Chapter 31

Darras trailed the third shadow, guided mostly by Erren as it wasn’t leaving any discernible traces of its passing. Erren was also updating him with Firios and Tinara’s progress.

“So, they restrained themselves and kept him alive?” he questioned.

‘Yes. I was somewhat surprised as it’s an area Elves can be a little ... savage in, ’ Erren replied.

“You may be rubbing off on them,” he chuckled.

‘More likely it’s you. They do talk over a lot of things with you.’

“Any idea what they have this Elf ... Remelle doing?”

‘No, but probably some so far forbidden device as the Elf is no magician, ’ Erren replied thoughtfully.

“Forbidden?”

‘Because this world uses magic, we gods have restricted the use ... or invention of, gunpowder and the weapons associated with it. That’s one you’ll be familiar with, ’ Erren explained.

“Magic and gunpowder?” Darras murmured. “That could be unpleasant for ordinary folk.”

‘Yes. It’s why we haven’t permitted It ... yet.’ Erren agreed. ‘Though it will come one day. Careful now, he’s lying in wait.’

Darras slowed and scanned his surroundings, feeling a hint of the wrongness that represented the shadow. He was also uncomfortably aware of his proximity to the Elven village and the chance of detection. Moving cautiously, he slipped around the village, spotting, though not being spotted by, several Elves going about their business. Once he had reached the far side of the village, he cautiously moved into it, staying in shadows and to the rear of any dwellings, following a trail Erren was providing, but also feeling the wrongness growing.

‘That building ahead; it’s Remelle’s home, though the shadow lurks outside watching for anyone approaching, Erren warned.

“Ah, I see where it must be now,” Darras replied quietly before slipping silently to the rear of the home next door to his target and pulling himself up on the roof before scuttling silently along it to the one place he felt a shadow could observe both entrances.

‘It’s somewhat agitated as it knows something is wrong, but cannot contact the others. Be careful, ’ Erren warned.

Taking a chance, as there was some risk of discovery, Darras rose up and then simply stepped off the edge of the building to drop down to face the surprised shadow. With his hands stretched out to grip its neck, his momentum carried him down and he bent his knees to counter the impact of landing. The surprise worked in his favour as he pulled the shadow down as well, even as it clawed strongly at him to no avail.

“Was I spotted?” Darras quietly asked Erren even as the remains of the shadow dissipated.

‘Yes, by one Elf, though he knows not what he saw and disbelieves his eyes, ’ Erren giggled.

“Want me to visit Remelle?”

‘Yes, though it may cause issues as you aren’t supposed to be here at all.’

“He’ll have to live with it,” Darras shrugged. “Is he alone?”

‘Yes, he’s not quite reached marriageable age yet.’

“How old is that?” Darras asked, curiously, even as he stealthily approached the rear door of Remelle’s cottage.

‘One hundred and fifty in this Kingdom.’

“Long time to wait,” Darras replied with a smile as he opened the door and entered the cottage.

“Be with you in a minute,” came a loud voice as Darras scanned the interior, spotting several drawings of some type. “How can I help? ... By the goddess, you’re a ... a Human!”

“I’m doing the bidding of Wenderos,” Darras replied, ignoring the knife that appeared in Remelle’s hand. “Hence my presence here.”

“Her bidding? How? Our priests say she would have nothing to do with Humans.”

“They’re wrong,” Darras shrugged. “Now, may we talk?”

Remelle looked somewhat troubled, though as Darras was not being threatening in any way, decided to let his natural curiosity get the better of the rules he was supposed to follow.

“Why would an agent of Wenderos, and a Human at that, wish to speak to me?” he finally asked.

“Have odd things been happening with regards to a new device you’re thinking of?” Darras began awkwardly.

“Ah...” Remell breathed out softly. “Yes, I have been looking into a way to more easily break down the abundant large rocks in this area and clear more farmland without recourse to the avaricious prices a magician would charge. I always felt that certain formulae were altered in some manner whilst I slept.”

“You need to stop this research, as you’re trespassing into forbidden lore,” Darras replied. “Whilst it can be used to clear rocks, sooner or later it will be turned on people and you aren’t ready for that, yet.”

“People?”

“Do you honestly think some unscrupulous ruler wouldn’t use it upon his enemies?”

“Oh, surely they wouldn’t?”

“Believe me they would,” Darras sighed. “It’s not like war doesn’t happen and it can be brutal.”

“Oh, yes, I suppose Humans and Dwarves would,” Remelle grimaced.

