Chapter 58

Darras stepped through the gateway into Abramoch, suspecting that this would be the last time for a while. The town itself seemed to now be a bustling centre of commerce though the main topic of conversation appeared to be the notices posted around the town of the trial and execution of the Witch Lord in Rossaris. None of this was of any particular relevance for Darras and he swiftly made his way out of the town and took the road to Drannos. This time Darras’s mission was simply to observe, to be Erren’s eyes and ears on the final capitulation of the fortress. Outside the town he found Balat sitting on a rock, waiting for him, giving Darras a cheery wave on his approach.

“So it finally ends,” Balat stated.

“Yes. We’re just there to witness it for our goddesses,” Darras nodded.

“No doubt our enemy will start again somewhere else.”

“Looks likely to be on Golsten,” Darras suggested. “Though currently my task remains to be to eliminate those shadows infesting the Kingdoms here.”

“The people of the forest have noticed as much,” Balat agreed as the pair set off at a reasonably swift pace towards Drannos.

“Our goddesses know what they are doing, so it’s just a case of waiting until they are ready to act,” Darras chuckled.

“Very true.”

Two days later the pair reached Drannos which was still surrounded by various encampments of the Allied Nations and sought out the tent of Linota as the Dwarven encampment had been reached first.

“So, it will be ending soon?” Linota asked in her usual gruff tones.

“Yes,” Darras confirmed.

“Seems our spies are correct then, though I suspected as much as various Kings and Princes have turned up,” Linota chuckled.

“Witnesses for the surrender documents,” Darras explained.

“Ah, not something we Dwarves have an interest in.”

“You’ll be requested to attend. There’s no real sting in the terms, just Rossaris being paid reparations for the attack on them, not even any territory exchanged.”

“That would just store up resentment for the next war,” Linota nodded sagely.

“It would; it would indeed.”

Their next visit was to the Rachtelin encampment and Earl Miront, though they were re-directed to the newly erected Royal Pavilion where Prince Rigilo was staying. Also surprisingly enough Lady Callani was in attendance, having travelled with the Prince despite the objections of many.

“Darras, Balat, you came!” Rigilo greeted them happily once a herald had announced them.

“Of course,” Darras chuckled. “It’s the closing of a chapter after all.”

“We heard you were ambushed on your way home after your visit?” Callani queried.

“I was, but I survived,” Darras chuckled. “Congratulations, to the pair of you,” he added as Callani’s pregnancy now showed.

“It’s why so many objected to my attendance,” Callani admitted with a smile. “Though the real reason is that there are a few from the King’s Council here who object to my keeping Rigilo at arm’s length from them.”

“I’ll try to avoid them. It could get unpleasant if I remain around,” Darras chuckled.

“It probably would,” Rigilo agreed. “Duke Cranagh for one would probably be quite hostile and I’m told he has a new assassin ... I mean a skilled retainer attending him,” Rigilo finished with a chuckle, making Darras and Callani smile.

“Take care my friends. Erren’s blessings be upon you.”

Other than greeting Miront and Alvastros, Darras did not stay long in the Royal Pavilion, he’d already noticed several hostile stares from the unintroduced nobles attending and had no intention of remaining around to be poisoned or stabbed.

‘The Black Guild are extremely wary of you now since the incident in the woods, ’ Erren informed Darras. “Doriel, scanning through Balat, just informed me.’

“Good. They got too damned close to getting me the last time,” Darras murmured.

‘Doriel has requested the Dryad Syllar to accommodate you whilst you are in the vicinity of Drannos.’

The next port of call was Earl Graccen who was also breakfasting with Prince Dotharion of Rossaris. The greetings were cordial and pleasant as neither nation had issues with Darras, nor had he done anything to upset the relationship between the two Allies.

The final call was to King Leandomus of the Forest Kingdom who greeted Darras warmly and offered accommodation, though was not surprised by Darras’s polite refusal as he was well aware of the political tensions in the Rachtelin encampment.

Afterwards the pair made their way to the edge of a small wood and, guided by Balat, made their way to a stream where a ‘grown’ lean-to awaited them. Syllar was also waiting there and greeted them cordially, showing Balat a lot more deference than Darras, due to Balat’s relationship with Doriel. Still, food was waiting there, cooking over a well dug and lined with stone fire pit. Water was provided by a friendly water sprite and the three sat comfortably to eat a very tasty meal, Syllar’s being meat free, naturally.

“So it will end on the morrow?” Syllar asked.

“This part of the shadow war, yes,” Darras replied.

“Point,” Syllar acknowledged. “We still do not know where the source of these shadows is, nor where the one controlling them is.”

“Finding that out will take some time as wherever it is, the forest folk and the water folk do not have access to it,” Darras acknowledged. “Sooner or later though we’ll find someone or something which does know.”

