Champion of the Gods
Copyright© 2025 by QM
Chapter 47
Darras stepped through the gateway into Ssthastar and waited as Firios’ team came through one by one, greeting them in turn. The final one to arrive was Klea, who acknowledged the greetings calmly as she surveyed the surroundings carefully.
“A most beautiful place,” she finally said.
“This is the heart of the forest folk domain here,” Darras explained. “You will only be welcome if you are carrying out a task for Erren or Doriel.”
“Understood,” Firios nodded.
“Here’s the basic maps,” Darras continued. “There’s only one main settlement, but there are a host of minor ones.”
“And you wish us to chart it thoroughly in case you need to return to deal with this Casal?” Tinara asked.
“It’s unlikely I’ll be alone, but yes,” Darras nodded. “This is Kielle, guardian of this place.”
“Our thanks,” the Elves replied to Kielle, showing deference and respect.
“The hidden pathways are yours to use,” Kielle replied. “The map is marked with the territory we, the forest folk, control.”
“May we hunt here?” Traskis asked.
“Yes, you are unlikely to run across any of the forest folk as they will avoid you,” Kielle nodded.
“Our thanks, we will follow your ways and respect this territory,” Firios replied for all.
“That is good,” Kielle acknowledged. “May Lomarris favour your quest.
“May Wenderos bless you, Woodnymph Kielle.”
The Elves set off to begin the charting of Ssthastar, and Darras returned to Erren, having only been there to introduce them to Kielle. From there, Erren sent him to Perenoth to check in on the Germuli.
Tumul was, as it was the last time, hot and humid. The one difference Darras did spot, though, was the lessening of the corrupt venality of the merchants. He also noticed several bounty hunters in the local taverns who were currently being employed as caravan guards to protect the burgeoning trade route that cut through Perenoth from Perdolis to Gomesh and beyond.
“I take it Gomesh provides the tools necessary for glassmaking?” Darras queried Erren in a low murmur.
‘They do, as well as acting as brokers to the various Western nations interested in obtaining the products produced by Perdolis, ’ Erren replied.
“I’m surprised Perdolis doesn’t do that themselves,” Darras mused.
‘They are taking advantage of the Dwarven supply chains that cover the various nations of the west, ’ Erren explained. ‘Whilst the really precious stuff goes by freight gateway, it’s limited and expensive.’
“Ah, bulk sales to the Dwarves,” Darras nodded.
‘Yes, a position Perenoth will gradually take over, though not for a century until they develop their port facilities.’
“The Dwarves won’t mind?”
‘They’ll be involved with a new form of transport, ’ Erren explained. ‘Making rails to allow wagons to run smoothly on.’
“Right...”
‘You’ll be alive to see it, my love, ’ Erren giggled.
“Are they aware of the Germuli, yet?”
‘No, other than a few merchants associated with the merchant Haskild you spoke to last time you were here.’
“I take it he’s letting them be ... for the moment?”
‘Yes, he knows if he picks a fight with them, he’d likely end up going bankrupt.’
“Considering they are under the protection of the forest folk, yes,” Darras chuckled.
The following morning, Darras set off on a purchased horse, heading south along the trade route. He carried a lot of supplies, as well as gifts for his friends, Veer and Kolnos. It took several days before Darras eventually left the trail and headed east into the dense forest. As soon as he was out of sight of the trail, another opened up before him, and he followed that to where he knew the Germuli had their village.
Evening had fallen, and Darras was still a day’s ride away from the village, though he was enjoying the cooler part of the evening. He was also aware that the Germuli had spotted him, although they had not yet approached him. Darras sat comfortably in front of a low fire that he’d boiled up some herbs to make a tea. It was then that Erren warned him of someone approaching and who it was.
“Hello, Roesaf, you’re looking well,” Darras said into the darkening gloom.
There was almost a minute of silence before Roesaf finally entered the clearing where Darras sat. “It was reported that a stranger had entered our woods, that he was moving directly towards our village. I knew it had to be you,” she stated.
“How right you were,” Darras chuckled. “Though trying to sneak up on me was somewhat foolish.”
“I may have been wrong,” Roesaf snapped back. “That would have been truly foolish.
“Anyone travelling the hidden paths to your village will not be an enemy of yours.”
“Nevertheless...”
“Want some tea?”
“I seek to know your business with us,” Roesaf replied, moving to where Darras could see her.
“Just renewing Erren’s covenant with you, and visiting my friends,” Darras shrugged.
“Covenant?”
“Her promise to watch over you and keep you safe.”
“We have seen no evidence of this.”
“You wouldn’t, that’s not how she works,” Darras smiled. “I’ll bet you haven’t seen any forest folk either, despite them being all around you.”
