Chapter 5

“Not very welcoming,” Darras murmured, though he had actually been expecting something like this as the lack of Elven people observing his progress had set off a few warning signals for him.

“Sorry, Darras,” a genuinely distressed Firios apologised. “But as a Human, the Priest-King has declared you unfit to live.”

“He expects Erren to forgive him if he harms me?” Darras asked mildly, noting none of the clearly nervous and unhappy Elven soldiers moving to apprehend him.

“I do not know what he expects, but he ordered this, not us,” Tinara replied, also clearly very unhappy with the situation.

“Woe shall come to the Iversi Kingdom for this betrayal!” Erren’s voice came from Darras’s throat. “I curse this kingdom’s Priest King and the Kingdom shall wither and fail and their people lament the foolishness of the Priest-King! I, Wenderos, your goddess, declare this binding curse upon you for carrying out this act of betrayal! Any who lays hands upon this man shall join the Kingdom in my curse!”

“Well, come on then! Kill me now and accept your fate.” Darras added sardonically as the soldiery seemed to shrink back looking both shocked and at each other in confusion.

“These are our orders!” what appeared to be an officer stated, though somewhat unconvincingly. “Though we are not so foolish as to attack the messenger of the goddess and have ourselves cursed!”

“The man talks sense,” Darras agreed. “I’ll be leaving now; you know exactly what will happen if I’m harmed.”

With that Darras simply turned and walked past Firios and his companions towards the still open doors and to the ante chamber to pick up his pack, causing a couple of Elves to scatter away at his unexpected appearance. Behind him he could hear raised voices as it appeared they no longer knew what to do about him or the fact that Erren had cursed their people.

“You expected this, Erren?” Darras asked.

‘Sadly, yes. Sallason’s faith has waned recently and he began amassing political power, rather than guiding his people to live in faith, trust and hope.’

“How long will you be angered against them?”

‘Until they beg for my ... and your, forgiveness. They have grown arrogant as of late and need a reality check. Their attitude towards you and Humans confirmed this.’

At this point Darras noticed that he had been joined by Tinara who appeared to be still escorting him, though as yet was saying nothing.

“What of their innocents and worshippers of you?” Darras asked, ignoring Tinara for the moment.

‘They will be fine. It is the Kingdom and its functionaries who have allowed this state of affairs that are in trouble.’

“I am glad to hear that. Protecting the innocent, weak and helpless became my calling.”

‘You are a good man, Darras. I’m glad you came to my attention.’

“Do you speak with the goddess, Darras?” Tinara asked diffidently.

“I do. She is most angry with this Kingdom for the act of its priestly leader,” he replied.

“But not the people?”

“No, but they will suffer no doubt as her blessing is taken away from the Priest-King and his authority.”

“This is ... terrible!”

“Actions have consequences. Should those in authority repent, as well as apologise for what they intended to do to me, Erren will relent and forgive them.”

“Can ... can I ask you to remain as I take your words to those in authority?”

“No, I will be leaving. However, I can be asked to return if your authorities accede to Erren’s demand.”

“That will have to do,” she replied meekly and then left me.

“Your power over these people seems somewhat ... overwhelming, Erren,” Darras chuckled.

‘Elves and a few others live in harmony with the gods and goddesses, ‘ Erren replied. ‘Withdrawing the blessings that go with this harmony, if they breach it, can have dire consequences.’

“Other Elven Kingdoms will know?”

‘Yes, and will not respect the Iversi should they ask for aid. Though may take in the innocent.’

“Only may?”

‘Yes, the actions of their leaders will bring shame upon all.’

“Hell of a curse.”

‘To them it is. Against others I use different curses and actions.’

“Yes, I suspect Human guards might actually have followed orders,” Darras nodded.

‘Most likely, though my wrath would still have been felt, trust me.’

“Why do you think he tried this?”

‘The Elves, particularly as they mature, have a tendency towards arrogance against the shorter-lived races. You saw it with Tinara, a little, ‘ Erren explained. ‘Add the influence of my brother occasionally and blunders by the likes of humanity and many of them come to see Elvendom as superior in all ways.’

“So they become insular and won’t even help other Elf Kingdoms?”

‘Yes, a very toxic mix. Though I’m surprised that the Priest-King succumbed. It’s normally the Land-King.’

“Well, it does look like we’ve provoked some sort of response,” Darras noted as he approached the stairs and a waiting guard.

The figure facing Darras was stupidly wearing full plate armour and bearing a still sheathed two-handed sword, The armour itself was highly decorated and stylised, if functional, and he (probably) blocked Darras’s exit.

“You do not have permission to leave Iversirion!” the guard intoned, proving his gender.

