Chapter 6:
The Festival of Souls
The following day was warm and cloudy, with a light sprinkle of rain in the air. Everyone gathered in the tower courtyard around noon at long, polished oak tables adorned with Birlote runes. Furlus and the others had returned victorious, which added to the celebratory mood and made it easier to forget the Lawkeeper's visit. There was much food and drink to indulge in, and a bard on loan from Dremlock played songs now and then, did magic tricks, or read poetry. Orange Squires--servants who were never able to obtain Knighthood--moved about the courtyard serving drinks and replacing empty food platters with full ones.
The Council of Ollanhar sat at one of the tables apart from the others, in wide chairs adorned with the mischievous faces of woodland creatures from the Birlote Tree City of Borenthia, discussing the implications of the Lawkeeper's words. It was a pleasant day, the breeze fresh and the courtyard green and lush around them in the shadow of the mighty, vine-laden tower that rose into the grey sky above them. The sprinkle of rain carried on the breeze helped keep them cool.
Vorden was doing remarkably better. In fact, he seemed almost fully healed as he indulged in beef and potatoes and sipped at a goblet of wine, showing no hint of pain and the color having returned to his skin. He seemed cheerful and full of vigor--with only his yellow eyes serving as a reminder that he would never be completely normal. Dallsa was not happy with his decision to leave his bedchamber, but she had to grudgingly admit that most of his strength had returned.
It was hard not to feel good on this fine day. Furlus Goblincrusher, however, did not seem to be in a festive mood. He sat quietly for a time, gazing sullenly at his mug of ale. At last he muttered, "I sent a Hawk. But it won't make any difference. We will continue our expansion even at the risk of war."
No one really wanted to discuss such grim topics. They wanted to eat, drink, smoke pipes and celebrate the Festival of Souls that would honor all Divine Knights who had died in service of their god. But duty could not be ignored.
"What about our forthcoming journey?" asked Lannon. "In light of this development, should the White Flamestone still go with us? With Bellis threatening war, taking it out of Silverland would seem like pure folly."
"I agree," said Aldreya.
Jace dropped his oversized spoon in bowl of stew with a splash. He was so agitated he accidentally leaned on his bread and smeared butter on his cloak sleeve. "What? Of course it is still going with us! It must!" He paused for a moment, wringing his huge, bony hands together, allowing himself a moment to calm down. "I assure you we will be confronting Bellis on the journey. King Verlamer will seek to make us disappear at land or sea, so that even our bodies will never be found. Without the White Flamestone, how would we survive?"
"Yet how can Dremlock survive?" asked Aldreya, handing Jace a towel, "if Bellis goes to war and we have no Flamestone to defend the kingdom? Our survival is not as important as that of our god and kingdom."
"Perhaps," said Jace. "But remember--there is another Flamestone out there, and we must obtain it before Bellis does. Could you imagine the devastation that would result if King Verlamer gained possession of it? Any lingering hope of preventing Bellis from taking all of Gallamerth and the lands beyond the sea would be crushed. It could mean victory for the Deep Shadow as well."
Lannon couldn't deny that Jace's argument was compelling.
"King Verlamer has sought that Flamestone before," said Aldreya. "And he has failed to obtain it. It may be impossible to remove it from the island. There is something dreadfully dark and dangerous out there. It haunts my dreams. We know very little about it. But war is a reality we have already faced. Without the White Flamestone for protection, Dremlock fell and many Knights perished. It was only because of Verlamer's madness and stupidity in challenging Lannon to a duel that Dremlock is liberated today. He will not make that mistake twice. I am certain that if Dremlock falls to Bellis again, it will truly be the end for us."
"Yet nothing has changed," said Furlus. "We knew that Bellis was unhappy with the expansion before this Lawkeeper arrived. This is just another attempt to scare us into retreating. It is very unlikely that Bellis will publicly break the agreement and make war on us. Instead, they'll continue to use the Goblins and the Blood Legion to try to drive us out of Ollanhar. But as I said, I sent a Hawk and look forward to hearing what our Lord Knight has to say on the matter. Perhaps he will insist the White Flamestone remain here."
