« (Faldara Swifthands) »

Faldara finally slowed her headlong pace, her string of horses were, all three dusty and tired. It had been a long ride. She straightened and made sure her courier badge was in plain view as she approached the golden coloured walls of Sunhame. Behind the walls the gilded domes of the temples glittered in the sun.

She trotted up to the southern gates and the militia manning them watched her come suspiciously. The sergeant in charge raised his detector and examined her badge through the enchanted lens. He snapped to a rather sloppy attention and waved her through.

She continued trotting through the streets relying on the well-trained inhabitants getting out of her way. She barely noted the curses sent her way by the pedestrians who were forced to jump clear, or the occasional goods destroyed under the hooves of her horses.

She dismounted in the main courtyard of the central temple of Sol Triumphant, throwing the reigns to a passing acolyte before striding into the temple proper. Behind her an indignant acolyte passed the filthy reigns to the sniggering stable-girl who came trotting up to collect them.

An indignant under-priest barred her way, “You can’t come any further. The sanctum is only for followers of the Sun Lord.”

Faldara shoved her left hand, where she bore Hainrick Sunlord’s signet ring in the man’s face. “I bear messages for Heramakos from the Sun Lord Hainrick. Announce me.”

Nose wrinkling in disgust at the smell the under-priest ordered, “Wait here. I’ll inform lady Constantia Goldray.”

Faldara, rather ironically watched the man walk away. She decided to give him a small amount of time. She noted with some amusement that everyone was giving a fair amount of space.

The under-priest returned before Faldara’s self-imposed deadline ran out. He bowed minusculy and sneered, “Please follow me. The Great Lord Heramakos is waiting.”

Faldara narrowed her eyes in irritation and decided to ignore the insult for the time being. She followed him across to an unobtrusive side door. They made their way through several passages, that permitted them to make their way around the more public and travelled parts of the temple.

Faldara banked the insult for future repayment. Being led trough the servant passages was excessive. When she had been here with Hainrich they had used the visitor’s corridors. That had avoided the holy areas of the temple while maintaining dignity.

* * *

Heramakos, the High Priest of Sol Triumphant and Chairman on the Council of Stability, received her in his office. He was sitting behind his marble topped desk and didn’t bother to rise to greet her.

Heramakos dismissed the under-priest with a look before looking at Faldara with a frown. “What do you have for me?”

Faldara Swifthands passed over the leather pouch that contained the missives Hainrich had given her.

“Very good. Were any the elves open to our suggestions?”

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“No they weren’t.”

Heramakos narrowed his eyes, “None of them? Are they all so lost to the truth?”

“What we see as the truth, they seem to consider arrogance sir,” offered Faldara.

“Very well, you may leave. For your information the Guild of Adventurers informed us that Lord Hainrick Sunlord and Leo’s lifestones indicate that they are dead. As do the ones belonging to Daviinos the Mighty and Luminos the Brawler. Close the door on your way out.”

Faldara staggered. She left Heramakos’ office and closed the door gently behind her. She looked down the luxurious corridor with tearing eyes, and spotted the contemptuous under-priest waiting for her.

“Follow,” ordered that worthy, as he led her through the servant’s passages to a side door. He watched her leave the temple before slamming the door behind her.

Faldara glared at the closed door. Then she turned and walked down the side street and returned to the temple to collect her horses.

She rode out of the temple in a towering temper. The priest’s had tried to claim her horses, claiming they belonged to the temple. If she hadn’t kept the papers proving she had purchased two of them she would have been robbed. She kicked her horses into a gallop and headed out of town.

« (General Leontinus Pelaelagus) »

There was a knock at the door. “Come!” barked Leontinus.

The door was opened by one of his Companions, his bodyguard for the day. The messenger that steped into the room saluted, rather sloppily, and said, “General Leontinus Pelaelagus, The High Priest of Sol Triumphant asks that you and your staff repair to the temple immediately.”

Leontinus stroked his bushy grey beard thoughtfully. “Very well. Pray inform Heramakos that we will be there within the hour.”

* * *

Leontinus reined in his charger. He gazed at the mess on the main road leading to the temple of Sol Triumphant. It looked like a disaster scene. “Iovivus, remain here and render assistance. Feel free to send someone to the barracks to fetch your assistants.”

“Yes my lord,” said Iovivus as he dismounted and headed for the woman cradling a bleeding child while ignoring her broken leg.

Leontinus looked round and ordered another of his companions to remain and render aid before heading on towards the temple.

* * *

The group of people gathered in the conference room included all the heads of the various military units headquartered in Sunhame, the holy city of the Sun. They milled around chatting and joking, while waiting to learn why they had been summoned.

Finally Heramakos arrived. He was accompanied by one of his secretaries. Heramakos moved to the front of the room and cleared his throat to gain attention. Slowly the room quieted.

“Ladies, Gentlemen. Pray give me your attention, I have called this council of war in my persona as Chairman of the Council of Stability.”

Colonel Cressiida of the Night Wolves Mercenary Company inclined her head, “Then I suspect I shouldn’t be here lord Heramakos.”

“Stay. I suspect you will not object to this,” stated Heramakos.

Cressiida inclined her head once again and stepped back.

Heramakos continued, “There is a new nature aligned dungeon in the realm of Queen Aldrya. It is potentially very powerful and bids fair to threaten stability.

“Queen Aldrya has refused to heed our most earnest advice, and has gone so far as to spread her forest and destroy Refuge.”

General Leontinus looked around the room, most of those present showed a certain lack of interest. Cressiida was leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, seemingly uninterested. His eyes returned to Heramakos who was continuing with his oratory.

“The Queen is seeking to ally with the Centaur Khanate. The council will be sending the Khan a message warning him not to interfere with the business of the Council.

“I order you all to prepare for war. Gather your forces. We will be marching against the elves of Queen Aldrya to order them to put the dungeon down. And to teach her not to defy the Council.”

There was a long minute’s silence. Then Colonel Cressiida drawled lazily, “The Night Wolves will not be marching. Our contract does not cover a major war.”

“Sunhame will need a garrison. You can do that? Can’t you?” snapped Heramakos.

General Leontinus winced inwardly. The proud northern beastmaster wasn’t going to take that well, and truly her unit wasn’t suited to garrison duties. They were scouts and saboteurs.

“Our contract permits that,” confirmed Cressiida as she squinted at Heramakos.