Chapter 18

“What ... was ... that..., Human?” the Orc in charge, clearly shaken by the event, stammered out, demanding an answer from Darras.

“A shadow sent by the Dark Lord to sow dissent amongst the clans,” Darras replied, having had it confirmed by Erren that there were no more shadows in the camp.

“And this was why you were here?”

“Yes. I serve the Lady of Light and go where she sends me,” Darras replied, picking up his staff. “It is now up to the Orcs to put right what it wrought.”

“He simply taught that Orcs are superior to all!” the tanist grated out.

“And I proved he was wrong,” Darras shrugged.

“The Human is correct. Clovak’s hubris was exposed to Orcdom and we will go back to the original lore of Saltak and live according to his precepts,” the leader added.

“The gods will not be denied,” Darras informed the Orc.

“It appears not, Human,” he replied. “Leave. You are not welcome in this place.”

“Indeed not,” Darras chuckled and simply turned and walked away.

It didn’t take him long to reach the traders’ compound to be faced by Pollo and several others who were clearly disturbed by the events.

“Relax, it’s done. Clovak is dead,” Darras replied in a calm voice.

“And they let you walk away?” Pollo asked incredulously.

“They escorted me there as many here knew there was an issue and Clovak was the cause of it,” Darras chuckled.

“Why didn’t they sort it themselves?”

“He preached Orcan superiority. It needed someone who was not an Orc to lay it to rest.”

“So we will not face any idiocy over this?” Pollo asked.

“No more than normal,” Darras chuckled. “These are Orcs after all.”

“And that’s why you were here?” Oligo asked.

“Yes, that was my task, as set by Erren.”

“So if we see you, you’re on her business?”

“Yes, though it’s unlikely you ever will, unless you’re seriously unlucky,” Darras replied.

“He’s got that right. If he turns up, we’re heading into a shitstorm,” Pollo laughed. “I’ll also be refusing to take him along with us.”

“Too right,” Oligo replied, starting to laugh himself along with the others.

There was nothing of note for the rest of Darras’s stay and he rapidly sold off his goods for the various coins the Orcs used. Nor were there any incidents on the return trip, though a few of the traders were very nervous around Darras and avoided his company, if possible. Still, once in Dinone, Darras bade Pollo and Oligo farewell, as they at least weren’t any too bothered by his presence, before making his way to the gateway building and a return to Erren and the chance of a good wash.

“Welcome back and well done, my Darras,” she greeted him merrily as he stepped into her world.

“Thank you, Erren,” Darras replied, feeling the warmth of her presence flowing into him.

“Now get washed, we’ll be getting some company later.”

“Anyone I know?” Darras asked.

“My brother, the Dark Lord.”

“He let you know he was going to call?” Darras asked, a little surprised.

“No, but I am aware, to an extent, of his proximity and he is approaching. Plus I will only talk to him here where he is limited in what he can do,” Erren explained ... sort of.

“So I have time to clean up?”

“Yes, my Darras. Time is linear for you; for me, not so much.”

“I’ll take your word for it,” Darras chuckled.

“Good, trying to explain just what the greater me sees and does would be difficult.”

“I gathered that,” Darras smiled as he disrobed and entered the heated pool, holding his hand out to Erren who took it as she joined him.

“I suspect my brother wants to have a look at the person who is causing issues for his servants,” Erren informed Darras as she began cleaning him.

“And you want it here because you can control what he does?”

“Yes. None of his servants can come here without my permission and finding you in the world will be difficult for them in any country that reveres me.”

“But not so much in Kingdoms that don’t?”

“Yes, but you won’t generally be using a gateway to them. Even countries like Fordel who worship Darmela are not going to permit the more dangerous of his servants anywhere near them.”

“Good to hear,” Darras nodded as he began to soap Erren.

“For the moment you’re still pretty anonymous, but he has now taken an interest in you so expect issues.”

“I will, my Erren,” Darras replied.

Darras and Erren were enjoying lunch under the pergola in her garden when she indicated what appeared to be a door opening in the middle of the lawn.

“Making an entrance ... literally?” Darras chuckled.

“Yes,” Erren smiled. “There are easier ways in, such as the one you take.”

“Is he showing off, or demonstrating that he cannot be stopped?”

“Hard to say, though I could close it if I wanted.” Erren giggled as a tall man stepped through the entrance created.

As Erren didn’t rise to greet her brother Darras followed her example and simply stayed sitting alongside her on the comfortable two-seater chair at the pergola and sipped his beer. The Dark Lord unhurriedly made his way across the lawn to stand before them and Darras realised that this was all simply a little bit of theatre from both sides, though naturally kept that thought to himself even as Erren glanced at him and smiled.

“Brother,” Erren greeted the visitor politely when he was close enough.

“Sister,” a snide reply came back. “Taken to playing with dolls, I see,” he added, glancing at Darras, who said nothing.

“As opposed to shadows?” Erren sweetly replied.