“I care not! Now stand aside,” Darras replied. “The Elves set aside the laws of hospitality, not I.”

“You are forbidden to leave until this is resolved!”

“You’re welcome to try and stop me,” Darras chuckled and simply raced forward, catching the knight off guard and grabbed the hilt of his sword, which was strapped to his back, to use his weight to cause the Elf to lose balance and fall with a massive crash onto his back as Darras continued on his way down the stairs.

‘I think you just ruined his day, ‘ Erren giggled.

“I’d have been a lot more cautious if there were a squad, but you did mention that Elves have speed and agility, not strength.”

‘I did. Well remembered.’

At the foot of the stairs there were what appeared to be a lot of ordinary Elven folk who all gave Darras deference in the way of a polite bow.

“We beg you to intercede with the goddess for us,” a young man requested politely.

“The goddess cursed the Kingdom and its ruling class, not the ordinary folk,” Darras replied.

“Yet if the Kingdom collapses, shall we not suffer too?”

“Not if your leaders repent and apologise.”

“Their pride will not permit that.”

“Then change your leaders. Cast out the arrogant and seek intercession with the goddess. It really is that simple,” Darras replied, hearing the sounds of the knight descending the staircase.

“But it is the Priest-King who intercedes. Only he has the authority.”

“Foolish Elves, any priest can intercede in repentance,” Darras chuckled, feeling Erren’s approval.

“Any priest?”

“Aye, even a Human one,” Darras said with a smile before moving through them.

“Hold him!” came a call from behind.

“Away with you, Gindrast! You represent the Priest-King, not us,” the Elf who’d spoken to Darras replied. “This man seeks only what is best for our people!”

“It is the Priest-King insulting and attempting to kill the agent of the goddess!” another yelled.

“It is a Human! A stinking low life Human!” Gindrast hit back, though not getting the expected response.

“Who are you or Sallason to judge the goddess and who she chooses? I can see now why she rejects him!” the reply came, tinged with scorn.

“Let me through!” a yell came. This was followed by a loud crash as the guard was brought down again and glancing behind, Darras saw many of those who had been with his questioner now sitting on his chest and arms.

“I hope you are kind to them, Erren?” Darras chuckled.

‘Names have been taken, ‘ the reply came back with a bubbling laugh.

At the gate though, it was clear the people in charge had rallied and were waiting for Darras. Rank upon rank of warriors faced him and upon the parapets of the walls were archers.

“Nice bows,” Darras murmured out of genuine respect.

‘Hold your ground and I’ll get you one.’

“Thank you, Erren,” he chuckled, as, despite the danger, Darras was actually enjoying himself.

“Hold Human. I would have words with you,” an actually polite request came from an Elf in gilded armour.

“I have a name, as no doubt do you, though you fail to give it,” Darras replied, still moving forward.

Darras spotted Firios frantically whispering to the Elf as no doubt expectations were being changed in the face of an intransigent (as they saw it) Human who wouldn’t follow their rules or show respect or deference.

“My apologies, Sir Darras,” the Elf spoke again. “I am the Land-King, Leandomus, and I would speak to you and the goddess to resolve the situation the priesthood have put my people in,” came a polite request.

“Speak then,” Darras replied, coming to a halt.

“May we retire to speak in private?”

“We may not. Let your people hear your words,” Darras replied, feeling, rather than seeing a mass of people coming up behind him.

“I would not see undue humiliation come upon those who lead, please, I beg you.”

“They humiliated themselves by threatening my agent! Let their sins be known and they held accountable by all!” Erren’s voice came from Darras’s throat in almost incandescent anger.

“Aye,” came the murmuring of the crowd behind me.

“May I have seats brought?” Leandomus requested, seeing that he was at an absolute brick wall when it came to political demands and expediency.

“You may.”

There was a slight pause as several Elves hurried off to find some sort of seating. There was a further delay as the Knight, Gindrast, was also seized as he finally made it to where Darras was. Still, finally Darras and Leandomus were seated, along with several as yet unknown Elves, including a bound and gagged armour-less Gindrast.

“Sallason, his personal guard and other high priests are locked behind the secure keep of the temple and refuse to emerge or respond to your summons, Sire,” an Elf stated clearly to the Land-King and all in earshot.

“Goddess, I would seek to have your blessing restored to the Kingdom,” Leandomus spoke, ignoring Darras in a sense, though not maliciously.

“The Iversi leadership have become arrogant and strayed from my path,” Erren spoke through Darras. “Hence my blessing was withdrawn. Repentance and an apology is required from all the leadership. Nor can the blame be laid squarely at the feet of my priesthood, other actions by you and your nobility have also drawn my attention and wrath.”