Six dwarves arrived at the table, three with trays and three with serving utensils. Breakfast consisted of eggs cooked with pieces of spiced lamb, herbs, and cheese, thick slices of toasted bread, and fruit from the tropical lands south of the mountains. To wash down their food, a chilled sweet citrus juice was served.
“Please send my compliments to your chef,” Farrell said before refilling his plate for the third time.
“Where does he put it?” Thrinton asked Miceral. “I think he ate almost as much as he weighs.”
“Magic is more draining than most activities because it draws energy from your entire body.” Farrell piled some eggs on his toast and took another bite.
“My chef is a happy dwarf. Rarely do guests show their appreciation by eating so well.”
When Farrell finished, Thrinton had the staff clear the table. He stood up and walked over to the balcony. “Chosen, you mentioned something about following in Kel’s footsteps. What did you mean?”
“I’m sure your clerics have told you Neldin has revived His war with the Six.”
“Rumors of a war on Ardus that is of concern to the temples have been reported to me. But I’ve not heard the gods are in open conflict again.”
“Meglar’s attempt to capture the Seven Kingdoms has implications well beyond Ardus, I fear,” Farrell said. “The Six and Neldin will fight Their war through Their Champions. Meglar is Neldin’s Champion, and I am the Champion of the Six.”
“And that has what to do with your visit?”
“That is a long story.”
Thrinton raised an eyebrow and smiled. “Shall I tell the cook to start lunch?”
“Maybe not that long a story.”
Farrell skimmed over the background to his quest, beginning with the fall of Yar-del. He spent most of his time talking about the events following Khron’s visit to him at Trellham. Thrinton asked questions at points but mostly kept silent while Farrell spoke. Farrell chose his words carefully to avoid any reference to his lineage.
“After my discussion with Kel, my journey brought us to Colograd to find the Mind of Falcron.” When he finished, Farrell sat back and emptied his cup.
Thrinton stood up, walked to the edge again, and drummed his fingers on the balcony. “Neldin’s selection of a new servant is troubling but not unexpected. No one believed He was vanquished forever after Trellham. If what you tell me is true, the gods knew this and began to prepare for His return almost as soon as the Gates of Neblor slammed shut.”
“Agreed.” Farrell refilled his glass. He offered some to Miceral, who held up his cup. “Only it didn’t work as well as They hoped. Kel’s source is the basis of Meglar’s power.”
“Perhaps, but the ways of the Six are often beyond our ken to understand.” Thrinton slowly walked away from the balcony. “Tell me more about your quest for the Gifts.”
“Kel left the Eye of Honorus and the Arm of Khron for me in Dumbarten. The Hand and the Heart were collected in Agloth. I’m now searching for the last three.”
“This onus to collect all seven Gifts? It comes from Kel and not the Six?”
“Kel was the messenger, but the task comes from the Six.”
Thrinton raised a dark-brown eyebrow. “What proof do you have that it is the will of the Six?”
“The words passed through Kel from the Six. If I said Honorus appeared to me and told me, would you believe me any more than you believe Kel? You’d still only have one man’s word. But consider this. What else would explain Kel being given the Eye and the Arm? And why else would Seritia give him the Heart in order to wrest the Hand from Krendrew? The Six aided him in his efforts to collect the four Gifts he found. Then there is the room in Agloth that Seritia carved out for Kel to hide the Heart and Hand. If not with the blessing of the Six, how else could these be achieved?”
Thrinton nodded slowly. “A logical argument. Kel’s success does seem to be aided by the Six. I would like some time to reflect on your words. You clearly left out much I would like to know. But I am not able to help you find the Mind of Falcron.”
“Cannot or will not?” Farrell asked.
“Cannot,” the king answered. “I cannot give you what Colograd does not possess.”
“My apologies, Your Highness, but the Mind of Falcron is in Colograd.” Farrell reached into his pocket and removed the Eye of Honorus. “The Eye showed me that it is here.”
Thrinton inched closer and started to raise his hand toward the gem. Farrell kept still but extended his shields slightly. The king quickly lowered his hand and moved back.
“Amazing. That is something created by a god.”
Thrinton paused. Farrell allowed the silence to continue, hoping the king would work out his concerns.
“I need time to think on this. Assuming you are correct and the Mind of Falcron is in Colograd, I must consider the needs of my people before I hand over something as valuable as a Gift of the Gods.”
“Before today you didn’t know it was here. Now that Farrell has come looking for it, you think it has value to your people?” Miceral barely controlled his annoyance.
