Blood Vengeance

by Dan Mat

  “Is it truth, what they talk of him?” young fisherman asked.

  “What’s that?” older halfling asked back.

  “How he single-handedly defeated the Sumen hunting party.” young halfling said.

  “Why don’t you ask him that yourself, when we return to the village?” older fisherman laughed.

  “Perhaps I will.”

  Vlaazh heard enough. Reaction of his surprised scout only confirmed what he already realized. They were incredibly fortunate to stumble upon these halflings. Out of the entire jungle, they found two who could take them straight towards the fleeing councilor. What were the chances of that?

  “Could it be that they are talking about the same elf we are after?” Tenreth asked, just to be sure.

  “Who else?” Vlaazh retorted.

  “So what now?” Tenreth scratched his chin.

  “Change of plans.” Vlaazh said “Send Vagyr our coordinates. We’ll follow the halflings.”

  CHAPTER 25

  It was the late afternoon, when Saekul Er’ulrath walked into a spacious, well lit hallway of Xavnier Gloir’s luxurious mansion. He was welcomed by always stern looking, halfling’s main butler, Feldar. Judging by butler’s aged, blank face, someone could say, that he was doing his duties for much longer than he ever planned to. Short, cryptic message, lieutenant received a bit earlier, demanded of him to join councilor in his residence, as soon as possible. This was beginning to look like a regular occurrence to Saekul. Not so long ago, Lady Eilonna Falkner of Issurk, send a similar request. Elf could only hope that this one won’t be as difficult as the last.

  Butler led him up the wide stairs, to the first floor, and into a long, straight hallway. It was lit by numerous lamps, hanging from the ceiling, on the series of two foot long, golden chains. Various paintings, statues and sculptures decorated the entire place, making it appear more as a museum, than a house. Some of the artworks did appeal to Saekul. But still, he couldn’t wrap his head around the quantity of the decorations. Xavnier might have exaggerated with it.

  “Commander Er’ulrath, sir.” butler said loudly, as he opened the door leading into the room, on the far end of the hallway.

  “Thank you Feldar.” Xavnier waved his hand towards the commander, pointing to the chair next to his “Come in Saekul. Join us.”

  Halfling wasn’t alone. On the leather sofa opposite to him, sat the mining commissioner from Gollvin. Wide table in between them, was filled with piles of paper and various scrolls, which two of them, obviously, already combed through.

  “You know mister Mykhil?” Xavnier asked.

  “We’ve met.” Saekul answered, shooking commissioner’s hand.

  “My regards.” Ors said.

  “Are we waiting for someone else?” Saekul asked as he sat down.

  “All present.” Xavnier smiled.

  “What did you need of me, sir?” Saekul asked.

  “Before we begin, would you be kind and verify the authenticity of these documents?” Xavnier handed out a couple of pieces of yellowed paper.

  “These are requisitions for reinforcements and allocations of additional units.” Saekul said, after he glanced over them.

  “Signed by you?” Ors asked.

  “Yes.” commander Er’ulrath nodded “Why?”

  “All of the requests were rejected.” Xavnier proceed “Who made such a decisions?”

  “Councilor Panmorn.” Saekul retorted “Why?”

  “Anyone else?” Mykhil added.

  “What is the point of this?” commander Er’ulrath said “The documents are authentic.”

  “Answer the question, please.” Mykhil said.

  “You first.” Saekul tossed the documents on the table “What is the meaning of this? What are your intentions?”

  “We’ll explain everything in a minute, I promise.” Xavnier said, as he carefully put the papers back inside the leather binding “But please tell, if you know, was anyone else involved in the decision making?”

  “Yes.” Saekul answered after a brief pause “Councilors Setl and Hven.”

  “Who are they?” Mykhil asked.

  “Administers of mining and safety guilds.” Xavnier said nervously.

  “Cause for concerns?” Mykhil asked.

  “You could say that.” Xavnier nodded “Those are well organized guilds, with many loyal members.”

  “So?” Mykhil asked “That shouldn’t affect the way in which we are to proceed.”

