The great court of Dolgur is festooned with black and red vulture banners, decorated with gold and silver, for this is a feast. The royal court is turned out in their finery, to celebrate the King's Birthday, and everyone is on hand. King Malivare himself lolls in his throne as well-wishers greet and turn out gifts for him. In the back of the throne room, Merith turns to you, dressed in blue, at her side and nudges you. "You didn't forget it, did you?"
You say, "Ahhhh...of course not."
Merith pouts, "I spent days picking out his present...If you forgot it, you're in such trouble!"
You say, "I have it right here in my ahhhh...pocket."
From behind, Corin your father slaps you on the shoulder with a chuckle. "Don't worry, boy, you'll be fine. His Grace has seen you fight, remember? At the tourney. He likes you."
You say, "Yes father, I will do my best. I shan't shame you."
As another gift is presented to the King, applause is heard from the dais where the Throne is mounted.
Corin says, reassuringly, "He has great plans for you, lad. Great plans. You're in line for something special..."
Merith, lively and radiant in her new gown, beams at you.
You nod to your father and smile at Merith then squeeze her hand.
Your turn now to present a gift. The Pale Knight on the dais indicates the tall young man and his blonde companion should approach the Throne. He begins: "Ah, your Grace, yet another well wisher. It's---" He is interrupted by a rich voice, that of the King himself. The queen, Guisene, stands near his Throne. "I know who he is, you fool," says the King of the Vorghol. "Welcome, welcome to you both."
You bow deeply to the King and say respectfully, "Your Grace."
The King, pale, tall, dark-eyed, handsome, is resplendent in his black royal robes and tall crown. He has ruled this land of darkness for a hundred years. He rises from his throne and approaches the bowing couple.. "It pleases us that you've come today. Your father, who is near to our heart, has told me such tales of you." The Vorghol King grins with relish. "We will do such things, my lad! In a century, you and I will laugh about them together!"
Scattered laughter travels about the court. No one in this crowd likes a new favorite.
You say in a practiced speech, "Thank you, Your Grace. If it pleases Your Grace, may I present you with this gift of my and my family's great esteem." You hold out the gift to Malivare.
Malivare nods. "Of course." He tilts his head, curiously, expectantly.
Guisene, dark and lovely like a moonlit night, glides up behind her husband, eyeing Merith.
Malivare stares at the gift in your hand.
Oddly, you cannot focus your eyes on the gift, whatever it is. You stare at it as well. As you clutch it, it changes, its sinuous shape gliding into a long, naked sword in your hand. Malivare's eyes go very wide.
Corin shouts out from behind, "Treachery! I sired this traitor, your Grace, and it is I who will end him!"
Your eyes go steely cold. "This is a gift I have long wished to give you--Your Grace. It is a gift you well deserve."
The sword blazes to life, illuminating the pale faces of the Vorghol court. Merith leaps to her feet, puzzled. She throws herself between you and the King. "No!" she shrieks.
You raise the sword in your hand, high overhead, poised to strike Malivare down and grant him his final gift.
Guisene laughs a wicked, chilling laugh. Malivare has gone very still. Corin and his men race forward, swords drawn. The dragonfire licks at the your hand as you raise the blade. Merith stands before her King, between him and the blade.
You feel the sword start to descend of its own volition. You see the eyes of your lover staring at you in disbelief.
The flaming sword sinks into Merith's living heart. She shrieks, but sound doesn't come, and she explodes in a cloud of dust as if she were already undead. Malivare smiles his fanged smile as you raise the fiery sword again.
"You missed..." the King says, contemptuously. The world shudders.
Kane awakes to find himself on horseback, cantering slowly along along a narrow forest path, his horse tied to Khom-Bei's. He must have dozed while riding slowly. He shakes the image of Merith's doomed eyes out of his head and looks around him to take in the scene around him.
The first rosy fingers of dawn are beginning to paint the sky.
