to set up a town in the mountains if there is anything valuable there,” Darras shrugged. “Though they have tended to use Humans in the past.”
“Above a certain altitude, Humans tend not to be so effective,” Gemoldus nodded. “So, that might be an option for both kings as we can deal through King Danvas in Durine if there is friction.”
“That would work,” Darras agreed. “I’ll leave it in your capable hands.”
“Take care, my friend,” Gemoldus replied, bidding Darras farewell.
Darras stepped through the gateway in Iversirion and visited the university to see the priest king Harinas. This was to pass along the information that the Dwarven Realm would be surveying the western mountain range and not overreact should they be spotted.
“So there’s a possibility of a dragon appearing?” Harinas frowned.
“Potentially, yes, though Wenderos thinks it unlikely,” Darras replied. “It may just be a distraction for her to prevent her from looking elsewhere.”
“Such as the far south?” Harinas chuckled.
“More than likely,” Darras nodded. “I assume the scouting there goes to plan?”
“It does, the scouts all dress in the pattern of the southern Elves, just to add a layer of disguise should they be spotted.”
“And Firios’ group?”
“Their scouting goes well, and there have been no incidents with their ... honorary member,” Harinas smiled.
“I’m glad, Klea is an essential part of the plan to deal with the dragon,” Darras nodded.
“So I’m told,” Harinas replied. “Though should this dragon appear to the west, getting her to it would be difficult.”
“It would, though no doubt we’d manage,” Darras smiled. “We have enough people to protect Klea if necessary.”
“Darras!” a cry came from Tariel. “It’s so good to see you!”
“Tariel, it’s so good to see you. Wenderos sends her love, too,” Darras replied with a broad smile as Tariel hugged him. “How go your studies?”
“They go well, though there’s so much to learn,” Tariel enthused.
“I get glowing reports of her enthusiasm and advanced learning from her teachers,” Harinas smiled as Gallira, his wife, entered the chamber.
“Galliria, Erren’s blessings be upon you and Perrin, your son,” Darras said.
“Ah, you knew his name?” a surprised Gallira asked.
“Erren did,” Darras chuckled.
“Yes, a bit obvious really,” Gallira chuckled.
“So, we’ll have Dwarves surveying the western mountains?” Gallira asked.
“You will, though they aren’t primarily looking for metals,” Darras replied. “No doubt they’ll search for them, though.”
“I’d be surprised if they didn’t,” Harinas nodded. “Leandomus and I will decide what to do about it if they do.”
“Just avoid a war,” Darras chuckled.
“We will, though we won’t get greedy either, it will be a matter of taxation and no doubt hard negotiations.”
“And if they want to set up a nation?”
“We know the risks,” Harinas replied. “We do get Dwarven visitors these days.”
“They’ll likely build a road from Halgard rather than one into Dorlianath,” Darras pointed out.
“As I said, hard negotiations,” Harinas smiled. “If they are reasonable, we’ll be reasonable.”
“Gemoldus of Sorrak is, I’m not so sure about his king, though.”
“All in good time,” Harinas chuckled.
“Will I get to see Wenderos again?” Tariel piped up.
“One day, yes, though not today,” Darras replied, confirming Erren’s silent message.
“Good, I have so much to tell her.”
“She watches you constantly, as does Hallis,” Darras chuckled. “But I’m sure they’ll listen.”
“She watches me?”
“Yes, she watches all who follow her, though you are her friend, so she pays a lot of attention to you,” Darras replied. “Same with Gallira.”
“I suspect it’s the joy you show when living the life Wenderos desires for you,” Haranis smiled.
“It is,” Darras confirmed. Iversirion’s repentance and acceptance of the words of yourself and Kina have blessed the folk of Iversirion and Dorlianath.
“They still shudder at the memory of it being withdrawn because of their misguided pride,” Gallira added.
“Those days are gone now,” Darras replied. “I doubt you’ll return to them anytime soon.”
“We won’t,” Harinas confirmed. “I’m also ensuring our acolytes remain true to the joy of worshipping Wenderos.”
“How is Kina these days?” Darras asked.
“Pregnant and comfortable in Trecor,” Gallira chuckled. “She’s due soon, so Tariel and I will visit to ensure things go as planned.”
“She’ll be fine, Erren’s spirit will ensure it.” Darras chuckled. “Though your presence will be comforting.”
“That is good to hear, though we’re looking forward to visiting anyway.”
“I will no doubt call after the birthing,” Darras confirmed.
“I’ll inform Kina of that,” Gallira smiled.
In the Ismorian city of Callande, twenty Dwarves had entered via the gateway and paid an entry fee. They were, other than the collection of the fee, ignored as Dwarves from the Dwarven Realm were a common sight in Ismor as they repaired the various irrigation works destroyed in a disastrous invasion twenty years before. Not that the Dwarves were doing it for charity, but for a percentage of the extra crops grown and transported back to the Dwarven Realm, an agreement had been reached. This benefited Ismor too, as finally it had a surplus of food to export to both Burral and the Forest Kingdom. This enabled the hiring of craftsmen to begin repairing buildings in the capital and restoring the nation to its former stature.
Doorf, the Dwarven paladin, rode with the team of surveyors towards the east and the ill-defined border with the Forest Kingdom. Both Ismor and the Forest Kingdom claimed the mountains, except for one copper-bearing mountain claimed by Halgard, although not to the extent of taking and securing any of them. The mountains had one trade route from Callande to Durine, the Human capital of the Forest Kingdom. They were considered impassable for trade, and hence, other than a couple of coal and iron mines on the Forest Kingdom side, were generally ignored.
Doorf, however, was under instructions from Gemoldus the priest to survey the mountains looking for a sizeable cavern, one big enough for a dragon. His other instructions were to look for any metal ores worthy of setting up an independent Dwarven settlement, as the Dwarven Realm had no designs on expanding its territory. This was how Halgard, an independent Dwarven kingdom, had come about, having been settled by Dwarves from the Dwarven Realm over a hundred years before.
The surveying team had several Dwarves capable of earth magic, and Doorf was satisfied that a survey would not take too long, perhaps a year if that. Nor was he expecting trouble, as there were no reports of Goblins or Trolls. However, he also had a couple of fire magic users in case of Goblins, as the nasty creatures were expert at concealment until their food sources ran out due to inevitable overpopulation.
Once the foothills of the mountains were reached, the Dwarves set up a camp and prepared for an extended stay, contacting local farmers for vegetables and seeing abundant game for both hunting and trade. The survey team, along with guards, set off into the range the following day, measuring and mapping various passes and gradients in relation to access and concealment. Within a day, copper ore had been found, though not in any significant quantities, but still enough to justify a Dwarven presence.
Darras had now entered Torgillas, intending to check up on a friend of his and Erren, Kilinna, a ward who had been adopted by a senior priest of the temple and who was now gaining a reputation as a teacher.
“Sir Darras,” Lomax the priest greeted Darras when he knocked at the door. “Be welcome.”
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