Thrinton’s hands flexed at his sides, and his eyes narrowed. “I know it is here now, and I will act accordingly.”
“With due respect, Your Majesty—” Farrell wanted to diffuse the tension between the two.
“In my experience, when a dwarf begins a sentence like that, it usually comes to blows.” Thrinton’s good mood had disappeared entirely. “Do not mistake my hospitality for weakness.”
“I assure you I do not, Your Majesty,” Farrell said. “But I want to point out that hidden, the Mind has no value to you or Colograd. Since only I can find it, the Mind will never have any value to your dwarves. Either you will allow me to take it and use it on behalf of the Six, or it will remain concealed until such time as Falcron decides otherwise.”
“You could just take it and be done,” Miceral said.
“That would make me as bad as the early human wizards.”
“Your point is well made, Chosen, but if it remains in Colograd, we may yet find it.” Thrinton held up his hand to stop any response. “I will not make a decision this instant. The prudent thing is to seek guidance from my advisors before acting.”
Farrell nodded. “A reasonable decision, Your Majesty. But as you understand, I do not have time to waste. Can we meet again tomorrow to discuss this further?”
Before Thrinton could answer, a guard walked onto the balcony, came to a stop just past the doorway, and waited.
“Excuse me a moment.” The king walked to his guard, and they spoke quietly.
“Why are you agreeing to wait?” Miceral asked.
“Because I’m confident that if Thrinton decides to withhold it from me, Falcron or Khron will appear on my behalf.” The Six would make sure he left with the Mind. They wanted him to collect the Gifts, no matter what Thrinton or his advisors decided.
“Chosen, my apologies for the interruption,” Thrinton said when he returned. “I appreciate your willingness to give me time and will respect your need to resolve this quickly. We can meet tomorrow, and I will have an answer. But for now, I must take my leave. Another matter has arisen that requires my attention. I’ll make certain you have a guide to show you around our city.”
“Is there something we can help you with?” Farrell asked.
“It’s nothing like that.” Despite his words, the king appeared anxious. “There is no threat to Colograd, just an internal issue that requires my attention. Until tomorrow.”
Thrinton bowed politely but did not wait for a response before he walked off with the guard.
Chapter Sixteen
“That was unusual,” Miceral said.
Farrell nodded. “Let’s get back to our room.” He stood and motioned for the guard.
“In a rush?” Miceral asked.
“I want to see what caused Thrinton to leave so abruptly.”
“How are you going to do that?” Miceral asked. “Can’t they tell i
f you use magic?”
“I am going to use the Eye of Honorus to see what happened.”
On the way back to their room, Farrell filled Nerti in on the morning’s events.
“Thrinton has no choice. If he refuses to let you take the Mind, he risks Khron’s wraith.”
“Khron? Why not Falcron?”
“Because if the dwarves refuse to turn over the Gift Falcron trusted to His Brother’s followers for safekeeping, Khron will be embarrassed before His Siblings. That will evoke a terrible outburst from Khron on Colograd and its people.”
“I will defer to you on this issue,” Farrell said, slightly amused. “Your knowledge of the gods far exceeds mine.”
“Indeed it does, Little One. Try and remember that.” Farrell almost missed the humor in her tone, or else he might have been offended.
As soon as their escort left and the door closed, Farrell had the Eye out of his pocket and was floating in front of a chair.
“I know you hate sharing minds, but if you want to see what is happening, I’ll open my mind so you can join me,” Farrell said before he asked the Eye to show him what he wanted to see.
Miceral did not answer right away. “Klissmor says I ought to do this more often with you, just in case there’s an emergency and we need to link our minds. He said it would be best if you and I practiced this more often.”
“Though I agree with Klissmor, I won’t press you. The offer is there if you wish. If not, I can show you what I learn later.”
“About that,” Miceral said. “Are you sure you should use the Eye to spy on Thrinton?”
Farrell considered his partner’s words and lowered one foot, then the next, before he put the blue gem back in his pocket. “You’re right. Much as I want to know what’s going on, it’s not a proper use for the Eye to snoop on Thrinton. Thanks for watching out for me.” He kissed Miceral’s cheek.
Miceral grabbed him before he could get past and pulled him back. “Always.”
He kissed Farrell again, but they were interrupted by a loud knock on their door.
“Maybe you’re going to find out what’s happening sooner than you expected,” Miceral said.
Farrell tried to stop him from answering the door but ended up being carried along by the much stronger Muchari. When they reached the door, he held Farrell almost overhead with one hand and used the other to turn the handle.