It's been a week since you two have escaped from Camars on a stormy, lightning-struck night. Riding a pair of stolen horses across the countryside, you've lived the life of the Hunter: as a fugitive, dodging Vorghol patrols and making your way to the Council meeting place. This Council place this season is a small, abandoned vineyard far in the west of Tol Nedra, nearly to the Westwall itself, that line of fortresses and walls that marks the eastern border of Ress. There have been several close calls along the way; you've clearly upset powerful forces when you slew Lady Merith.
The council place is no more than an hour distant from here. The horses are beginning to tire like their riders, after travelling all night.
Khom-Bei turns to see Kane awake and greets him; "Good morning, Kane. You didn't sleep well. You almost called out several times, but I didn't want to wake you. You haven't rested well since....since Camars."
Kane says, "Something I ate, I guess...Looks like we will be there soon, if I judge the lay of the land correctly."
Khom-Bei says, "An hour or so at most."
A little ways further down this narrow trail, then up a short ridge cloaked in old oak trees. The old vineyard is just beyond the ridge. As you begin to climb the ridge, the sun due to peer over the hillsides soon, one of the horses raises a protest. Khom-Bei's gelding kicks at his hoof, sore.
Kane says, "Perhaps we should give them a rest and walk a bit."
Khom-Bei nods to Kane and climbs down from his mount. He pats his mount's neck. "Easy, friend. You can rest soon and eat your fill of grass."
Kane climbs down as well.
The gelding seems to have thrown a shoe. Kane, pointing to the horse's hoof, says, "That's going to slow us down. Where's Dras when you need him?"
Khom-Bei pats the gelding on the neck and tries to calm him. "I know it hurts. Soon you can rest and eat and we can get you some proper care."
Kane says jokingly, "I'd like some of that rest, food, and proper care myself."
Thwipp! Thwipp! A pair of black-feathered arrows lance into the stony ground next to Khom-Bei's feet. They seem to have come from the shadows under the oaken grove about 10 yards distant. Each of the arrows is as thick as Kane's thumb. They are definitely Urag arrows.
Kane, less of the horse lover than Khom-Bei, puts himself between the horse and the direction of the arrows. Then he looks around for better cover.
As the arrows strike, Khom-bei looks into the woods and calls out. "I can smell you from here, Thragga. Wine and last night's dinner."
A single swift arrow flies from the wood. One pierces Kane's canteen where it dangles from his saddle. Red wine spills out onto the dry stony ground.
Khom-Bei looks at Kane, eyebrows raised in question. "Maybe it's not Thragga?"
Kane shouts, "Now you've done it! You better be Thragga or else you'll be pushing up daisies!"
Another pair of arrows thunks into the ground at Kane's feet. A challenge.
Khom-Bei drops the reins of his horse and loosens his hammer from his belt.
Kane shouts back, "Show yourself, great Urag warrior, so I might throttle you with my hands. Or are you still weening from your gray mother's teat?"
Khom-Bei says, "And bring your friends, so that I can smash them into cowardly pulp."
This time an arrow punctures the flank of Kane's horse, but not too deeply. Terrified, the animal gallops off down the hillside whence you came.
Nothing has emerged from the shadowed woods. Just a silent invitation.
Kane steps out into the open road, draws his sword, the shouts, "Face me now you cowardly whelp. I will use your ugly green head to scare the vermin with!"
There's a snort from the woods. Then a chuckle. Then a laugh, followed by a guffaw. Out steps a massive battle-scarred Urag, broad and tall, warbow in his hands. He puts his hands on his belly and laughs hysterically, fangs flashing in the pre-dawn light. Gorgac. You haven't seen Gorgac in months.Gorgac points at Khom-Bei, then Kane. "Haaaaaar!" he laughs. "You shoulda...you shoulda seen yer faces! By my mother's beard, you two, you...."
The Urag loses himself in his own mirth. The sound is like rocks rolling downhill.
Khom-Bei says, "Gorgac! If that had been my horse you shot, I'd skin you to make the bandages."
Gorgac laughs out loud some more. "Ugly green head! By my hairy balls, that was a good one, Kane!"
Kane says, "I was right! You old war horse. There could be no other Urag that shoots so well. You even managed to hit something."
