Epilogue:
And so it was that the city of Tael was reborn. Jarod, long since thought to be dead, was recognized by many of the nobles and little argument was raised when he was crowned the new King, though that may have had more to do with the army of ex-slaves at his command than an actual need to right a wrong.
For his part, Jarod’s first act was the abolishment of slavery in Tael. This pronouncement was met with much grumbling from the nobles of the old regime, but after the first few lost their titles and lands the others quickly came on board. The merchant’s were unhappy about losing such a lucrative source of profit, but they came to see the light when they were allowed to renegotiate their contracts with the state run mine. They were also pleasantly surprised to find the dwarves much more receptive in their dealings with them. Magnus was even willing to renegotiate a variety of contracts with some of the more prominent merchants in the city.
Many of the men who had led the revolt against the city became the king’s new personal guard and the city was soon able to get back to daily life. The new king relayed a message to all of Tael’s trading partners that the city would no longer deal with anyone, individual or city that engaged in the slave trade. After the first few slave ships were seized in the harbour and sent home empty of cargo and profit they got the message.
As far as Logan and his companions went, they spent the first evening catching each other up on the events that had taken place and figuring out the few unknowns that still existed.
Apparently the taking of the main south gate was a success in a large part to the aid of Smash. It was he who had single-handedly tore the locking bar from the main gate and held the guards off while the mine army got into position. According to Jarod, he was the hero of the day. This made the big man blush and Logan couldn’t help but chuckle at the troll’s discomfort. Smash was just happy to see Logan again and nearly crushed him when he hugged the smaller man hello. That greeting had almost become an incident of its own when Lan’thor had thought that Logan was being attacked and Raeth had to restrain him quickly before he tried to disembowel the troll.
To Logan and Jarod’s surprise, it turned out that Rimple’s people were not the city gnomes like they had originally thought. Rather, they were the city’s thieves’ guild. The little man was actually the local guild master. He had gone into the mines to find out what was going on after so many of his guild members had gone missing.
Jarod was not thrilled at the idea of having the thieves’ guild master in his court, but when Raeth went and introduced the new King to Talon the new guild master of the assassin’s guild the poor monarch pretty much gave up. Raeth offered him some solace when she pointed out that it wasn’t such a silly idea for the king to have some friends in low places. Upon reflection, Jarod came to realize that she might just be right. The three men quickly came to terms and though they may not have entirely agreed with the others position, they at least acknowledged the need for the others.
The only real dark spot in Jarod’s new reign came shortly after he took the throne, and it drove Logan to distraction. Soldiers had been clearing the bodies of the dead from in and around the palace and when they cleared the general’s chamber they reported finding only one body, that of the captain of the guard. The bodies of Reese and the general were nowhere to be found. Upon hearing the news, Logan tore the chamber apart looking for any clue to the bodies’ whereabouts. What he had finally found had filled him with a deep sense of dread, a small bolt-hole hidden under a trap door under the carpet beside the bed. Jarod had frowned at this news and soldiers were sent down the hole to investigate. Logan accompanied them. The escape tunnel came out in the cellar of a house two miles from the palace and though the house was searched thoroughly no sign of either of the men was found.
Jarod assured Logan that the soldiers would find the two if there was anything left of them to find. While his companions pointed out that there was no way either of the men could have lived, a dagger driven through the heart of one and the throat of the other pretty much guaranteed it. But then Logan argued, what happened to the bodies? Bodies didn’t just get up and walk away, or did they? The uncertainty did not sit well with Logan.
The Hammer's Fall Page 30
