Champion of the Gods
Copyright© 2025 by QM
Chapter 49
Once out of sight of the woods and having received a confirmation from Erren that there was no pursuit, Darras stopped, dismounted and stowed away his bow back in the hidden compartment of his pack. He then remounted and rode to the nearest village, reporting in to the sheriff.
“Crusalians in the woods across the border, you say?” the sheriff drawled, clearly uninterested. “It’s not a crime.”
“I know,” Darras nodded. “However, they were military and observing the Korch side of the border.”
“It’s true border traffic has almost ceased,” the sheriff frowned as a crown messenger entered. “Scuse a minute, I gotta deal with this.”
‘It’s the warning from Cluvvet, ’ Erren informed Darras.
“Damn, looks like we do have something to worry about,” the sheriff finally opined.
“At least you’ll know where to look,” Darras shrugged.
“Yeah, but we got detachments from the Royal Army approaching t’ deal with that,” the sheriff nodded. “But thanks for the warnin, stranger.”
“You’re welcome,” Darras smiled, before taking his leave.
The road back to Sveemas was crowded with troops and supply wagons heading towards the border. Darras was impressed that Cluvvet had organised things so quickly.
‘It’s not the first time Crusal has tried something like this, ’ Erren informed Darras. ‘It is the first time they’ve been sneaky about it, though.’
“Want me to go after Vellt now?”
‘No, come home now, Serulon is paying a visit.’
“Any idea why?” Darras asked.
‘The interference with the narrative, I think.’
“Not my killing the scout?”
‘No.’
“Welcome back, my love,” Erren greeted Darras as he appeared on the lawn. “Let’s get the smell of horse off you before our guest arrives.”
“Serulon, the only one?” Darras asked.
“No, Doriel and Osruit are already here, as they have information Serulon will need.”
Darras greeted the two gods when he got to the pools, before slipping into them to be washed down by Erren.
“Any idea where the Vellt got the notion to try this?” Osruit asked as he relaxed with a beer.
“None,” Erren replied. “It doesn’t match his character, which always errs on the side of caution, nor does it fall into line with Crusal’s normal modus operandi.”
“Normal being their efforts to persuade or strong-arm Korch into siding with them,” Doriel added by way of explanation for Darras.
“Yes,” Erren nodded. “But here comes Serulon, so let’s take it up with her.”
“Good idea,” Osruit agreed.
Within a minute, Serulon had apparated on the lawn and made her way to the pools, her clothing vanishing as she stepped into the hottest part. She smiled when a goblet of chilled wine appeared next to her.
“Someone interfered in a major way with the narrative,” Serulon began. “My vision is still clouded, though I did notice your efforts to correct it, sister.”
“Yes,” Erren replied. “It surprised me, and it was very out of character for Vellt, who ordered it.”
“Vellt is a follower of our brother,” Serulon informed the group. “That’s why I’m curious as to what happened.”
“Interesting,” Erren nodded thoughtfully. “Not a priest, though?”
“No, so feel free to deal with him as you see fit.”
“I’m only interested in the who and how,” Erren replied. “I have no intentions of eliminating the man, even though he is tipping the scales towards irredeemable.”
“Please keep me informed, I suspect our brother is interfering in a manner that is not permitted,” Serulon requested.
“As in having found a way to visit the planet in person?” Erren asked, seemingly casually.
“Ah, so your suspicions match mine?”
“They do, sister,” Erren nodded, then filled Serulon in on the two suspected encounters Darras had been involved with.
“Interesting, though I’m at a loss as to why you did not inform me earlier,” Serulon frowned.
“No proof, sister, and I will only bring proof, not rumours, to you.”
“I see,” Serulon replied, accepting the explanation. “So, whoever it was may not have been our brother?”
“I think it was, but again, I have no proof, which is why Darras will be going after Vellt,” Erren replied.
“Catch and release?”
“Yes, Vellt is not quite irredeemable, even if he worships our brother secretly.”
“Good, please be careful.”
“Where is Vellt?” Darras asked after Serulon had left.
“Hilliam,” Erren replied.
“Wonderful,” Darras sighed, remembering the issues he’d had the last time he was there.
“Yes, I know, my love,” Erren sympathised.
“It’s the season for Kerrem herbs,” Doriel added. “You’ll have an excuse, and you were there last year.”
“True,” Darras nodded.
“I’ll get my people to give them a blessing to make their potency stronger.”
“My thanks,” Darras nodded.
“You’ll not need any Elven help this time,” Erren continued thoughtfully. “But you’ll probably be doing a lot of travelling.”
“I’ll manage,” Darras chuckled.
Hilliam was, as Darras remembered, snobbish and distinctly unfriendly to anyone with Darras’s skin tone.
“Kerrem herbs?” the gateway clerk asked. “Oh, right, you were here last year.”
