Champion of the Gods
Copyright© 2025 by QM
Chapter 25
Firios, Traskis, Tinara, Demala and Balat were waiting for the pair and greeted them cordially. Darras then respectfully greeted Malele, the Dryad, who guarded the sanctuary the team had come to.
“You are most welcome here, sir Darras,” Malele replied with a smile. “As are you, Klea of the children of the blade.”
“My thanks,” Klea replied nervously.
“Calm yourself, you are in no danger here,” Malele continued. “Nor would any here harm you.”
“I carry the seeds of hatred within me,” Klea confessed. “To be calm amongst those my upbringing has taught me to consider as enemies is not easy for me.”
“Or for four of them,” Malele pointed out. “Continue your meditations, they will give you the power to overcome both the blade and your feelings.”
“I will, thank you,” Klea nodded.
“You will need to travel to the Germul tribe,” Malele addressed the group. “There is a charismatic young leader capable of swaying the hostility of others towards an end goal.”
“Do you know what this goal is?” Darras asked.
“That I do not,” Malele admitted. “That’s why you are here.”
“We will endeavour to find out,” Darras replied.
“I have informed young Balat of a route to take, whilst safer than others, you will still need to be careful.”
“Yes, safe in Ventris only exists here,” Darras chuckled. “And only here if you’re invited.”
“Indeed so, sir Darras,” Malele smiled.
The party set off shortly after that exchange, slipping through the jungle-like conditions with ease, Firios and Tinara leading the way, whilst Traskis and Demala provided scouting. Klea would often follow the Elves, keeping pace and silence as the hostile nature of Ventris became apparent.
“Best camp up here,” Balat eventually suggested. “It’s defensible.”
“Good idea,” Darras nodded.
“How long until we reach the area we’re going to?” Klea asked.
“Three days,” Balat replied. “Assuming we don’t run into something unexpected.”
“And the route we travel is safe?”
“Safer.”
“Ah, I did wonder, as my people never ventured here,” Klea nodded. “We fought off the occasional invasion, but never pursued them back.”
“Wise of you,” Darras chuckled. “The entire land is cursed.”
“So we believed.”
Camp was set up quickly, with Balat hanging pouches of herbs around it to disguise the scent of its occupants. Soon, they were eating a warm meal made from dried meat and vegetables that they brought with them, all knowing that the food they saw here was tainted. They then set up a watch for the night and retired to hammocks, rather than tents. That set the pattern for the next three days as they avoided any incidents with the local denizens of Ventris.
“I’m going to infiltrate their encampment tonight,” Darras informed the group.
“We’ll ensure you get in and out,” Firios replied.
“Hopefully, I’ll learn something about this character,” Darras nodded.
“Knowing his intent would be good,” Balat chuckled, making the others smile.
“Erren says they’ll eventually unite,” Darras shrugged. “Hopefully not until Thenarron is ready for them, though.”
“They could try for the New Territories too,” Firios pointed out.
“True, but they’d be far more exposed there than they would in the region of Tornua,” Darras replied.
“That’s true, plus I doubt Gomesh would be too happy,” Tinara agreed.
“They wouldn’t, neither would Geeshorn or Thenarron.”
“Perhaps this leader is not after conquest,” Demala suggested. “Odd as that may sound.”
“It’s always possible,” Darras nodded. “Hopefully, I’ll find out.”
Unlike the last time Darras had penetrated a Fiend village, there were guards posted, nor were there wild celebrations or fighting ongoing within the centre of it. There was, however, a meeting ongoing, and Darras hoped to overhear what was being discussed.
“We welcome the emissaries of the Dolgek and Lurtal tribes,” a tall Fiend said to the two gathered groups, who sat apart from each other and the home tribe. “A peace pact is in place, hence you remain armed.”
“We have come to hear what the intent of the Germul tribe is,” one of the visitors asked.
“Is this your doing?” Darras murmured softly.
‘It is, sort of, though I had nothing to do with the presence of the other tribes.’
“My intent is the protection of my tribe,” the tall Fiend replied to the emissaries.
“That is the onus of a chief,” an emissary replied. “How do you intend to do this?”
“By slipping the bounds of Ventris to go elsewhere,” the tall Fiend replied.
“Invasion?”
“No, if we invade, we will lose. My intent is stealth.”
“That is not our way,” one of the emissaries sneered. “It has the stench of cowardice about it.”
Tensions ratcheted up in the encampment from those listening, though the tall Fiend held up an arm to stifle it from his people. “I, Trassaf of the Germul, have sworn a peace pact, yet I’d advise you choose your words with care.”
“I speak as I see,” the one who made the insult replied.
“And where have our ways brought us?” Trassaf asked. “We are still in Ventris, still under siege.”
“We heard you planned to take the Germul and leave Ventris,” the other emissary said. “We presumed invasion.”
“Last time we were slaughtered, despite having the aid of Wendigos, Vampires and Drycha,” Trassaf pointed out. “I would rather avoid that.”
“Avoid a fight?” the previous emissary replied. “The Lurtal tribe will not follow a coward; we take our leave!”