“As Lomaris wills it,” Syllar replied, her head bowed in respect to her goddess, a gesture repeated by Balat.

“I suspect it’s in the Northern Kingdoms ... or close,” Balat suggested thoughtfully.

“Possibly. Most of their activity has taken place here, though they now appear to have switched to Golsten,” Darras nodded. “And there are parts of Ventris where we simply cannot go.”

“As yet,” Balat chuckled. “There will come a time when we’ll need to look.”

“That there will, but not at this time,” Darras chuckled at Balat’s keenness.

The following morning, after a good night’s rest, Darras and Balat made their way through the encampments and entered Drannos, finding the city to be still somewhat sullen over the easy defeat Thenarron had suffered along with the announced execution of its former ruler. Not that everyone was acting mutedly hostile, some places, like the markets and taverns, were clearly doing good business with the various remaining soldiers of the Allied Realms.

Guided by Erren, the pair made their way to where the Dwarves were holding part of the perimeter and were granted access to the inner lines of the now quiescent siege. There they were greeted by Linota and Doorf and escorted to the now cleared outer gate of the wall that enclosed the fortress grounds.

“You appear to be a man of interest to some of the parties attached to the delegation from Rachtelin, sir Darras,” Doorf stated. “Several of my people were asked if you were staying with us.”

“I have made myself somewhat a thorn in the side of various members of its King’s Council,” Darras admitted. “That’s why Balat and I remained apart from the various encampments last night.”

“Ah, Human politics,” Doorf nodded.

“Indeed so, paladin Doorf.”

At the gate was a stand for various witnesses, mostly the Dwarves and Torgillans, including Earl Graccen and his command staff; all of whom greeted Darras and Balat politely. Across the paved road, the Rachtelin delegation were standing slightly apart from the Elves of Rossaris and the Forest Kingdom, though Darras spotted Rigilo and Callani chatting to Dotharion and Leandomus along with Miront and Alvastros. Eventually the hour was reached and a bell pealed out as the outer gate of the fortress opened and the garrison marched out led by their commanders. Linota then joined Graccen, Rigilo and Dotharion to take the surrender of the last remaining Thenarronian force.

“They don’t look beaten,” Balat murmured.

“True, but they know they can’t win either,” Darras replied. “I suspect they’ve been spending the last week burning any records of the more ... controversial deeds of Thenarron and its ruling elite, including its magic users.”

“Makes sense,” Balat nodded. “Who will be in charge now?”

“Erren arranged for their senior commander in the field to be selected by the Allies. It’s partially why Rigilo, Leandomus and Dotharion are here, to ennoble the man and let the Thenarronians know who the Allies will deal with in any future times.”

“Ah, a ‘this man and no other’ statement?”

“Yes. Thenarron’s infrastructure is mostly intact, though there are no more dark kin to gather the tithe and ensure the people behave,” Darras nodded. “He’ll have an easier time of it normalising relationships with the surrounding Kingdoms ... if he’s smart enough to rule with a light touch.”

‘He is, ’ Erren confirmed.

Behind the garrison, a stream of civilians flowed down the hill, many toting a pack of their personal possessions, though Darras suspected the fortress had been extensively looted by them. This however was not really an issue for the Allies, rather it was the terms of the surrender document dictating reparations to Rossaris in order to avoid a long-term occupation of Thenarron, something neither side wished for. Eventually the commander of the garrison approached the waiting nobles and gave a salute even as another Thenarronian came from the side to receive a salute from both sides.

“The terms are simple,” Dotharion stated, taking the lead as the offended party. “Thenarron will not be occupied should the reparations demanded be paid over a period of not more than ten years.”

“I understand and agree,” the as yet unnamed man replied.

“Good. Let us end this war and hopefully resume normal relations,” Dotharion concluded. “King Leandomus, Prince Rigilo?”

“Your Highness,” the pair replied.

“My fellow Royals, as Nobles of the blood, do you sanction the ennoblement of the former commander Drister?”

“As a Noble of the blood Royal of Dorlianath, I sanction his ennoblement,” Leandomus replied clearly.

“As a Noble of the blood Royal of Rachtelin, I sanction his ennoblement,” Rigilo stated.

“Drister, your house is now of the blood Royal of Thenarron. You have now been ennobled and have the status of King. As such you are now granted power over the Kingdom of Thenarron,” Dotharion stated. “Rule wisely and well.”

“I will do so, my fellow Royals,” Drister replied formally, then gasped as the spiritual forms of Erren and Doriel appeared, causing all, including the now four Royals, to drop to one knee.

“Drister, we recognise your Kingship,” Erren stated to the masses.

“Rule wisely and well,” Doriel added, completing the formula, before the two goddesses faded away.

“I think the goddesses have just secured his rule,” Doorf said to Darras and Balat.

“It’s primarily why we’re here, though others of the gods were also observing,” Darras replied.