“Our rules are we do not interfere with our priesthood.”

“I wasn’t aware these shadows were priests,” Erren chuckled. “Certainly, they do not give off the aura of one.”

“Nevertheless, that’s what they are!”

“Do you honestly believe you can lie to me, brother, and be believed?”

“This doll has killed my own!”

“I took it personally when I was attacked in Silvak,” Darras replied. “Hardly the act of a priest, now was it?”

“Silence, doll, the adults are talking!”

“He just explained why he goes about killing the shadows,” Erren replied. “Get off your high horse and stop the stupid lies. You set these things upon my own, I produced a cure.”

“They simply bring balance.”

“By possessing others? I think not,” Erren replied with a thin smile.

“The law of cycles must be preserved. Growth then decline, followed by rebirth.”

“Natural cycles, brother. Not forced decline and no growth.”

“That is balance.”

“No, that is stasis and I will not permit that.”

“I will destroy your doll should it interfere with mine in future.”

“Feel free to try,” Darras chuckled. “So far I’m not impressed.”

“Then you have much to learn, doll.”

“No doubt, but that is what it is to be Human.”

“Have you finished?” Erren enquired of her brother. “If so, feel free to leave.”

“There will be consequences for your killings of my servants, sister. Your doll will be the least of them,” the Dark Lord sneered before striding off, not waiting for a reply.

“My, he was grumpy,” Darras chuckled.

“True,” Erren smiled. “I don’t think he likes you.”

“Are we but dolls to you, Erren?”

“To me? No. To him? Yes.”

“Thought so,” Darras smiled, relaxing.

“It’s why you managed to deal with the Orc problem far more quickly than I expected. A doll has to be manipulated into various positions; you simply plan, then adapt the plan should things change,” she explained. “Besides, I couldn’t fall in love with a doll.”

“In love?” Darras swallowed slightly.

“This avatar loves you, my Darras.”

“I ... I don’t know what to say.”

“Say nothing for now. In your view you just recently lost your wife and children.”

“Thank you,” Darras replied, his mind awhirl with conflicting thoughts and emotions, though grateful Erren wasn’t pressing him on the subject as he had been beginning to feel bonds of affection for her. “So, what was he really after?”

“He wanted a look at you to see what it was that made you able to take on a shadow,” Erren replied. “Unfortunately for him, he found there is little he can do about your innate ability, not without killing you.”

“I’d rather avoid that,” Darras chuckled.

“Me too, the reason things moved on twenty years in your world is that I had to grow you from a baby so as not to cause you certain ... complications in your life.”

“I ... don’t recall any of that,” a slightly bemused Darras replied.

“You slept through it ... sort of.”

“As in like being unable to wake a head wound victim?” Darras queried.

“Yes, your doctors call that a coma, only with you it was artificial.”

“So, the shadows have a twenty-plus years lead on me?”

“Yes, my Darras, they do. Though your work in Fordel and the Orcish plains has been a major setback for them.”

“Good. They cause others to suffer.”

“That they do, my Darras. That they do,” Erren agreed. “Oh, we have another visitor.”

“Friend or foe?” Darras chuckled.

“Friend, it’s Pelegard.”

Unlike the visit of the Dark Lord, Pelegard simply became substantial and gave both Darras and Erren a friendly wave of greeting.

“I brought a containing mesh for when you finally go after a shadow,” he explained after greeting them and gratefully accepting a beer.

“Magical?” Darras asked.

“Yes, though Doriel’s follower will be able to activate it as the seal is activated by light magic,” Pelegard replied.

“That’s good,” Darras nodded. “Been in touch with Bolgasa yet?” he asked, raising his tankard.

“Oh yes. He and Doriel helped me set up my own personal Realm. Smaller than this but very comfortable. The smithy in it is where I made this mesh thing,” he added, handing over a parcel.

“Will it stretch?” Darras asked.

“Yes. Who knows what type of being you’ll be going after,” Pelegard nodded, taking a large swallow of beer. “I can smell the stench of our brother, Erren.”

“You just missed him. Be grateful,” Erren giggled.

“Came here to eye up Darras with a view to neutralising him?”

“Yes, he wouldn’t bother for anything else,” Erren replied. “He can’t see Darras in the world unless it’s through the eyes of an activated servant.”

“Hah, yes, of course,” Pelegard chuckled. “Still, now at least he knows what you look like, Darras, so watch your back.”

“I will, thanks,” Darras nodded.

“As you aren’t a priest or an acolyte of mine that makes you fair game in his eyes,” Erren added.

“So how did Darmela get away with killing your priests?” Darras asked.

“Humans are far less reasonable when driven by greed,” Erren sighed. “The Darmelan High Priest simply paid a big bribe.”

“Yes, my people have a tendency to be amoral at times,” Darras admitted. “Discipline was strict in my units, but still there were some who would steal anything not nailed down, even their so-called friend’s gear.”