"I hope not," said Prince Vannas, with a sigh. "I was really looking forward to this adventure." The handsome Birlote leaned back in his chair, puffing at a pipe. He had been unusually quiet lately, allowing Aldreya and Lannon to make the decisions. He blew a perfect smoke ring that almost tickled Jace's long nose.
Lothrin sat next to the prince and also hadn't spoken much lately--though that was not unusual for Lothrin. The lean warrior often kept to himself (when he wasn't arguing with his cousin Vannas) and spent many hours wandering alone. He was still a Ranger at heart, favoring wild, uninhabited lands and solitude. Yet Lothrin was a wise man whose opinion was as valued as that of his royal cousins.
"I, too, long for adventure," said Lothrin. "But as much as it pains me to say it, our petty desires hold no weight. This is about the future of Dremlock and Gallamerth--a future which lies in great peril."
"Of course," said Vannas, looking slightly annoyed. "As always, I will do whatever is best for our kingdom.
The bard approached their table, grinning, his white-and-purple clothing shimmering as he bowed. His black hair hung in flamboyant curls from beneath his wide hat. He raised his flute to begin a song, but Aldreya dismissed him with a motion of her hand. With another quick bow, he hurried away.
A large golden butterfly with blue swirls on its wings landed on the rim of Lannon's silver goblet. Lannon watched it in amusement until Furlus leaned over with a scowl and blew a puff of air on it, sending it into flight. The confused butterfly then landed in Furlus' bushy beard. The Grey Dwarf plucked it out and tossed it into the air, where it flew off.
"What is best for this kingdom," Furlus muttered, "is for us to go and retrieve that Flamestone. Then, with two Flamestones at our command, Bellis will truly fear us. I am certain Taris will agree with me. The Flamestones are the greatest weapons in all the land, greater even than anything the Olrogs or Thallites could invent. They belong to the Divine Essence--our god, whose word is law--and thus they belong to Dremlock. We have every right to lay claim to them."
"Say no more," said Prince Vannas, smiling. "I will be happy to use the power of the White Flamestone to defeat any enemies who seek to interfere with our quest. And I will attempt to use that same power as a guide."
"How?" asked Aldreya, looking puzzled.
"All of the Flamestones are linked," said the prince. "They're all part of the White Guardian. It stands to reason that one Flamestone could be aware of the presence of another. It's certainly worth putting to the test."
Jace nodded. "It just might be possible! Perhaps your Flamestone can lead us directly to the other one, no matter how well hidden it us."
"You're just guessing, though," said Bekka. "You don't actually have any evidence that it will work."
"I don't need evidence," said Prince Vannas, with a smug look. "My heart tells me it is so. My instincts tell me. That is all I need."
Bekka shook her head. She was taller than Vannas and more muscular, with broad shoulders and very dark skin. Not easily impressed by words, she demanded proof whenever someone made boasts. "If I trusted my heart every time it told me something, it would have been cut out long ago."
Prince Vannas nodded. "But that's you, Norack. I am a Birlote, and a Birlote can trust his heart to lead him to the truth."
"Agreed," said Aldreya, pride in her voice. "A Birlote's instincts are not to be taken lightly. We can sense things Noracks and Olrogs cannot."
"Believe what you will," said Bekka, "but until I see some evidence that this White Flamestone can actua
lly guide us, I won't be relying on it."
"Nor will I," said Jerret.
"It doesn't matter," said Furlus. "Whether it can guide you or not, the journey will likely proceed." He winked at Bekka and muttered in a low voice, "But I wouldn't trust a Birlote's instincts either."
"Exactly," Daledus Oakfist mumbled in response. The brawny Dwarf had three mugs of ale and a heaping platter of beef in front of him.
The Birlotes frowned but said nothing.
Knights: Defenders of Ollanhar Page 14