Khom-Bei says, "They trusted you to keep watch on the road? Times must truly be desperate."
Gorgac approaches you both, arms wide for an embrace. He makes Thragga look small. He's big enough to grab you both and hug you. He reeks of leather, smoke, raw meat and Urag sweat. "You pair of pansies!" he laughs.
Kane stamps over to Gorgac and gives him a bear hug.
Khom-Bei beats the dust from his cloak and laughs as he embraces the big Urag, "How are you, you old mercenary?"
Kane says, "You smell as bad as ever! What, did the wife kick you out gain and turn you loose for the wolves?"
Khom-Bei says, "Yes, I should have known you were the only one I could smell from upwind."
Gorgac steps back and wipes a tear of mirth from his green eye. "And you thought I was Thragga, Khom-Bei!" He seems about to lose it again. "Who'd ever get me and Tiny confused? He smells like...well, he smells like you do, Kane!"
Kane says, "I don't smell bad. I just took a bath a week ago. So did you come out to meet us, or are you on your way in too?"
Gorgac grins happily. "By my big green ass, it's good to see you both! I'm keepin' sentry for the meeting. Thought I'd come out and watch for ya. You're expected, o'course. Heard you two went alone into Camars. Not bad, not bad!"
Kane says, "No heroics there. We just did what we had to to get Verraine out of a tight spot."
Kane says, "Did she, Thragga, and Brion pass by yet?"
Gorgac nods. He idly examines Khom-Bei's horse critically, for a possible meal, then turns back to you both. "She's inside, along with that nancy-boy Brion...they came in with Tiny a few days back."
Khom-Bei says, "Did they happen to have any ponies with them?"
Kane says, "I'm glad they made it in. So how is the wife and cubs these days? Any new ones?"
"The wife is up north where she can't nag me. "The Urag warrior spots Khom-Bei's new great hammer. "Hand it over, let's have a look."
Khom-Bei slips the hammer from his belt and hands it to the Urag. "Dras made it for me, the old one was getting to feeling a bit light."
Gorgac swings the hammer a bit and nods, appreciatively. "They had a pair of horses with them. A big one and a little one. I offered them ten dragons for the pair---they looked mighty tasty--but Tiny said you'd be pissed."
Khom-Bei says, "He was right."
"Haaar!" Gorgac roars. "Tiny's got some set of balls on him, eh? Not like when I met him, a thrall. Then it was 'Yes, master' and 'Aye, master' and 'Right away, master!' Now, he's got stones!" He grabs his codpiece to indicate what stones he means.
Kane says, "Care to walk in with us a ways? I'd love to hear what's been going on."
Khom-Bei says, "Is the Council here yet?"
The sun pours light over the horizon. Daybreak is here. Gorgac blinks in the brightening light, with his weakening Urag eyes, and leads the way up the ridgeline, still carrying Khom-Bei's hammer. He nods. "You're the last two. We were gonna give ya another day and then move on." He frowns. "Damn shame about Taggart."
Khom-Bei nods silently.
Kane says, "He was a good man a great loss for the cause."
You crest the ridgeline and emerge from the oak grove. Before you, in a shallow bowl-shaped depression, what looks like old grape vines spread in a vast tangle, overgrown with weeds and other flora. The sun is fully risen now and the scene is one of lush green growth. At the bottom of the bowl, about a hundred yards off, are some old outbuildings, in disrepair. Gorgac raises the hammer and shrieks in the Urag style, his big lungs echoing the cry across the old fields.
Khom-Bei puts forefinger and thumb to his lips and whistles loudly for his pony.
Kane follows behind the two leading his hoorse across the field.
Six Urag warriors slip out of hiding places in the brush and bow in greeting. They form an escort about you as you make your way across the overgrown tangle of vines towards the outbuildings.
Cakilgan's head appears in the tangle from where he was grazing, and the stout pony races towards Khom-Bei.
"This ain't a bad place," Gorgac says. "It was abandoned during the last Crusade. And there's still some wine left!" he elbows Kane in the ribs. "Haaaaar!" The impact is like being smashed by a hammer.