  “I guess not.” Xavnier said “But, their involvement will undoubtedly make our task much, much harder.”

  “Perhaps the commander could give us the advice or two, in regards to those two guilds?” Mykhil suggested.

  “I might.” Saekul said “Or I could get up and leave, forgetting I even came here.”

  “Hold on a second.” Xavnier almost jumped out of his seat “I admit, we invited you, commander, expecting your unconditional cooperation and help. But please have a bit more patience, before deciding whether or not you are willing to join our cause.”

  “Councilor Gloir showed a great deal of trust by inviting you.” Mykhil added “That should count for something.”

  “You could try to justify that trust, in revealing said cause.” Saekul said, somewhat irritated.

  “Alright.” Xavnier nodded “We are trying to get rid of elements, that should’ve been dealt with, a long time ago.”

  “Elements you say.” Saekul scratched his chin “What kind of elements?”

  “Criminal, corrupted and such.” Xavnier answered.

  “You can’t be serious?” Saekul hardly refrain from laughing.

  “Dead serious.” Mykhil said “And these documents can prove that.”

  “What’s on them?” Saekul asked.

  “Hundreds of suspiciously irregular agreements and business transactions.” Xavnier retorted “Implicating those councilors, who denied your requests, as the ones who are heavily involved with said criminal activities.”

  “You are serious.” elf came to realization, the councilors truly mean it.

  “But of course.” halfling let a smile.

  “These are serious accusations.” Saekul said “If they turn out to be false, you’ll find yourselves in a heap of unwanted trouble.”

  “And thus master Gloir send for you.” Mykhil said “We need your help.”

  “Show them to me.” elf said after a while.

  “Well, let’s see.” Xavnier pointed at the pile of papers sitting on the table, to the right of him “These are the official, public, business documents, contracts and transactions, I’ve collected in the city archives.”

  “And what about those?” Saekul asked, glancing over the similar pile of papers, to the left of councilor.

  “Just the same.” Xavnier said “Except, these documents are from councilors Panmorn and Fletcher private records.”

  “Same, but not identical.” Saekul said.

  “Precisely.” Xavnier nodded.

  “May I see a few?” Saekul asked.

  “Certainly.” councilor Gloir hastily set aside several contracts.

  “This is quite worrying.” Saekul said, after a couple of minutes.

  “Councilors abused their power and influence.” Xavnier said.

  “That’s the understatement, if nothing else.” Saekul said “They blatantly played with people lives, with their livelihood.”

  “Tell me about it.” Mykhil let a growling noise.

  “Some of these contracts are in regards to Gollvin?” Saekul asked.

  “Almost third of them.” Xavnier answered.

  “How did you even managed to acquire them?” Saekul asked.

  “Art was not the only thing I collected all of these years.” Xavnier smiled “And I must admit, my intentions weren’t as noble then. Far from it.”

  “And what about now?” Saekul was quickly to ask.

  “Now, I have a unique opportunity to redeem myself.” Xavnier was honest, and quite pleased with himself becau
se of that “Opportunity to lead this city into a better tomorrow.”

  Halfling’s intentions seemed genuine and truthful to Saekul, but still he couldn’t decide whether to believe him or not. Because elf immediately realized what would transpire as a result of their doings. Coincidentally or not, Xavnier would deal with his direct opponents in the election for the leading guild of Vallsynk, at the same time. A thought, which Saekul decided to keep to himself.

  “And what are your motives?” elf asked Ors Mykhil instead.

  “I am trying to save my people. My town.” Gollvin’s mining commissioner answered.

  “In that case, let me give you advice for the future reference.” Saekul smiled “Next time begin the conversation with that. It will be an honor to help you.”

  “Excellent!” Xavnier exclaimed “What do you need?”

  “Could you send for lieutenant B’sac?” Saekul asked “His experience in criminal investigations might prove to be quite useful.”

  CHAPTER 26

  “Mister Baanar, sir?” intense shake startled shaman from his mediation “Sir, are you alright?”

  “Do I look like a sir to you?” Roshnak mumbled, still somewhat dreamy.

