Chapter 34

“Welcome back, my love,” Erren greeted Darras joyfully when he appeared on the lawn.

“It’s good to be back. That was an ... interesting mission,” Darras replied before they embraced and kissed.

“Yes, considering the vampire as well as the bounty placed upon you,” Erren nodded as, arms linked, they headed to the bathing area.

“Has the vampire caused any issues where it is?”

“I think it’s moving on, but I’m having difficulty tracking it personally,” Erren replied. “Doriel and Osruit’s people are keeping an eye out for it.”

“Wonder where it’s going,” Darras mused, rubbing his now hairless chin.

“We’ll find out soon enough,” Erren shrugged

“I take it that it was Duke Cranagh who caused the bounty?”

“Yes. He’ll receive a censure and be banned from approaching the Adventurers Guild, something that he’ll ignore, but it will be noted by his peers, the good few who dislike him anyway.”

“Loria was ... interesting,” Darras chuckled.

“Wasn’t she just,” Erren giggled as she began washing Darras’s back. “I’ll be keeping an eye on her as, other than being overly keen when trying to capture you, she managed to spot and track you quite well.”

“She was pretty good, if in a dangerous trade.”

“Most bounty hunters are,” Erren agreed. “Still, she might be useful to us in the future for keeping an eye on certain individuals.”

“You have a list?”

“Yes, I’ve pinpointed several people who are involved with the shadows but aren’t possessed,” Erren replied.

“Ah, so they weren’t operating in isolation?”

“No, the more you disrupt them, the more obvious it becomes that my brother has corrupted a good few people in positions of influence in many Kingdoms.”

“Corrupted or deceived?”

“Good question. It’s why I’ll be getting Amina and her people, along with Loria now, to look into a few matters.”

“I’m pretty sure they’ll be able to deal with ordinary people, high positions or not,” Darras nodded thoughtfully.

“Yes, though I’m not planning mass murder or anything like that, merely getting them reported to someone who could deal with them ... unless, if it’s like Rachtelin, it’s the people running the country,” Erren replied.

“Yes, that place is both corrupt and badly run, unlike Fordel where it’s just corrupt.”

“Well, they agreed to allow their new Knight units to support the invasion of Thenarron ... more in the hope of things going badly and a good few getting killed,” Erren informed Darras. “Jertin Flask, however, will not be involved. Well, not immediately.”

“Why’s that?”

“Your next mission. He’ll be the escort of Prince Rigilo as he travels on a progress to meet potential brides.”

“Ah, you think the shadows might get involved?”

“Almost certainly, plus I suspect our vampire may turn up as well.”

“That could be a problem,” Darras nodded.

“Yes. Now, relax and enjoy. You have a couple of days before you go.”

Darras stepped through into Rachtelin again and went through the same corrupt procedure where two silvers gained him anonymity. He did notice though that there was more patrolling going on, as well as an edge of hostility to many of the people on the streets doing the patrolling.

‘Things are progressing a little faster than I anticipated, ’ Erren replied to his unvoiced question.

“Still a chance of a crackdown with many of the Knights being out of the Kingdom,” Darras observed.

‘The supporters of the King and his Council would be loath to do that as it could be costly to supress and would invite trouble from the Knights and nobles away fighting, ’ Erren replied.

“So, a possibility if the Rachtelin knights and mounted archers suffer massive casualties?”

‘Yes, though I doubt they will, unlike the Torgillans initially who do not use them but who will adapt them after seeing them in use.’

“Will the Torgillans survive it?”

‘Yes. It will only be in the beginning; they will adapt very quickly and will be aided by their allies of Rossaris.’

“Forest Kingdom?”

‘Will be mostly used for scouting and support purposes. They have abundant harvests and resources to support the invasion, but not huge armies as such, ’

“It did seem a peaceful place ... in parts.”

‘They are surrounded by peaceful neighbours who aren’t expansive. It’s why the Iversirion isolationism never really registered upon the world at large, ’ Erren explained.

“I suspect the Elves of Iversirion also feel they have something to prove.”

‘Yes, definitely.’

Rather than make his way to Alvastros, Darras followed Erren’s directions to a military encampment. Once there he identified himself to one of the sentries and was soon met by Jertin who was delighted to see him.

“So, you’re here to stop any interference with Rigilo meeting Lady Callani?” Jertin asked after the greetings.

“Yes. I’m also pretty sure they may have other surprises too.”

“Other surprises?”

“They have a vampire amongst their ranks.”

“Oh ho! A most dangerous foe, from what I’ve heard.”

