Champion of the Gods
Copyright© 2025 by QM
Chapter 32
Mirion had gone looking for the healer she was requested to bless, whilst Darras and Balat observed the Elves carefully scouting the sunken city and marking various traps to be removed. The Elves were also demolishing the battlements using earth magic and utilising the debris to begin diverting the river, thereby lowering the water level in the city.
“Lot of traps,” Darras said to Balat. “Glad we didn’t go through here and went around.”
“Pretty sure our goddesses would have kept us safe,” Balat chuckled. “Though it would have been time-consuming.”
“Us, yes, our friends, no.”
“True, even the army here is struggling a little.”
“Erren wouldn’t have got them involved unless she was sure they could manage,” Darras nodded.
‘True, though it was more about adjusting the narrative of Trunavisia, ’ Erren replied. ‘The real bonus here is Hallis spotting a truly talented healer once they moved away from the throngs of Tophis.’
“Are all the traps magical?” Darras asked.
“Some are pure magic, others are physical if preserved by magic,” Balat replied.
“You’re getting very good at this magic stuff,” Darras chuckled.
“I’m getting a lot of practice with Doriel. I’m eighteen summers now in the real world, but I estimate I’ve spent forty years at her home learning the basics.”
“Still only basics?” Darras queried.
“According to Doriel, yes,” Balat chuckled.
“Found your wife, yet?”
“Not yet,” Balat admitted. “Apparently, I’ll know her when I see her.”
“Oh, one of those,” Darras chuckled, making Balat smile.
“Just hope my kids aren’t like me in attitude in their early years,” Balat laughed.
“Well, you know where to ask if you need someone to train them.”
“That I do, my friend, that I do.”
The Elven captain was approaching, and both Darras and Balat turned to face her. “Your healer friend is not just observing,” she stated.
“Mirion is just blessing a potentially great healer amongst you. She’ll then join us,” Balat replied.
“Potentially great?”
“Until she receives the blessing of Hallis directly from Mirion, yes.”
“I see. I will not order her escorted away,” the captain nodded.
“Best not too, yes,” Darras smiled. “I doubt you want to irritate a goddess.”
“Indeed not.”
It was several hours later that Mirion rejoined Darras and Balat, escorted by two Elves, but looking very happy. “Another Tariel,” she confirmed.
“Hopefully not that young?” Darras chuckled.
“No, just over a hundred, but the same amount of potential as Tariel.”
“And now that potential is unlocked,” Balat added, nodding in satisfaction.
“Yes, and a healing guild and associate temple will form in Tophis and spread its influence over the south,” Mirion smiled.
“No trouble in there, only the captain spoke to us about you?” Darras asked.
“No, I was watched to ensure I didn’t trigger anything, though Hallis guided my path to Selen to bless her,” Mirion smiled.
“The wards we monitor in Garsimunel are failing,” an Ubaid informed Casal.
“Curses,” Casal spat. “Let us hope they at least manage to take some of the ones doing it down.”
“There is no indication of this.”
“I will inform the Dark Lord of this; it appears his plans for this world are falling into disarray.”
“He will be angered?”
“Hard to tell, he never shows anger, merely irritation,” Casal admitted. “Though I suspect he will be.”
“We will keep drilling our forces, though I expect a challenge will come soon,” the Ubaid replied.
“They will find penetrating Gresh troublesome,” Casal nodded. “Though I no longer believe that will stop them.”
Klea stood facing the Jomanti blade, her father, Galbras, observing as she reached to grip the hilt. Touching it, she felt the same powerful urge to command, to demand that her will be done. However, the meditations and the self-discipline she had trained in, along with the familiarity of the task, enabled her to remain in control, not the blade. Drawing it, she turned to face her father.
“I am the one in control, honoured father,” she said as Galbras observed, studying her carefully.
“Well done, my daughter,” Galbras finally replied. “You are now almost ready.”
“I am, though I must need to be able to draw it in front of one of the other kin first,” Klea admitted.
“As the wielder, you have the right to take the blade with you,” Galbras nodded. “The elders approved this.”
“I’m surprised.”
“They were reluctant, though they accept that it has to be you who deals with the dragon, even if it means doing it alongside our old enemy,” Galbras replied.
“I have found those I work with to be honourable,” Klea answered. “I can even pass as one of them, for a while.”
“Astonishing, though do be careful, not all the old enemy will be tolerant of you.”
“Agreed, though hopefully I will not encounter them.”
“Let us hope not.”
“Garsimunel is being cleansed?” the Dark Lord hissed in surprise at Casal’s admission.
“It is, though we have no indications as to who is doing it, only that they are not triggering any of the devices,” Casal replied.
“And the pass is now fortified?”
“By Dwarves.”
“My sister has proven to be persistent,” the Dark Lord grated.
“I fear invasion.”
“Yes, though it remains to be seen what Gresh will do to any invaders,” the Dark Lord muttered.
