***
They left their tents standing on the mountainside. It was not yet time to move on. A Hawk had been sent to Dremlock carrying written news of their situation and questions for the High Council, and it would take days before they heard back--which meant days of camping in the gloomy peaks.
Though the evil aura of the mountains was always present, the air smelled fresh and clean. With Prince Vannas claiming his ability to use the White Flamestone had improved, they were feeling optimistic about the future.
It was still difficult for them to accept that all the Knights who had accompanied the Council of Ollanhar were dead. They decided they would hold funerals for the fallen warriors after leaving the mountains.
"As you all know," said Aldreya, "our mission to obtain the Green Flamestone is being postponed until we have word from Dremlock. They may opt to send Knights to replace those who were slain, or they may want us to finish securing Wallrock Fortress being moving on. Considering Prince Vannas keeps gaining more power, they may choose to abandon the quest for the Green Flamestone altogether--though that seems doubtful. We simply won't know until they tell us. I definitely expect someone to come and escort young Taith to Dremlock."
"Regardless," said Prince Vannas, "this excursion into the Soddurn Mountains has been a great victory. We have slain one of Dremlock's mightiest foes, and his fortress with its many resources is now ours for the taking."
Lannon was surprisingly disappointed that they weren't heading off to distant lands immediately. He found himself wanting to see new places and learn new things. What strange wonders--and terrors--existed beyond Silverland on the sprawling continent known as Gallamerth? He hoped he would get a chance to find out before all was said and done.
Jerret sat apart from the others, a gloomy look on his face. He may have been contemplating his future and the loss of his Knighthood--or Galvia's death. No one knew, because Jerret was choosing not to talk.
"I have an announcement to make," said Dallsa. She stood with her hand on Taith's shoulder. "Bekka Nightspear has made a dramatic improvement. Her strength is truly remarkable. Her wounds would surely have killed, or at least driven mad, a lesser warrior. She will always bear scars on her soul from the ordeal, yet I am convinced she will emerge from this stronger than ever."
"That is excellent news," said Aldreya. "I have seen great potential in Bekka, and I am certain she will continue to grow as a Knight."
"What now?" said Lannon. "I think this calls for a celebration."
"Let us raise the Banners of Ollanhar," said Aldreya. "To honor our struggle and those Knights who have perished. Then we will have a feast."
They raised the banners high (flags that depicted a black image of Ollanhar Tower on a green background) and cheered. Jerret, however, refrained from holding one of the banners, looking bitter.
"We are far from defeated," said Aldreya. "Bellis will soon realize that. Tenneth Bard will soon realize that, if he doesn't already. We may be a small island in a raging sea, but we will continue to expand."
"The future shows great promise," said Dallsa, squeezing Taith's shoulder.
Taith gazed up at her questioningly.
Suddenly, Lannon had the urge to be alone, and he left the campsite and leaned against a huge, gnarled pine, a cloaked shadow in the fog who would always walk a path no one else could follow--not even Taith. The boy would have to walk his own strange path as a Dark Watchman, and Lannon ultimately could not help him. The future indeed seemed promising, but the potential for great evil was there as well. Yet the Sacred Laws were Lannon's friend, and as long as he continued to obey them, he knew he had nothing to fear. The Divine Essence had given him what he needed to resist the darkness, and Lannon controlled his own fate.
End.
Knights: Defenders of Ollanhar Page 68