Khom-Bei trots ahead of Kane and Gorgac to meet Cakilgan; "You're getting fat with all this grass and no one on your back."
The pony stomps up to the Northerling and bristles his head against Khom-Bei's.
Kane replies rubbing his ribs, "Not so bad. Peaceful I would say."
"I still say he'd be good between two slices of bread!" Gorgac taunts Khom-Bei. "Haaaar! Wash him down with some red, huh boys?" The Urag laugh in agreement. It's not clear they speak the common tongue, but they laugh anyway.
Kane looks ahead to see if he can catch sight of anyone.
Khom-Bei scratches the pony between his ears. "You'll not be eating this one, Gorgac."
Thragga appears from behind some branches. "That is not funny, Gorgac." he says grimly. He has a massive bruise under his left eye.
Gorgac laughs. "Oh, look at Tiny! Where's ya sense o'humor, kid?" He turns to Kane. "What have you done t'this kid? He's as dry as one o'my mother's farts!"
Kane calls, "Thragga! You're a sight for sore eyes! And speaking of sore eyes what happened to you!
Thragga shakes his head. "Never mind. It is good to see you both."
Kane clasps Thragga's wrist in greeting, "As it is to see you brother."
Thragga clasps Kane's wrist as well, then Khom-Bei's.
Khom-Bei examines Thragga's eye closely. "I think I can do something about that."
Kane says, "Have you been playing with cyclops here?"
Gorgac snorts. "Then you'll have to do the same to the sissy-boy, " he says merrily. His Urag warriors laugh it up, even if they don't understand it.
Khom-Bei looks between Thragga and Gorgac. "Brion? Is there a problem?"
Thragga says, "No." He seems vaguely embarassed by the whole business.
Kane says, "Have you been terrorizing the whole council, then Gorgac?"
Kane get an odd look in his eyes, "Not you and Brion, Thragga? Did you two go at it finally? I can't leave you two alone for one second!"
Gorgac shouts, "Haaar! All I know is, Tiny and Nancy came in wearing those shiners. Verraine, on the other hand, was cute as a Dolgur hooker."
Khom-Bei chuckles; "Maybe Verraine had to straighten them both out?"
Thragga growls. "It is nothing, Kane. Brion is fine, I assure you, and so am I." He turns to go.
This just makes Gorgac even more hysterical and he laughs out loud.
As you approach the low wooden buildings of the old winery, with old casks strewn about, a female figure races towards you. Trailing behind her is a tall man in blue silk. "Kane! Khom-Bei!" Verraine races up to you for an embrace. "You're here, you're here! Thank the Protector!"
Kane smiles and gives Verraine a hug.
Khom-Bei wraps his arms around Verraine; "I see that at least one of you made the trip unscathed."
Gorgac says to his men, indicating the lovely Verraine, "See what I mean?"
Brion strolls up behind her, lute in hand, a big grin on his handsome face. A bruise decorates the cheek under his right eye. "Gentlemen! Allow me to say, welcome to the winery."
"Unscathed?" Verraine says. "What do you mean?"
Khom-Bei looks to Brion: "It seems that the lovely lady has been struck blind."
Kane says, "We were just admiring the set of shiners."
Brion drops his grin. He turns away. "A little fall, is all, isn't that right, Thragga?" Thragga nods, a co-conspirator.
Kane says, "I see. Well then it's no big deal then."
Khom-Bei begins waving his hands in circles and smiling. "By the Great Father, I will compel you to tell the truth if that is what it takes."
Verraine smiles quietly. "Yes. A fall. And let's just say that they will both surely be more careful next time."
Kane says, "I should hope so. Khom-Bei perhaps we should except the story at hand, hmmm?"
Gorgac says, "I'll get it out of him!" He seizes Thragga around the neck in a headlock, driving his knuckles painfully into Thragga's scalp. "Come on, Tiny! Tell us!"
Khom-Bei says, "I say we leave them to their little secret. Verraine probably whipped them both bare-handed."
