Chapter 30

“He’s called Remelle and lives in the Elven Kingdom of Comarre and that’s where there’s a problem as it’s a purely Elven Kingdom,” Erren explained.

“No other races allowed?” Darras asked.

“Only in their capital, usually diplomats or registered traders.”

“I doubt I could disguise myself as an Elf,” Darras chuckled.

“Looking like one wouldn’t cut it either,” Erren admitted. “Elves would recognise you for what you are the moment they got a good look.”

“I take it you have a way?”

“Yes, though it will involve Firios’ party and a journey from the Kingdom of Trumel. It’s a one city state, but with a gateway and right next to Comarre.”

“Mixed race?”

“Yes, it’s a trading hub that prides itself on finding what a customer wants and supplying it at a reasonable cost.”

“I take it it’s quite popular then?”

“Very. It’s what Fordel should be, but isn’t.”

“So, Firios’ party can get me into Comarre?”

“Yes, and keep you out of sight until you can observe what is going on around Remelle,” Erren confirmed.

“Wonder what it is that’s attracting shadows?” Darras mused.

“I don’t know, but he’s an inventor of sorts so may be making something that they want to get their hands on.”

“That’s rather vague,” Darras replied thoughtfully.

“It’s all I’ve got. Neither Doriel’s nor Osruit’s people can see anything amiss and whilst Remelle is a worshipper of Pelegard, he’s in good standing there.”

“OK. Worth a look, if only to deal with the shadows,” Darras nodded.

“Thank you, my love.”

“Welcome, Darras,” Firios greeted him enthusiastically as he stepped through into Iversirion.

“It is good to be here, my friend,” Darras responded.

“Come with me. There’s someone who wants to see you,” Firios requested.

It was a short walk to the centre of the Elven city where a shrine to Erren had been set up and the priestly duties were carried out in full view of the populace. It was also crowded as apparently there was a guest speaker preaching to the watching Elves.

“Priestess Kina, how good to see you again,” Darras greeted the speaker when she’d finished.

“And you too, my friend,” she replied, giving Darras a hug. “When Harinas informed me you’d be here when I was doing my observance for Erren, I asked Firios if he could bring you along.”

“I’m glad he did,” Darras chuckled, delighting at the sheer love of life Kina had. “Life is treating you well?”

“It is, Erren’s love flows through me into the surrounding area to the delight of her people.”

“Good. I take it Iversirion has reformed?”

“Mostly. There are still a few at the top who resent other races being equal in her sight, though, with the help of Leandomus, they are being moved away from any influence,” Kina explained. “Those are the ones who prevent the full blessings of Erren coming back to this city. They have even criticised Leandomus for his foreign policies.”

“That’s a foolish thing to do,” Darras frowned. “The Forest Kingdom, including Iversirion, will be involved with the liberation of Thenarron with Erren’s full support.”

“I know, but these people see nothing other than the superiority of themselves and Elvenkind over all others,” Kina sighed.

“Hasn’t put you in danger, I hope?”

“I don’t think I’ve met any, nor have I been troubled at all by the ordinary people here.”

“As long as it stays that way. I suspect Erren’s wrath on Iversirion would be legendary if anyone harmed one of her priests.”

“As do I,” Kina nodded. “Fortunately, their power and influence dwindle each day and Leandomus is now well aware as to who they are.”

“Will you be going to Thenarron?”

“No, though several acolytes I’ve trained will be,” Kina grimaced. “My instructions from our central temple are to return to the capital and find a husband.”

“Well, you won’t find one here,” Darras chuckled, making Kina smile as well.

“I know, but want to ask Erren via you to give me the name of the man who will make me happy, which is why I asked to see you when I heard you were coming.”

“You could simply have asked me,” Erren’s bubbling voice came from Darras’s throat.

“It seemed like ... well, cheating to selfishly ask for myself, my goddess,” Kina confessed.

“I understand and approve of you Kina, you can ask me anything.”

“So ... a husband?”

“Galard of the Treversa Temple will be a good husband to you,” Erren replied. “You will both be happy and will enjoy learning from each other in all sorts of ways.”

“I know of him, though he always appeared so formal and unbending,” Kina replied.

“That is simply his way. It is a shield against the pressures of life,” Erren explained. “In reality he is a gentle and caring man who will appreciate the joy and laughter you bring to his life.”

“Thank you, my goddess,” Kina finally replied.

“She’s gone now,” Darras answered. “Though she still watches.”

“A weight has been lifted from my life,” Kina replied with a wide smile. “Galard of Treversa is not a name I would have thought to be of husband material.”

“I believe you can rely on Erren not to steer you wrongly,” Darras chuckled.

“I believe so too,” Kina nodded.