“It’s likely to be targeting me as I go about Erren’s work and they will have predicted I’ll be here,” Darras explained.

“I see. Well, we’ll do our best to keep it at bay.”

“How is Rienne?”

“Healthy, if tired most of the time now,” Jertin chuckled. “Our child cannot come soon enough for her.”

“I take it she’s not happy with the prospect of you going to war, either?”

“No, if understanding.”

“The new Regiments will do fine, according to Erren.”

“That’s good to know, though many of my peers suspect we’re only being sent to cull our ranks,” Jertin admitted.

“That’s their plan, though those that planned it will be sorely disappointed,” Darras chuckled.

“Good. It will also be interesting to meet Elves and Dwarves too.”

“They’re good people, for the most part, if not getting along between each other.”

“No doubt they’ll place a Human Regiment between the two,” Jertin chuckled.

“No doubt at all,” Darras laughed.

“Sir Jertin,” a deep voice called out.

“Prince Rigilo, how may I assist you,” Jertin replied, turning to face a powerfully built young man clad in half armour.

“My guards tell me you permitted a stranger into the encampment.”

“That would be me, your Highness,” Darras spoke up.

“And you would be?”

“Darras Blain, agent of the Goddess Erren.”

“And why would the agent of the Goddess be here?”

“To ensure that her plans for you are not interfered with, your Highness.”

“She has plans for me?”

“She does,” Darras chuckled. “Though I won’t reveal them.”

“No, I don’t suppose you’d be permitted to,” Rigilo nodded. “Very well, you have my permission to join this waste of my time.”

“Thank you, your Highness,” Darras replied as Rigilo strode off.

“As you can see, he does not expect to meet any future wife,” Jertin chuckled. “He suspects it’s the King’s Council trying to keep him out of the way.”

“They possibly are, though Erren suspects that the shadows intend to interfere with his progress, mayhaps possess a close advisor to him, or ensure he fails to meet Lady Callani.”

“Yes, though Rienne informed me that Lady Callani is not overly keen on being here either,” Jertin laughed.

“That will change once they meet, we just have to ensure that they do.”

“I’m pretty sure the King’s Council will be hoping he’ll choose the daughter of Duke Tremina, a member of the Council and as corrupt a man as you’d ever hope to avoid.”

“Their time is nearly at an end, my friend,” Darras nodded.

The following morning the various Knights set off to Sinoris Castle in the Demesne of Earl Ordetas, who had arranged for the eligible ladies of marriageable age to gather for the progress and hopefully for Prince Rigilo to meet eligible spinsters and choose his bride. Darras wasn’t surprised to learn that many of the young nobles in the Prince’s party were also eligible bachelors as well.

“Is this how nobles normally go about these things?” he asked Jertin.

“Actually, this is quite the novelty,” Jertin admitted. “Not sure where the Earl got the idea from but it proved immensely popular. So much so that the King’s Council reluctantly approved.”

‘It was actually Rienne and Liliba acting in conjunction who came up with a way for the Earl to get everyone together and not be investigated by the Council, ’ Erren informed Darras.

“I’d ask your wife about that,” Darras replied to Jertin with a chuckle.

“Really?”

“Yes. She’s in contact with various ladies of the Kingdom and knows who to speak to, to obtain certain results,” Darras replied. “You’re a lucky man, she’s very intelligent and Erren approves of her.”

“As do I,” Jertin grinned.

“I take it the Prince isn’t enamoured of this, however?”

“No, he believes, rightly, that it’s a plot to foist a wife upon him and get him attached to a faction, none of whom he would be happy to be seen to be a part of.”

“Fortunately for us, Earl Miront is seen as neutral and will be acceptable to all sides, even the Council,” Darras chuckled.

“And Rienne tells me Lady Callani is very smart as well and understands the various factions in the Kingdom ... as well as the fact that Joffar is totally unsuited to ruling.”

“We’ll just have to ensure they meet and a mutual spark develops,” Darras nodded thoughtfully.

‘Leave that to me.’

It was a five days journey to Sinoris and the Earl, along with the various other nobles whose counties the progression passed through, was catered for by large, well-prepared encampments where an astonishing degree of comfort was maintained for the Prince’s party. The escort party were also accommodated, though it was more in the way of providing a tent, a bed and a meal. Darras avoided the Royal encampment as he doubted he’d be welcome there, but as it was in the centre of the area set aside it wasn’t a problem. What Darras was doing was getting a feel for the area, mostly via Erren, but he was also using his own scouting skills to gauge the potential for incursions into the camp.