“No, we haven’t,” Roesaf admitted.
“Does Trassaf know you are here?”
“I do not know.”
“A more suspicious-minded man than me would suspect you to be here for revenge,” Darras chuckled.
“It had crossed my mind.”
“But others know it was likely me heading towards your village,” Darras shrugged. “Plus, I have a goddess looking after me.”
“I came to guide you to our village, nothing more, nothing less.”
“Now?”
“Yes, I know you see well in the dark.”
“Very well,” Darras chuckled, emptying the boiled water over the fire and ensuring it was entirely out.
Roesaf led the way, moving swiftly upon the opening trail until, after three hours, they stood before a palisade and Roesaf called for entry. Darras was then permitted entry, along with Roesaf and guided to a large partially stone-built building, where Trassaf and a few of his sub-leaders waited.
“So you return, Darras,” Trassaf greeted Darras in neutral tones. “Why?”
“Am I not allowed to visit friends?” Darras smiled.
“Ah, Veer and Kolnos,” Trassaf nodded.
“Yes,” Darras nodded.
“No doubt the goddess will be observing us, too?”
“Of course.”
“We kept to her rules, we observed, though never interacted with the merchant columns,” Trassaf continued.
“I know that too,” Darras replied. “You even left the bandits alone.”
“We weren’t sure if they were legitimate targets, so we let them be,” Trassaf shrugged.
“You can deal with them as you wish,” Darras replied. “They kill, they rob, and occasionally rape.”
“I see,” Trassaf replied thoughtfully. “Be welcome, Darras, friend of the Germuli.”
This final statement caused some surprise amongst the watchers, though no anger.
“My thanks, Trassaf the wise,” Darras replied.
“Roesaf did not trouble you?”
“No, she passed her test,” Darras chuckled.
“Ah, you realised,” Trassaf nodded.
“The taint is almost gone amongst your people,” Darras replied. “Fully gone amongst your young.”
“Yes, they are somewhat different to those I grew up with,” Trassaf agreed. “How are things in Ventris?”
“The same, though the Dolgek tribe have begun the slow path to unifying the remaining tribes,” Darras replied.
“Foolish, it will cause their doom,” Trassaf grimaced.
“That is why you are here, so your people do not go into the long night with them,” Darras nodded.
“We have welcomed a few stragglers from Ventris, who chanced the long journey south,” Trassaf replied.
“That will occasionally happen, many there see how foolish conquest will be for a united tribe endeavour,” Darras shrugged.
“I made them Tribe when the forest folk guided them to us.”
“Generous of you.”
“We need the numbers, we’re doing well, but are still vulnerable to the strong nation to our north, who claim these lands.”
“Claim, yes, control, no,” Darras smiled.
“Indeed so, though they did send outsiders to protect the caravans they sent, who dealt efficiently with the bandits,” Trassaf replied.
“They nearly sent their Royal Guard,” Darras nodded. “They would have clashed with you.”
“Really?”
“You’d have won, though their loss would have caused a leadership struggle in the north that would have destroyed much of the land.”
“Won, though lost a lot of the people?”
“Yes, hence I intervened.”
“Ah, the outsiders?”
“Yes, bounty hunters, there to defend the trade caravans and uninterested in anything else.”
“Very well, we’ll deal with the bandits; they encroach on our future territories,” Trassaf decided.
“My thanks,” Darras acknowledged. “No doubt Perenoth will be thankful too, though they’ll likely never know.”
“That, at the moment, will be for the best; my people are still in the stages of learning to live outside of Ventris and controlling their actions,” Trassaf admitted. “Any attack on the bandits will be savage; it’s currently all we know.”
“Just tidy up afterwards and offer the bodies to the forest folk,” Darras suggested,
“Yes,” Trassaf nodded. “We will.”
After speaking with Trassaf, Darras was guided to a large, well-constructed building that had clearly been built with attention to detail. Outside, Veer and Kolnos stood waiting to greet Darras.
“My friends, it looks like life is treating you well,” Darras said after the initial greetings.
“It is,” Veer replied with a smile. “The knowledge and tools you left us enabled us to be providers for the tribe.”
“We also speak to the Woodnymphs and ask their advice on herbs and good hunting spots,” Kolnos added.
“That was good of them; they normally avoid contact unless you do something to offend them,” Darras replied.
“Yes, we noticed this when they will not make an appearance when others are with us,” Veer nodded.
“I take it you are teaching the others how to provide for themselves?”
“We are,” Kolnos confirmed.
“I also teach what we know of herbs for healing and cooking,” Veer added.
“Good, that also enhances your status in the tribe,” Darras nodded.
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