  “Are you alright?” scout Waghein Norrg asked again “I barely managed to woke you up.”

  “That’s because I wasn’t sleeping.” shaman smiled “I was meditating.”

  “Forgive me.” Waghein said “I did not know.”

  “No matter. I was due to return anyway.” Roshnak waved his hand “But tell me, what are you doing down here? Shouldn’t you be watching the surface?”

  “I did.” scout retorted “But since you didn’t answer to my signal, I decided to slide down.”

  “Army has arrived?” Roshnak stood up.

  “Yes.” Waghein nodded “The troops are in position.”

  “Let’s not waste any more time, in that case.” Roshnak said “Pass me that fell bag.”

  Waghein silently complied with the request, following shaman some thirty yards away from the camp. Roshnak already lit a couple of torches, illuminating almost half of the cave. Revealing the carvings on the stone floor. That of a several concentric rings, over twenty feet in diameter. They looked almost perfect, despite being drawn by hand. More than a hundred strange looking runes were written in between them. Scout had never seen such a letter, nor he understood their meaning.

  “These are the doors?” Waghein asked, reluctant to come closer.

  “Yes.” Roshnak answered, as he took a fistful of fine, red powder out of the bag.

  With the precise, well measured strokes, shaman filled every circle, while making sure, the space among them remains perfectly clean. A single grain of powder out of its place, could disrupt the functionality of the portal. But Roshnak did this far too many times. He wasn’t going to make any mistakes.

  Just a few minutes later, he was ready to write the runes. First, he poured the powder over the symbol of the Zhinnaeg gates. Then the rune of this one, he made just a couple of days before. After that, only thing left was to mark the four safety runes. Without them, the passage through the interspace would be highly unstable. And deadly.

  “Taemk khal nir.” Roshnak said, as soon as he stepped outside of the perimeter of the largest ring.

  In a blinding flash, all of the powder simultaneously burned, leaving behind a pronounced contours of the magical portal. Seconds later, marked rings and runes lit in the bright white color. Low buzzing noise filled the cave, as the ground around them begin to vibrate. At the same time, the ring changed its appearance. The stone floor completely vanished. Instead of it, Waghein saw quite strange, dark and sinister looking, smooth, almost glass-like surface.

  “Are the doors opened now?” scout whispered, afraid to move a muscle.

  “Doors, yes.” Roshnak retorted, looking at the ground “But the passage still isn’t.”

  “What seems to be the problem?” Waghein was confused.

  “It’s up to Uggut now.” Roshnak said “I hope he remembers what to do.”

  At the same time, several hundred miles to the east, one of the symbols carved into the ground of Zhinnaeg’s battle arena, suddenly shone a bright light, startling the soldiers gathered around. Grodish’s strict order to guard over these strange doors at all times and immediately report on any change, was confusing even more, seeing they’ve had no idea what to expect. And now that the portal begin showing the signs of life, soldiers dared not to move, afraid it would do them harm. Who knew what inexplicable thing could’ve happen next?

  “For fuck sake, someone go and get Uggut!” one of the orcs standing nearest to the rune begged, after the initial shock had passed.

  And yet, he was still reluctant to move. Something which could not be said for the rest of the guards. They fled from the arena in a manner which resembled more to that of a goblin kin, than the orcish one. They couldn’t stand being around the magic. The mere existence of it was unbeknown, hence deemed contrary to all of their orcish naturalistic believes.

  “Don’t you leave me here!” guard yelled again.

  “You’ll be fine!” one of the orcs peeked from the tunnel “Gunt will be back before you know it.”

  “And what am I supposed to do in the meantime?” guard asked, still warily watching over the rune.

  “I dunno, keep still.” orc answered, returning into the safety of the tunnel “Gunt is probably already half way to the war chamber.”

  Orc was not wrong by much. But still, it took about another ten minutes, before Gunt reached the central room, deep underneath the mountain. He stormed inside, immediately realizing he forgot to knock onto the door. Gunt turn around, backed out, and proceed to do so. Afterwhich he found himself in even more awkward position, as he realized everyone is staring at him. He dared not to move, and would probably stood there for all of the eternity, if Grodish hadn’t waved him to approach.

