Champion of the Gods
Copyright© 2025 by QM
Chapter 42
“Thank you for that,” Szavona nodded.
“You see, I told you there would be no need for an apology,” Venicia added. “No I told you so’s”
“You did, but our sister here does have cause to disapprove of me,” Szavona replied.
“You discovered the lies our brother spreads,” Erren shrugged. “Now we are no longer opponents.”
“Again, my thanks,” Szavona acknowledged. “When dealing with the dragon, you must force it back into the furthest part of the lair; the air there is laden with the element that forces it to sleep.”
“Good to know,” Darras nodded.
“You will likely struggle to do so, strong as you are,” Szavona warned.
“Nevertheless, I’ll see it done,” Darras replied, giving away no hint of Klea or the Jomanti blade.
“There’s also a transfer circle there. Our brother’s agent will likely use it to remove the creature elsewhere if it strays upon it.”
“Surprised he hasn’t done so already,” Venicia frowned.
“He’d have lost control over the source of the scales he used,” Erren explained.
“True, he had little other use for the creature other than a last resort weapon of terror,” Szavona shrugged.
“Well, I wish you success in dealing with it,” Venicia delicately shuddered. “It’s a total menace to the world.”
“I’m surprised you aren’t claiming it as one of your own.” Erren teased.
“It might fly, but it isn’t one of my anythings,” Venicia retorted. “It would hunt the harpies to extinction, given a chance.”
“It would hunt anything to extinction,” Szavona concurred. “When it attacked that Elven village, it was not to feed, but out of malice and a desire to kill.”
“Partially my doing,” Darras admitted. “I killed a nest of those scales hiding away in Sweemas.”
“An odd place to hide,” Venicia frowned.
“I thought so myself,” Darras nodded. “I certainly wasn’t looking for them or expecting to find them.”
“What were you doing in Sweemas?” a puzzled-looking Venicia asked.
“A task for Erren,” Darras smiled. “A slight correction to her narrative, as it were.”
“I see nothing that you could have corrected,” Venicia frowned, addressing Erren. “Are you that sensitive to the flow?”
“Yes, I used to make changes via my priesthood, but now I have Darras for precision work,” Erren replied.
“No wonder our lying brother is losing,” Szavona smiled fiercely. “It would never occur to him to do something like that.”
“He’d consider it beneath him,” Venicia shrugged, accepting another goblet of wine.
“He used Casal to formulate a plan,” Erren explained. “He then used the scales to direct matter to his will.”
“And when you realised this, you brought Darras here to deal with them,” Venicia smiled. “Well played, sister.”
“Serulon wasn’t any too happy,” Erren chuckled. “But Dad permitted it.”
“I can’t recall Serulon being happy about anything that we did,” Szavona frowned.
“The constant harassment of her angered her,” Erren shrugged. “Dad told her to tell them where to get off.”
“A lesson she took to heart, considering her call to attend that meeting about Gorgath,” Venicia nodded. “I would never have thought she would have held it here.”
“I have more room as I have Darras living and training here,” Erren explained.
“Ah,” Venicia smiled. “I really must try to find a specimen like him ... for entertainment purposes.”
“Sister!” Szavona spluttered.
“Take mortal form, feel mortal urges,” Venicia replied with a wicked smile. “Or are you telling me that Darras here doesn’t affect you?”
“Certainly not,” Szavona replied, going very slightly pink with embarrassment.
“Doriel did it too.”
“I don’t want to talk about this,” a now deeply blushing Szavona replied.
“But you think about it in this form,” Venicia laughed. “I know I do.”
“I do not!”
“Enough of the teasing, sister, Szavona is not enjoying it,” Erren interrupted.
“You’re right, I got carried away,” Venicia smiled. “I apologise.”
“Thank you,” Erren nodded. “And thank you for the information. Feel free to call at any time.”
“We will,” Venicia confirmed. “You have a superb wine cellar.”
“That I do,” Erren laughed.
“So, we have an idea where the dragon is?” Darras said after the goddesses had left.
“We do,” Erren nodded. “I’ll get the Dwarves to look into it.”
“I hope they’ll manage, as it appears to be very dangerous.”
“As do I,” Erren sighed. “But there is no one better for surveying a mountain.”
“Nice of Szavona to repay a debt, too.”
“Yes, unexpected too,” Erren agreed. “She’s changed her avatar form too.”
“Yes, black is definitely better than grey,” Darras smiled.
