Chapter 53

“This should be interesting,” Crannok chuckled. “Go on, sister.”

“It all depends on the gateway within the fortress,” Erren explained. “I’ll need Amina’s people to ensure Darras’s group can get from where the Witch Lord is to there and I’ll take care of the rest.”

“Gateway’s likely to be guarded,” Darras pointed out.

“But likely not heavily, just enough to strike down any potential enemies coming through one at a time,” Erren countered.

“True, the one per minute rule,” Amina chuckled.

“I can override that,” Erren replied with a smile. “For outgoing events at least.”

“Still leaves them with a fortress full of fanatics to deal with,” Crannok nodded thoughtfully. “But yes, it has potential.”

“Do we have any plans of the fortress?” Darras asked.

“Just what few notes our group made,” Amina replied. ‘There are areas inside we couldn’t get to in the short time we explored.”

There was a flicker on the lawn as Doriel made an appearance.

“It’s enough to know you can get in,” Erren nodded, before introducing Doriel to Amina’s group.

“They’ll likely be on their guard now too,” Darras added.

“Yes, going in immediately is asking for trouble,” Crannok agreed.

“Balat’s keen to help,” Doriel informed the group. “He’s still a little too keen on being a hero though.”

“The curse of youth,” Darras chuckled, making the thieves smile as well. “He did well when he was with us though.”

“Yes,” Doriel nodded. “I was pleased that you kept him from foolishness.”

“Twas easy enough,” Amina replied. “We just never allowed him an opportunity to go it alone.”

“He also saw how war was really fought,” Darras added. “He fought well magically against the Wendigos too.”

“He’ll be essential if we can get to the Witch Lord, assuming the Lord has a shadow still,” Erren stated. “Problem being, we don’t know if he’s still possessed.”

“Drannos has fallen, though its fortress remains unoccupied,” the dark figure informed the enthroned one.

“As we expected,” the enthroned one stated bitterly. “Are the scales now gone?”

“All but the Witch Lord’s.”

“A sacrificial gambit, but a necessary one.”

“Agreed, though of more concern is the Priests of Rustav condemning the Crusal support for Thenarron and cutting the aid being given,” the dark figure added.

“Yes, a most unpleasant event. Over a year’s work undone in moments,” the enthroned one hissed. “Still, what of Asul?”

“That Realm remains under control, though the Torgillons discovering the slaves captured means their shipping are using false flags as they were being hunted down.”

“A minor inconvenience,” the enthroned one nodded. “What of the agent of the cursed goddess?”

“He was spotted in the encampments around Drannos, though not in the attack itself.”

“Odd, he is a known warrior.”

“Perhaps he is too valuable to their group to risk?”

“He fought in Thenarron, so that’s not likely it. He is an annoying gadfly, yet has caused major issues to the Dark Lord’s plans. He needs to be eliminated.”

“Those creatures we control in Ventris have all failed,” the dark figure pointed out.

“Yes, perhaps we need a Human solution,” the enthroned one nodded. “Have our agent in Rachtelin employ the Black Guild against him. He is likely to be at the royal wedding.”

“By your command.”

When Crannok and the thieves left Erren’s domain she introduced Doriel to Tariel and Gallira.

“Balat will aid you in any attempt to get at the Witch Lord,” Doriel confirmed. “That said, this is a potentially dangerous mission and the risk to those taking part is very high.”

“I know,” Erren nodded. “But the shadow potentially possessing the Witch Lord will have far more information on their kind than any other we’ve captured.”

“Yes, understandable, though I think you’ll have to ask Pelegard for armour like Darras’s for all taking part in this mission,” Doriel replied.

“Hmm, good idea,” Erren nodded. “I’ll arrange it.”

“You’ll have time. Darras will be in Rachtelin for Rigilo’s wedding for you to bless the couple,” Doriel added.

“Yes, though there’s a potential for trouble in the capital due to many of his enemies being congregated there,” Erren replied, surprising Darras.

“Guess I have upset a few of them,” Darras chuckled.

“More than a few. There’s Duke Cranagh, the Dukedoms of Tremina, Luxxur and Domfrey as well as earning the dislike of house Gravely,” Erren replied. “Plus the Black Guild may feel they have a score to settle.”

“When you put it like that...”

“I’ll have my high priest give the blessing,” Erren decided. “That said the couple will honeymoon in Miront and you can give my personal blessing there.”

“Will the Earl be back?” Darras asked.

“Just to attend the wedding, along with Count Alros.”

“Probably safer for me, though there’s a risk to entering their capital at the moment as they will be expecting me,” Darras replied thoughtfully.

“There’s a gateway in Torgel, near the Barony of Mirrs. You can travel from there,” Doriel suggested.

“Where’s that?” Darras asked.

“Closer to Miront than the capital,” Erren replied, projecting a map.

“That will be fine,” Darras nodded.

At this moment Tariel chose to walk over to Darras and stare intently at him, though seemed unsure as to what to do next.

“If you can’t say it yet, that’s fine,” Gallira spoke quietly to her.

“I want to, but I’m scared,” Tariel replied in a whisper.