“Do so in peace, though next time we meet, blood will flow,” Trassaf said dismissively.
“As it should be!”
The Lurtal tribe left swiftly, expecting a blow from behind at any moment, yet were merely observed by the heavily armed Germul warriors. Darras watched with interest as a few scouts appeared and followed the Lurtal, proving this Trassaf was not an idiot.
“I would hear more,” the emissary from the Dolgek tribe said.
“It is simple, we are surrounded, therefore we must slip around the Humans and Elves to a new land where they cannot disturb us,” Trassaf replied.
“I’m told the north is populated, as is the west,” the emissary replied. “That means you intend to head south, which is also impossible.”
“Only if we choose to invade.”
“You think the Humans and Dwarves will permit you passage?”
“I intend to try; we will follow the coast and head south, past Gomesh and Perenoth,” Trassaf replied. “According to legend, there is an empty land called Tremiln. I intend to take my people there.”
“They will surely try to stop you?”
“They may, but we cannot remain here and grow; therefore, I hope to negotiate my way through.”
“Pah, a faint hope at that,” the emissary replied. “They will kill you out of hand!”
“And if we remain here, we die young anyway,” Trassaf countered. “I’m not asking you to come, merely not interfere with our passage.”
“Ah, that is why you had those fools from the Lurtal here as our two tribes block your route south?” the emissary queried.
“It is, and I’d offer you our territory here in exchange for safe passage.”
“We will discuss it, you’ll have an answer soon.”
Darras slipped away into the darkness, avoiding the Fiend sentries and was soon met by Tinara, who led the way back to their encampment.
“A migration?” Balat asked when Darras explained what he’d heard. “That’s different.”
“It is,” Darras nodded. “Yet it’s the only option they have.”
“That’s true,” Firios agreed. “Though there are many who would not accept them travelling en masse.”
“Depends which way they go,” Demala countered. “If they stick to the coast, the New Territories will likely not have the forces to spare, and the Dwarves of Gomesh ignore the ocean.”
“Nor will they be in such massive numbers as to deplete any territory they travel through,” Darras added. “Though they’d be most dangerous if attacked.”
“It’s a long journey,” Balat mused. “Perenoth could be an issue, too.”
“Only the south of it, there’s only one major town in the north, and the Fiends would likely bypass it entirely.”
“You all assume that this will be permitted,” Traskis said. “I doubt it will without something other than a Fiend’s promise to behave.”
“True, there’s still the taint of Ventris in their blood,” Balat agreed. “Yet from what you told me, this Trassaf has his warriors under iron control, Darras?”
“He did,” Darras replied. “He got called a coward to his face, and yet his warriors obeyed his gesture not to react.”
“That is most unusual for a Fiend and shows his tribe have great fear or respect for him,” Balat nodded.
“Or both,” Firios chuckled.
“We’ll see how it goes,” Darras finally decided. “It will be up to our goddesses.”
“Indeed, their will be done,” Tinara replied, as the others gave their assent.
The group made the long journey back to the sanctuary of Malele, the Elves taking turns to teach Klea what to look out for, as well as correcting minor mistakes in her stealthy movements and other observational signs. They had one incident with what Balat indicated was a very junior Vampire, though Darras despatched it with ease, to Klea’s surprise.
“I was always told they were a most dangerous creature, even the young,” Klea said to Darras.
“They are,” Darras admitted. “I have a few advantages from Erren, and only an Elder would be a serious problem for me.”
“My people would use arrows should one approach or be spotted,” Klea replied. “Even then, we took casualties.”
“Understandable, they are both strong and swift,” Darras nodded.
“We use mithril arrows on them,” Tinara added. “They are quite effective.”
“Something I do not have,” Klea replied.
“Erren will give you some when you visit,” Darras informed Klea. “You’ll likely need them should you be spotted in Gresh.”
“Which will happen sooner or later,” Firios added.
“So, the Fiends finally have a smart leader,” Erren said as the party relaxed at her home, along with Doriel.
“Was bound to happen eventually,” Doriel nodded. “Question is, will they be an issue should they escape the bounds of Ventris?”
“Technically, they worship our brother, though only by lip service, not by a priesthood,” Erren added. “Should they turn to another of us, there’s a good chance arrangements could be made.”
“Their planned route could cause issues for any coastal villages in the New Territories ... should they revert to type,” Firios pointed out on a map Erren was projecting.
“True, but I’ll arrange for them to meet up with someone from there to lay down a few ground rules,” Erren replied. “Gomesh won’t be an issue as the Dwarves haven’t spread into the coastal areas, so there’s plenty of game.”
“That leaves Perenoth, and they won’t like a tribe of Fiends crossing their territory,” Doriel sighed. “They even lay claim to Tremiln, though they have no settlements there.”
“Typical isolationist country,” Erren nodded. “That said, if the Fiends can reach Tremiln, they likely won’t be easily dislodged.”
“So long as they don’t interfere with the trade routes.”
“True, though that can be explained to them as well,” Erren nodded.
“Well, if they do emerge, no doubt Darras and your friends can meet them and advise them ... carefully, of course,” Doriel smiled.
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