“I rather suspect she thought that was how the goddess of sleep should look, even though it didn’t suit her at all.”
“I’ll take your word for it,” Darras shrugged with a smile. “What’s next?”
“Iversirion and bringing Firios and his team up to date,” Erren replied. “Followed by a visit to Klea to do the same.”
“Shame they can’t all meet together.”
“That would still be very dangerous, mostly for Klea, though Firios and his team would be in extreme danger on the isle.”
“Yes, Demala was not welcome at all, though the presence of the elders kept things manageable,” Darras nodded.
“That was a necessity; this is just a case of keeping our friends informed.”
“I’ll see it done,” Darras smiled.
“Good, but for now, just relax and enjoy our world.”
Several days later, Darras stepped through the gateway into Iversirion and paid the entry toll. He then made his way to the unmarked tavern, where the Royal Scouts met informally, and found Firios and his team there.
“Darras,” Firios greeted him, unsurprised as Erren likely had ensured Darras turned up when the team were assembled.
“Good to see you, my friends,” Darras smiled. “I’m here to update you on the hunt for the Dragon.”
“You’ve found it?” Tinara asked.
“No, but we have a precise location for it,” Darras replied. “Precise, meaning a volcanic mountain.”
“Still a large area to search then,” Traskis nodded in understanding.
“The Dwarves will take care of that; they are on their way there.”
“So they were surveying the wrong mountain?” Firios sighed.
“They were, through no fault of anyone here; it just appeared to be the most obvious choice,” Darras nodded.
“And when they find the lair?” Demala asked.
“We get Klea there to deal with it.”
“And afterwards?”
“I don’t know, but I doubt Erren will be finished with her brother,” Darras replied.
“His agent is still out there, I know,” Firios nodded.
“We even know where, though he’s not assailable, not with any chance of us not being spotted.”
“There must be a way, surely?” Tinara queried.
“Erren hasn’t indicated there is one,” Darras shrugged. “Though I’m sure she’s unhappy with the situation.”
“Yes,” Firios agreed. “As are we.”
Darras bade his farewells and went to the gateway to travel to the Isle of the Dark Kin, where he was greeted politely by the reading guard and permitted entry without enquiry.
‘They are getting used to you, ’ Erren said happily.
“I suspect the guard gets bored,” Darras chuckled.
‘Very, the only people coming through are Klavin, Tiruk and Amina, as well as you.’
“And any guests we bring, such as Mirion,” Darras nodded.
‘Yes, though Mirion would not be in any danger here, not now, the extremists no longer visit or acknowledge this village.’
“That won’t cause future issues?”
‘No, whilst they have attracted several malcontents, their views are regarded as extreme by the majority who are happy in this land and see no reason to cherish their hatred.’
“Unless that hatred pays a visit,” Darras chuckled.
‘True, but I won’t let it.’ Erren giggled.
Darras paid his respects to Galbras before seeking out Klea, who was teaching several children in the village about hunting and scouting techniques.
“Greetings, friend Klea,” Darras said when he entered the open area where the lesson was taking place.
“Greetings, friend Darras,” Klea replied formally, causing the children to stir slightly.
“Please continue,” Darras requested. “My business with you is not urgent.”
“The lesson is almost over,” Klea replied. “Though I do hope Firios and his people will not mind that I am passing their knowledge along to the children.”
“I suspect there are a few things they did not teach you either,” Darras chuckled, making Klea smile tentatively.
“Most likely.”
“You are the Human the elders respect?” a young boy asked.
“One of them,” Darras replied. “There are two others who have that honour.”
“Yet you have friends amongst the kinslayers?”
“I do, though most kinslayers, as you call them, will not have met your kind, though they will still recognise your own hate and respond in kind,” Darras explained. “To me, though, you are all Elves.”
“I have friends amongst them, too, you have met Mirion,” Klea added.
“She is a kinslayer?”
“From your point of view, yes.”
“That...” the child began, then went silent.
“The hatred you are taught and feel through your parents is not a natural part of you,” Klea explained. “Yes, both sides have reason to hate; our history is stained in blood and revenge, but you must remember, it is just history and need not control you.”
“Well said,” Darras smiled. “The kinslayers, as you call them, now know that they were in the wrong, though many disbelieve the evidence.”
“This is so,” Klea confirmed. “Yet those of them I have come to know well have set aside ancient hatreds, and we work well together.”
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