“Darras is not like those who enslaved you. Most Human males aren’t ... I’ve been told,” Gallira explained. “Admittedly Darras is the only Human male I know.”

“There is no rush,” Darras added kindly. “Humans were not good to you at all, I know this. But we are not all the same.”

Tariel simply nodded then moved back to hug Gallira, hiding her face from Darras.

“She progresses well,” Erren commented as Gallira led the young girl away. “Her courage failed her today, but at least she tried.”

“Yes,” Doriel nodded. “Her trauma is deep seated and will probably cause her to be cautious around Humans for a long time.”

“Perhaps. Though Gallira’s love for her and acceptance of Darras is helping here.”

“Ah, I see,” Doriel nodded. “An ingenious approach.”

“Hallis suggested it, it being her area of expertise.”

“I suppose it would be, though I do not trust Hallis around Balat,” Doriel replied with a grimace.

“It’s all an act, you know that,” Erren giggled.

“I still wouldn’t put it past her to try. And at times Balat is both young and foolish to boot!”

“True, my Darras here is impervious to her charms,” Erren replied with a smile.

“I hear Serulon had words with her?”

“Yes, she produced an unborn soul to wind Rustav up,” Erren nodded.

“Doubt much will come of that. Yes, it’s forbidden, but it’s not like any of us makes a habit of it,” Doriel shrugged.

“I agree. She had a go at me when I brought Darras’s soul here, though I heard nothing from dad about it after she reported it.”

“Bit different. Darras was supposedly dead,” Doriel chuckled.

“Not sure if that makes it worse or not,” Erren shrugged.

“I think to Serulon anything forbidden is enough to set her off. Kind of her job, though she seems to have missed a few tricks by our brother.”

“He’s a lot more ... circumspect about his activities than we are,” Erren replied. “Then again, as far as I know, he still thinks it’s just me in this struggle.”

“Not sure why, it’s not like he hasn’t allies of his own.”

“You know him as well as I do. He probably hasn’t connected the dots yet.”

“True.”

After a refreshing break, Darras stepped through the gateway into the Kingdom of Rachtelin. Only this time he found himself in the town of Torgel, a busy trading town in the south of the Kingdom. Again though he had to part with two silvers to get in unregistered, though had the feeling he’d been recognised.

‘You are being watched. It’s hostile too. Be careful, ’ Erren warned.

Darras made his way to a stable to hire a horse, examining those offered closely and settling for the best of the bunch of a fairly substandard selection. He then set off for Miront at a reasonable pace, expecting the journey to take three days, assuming no interruptions. During this time, Darras knew Rigilo and Callani would be making their progression through the Rachtelini countryside and towns to essentially show off the bride, though Darras had the feeling Lady Callani would not be enjoying it.

‘She isn’t, though is hiding it well, ’ Erren giggled.

“Thought as much,” Darras chuckled.

‘Horses approaching from your rear, fast.’ Erren warned.

Darras simply moved his own mount off the road and into concealment, though had to wait a little longer than he expected before a group of five riders raced past.

“Black Guild,” Darras murmured to Erren.

‘Yes, the band of kunai they have strapped across their chests makes that obvious, ’ Erren agreed.

“Guess we go cross country then,” Darras chuckled. “Let’s see if they can get me in Doriel’s domain.”

‘Good idea.’

“Got a direction for me?”

‘Cross the road and head through the woods, angling to your right, ’ Erren advised.

“Thank you, my love.”

It did not take long until various forest folk came out to observe Darras as he made his way through the woods. Eventually he was beckoned by a woodnymph and led to what had to be one of the hidden paths Doriel’s people maintained. This speeded up his journey time as he moved swiftly through the woods towards the demesne of Miront. He was even supplied with a brace of partridges when he stopped for the night and carefully prepared a fire pit for himself that would not affect the woods themselves. Water was supplied by a cheerful water sprite before Darras settled down for a comfortable night under the warm summer sky.

“Our agents have lost track of the agent of the goddess,” the dark figure informed the enthroned one.

“Really?” came a cold hissing reply. “No doubt they have their excuses.”

“They believe he is moving through the woods, away from the roads,” the dark figure explained. “Though they report no tracks.”

“He has been noted to be a skilled woodsman.”

“Yes, they will attempt to intervene in Miront, where he has to go.”

“Acceptable, though I somehow doubt this agent will prove an easy target,” the enthroned one replied thoughtfully. “Still, at least our assets here are expendable.”

“Yes, merely Human.”

It took three days before Darras came within sight of Corsell Castle, the home of Duke Miront. The castle was gaily adorned with flags and bunting as well as flying what Darras knew to be the Royal Standard of the Prince, letting him know Rigilo was in residence with his new bride.

The spill-over town in front of the gate was crowded, mostly, Darras suspected, with local well-wishers, a fact confirmed by Erren. And so he made his way slowly to the outer gate of the castle, noting the signs of prosperity in the town itself as well as the dress of the people. Dismounting, he approached the men guarding the gate and handed over the introduction as given to him by Erren, which he assumed was genuine or a very good fake. This got him passed through, even as a rider set off for the castle itself.