“I was,” Darras nodded. “And I accepted a commission to do the same this year.”
“You’ll be watched,” the clerk finally said after putting a seal on Darras’s entry papers.
“Surprise, surprise,” Darras murmured by way of reply. “Though I think I’ll avoid Prajol this time.”
“Prajol?”
“Went there, bought the herbs and was kicked out of the town because the local commander was a bigot,” Darras replied. “He then had the nerve to accuse me of burning down the merchant shipping a day after I’d left.”
“He no doubt had his reasons,” the clerk answered defensively.
“He did, stupid, bigoted reasons,” Darras chuckled. “And now I’ll get the same treatment buying up the herbs for the kulan fever in Tophek.”
“Just behave.”
Darras left the building, getting the usual stares from the citizens and made his way to the Healing Guild, where he was greeted in a far friendlier manner than the gateway building.
“We were expecting Mirion,” the senior healer informed Darras.
“She’s still busy in the deep south,” Darras explained.
“Ah, well, you’ll be pleased to know we’ve sent out our acolytes to purchase the herbs, so all you’ll need to do is rent a room,” the healer smiled.
“That’s good,” Darras nodded. “The last time I had no end of bother with various guards and senior officials.”
“Yes, our Lady, Hallis informed me so in a vision, so we came up with this plan.”
“How long?” Darras asked.
“Two days,” the healer smiled.
“Better than I expected,” Darras nodded. “Thank you.”
“We recommend the Gallant Lord Hotel for your stay,” The healer added. “The owner is a follower of ours and won’t overcharge you.”
“Again, my thanks,” Darras replied. “May Erren’s blessings be upon you and your people.”
“May Hallis bless you, too, Darras.”
The hotel was both comfortable and somewhat pricy. However, Erren informed Darras that this was the norm in Hilliam. It was also close enough to the home of the High Commander of the army for Darras to pay the man a visit ... assuming he could remain unobserved. News was beginning to filter through to the capital of a ‘skirmish’ at the Korchian border. However, at the moment, it was being spun as Crusal dealing with an incursion, not what was actually happening.
‘Crusalian scouts were ambushed by Korchian irregulars and turned back, ’ Erren informed Darras of the truth.
“Hopefully that will be the end of it,” Darras murmured as he supped a fine ale.
‘Sadly, that seems unlikely, but there are some calm heads amongst the Crusalians.’
“Hmm, let’s hope our ‘word’ with Vellt has an effect.”
‘Depends on whether you can get to him.’
“I can but try,” Darras softly chuckled, then frowned as several of the town guard entered the hotel and made a beeline for him.
“Why are you not out collecting these herbs you are after?” the guard captain asked after he identified himself.
“Because I don’t need to, the Healer Guild has made the arrangements for them to be sent here,” Darras replied.
“So why not leave and return when they are ready?” the captain said after a moment’s thought.
“Why would I do that?” Darras asked. “I have other things to trade with.”
“You did not mention this at the gateway.”
“Because I thought I’d be travelling,” Darras explained. “However, after my troubles last time, the Healer Guild made this arrangement, which works out well for all of us.”
“Troubles?”
“I was accused of burning down the merchant fleet at Prajol and then had my trade goods stolen by the guards at Hilliam,” Darras shrugged. “I suggest you ask your commander about me.”
“I don’t appreciate you harassing my customers,” the hotel owner added as he came up. “Nor will the Healer Guild care for you interrupting the work of aiding the afflicted in Tophek.”
“We will check your tale,” the captain said, before beating a hasty retreat.
“Sorry about that, Darras,” the owner sighed. “Harrasing anyone with tanned skin is a commonplace occurrence by the guards in Hilliam.”
“My thanks for your intervention,” Darras smiled. “Though why they think Asul would be interested in kerrem herbs is a mystery,” Darras finished with a chuckle.
“It’s an obsession in the nobility of the Kedivate,” the owner explained. “You’ll find the ordinary folk at the markets far less caring of your skin colour.”
It was after dark when Darras slipped from his room and through the dark streets of Hilliam. With Erren’s aid, he dodged the sparse guard patrols before he reached a magnificent-looking building where the High Commander of the Army had his residence.
“Security appears light,” Darras murmured as he observed the building from a tall tree.
‘The only threat he faces comes from the Khedive class, not Asul, who frankly has little interest in ever ruling Crusal again, ’ Erren replied.
“But still hate Crusalians?”
‘Only because of Crusal’s ongoing antagonism towards them, which is mostly from the Khedive class, who use it as a distraction from their own corruption and graft.’
“Yet it appears a rich country?”
‘It would be far more prosperous were the Khedive class overthrown and a less corrupt government put in place.’
“I’m sure you have plans,” Darras chuckled as he dropped from the tree and rapidly scaled the outer wall of the residence.
‘I do, just not immediate ones, the Khedivate follow Rustav, not me, for the most part.’