Chapter 22

“How will I know?” a confused Sondrast asked.

“A priest from her Temple will inform you,” Darras chuckled. “Erren will tell them where you’ll be at a certain time.”

“Ah yes, a goddess,” Sondrast chuckled in return. “Is there any magic I should be concentrating on?”

“She says those shields, as I’m the only one who can see and hunt the shadows, keeping them all in one place is important.”

“I will do this,” he nodded as they wandered over to speak to Imios.

“Thank you for your aid. May Erren bless you,” Darras said as they approached.

“It was an honour. May Osruit bless all who took part,” he replied, looking pleased.

Darras and Sondrast then went to speak to Tarruva who was with the other nymphs carrying the scrying stone, even as Imios sank into the water.

“It is done as you requested, sir Darras,” she informed him as they approached.

“Thank you for your aid and guidance. May Erren bless you all,” Darras replied.

“May Doriel bless you,” all replied as Tarruva handed over what seemed to be a wrapped rock to Darras.

“Thank you. My goddess will be most pleased with this,” Darras nodded his acceptance.

“We will guide you both back to your horse,” Tarruva replied with a smile. “Doriel also sends her thanks for hiding our presence.”

“The longer the dark lord does not know the extent of the resistance against him, the better,” Darras acknowledged.

“Agreed. Now follow us.”

The trail back was far more open than the route they’d taken coming in and Darras suspected that this was one of the routes the shadows took. Sondrast appeared to be enjoying himself too as he chatted to the nymphs about their lives and lifestyles. The nymphs it seemed also warmed to him after a confused start where they constantly looked to Tarruva to see if they should speak. Tarruva also handed Sondrast a healing potion for after the trip on the horse and suggested riding lessons if he was to serve the goddess, something he reluctantly agreed to. Darras then took him to his home village and bade him a cheerful farewell, even as he swallowed down the healing potion, looking in somewhat agony as he carefully got off the horse.

“Take care my friend,” Darras bade him farewell.

“I will and I’ll prepare for the day Wenderos has need of me,” he replied. “Farewell, sir Darras.”

There were no further incidents on the trip back to Trasturial and Darras was soon back in Erren’s domain getting a delighted hug from her when he arrived, handed over the still wrapped scrying stone and went to clean himself.

“You smell of horse,” she giggled after she’d sent the stone floating away as he stepped into the bath.

“I’m not surprised, the waystations simply allow a jug of water and a basin for any ablutions,” Darras chuckled.

“No soap?”

“No, just a rough cloth.”

“Well, let me wash you,” she murmured as a flagon of beer made its appearance.

“Take it Sondrast is now part of your future plans?” Darras asked.

“He is. He’s somewhat atypical for a spellcaster in that he’s retained his manners and good humour,” Erren replied. “Most who practice as he was doing with you would also have completed the motions and then attempted to kill you as well.”

“Wonder how many times that’s gone wrong for them?” a bemused Darras queried.

“Quite a few. Wizards and witches tend to be solitary creatures, so picking on lone travellers is not wise. Sooner or later you’ll regret it.”

“Yes, I’ve been warned many times to stay out of their way,” Darras nodded.

“Wise advice. They have a part to play in the world, but generally they are not nice people, with the occasional exceptions like Sondrast and Annon.”

“Both Elves,” Darras observed.

“Yes, their age, plus their bringing up in harmony with Elven society means they are not forced into rushing things.”

“Where am I off to next?” Darras asked, changing the subject even whilst enjoying Erren’s presence.

“You’re off to a wedding, it will be midsummer in Rachtelin soon,” she replied.

“Nothing before that?”

“No. I’m gathering what you called intelligence on these shadows, but for the moment your activities appear to be causing a reduction in overt activities as they regroup,” Erren explained.

“Explains the camp as they try to put assets in place,” Darras nodded.

“Yes, plus I’m monitoring the scrying stone you retrieved without triggering the connecting sources,” she informed him.

“I take it they do not know what happened?”

“No, nor of Doriel’s or Osruit’s people’s involvement. You did well there. The one shadow who messaged them only saw you.”

“They may guess you now have the stone, particularly if they send out a scout to the site,” Darras warned.

“Tarruva was warned of this by Doriel and has placed a similar, if broken, stone at the site, so it’s a case of wait and see,” Erren replied. “The woodnymphs are monitoring, and will know, even if they cannot see or harm a shadow.”

“The shadows seem to ignore the minor races,” Darras commented thoughtfully.