“I suspect it will be a minor hindrance.”
“You may well be correct. They will certainly plan to avoid its perils and may already be scouting,” the Dark Lord admitted.
“I suspect the same, though none of my people have seen anyone,” Casal replied. “I have sent the scales in to attack any found, though not to possess.”
“That is good, though expect only minor successes.”
“I shall,” Casal nodded and left.
The Dark Lord sat in silence. The options he had were limited, and his narrative now fractured. Whilst pragmatic, he was still surprised at how the actions of one mortal had brought about the multiple failures of his plans. Still, it was not over yet, and if he did ultimately lose, he would free the dragon as revenge, a petty move, he realised, though pettiness seemed apt in this case. There was, however, one possible distraction he could attempt on the Orcish Plains, though that too was likely to fail.
Darras, Balat and Mirion took their leave of the Elves of Trasturial, following the now safer path the Elves had constructed through the city, even as they demolished and filled in the ruins and sunken areas to the side of the path.
“Opening the way for trade and expansion ... eventually,” Darras explained to the pair.
“Assuming we win,” Balat chuckled.
“Seems likelier now, though no doubt there will be some hard fighting,” Darras nodded.
“Plus the dragon, wherever that is,” Mirion added.
“Yes, though Erren informs me that Klea is almost ready.”
“Welcome news,” Mirion smiled.
“She has come far,” Darras agreed. “As have Firios, Tinara, Traskis and Demala.”
“Hopefully, all she’ll be needed for is to put the dragon back to sleep,” Mirion nodded. “Though it seems odd that it is quiescent for now.”
“Won’t know till we find it as to why. It may just be that it hunts away from civilisation,” Darras shrugged.
“True, or it may gorge itself then sleep until hungry, only now it wakes up,” Mirion replied thoughtfully.
“If it is hunting, it’s doing it in Gresh, not over lands the forest folk monitor,” Balat added.
“Time will tell,” Darras nodded as they made their way back to the gateway.
Once there, Darras noticed several packs of tents now being brought through for the number of troops expected. A quick check led him to a storage area that was being filled with the paraphernalia that went with supporting a military operation, including weapons and food. There was even a portable weapon repair assembly along with iron bars and a portable forge.
“Wonder how they intend to transport it?” Darras mused.
“The local Elves have promised the use of bullocks,” Mirion replied. “They will enable the transport of heavier goods.”
“Good idea,” Darras nodded.
“Still another couple of months before the armies arrive, but it looks like things are going well,” Balat added.
“They are. We have the only pass that you could move an army over sealed and enough Dwarves to hold it long enough for reinforcements to arrive,” Darras confirmed.
“Nor are the Elves scouting anymore,” Mirion added.
“Yes, though they’ll need to begin again once the armies go in,” Darras nodded.
“They’ll have support then,” Balat agreed. “When they first went in, they had none and needed to be very careful.”
“I had to treat several cases of poisoning,” Mirion added. “Most from inadvertent contact with fungi, though a few from predator contact.”
“No deaths?” Darras asked.
“No, Mithril arrows and speedy evacuations aided the scouts.”
“Good, though I doubt we can avoid it once we do invade.”
In the Orcish Plains, a shaman convulsed and fell into a trance, his mind filling with visions of dominance and conquest. These he related to the tribal chiefs, and such was their belief in Orc superiority that they assembled their warriors and led them east towards the other races, a raid they expected to go down in Orcish lore.
Darras, Balat and Mirion were relaxing with Erren, Doriel and Hallis when Erren frowned and sighed.
“Problem?” Darras asked.
“My fool of a brother has duped the Orcs into attempting an invasion of the east,” Erren sighed.
“A violent distraction,” Doriel muttered.
“Yes, though I’ll need Darras to go and rouse the Elves of Rossaris and Jizzard to help deal with it,” Erren replied.
“Where are they heading?” Darras asked, looking at the map Erren was projecting.
“Xallant,” Erren pointed. “The Wasnich tribe have granted them transit due to their shaman’s visions.”
“Visions our brother put in their minds,” Hallis snarled. “Seriously, this will not go well for either side.”
“Not so sure,” Darras replied thoughtfully. “Xallant now has horse archers, as do their ally Lirrant. If the Elves help defend the towns, I think the horse archers will cause havoc on the Orcs.”
“You believe that the Orcs will be routed?” Doriel asked.
“I do,” Darras nodded. “The Humans finally have a ranged mobile attacking force, and will know the Orcs won’t be able to attack their towns ... assuming the Elves cooperate.”
“Interesting,” Erren nodded. “Whilst initially there may be a lot of damage, the Orcs won’t cope too well with attrition on their numbers.”
“They need a nudge into changing their ways,” Hallis agreed. “This may be the opportune time.”
“Yes, our fool of a brother may just have ended his control of one of the forces he uses to keep civilisations in check,” Erren smiled.
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