Thragga wrestles and bucks to no avail. "I love this kid!" Gorgac says as he releases him. "Wish he was my kid! Come to think of it, he could be one of mine!"
Kane laughs.
Kane's Angharan charger is tethered outside the main farmhouse, just nearby. A small, aged Tobon has emerged from the house with a warm smile. This would be Borien, the oldest member of the Council. He is dressed in the simple silks of a priest of Ardis. "Gorgac, you really shouldn't make fun." he chides, gently.
Kane says, "Borien! So good to see you!"
Sitting on two old wine casks nearby are a pair of slender, tall warriors in light armor. One is Mattias, a council Captain, and the second is Bale, his constant and close companion. They eye Khom-Bei and Kane and the others quietly.
Borien bows. "And you, my friends, and you. We were about to give up waiting for you. But She has blessed your path to us, I believe." He touches the symbol of the Goddess about his neck.
Khom-Bei reaches into his pack and pulls out two small sour-apples. Feeding them to his pony, he speaks quietly to the animal; "It is good to see you again, brother. Go and wait for me." The pony makes his way off to enjoy his treats.
Khom-Bei follows Kane into the group of people.
Gorgac says, "Oh, boss, I can't help myself. I mean well, isn't that right, boys? Besides, they know I'm just bustin' balls. Everyone of these mother-humpers knows I'd die for 'em. Isn't that right?"
Kane says, "I for one know that very well, Gorgac."
Brion whistles.
Thragga shrugs.
Verraine smiles to herself.
The Urag laugh and clap each other on the back, not getting a word of it.
Gorgac says, "Awright, you cunts, back to work!" he slaps one of the Urag in the head, affectionately. He and his men shuffle off to their guard positions. "We'll drink later!" he tells Kane and Khom-Bei as he does so.
Mattias looks at Bale, who looks back. They resemble a pair of cats, lithe and deadly.
Kane waves to Gorgac and then turns and nods to the glum pair.
Mattias drawls. "Kane." Bale is silent. Mattias asks, "Good work in Camars."
Kane says, "We did what needed to be done."
Bale mutters, "Not enough of it, from what I hear."
Kane says, "We did what we could."
Khom-Bei looks away, the memory of a dead child in his arms still too fresh.
Thragga, at Kane's shoulder, bristles. Brion is right alongside him.
Borien says to Bale, "There is no need for that."
Kane says, "All are entitled to their opinion Borien."
Mattias makes a small headshake to Bale. "It just means there are more for us to kill." he says with a smirk. This is someone who enjoys his work.
Borien says, "Come, come, let's celebrate your arrival. The rest of the council and their entourages are here already. Save one, which we will tell you of shortly." He leads the way inside the low farmhouse.
Kane follows the old Tobon into the house.
Khom-Bei follows Borien and Kane into the farmhouse silently.
Thragga scowls at Mattias as he passes him.
Within the house the atmosphere is warm and inviting. People mill about, many of whom you know from other Hunter bands. Seated nearby is Lady Arcamyr, a fetching blond in courtly silks. She offers her hand to Kane and Khom-Bei without rising.
Khom-Bei takes the offered hand and bows to Arcamyr.
Arcamyr, a Hunter like you both but no warrior, purrs, "Welcome to you both. My spies at court tell me that Malivare was no end of upset after he got the news from Camars."
Kane says, "I'm sure he was not pleased by our mission of mercy."
"One hopes that things do not go well for little Valkris..." she smiles sweetly.
Kane says, "What ever Valkris gets he deserves."
Khom-Bei sees Hunters from Taggart's band, old true friends, and some from Mattias', and some of Arcamyr's, and some from Borien's. But none from Dhor-Shai's.'.
Arcamyr nods, "Well done, gentlemen."
Borien says, "You must be famished after your labors, both of you." He orders, "Feed them their hearts' content, and make sure they are well-rested!" A pair of Tobon servants hop to attend to your needs.
Kane takes a seat and digs into the food provided by the Toban.
Khom-Bei bows his head and gives thanks before diving into the food ravenously.