There was other catching up news-wise from Kina, though nothing of any major significance. This naturally ended when Firios and Tinara turned up to begin the mission, as well as receive a blessing from Kina.

“Just the two of you?” Darras asked.

“Yes, Annos and Sondrast are deep in study with her master on ways to bring down the Thenarron barrier,” Firios replied.

Tinara explained. “Traskis is with his wife and new born.”

“He never mentioned his wife was pregnant, last we met,” Darras commented.

“It is a source of tension for him. Her family do not accept the current direction Wenderos has bidden Iversirion to go.”

“He loves her?”

“Aye, he does,” Firios confirmed.

“Then it will work out, eventually,” Darras replied.

“I hope so. Her family pressurise her to oppose Traskis’ involvement in any activity involving you,” Tinara added.

“Yes, I can see that being a source of contention,” Darras nodded.

“Lerrone is not a bad person as such, just overly swayed by her family,” Firios explained.

“Erren knows this,” Darras confirmed. “She will benefit from spending time with Traskis, as well as a first meeting to bless the child from Kina.”

“That I believe is part of the tension,” Firios chuckled. “Her family want an Elven priest to do it, but whilst she is here, Kina is the head priest and the blessing must be performed soon.”

“It will work out,” Darras chuckled. “Erren tells me it will.”

“Good,” Firios chuckled. “Now, shall we away?”

“Yes, to Trumel and then across the border to Comarre,” Darras replied and the trio made their way back to the gateway house.

“We will keep you out of sight of the Elves there,” Tinara promised.

“Good, it’s not my ... or Erren’s, intent to disturb them, merely to see what the shadows are up to.”

“They could probably do with being disturbed,” Firios chuckled. “They claim to be the true successors to the Empire of Harranis and their leadership are arrogance personified.”

“Is this why they will not permit the entry of Humanity and others?” Darras asked.

“Or any Elves from kingdoms associated with Humanity,” Firios replied.

“Odd,” Darras shrugged.

“They blame Humanity for the collapse of the Empire, despite it being known it was the dark kin,” Tinara explained.

“Ah,” Darras nodded. “So you need to keep out of sight as well?”

“We do,” Firios confirmed. “Though that’s not a major issue for us.”

“Hopefully not for me either,” Darras nodded thoughtfully.

Trumel was a very vibrant city, with a lot of traders from various races being there to buy and sell their wares. Hence from the moment the trio left the gateway building they were assailed with cries from the various vendors to look at the goods on display. Within a minute, Darras had spotted Humans, Elves, Dwarves, Lizardmen and even a single Orc guard. All were rubbing shoulders with each other with none of the usual friction between the various groups. However, Darras noted with a mental chuckle, the Dwarves and Elven booths always had another race’s booth between them.

The trio were swiftly able to make their way out of the city and set off on a well-made road towards the Kingdom of Comarre.

“A good road,” Darras pondered. “I take it the Elves from Comarre use it but few others?”

“Yes, they will trade, but will not permit entry to any others, save a select few from ‘pure’ Elven realms,” Firios confirmed. “Even then, they’d likely use a gateway.”

“Is the border guarded?”

“Of that I am not certain, but we will no doubt find out.”

“Undoubtedly,” Darras agreed.

“We must leave the road now,” Tinara advised. “They will spot us from the border post if we do not.”

“Let’s go,” Darras replied as she led the way into the woodlands.

The border was guarded, though only in the shape of patrols and these seemed to be well marked and easy to avoid as they only followed the trails and not the scrubland that marked the indistinct border itself. Hence, the trio were simply able to move deeper into Comarre and eventually use the Elven gift of ‘far-striding’ to move swiftly through the countryside, avoiding the roads and any signs of settlement.

Darras also discovered that Firios and Tinara were on a mission from the Land-King to have a look around Comarre, if only to rule out any potential future problems. This was more down to Comarre’s utter hostility to the various nations of the Elves, who lived peacefully with other races, mostly Humans.

“So, Leandomus just wants to make sure they aren’t planning an invasion of some sort?” Darras asked.

“Yes, Darras,” Firios confirmed. “It’s unlikely, but there have been some incidents along the borders with various Realms connected to Comarre and whilst it’s likely bandits, Leandomus will want to make sure that’s all it is.”

“And to think, less than a year ago he’d have ignored it,” Darras chuckled.

“Yes, our goddess really got to him,” Tinara agreed.

“He also discovered that he liked King Danvas, the Human King of the Forest Kingdom,” Firios added. “Hence the mustering of our forces to face Thenarron.”

“I suspect that could be a bitter struggle,” Darras opined. “The Witch Lord is a powerful magic user, as well as being possessed by a shadow.”