  “One…one of the runes lit up.” Gunt gasped.

  “Uggut?!” Grodish jumped from his chair.

  “I’m ready.” sorcerer retorted, grabbing the leather bag, Roshnak had left, just before his departure.

  “Shall I rally our troops?” Ghnot asked, hastily finishing his meal.

  “Lead them straight into the arena.” Grodish answered “We are leaving as soon as Uggut opens the door.”

  “If he manages to open them.” Ghnot grinned.

  “Of course I’ll manage!” Uggut hastily answered, storming out of the chamber.

  “Don’t forget to bring a lot of torches.” Grodish said, as he went after Uggut.

  “We won’t.” Ghnot nodded “I’ll make sure everyone has one.”

  Half-orc barely managed to catch up to the sorcerer. And now that he did, he struggled to keep up with him. The pressure of the task, Roshnak bestowed before Uggut must’ve been unbearable. How else could Grodish explain this newly discovered, almost youthful zest, he saw in sorcerer. The speed and easiness in which Uggut was moving, resembled to that of an young orc. It wasn’t long, before they arrived at the battle arena.

  “Move your lazy ass!” Uggut yelled at the guard, still sitting beside the rune.

  “But…but is it safe?” soldier retorted, reluctant to do so.

  “Now!” Uggut pushed the guard away.

  Realizing he wasn’t actually in a harms way, soldier jumped on his feet, eager to join his brethren, gathered at the far end of the arena. Uggut wasted no more time, beginning the preparations necessary for the opening of the portal. Presuming he would be able to open the portal. What if Ghnot was right? What if he fails to do so? What if Roshnak’s trust in him was misplaced?

  Shaman showed him the process far few many times than it was necessary, making sure that Uggut would remember every little detail. But now, as the sorcerer found himself without the supervision from Roshnak, the fear of making a mistake suddenly made this whole ordeal significantly harder. His hand wouldn’t stop shaking. His first few moves were awkward at best. But still, he begin spri
nkling the red powder into the portal rings.

  First the largest, outer one. And then the rest, moving slowly towards the middle. Afterwhich, it was the turn to mark the symbols. The entrance, the exit and those of the four safety seals. Uggut followed Roshnak’s directives to the letter, repeating them to himself as he moved around. It took him over twenty minutes to complete the procedure. And when he finally raised his eyes from the ground, he realised that the entire army from Khoill, led by his brother, was standing silent, behind him.

  “Are you done?” Ghnot grinned.

  “I hope so.” Uggut whispered.

  “And what now?” Ghnot asked.

  “Now.” Uggut glanced towards the portal “Now we’ll see if you were correct.”

  CHAPTER 27

  The councilors of every Vallsynk guild, gathered in the main meeting hall, of the town palace. Everyone, except Huarg Setl and Almest Hven. For what ever reason, they were late. And to the growing annoyance of every other councilor, they shouldn’t have been. Like all of them, Setl and Hven received the invitations. They knew the session was scheduled for the noontime. And now, some half an hour later, everyone was still waiting on them. Murmur and slight disturbance was becoming ever so louder, as more and more councilors came to the concensus, that two missing ones are not only disrespecting them, but this entire proceedings and the institution as a whole. They were disrespecting the entire city.

  Sudden, loud knocking on the main hall doors, interrupted the conversations, as everyone turned towards the sound. But instead of two councilors from miners and security guilds, they saw the commander of Vallsynk armies, Saekul Er’ulrath, entering the room. Clothed in the ceremonial uniform, elf seemed rather formal. He was carrying a black, leather file in one, and sealed paper scroll in other hand. In only a couple of strong strides, he approached the head of the table, stopping right in between Teer Scejvor and Xavnier Gloir.

  “I hope you have a very good explanation for barging in, uninvited!” Scejvor said loudly.

  “Forgive me.” Saekul bowed “But this matter is of utmost importance.”