“Yes, though they usually just live in a Kingdom, not influence it, Fordel being a minor exception.” Erren replied.

“Yes, if the Fordelians had left the woods alone and just obeyed the agreements, there would be very little interaction at all.”

“True, but Darmela’s influence over their greed makes it difficult for them,” she giggled.

“Take it she likes shiny things?”

“Yes. I’m told her personal domain has a golden throne.”

“Bit cold and uncomfortable,” Darras chuckled.

“True, I like to be comfortable, at least this avatar does.”

“Pity you can’t come to the wedding with me,” Darras sighed.

“Not allowed. It may be an avatar, but it’s still me.”

“I know, but still a shame.”

“Trust me, there are a few gods or goddesses whom you would not like running around free in the world,” she giggled.

“Yes. I can imagine,” Darras shuddered slightly at the thought of an unleashed dark lord.

“My brother, the dark lord, would be a problem, yes,” Erren agreed, showing she knew Darras’s thoughts. “Bigger problems would be Colanthus the god of war and Epelemos the plague god.”

“Yes, I could see them working hand in hand,” Darras replied with a grimace of disgust and revulsion.

“They have their place as minor gods, but give them direct access and it would get pretty bad.”

“Is the gift to Jertin underway?”

“Yes. It will go through on the night shift tonight,” Erren informed Darras. “In two days’ time it will reach Alvastros and will be displayed with the other wedding gifts.”

“So, you’ll want me there in two days’ time?”

“Yes, along with Rienne’s gift.”

“Do they know I’m coming?”

“Yes, the priests of the shrine maintained there, informed Count Alros that you would attend as well as give my direct blessing on the union,” Erren smiled. “This has the entire demesne in a frenzy of preparation as my direct blessings are usually only given to Kings or the High Priest.”

“Not endangering them, is it?”

“No, but it has ... discommoded the King’s Council who thought they’d simply fobbed Jertin Flask off with a meaningless title.”

“I’ll keep an eye on things. I suspect Fosloss might be part of the brother of Lady Ginoe’s party, just to snub Alros.”

“You may be right, but no decision there has been made.”

“How goes the training of the shadow catcher?”

“It’s going extremely well. Doriel thinks he’ll be ready in another month, after the wedding you’ll have to travel to pass on the mesh Pelegard made.”

“Does he have a name?” Darras asked.

Erren was quiet for a few seconds before replying. “It’s Balat. He’s thirteen and a little bit danger prone,” she giggled.

“I’ll try to keep him alive,” Darras chuckled.

“I’m sure you’ll succeed; you managed well enough with the young men under your command.”

“Still lost too many as they were suicidally brave,” Darras sighed, a few bitter memories coming back to mind.

“That’s the past, my Darras. Don’t dwell on it. What’s done is done.”

“I know. I’m quite proud of them, but wish they’d made it to New Ostar.”

“Speaking of that, the Ostari offensive against Drach, the Trenichan capital, has begun, the rest of the country has capitulated. There’s only the diehards and those condemned to death in absentia for their crimes left holding it,” Erren informed Darras.

“What does Erriane have planned?”

“Well, the surviving slaves were all liberated and freed. Those who were fit enough were given a farm or business and a new life. The rest are being nursed back to health, if possible, and returned home if that’s what they want.”

“And the Trenichans?”

“War is a bloody business, not many of their soldiery survived. Slave owners were generally hung at the gates of their farms or businesses,” Erren sighed. “So those left are generally their women and children, often destitute, though a few found husbands in the Ostari Army or a freed slave and a new life.”

“A dreadful business,” Darras sighed.

“It was an evil that needed excising, root and branch, but yes, a dreadful business and eventually the people will recover and a new country will be rebuilt.”

“The plan of the gods there?”

“Yes.”

“Glad they know what they are doing,” Darras grimaced.

“It’s something I’m hoping to avoid on my world, though not everyone follows me or my book, nor would I wish for them to be forced to follow.”

“Not even the worshippers of your brother?”

“No, though I’m pretty sure he’d try it with mine.”

“Yes, he looked the type,” Darras chuckled, his dark mood lifting somewhat.

“Oh, Hallis finally came through with her promise to aid our cause in that the Guild of Healers will aid you if you cannot get to a Temple.”

“That was good of her,” Darras chuckled.

“I think she just wants me to owe her a favour so she can get her claws into you,” Erren almost hissed.

“She can want, one day I’ll be yours and you’ll be mine,” Darras replied and kissed her forehead.