Thragga seats himself uninivited and digs in as well, unable to resist.Khom-Bei pages: I assumed that more info would be coming eventually.Pausing for a breath and a gulp of wine, Khom-bei leans close to Thragga; "I don't see any of Dhor-Shai's men. Any news of them?"
Thragga belches and shrugs. "Nope. Maybe he'll turn up?"
Some hours later, rested and sated, and cleaned, you prepare for the council meeting in your chambers. The house seems a tranquil place, far from the Vorghol, a welcome island of light after your weeks under the Shroud. Thragga is gnawing on sausages as he sits in the chambers with you two, explaining how intolerable Brion is. "And every morning, do you know what he does? He washes his clothes. What for? I don't know. I tell you, he's impossible."
Kane says, "Well, it sounds like we arrived not a minute too soon."
You've slept the day away and now night approaches, with an autumnal chill in the air. Hunters' hours.
"It was all I could do to keep from punching his lights out..." Thragga says.
Kane says, "He may be a bit much at times but he is a vital spy to us."
Thragga wipes his lips with the back of his hand. "Yeah, yeah, you asked me not to kill him and I didn't. But it was a favor to you."
Khom-Bei says, "And we will be forever grateful, Thragga."
Thragga shrugs. "Don't mention it. You owe me. We should get going, the council will meet soon."
Kane gets up and stretches, then heads for the door.
Khom-Bei pulls his clipped hair back and ties it with a short leather cord before following Kane.
The council chamber, such as it is, is the main room of the old farmhouse, with long low tables laid out in a circular pattern. The tables are laden with food and pitchers of wine. At each table sits a representative of each of the major Hunter bands, and their leader. Borien, an aged Tobon and his clerical companions. Arcamyr, a Reith noblewoman from one of the old families with contacts among the court. Mattias, leader of a group of hardened outlaws, whom the Vorghol fear. The seat for Taggart is empty, but you all sit at his table: Kane, Khom-Bei, Verraine, Thragga, Brion, and Gorgac.
Candles drip wax onto the bare tables as the two moons rise outside. The true night is bracing and fresh, not dank and musty like the night of the Shroud.The table for Dhor-Shai, of the Northerlings, and his Hunters is empty.
Khom-Bei takes a place at Verraine's side and pours a large mug of wine for himself.
Kane leans over to Verraine and says, "Take your father's chair."
Borien rises to his full three feet. "Welcome, my friends, welcome. It has been too long since we have last gathered, and our numbers are depleted. As you all know, Taggart fell in battle with the dark ones. He was as his fathers were, a knight of old Tol Nedra, with the true Palladian spirit. Let us cherish his memory and make him proud." He bows his head in prayer as others around the room rise.
Khom-Bei stands and bows his head.
Kane follows suit.
Borien leads a brief prayer to the Protector, Inglorian, to watch over the spirit of Taggart.
Prayers said, everyone re-seats themselves. "And now to current matters," Borien says. "A successor must be chosen for his band. Have you chosen one among you?" he looks towards your table.
Kane looks at Verraine and lets his eyes slide back to the empty chair.
Khom-Bei places his hand on Verraine's shoulder. "It is the right thing to do, Verraine."
Gorgac says, "Kai, sillai!" In Urag this is: Forward, sister!
Kane holds the chair out to Verraine.
Verraine looks to one, and then the other. She says quietly, to Kane and Khom-Bei, "I was hoping it would be one of you...I do not feel equal to this task."
Kane says, "You were taught by the best. Now take your place and stop arguing."
Thragga rises. "We have chosen Verraine, the daughter of Taggart." he says, backing up Kane.
Borien nods. "Verraine. If any would speak against her, then let him speak now, or I will declare her ratified by this council." He looks about the room. None object. Most look on in encouragement at this fine choice.
Borien says, "So ratified. Welcome, Verraine of House Leonce, to the Council. Be seated as a Captain."
Hesitantly, Verraine sits in the chair reserved for her father.
As Verraine takes her fathers chair, Khom-bei stands and addresses the room. "Now to the business of Dhor-Shai. Will someone tell me what has happened my brothers from the plains?"