Dageth was gone. So too went the council of Deepmere’s hopes of a quick escape.

“And why not!?” Roared Grand Magus Arwin

“I’ve told you before,” Keflina said. “The only elven denizens are allowed to use the portal. The location is secret for a reason.”

“Then we’re trapped!” Denayd cried. He should’ve left when he had the chance. He’d just been waiting around to hopefully get a chance to talk with the deer-kin. Now that decision might cost him everything.

“Nonsense. You have legs, use them.” Keflina snorted as she left the chamber. It had been their first gathering since they were told their allies were leaving. Now the despair they felt back then was multiplied a hundred-fold.

“This is an unfortunate turn of events,” Lord Arthos said darkly.

No shit, Denayd thought as he considered his options.

“I’m afraid we have little choice,” Arthos continued. “I’ll shall take a portion of the army and my personal guard to the frontline to combat the mists.”

Denayd looked at the man in shock. Since when did he ever do anything altruistic?

“An excellent suggestion Lord Arthos. I shall also take a sizable force and my personal guard to secure the country side. Lord Tarwin I assume you can hold the city while we take care of the mists.”

What’s going on? Since when did those two do anything to help others? Denayd thought as his mind furiously raced. That was when he saw it. The glint in their eyes. Then he understood. They weren’t going to fight the mists. They were abandoning Deepmere. No doubt they would bring a sizable portion of their goods and use troops loyal to them to protect their belongings. They were throwing Tarwin to the mercy of the mists. As for himself… they utterly ignored him. He met each man’s eyes and saw nothing but contempt in them.

“I see…” Tarwin said slowly. “Then I believe we have nothing further to discuss.”

Denayd look around as the others began filing out. No doubt like him, they had been counting on using the portal to Dageth once they had amassed their wealth. Now that was impossible. The others had immediately come up with alternatives. What could he do? He wasn’t wealthy like the other councilors. He commanded no military forces. He had no loyal retainers. All his funds were spent on rare tomes and he kept to himself.

Perhaps he could take a caravan out of the city under the pretense of going to secure more aid. He could pack his invaluable tomes up and just leave. There were groups leaving every day. Surely they would want an Archmage to help protect them. Although that would be hardly necessary. No one would dare attack a group protected by an Archmage unless they were crazy…

Lord Arthos left the meeting hall at a quick trot. If he was to secure anything in this disaster then he had to act now. He wouldn’t be reduced to some minor noble living off the scraps of a mighty lord. He was the LORD damn it! He worked hard for the position and power it gave. He’d been negotiating with Dageth in secret. He had been gathering a rather sizable bribe, err donation to the school, for ownership of a large village that the school controlled. Now that hope was destroyed. Dageth was too far away to get there safely with his fortune intact. Fortunately, he still had options.

“Kelfina!” Lord Arthos called as he caught up with the elf. Her guards stiffened then relaxed as she waved them down.

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“I hope you haven’t come to beg Lord Arthos. It would be beneath your station.”

Like hell I would beg to you bitch, Lord Arthos thought but kept his expression friendly.

“I wouldn’t dream of insulting you with such crude behavior. Rather I have an offer to make.”

“Oh?” Kelfina said a single eyebrow raised.

“I would like to purchase a large plot of land outside the elven grove to the south.” It would be a few months journey to get there with all his valuables, but manageable. The land between here and there was sparely populated. To get to Dageth, he would’ve crossed many powerful nations that would be surely to strip him of everything.

“Hmm.” Kelfina tapped a finger on her finely sculpted chin. “An interesting proposal. I’m unsure of the long term benefits to the elves in such an arrangement.”

Arthos suppressed a smile. “There are many. The settlement would be mine. I would of course swear to protect the grove. You could even consider it a trading hub with outsiders so they wouldn’t desecrate your grove.”

That had her interest. “The land around our grove is valuable. Such a luxury would demand a hefty cost.”

Bullshit, Arthos thought, but said. “Of course. Anything touched, even indirectly by the elves, demands high value. I was thinking of 30,000 gold.”

Kelfina smiled. “Come, join me for tea. I believe we have a lot to discuss…”

Grand Mage Arwin swore as he left the chamber. He had a substantial household and most of his valuables were in the land around Deepmere. He’d been trying to sell off as much as he could before taking the portal to Dageth. Now… what did he have left? Sure he had his personal guard, which was a dozen talented combat mages. He also had a decent number guards who were loyal to him. However it was not nearly enough. He was no lord like Arthos. That man could easily get a small army under his banner. He couldn’t. It’d take too much time to gather any significant force. His best bet would be to wait until Arthos left then seize control of the council. Denayd was a spineless worm and would likely flee tomorrow or the day after since Dageth was no longer an option. Tarwin was no longer a threat. He couldn’t even afford his personal guards. His former guards all left when Arwin made them an offer. He could blame Tarwin for the cities situation. Then declare martial law as the only reminding councilor. Afterwards he could send all the troops to the wall or to fight the mists leaving only his loyal troops behind. Then he could loot every noble home before leaving the city. Once he got far enough away he could buy his way into some kingdom as a noble. Yes… that should work. He’d have to get things ready for when Arthos left. He only hoped that the mists would be allow him enough time to plunder the city before he left.

Lord Tarwin slowly made his way home. Home. He once had a dozen of those, situated through the city and country side. Now only one remained. The manse that his son had own. The others had been sold to pay his ever increasing debt. Angry nobles constantly bombarded him with their demands. The leeches.

For over a century house Coldwell had been considered an influential power. It was a name that had commanded instant respect. No longer. Under his rule the house had fallen to that of minor nobility. Soon it would be gone altogether. All because his idiotic son had to have a half-kin bastard. Azura… How he wished he killed the brat the moment she was born. It was far too late now. The loss of his immediate family had sealed the Coldwell house fate. He could’ve perhaps dealt with Loric’s death. His son had been a disappointment, but Elise… That betrayal had hurt. It was her loss that truly meant his downfall.

He’d tried to claim the kin took her hostage. Then he used various other excuses. She was a spy, and so forth. Nothing worked. Soon all his supporters left. Maeve, that ungrateful bitch, left shortly after they got word that Elise was staying with her sister. She only stayed long enough to take her wrath out on their kin servants. She didn’t kill them. However, the cruelty she inflicted upon them left scars. Most of them could barely perform their duties. Tarwin would’ve dismissed them, but the cost to replace them was too high.

He scoffed at the thought. Before he could buy a thousand slaves and toss them out as soon as they were worthless. Now he couldn’t afford it. Worse, no one wanted to buy such abused goods.

He was truly a man with nothing left to lose. Although Arthos apparently disagreed. After all, he still had his life…

Tarwin entered his last home. He ignored the one arm kin waiting to take his coat. Instead he immediately went to his study. There he collapsed in his favorite chair. He sat there a moment before reaching for a flask from his desk. It wasn’t alcohol. That was in the next drawer down. This particular item was one he had taken great pains to obtain a decade ago. The last card of the man whom already lost. He wouldn’t survive it, but that wasn’t the point. When the time came and he stood before his last opponent, he would ensure that they would fall with him…