“And the dark kin.”

“They are no more,” Remelle sniffed. “Just child’s tales to frighten the young.”

“Who do you think was in charge of helping you come up with the formulae?”

“Surely not! You’re lying. You must be!”

“Come with me, if you want to know,” Darras chuckled. “I assure you; no harm will come to you.”

They both left through the back door of the cottage, Erren guiding Darras to where Firios and Tinara were. Remelle was obviously no hunter, though still sure of foot and he easily followed Darras as the pace picked up after they left the village. Finally they entered the clearing where Firios and Tinara had the now securely bound dark kin.

“Greetings, Darras and ... friend,” Firios softly hailed them.

“Greetings, Firios,” Darras replied. “This is Remelle, who doubts the existence of dark kin.”

“Heh, so did I until we found them in Thenarron.”

“He’s alive?”

“Yes, we figured Wenderos might want a word,” Tinara replied with a chuckle.

“Take a look, Remelle,” Darras offered as the timid Elf approached.

“He feels ... different, almost malevolent,” Remelle muttered disbelievingly.

“Yes, they do,” Tinara confirmed.

“And he wanted the formula for the exploding devices?”

“Yes,” Darras confirmed. “They work for the Dark Lord and sought a way past magic and bows to kill their enemies.”

“But ... but why not just give them a formula?”

“Rules of non-interference. The Dark Lord was skirting the very edge of what was allowed in his servants’ activities with you,” Darras replied.

“I don’t believe you,” Remelle sighed. “I just can’t believe it. All I was doing was looking for a way to easily remove the large rocks surrounding the village.”

“Hire an earth-based magician. It’s what others do,” Firios shrugged.

“The price is too high, plus we do not allow those from elsewhere to come here ... well, generally.”

“What of your priest?” Darras asked.

“Obsessed with purity, not work,” Remelle sighed.

“If you will destroy your work, I will escort an earth magician here,” Firios offered. “You’ll have to conceal his origins, but he will clear your land.”

“I have your oath on this?” Remelle asked.

“You do, by Wenderos and witnessed by her agent upon these lands,” Firios confirmed.

“Then I will do so.”

‘And done, ’ Erren’s voice rejoiced in Darras’s mind.

“Erren is pleased,” Darras confirmed to Firios and Tinara.

“She speaks directly to you?” Remelle asked.

“Yes, and occasionally through me,” Darras replied with a slight smile.

“I ... I find myself believing you,” Remelle sighed. “But what of this ... dark kin?”

“Can you drive a cart?” Firios asked.

“Er ... yes.”

“Drive us to Trumel,” Firios replied. “We’ll get him past the border, don’t worry.”

“I ... I really should be reporting you to the village elders, but the fact that you caught a dark kin compels me to aid you,” Remelle finally replied.

“Good, you hold up your end and I’ll return with an earth magic user to clear the land you want to till,” Tinara replied.

“Deal,” Remelle nodded.

“I’ll help you with the cart,” Firios offered, though Darras suspected it was more that he wanted to keep an eye on Remelle.

“My thanks.”

Darras examined the bound dark kin, though could not honestly tell what, if anything, was different between him and the Elves he knew.

‘Physically they are the same. It’s just their ... philosophy of life that makes them different, ’ Erren explained. ‘The Elves you know can sense the darkness of their ... souls and will no longer tolerate their presence near them.’

“What will happen to any captured in Thenarron?” Darras asked.

‘There is an island they could settle on. It has no gateways nor could they escape easily, ’ Erren replied after a short pause.

“Did you just create an island?” Darras enquired with a chuckle.

‘No, ’ the reply came back along with an infectious giggle. ‘I just needed to find one and disable the gateway, other than for entry.’

“So, your priests can send them there?”

‘Yes, and leave some supplies as well, ’ Erren explained. ‘I may not care for them, but technically they are my children as well.’

“Let’s hope some survive then.”

‘It’s likely any who surrender to Humans or Dwarves will. Any who surrender to Elvenkind might not, ’ Erren sighed.

“Hopefully they will realise that.”

‘You assume they will lose.’

“They will. I just hope they do not come up with something costly to our side.”

‘That was why they were interested in Remelle. He started out looking for better fertilisers and discovered the nitre under compost piles, ’ Erren explained. ‘He then was on the cusp of going a lot further.’

“Gunpowder?” Darras enquired.

‘No, he had learned to acidify it to form esters and needed to distil it with glycerine and an inert absorbent stabilising powder to create a very powerful compact explosive.’