“Hello, Miceral,” the dwarf standing in the door said.
“Father Aswick?” Miceral put Farrell on the ground.
“Good morning to you, too, Farrell,” Aswick said. “Did I interrupt you during some new training?”
The smile on the dwarf’s face made it clear he did not believe they were training. Farrell blushed from the comment and hastily said, “No. You didn’t interrupt anything important.” He stepped back and motioned for the elderly priest to come inside. “What brings you all the way to Colograd? More to the point, how did you get here?”
“The answer to your first question is, you are the reason I’m here.”
“Me?” Farrell stopped moving. “I didn’t request your presence.”
“More correctly, both of you coming to Colograd brought me here.” Aswick sat in an oversized chair made for a human and not a dwarf. He held up his hand just as Farrell opened his mouth to speak. “Allow an old dwarf to answer the questions you have put to me first before you ask more.
“I arrived by means of an ancient Door that links Fracturn and Colograd. All three realms are linked in this manner.” He let that sink in before he continued. “While you didn’t ask me to come to Lourdria, your presence in Colograd has not gone unnoticed by my Master and His Siblings. I’ve come because your arrival here has set in motion things only the Six understand. All I know is they have implications for all dwarves, not just Colograd.”
“Do you have a message for me, or are you waiting for something to happen?” Farrell asked.
“An interesting question.” The elderly priest smiled. “You are indeed at the center of things, but it is not I who has a message for you.”
“Cryptic messages?” Miceral joked. “Have you been speaking to Kel?”
“Cryptic? I don’t mean to be evasive. Right now Thrinton is meeting with King Drendar of Fracturn. Not only that, but Father Lamenar, the high priest of Khron in Fracturn, is talking to Father Wasquar of Colograd. Not since Trellham fell has there been such a gathering.”
“Are they discussing Miceral and me?” Farrell asked.
Aswick nodded. “Mostly you, yes. Lamenar and Wasquar are probably more focused on me at the moment, but that is another tale.”
Miceral laughed when the dwarf stopped speaking. “You can’t allude to a problem and not let us know what’s going on, Father.”
“Perhaps and perhaps not. I’m an old dwarf, so allowances are made.” He flashed his white teeth and winked at them. “But since I’m the catalyst for much of the turmoil, I’ll let you know what’s happening so you know what to expect when I take you to the gathering.
“Khron told me to go to Fracturn and collect Lamenar and Drendar and bring them to Colograd. The Holy Father told me you were both here, and it was time for events to move toward the liberation of Trellham’s survivors. Father Lamenar and the king were not well disposed to traveling here, especially on just my say-so.”
Miceral grinned. “Let me guess. A certain well-armed avatar appeared and explained to them the need for them to accompany you.”
Aswick nodded. “More or less that is correct. But Khron also upset the order of thinking for Father Lamenar.”
“How so?” Miceral asked.
“Lamenar has long felt he, as high priest of Fracturn, is the head of Khron’s priesthood. Trellham was the first of our kingdoms, and as such, the high priest of Trellham held that position. When Trellham fell, Fracturn’s prelate felt the mantle fell to him. Confined to the temple as my predecessors and I were, we were in no position to challenge that belief.
“Khron made clear, however, that Trellham would be restored to its prior glory and position in the dwarf world, and it would begin with my being the first among the three. Lamenar was not happy. Neither was Drendar.”
“Why was King Drendar upset?” Miceral asked.
“Because Khron informed him this applied to the new kings of Trellham as well. The new kings of Trellham would also possess the title “High Kings of the Dwarves,” Aswick said calmly. “Mind you, for much of our history, it mattered little who was first among Khron’s servants. Unless we were all called together, each kingdom ruled itself.”
“But with Meglar on the move, it’s likely to have more importance in the near future,” Farrell said absently.
“Precisely.” Aswick nodded. “Making it worse, Khron let Fracturn believe it had assumed the position from Trellham for three millennia. Three quiet, uneventful millennia.”
Now Miceral laughed. “Just as things are getting interesting and there is the possibility of a call to arms, Khron tells them the truth.”
“As I said, Khron’s visit was not well received in Fracturn by the ruling elite. So the others meet to discuss all that Khron revealed and how it affects them and their place in the world.” Aswick stood. “Come, we three should join them.”
“I’m surprised they want us there for their discussions.”
“They don’t,” Aswick replied. “But I do. Until there is a new monarch in Trellham, I outrank everyone else.”
Upon arriving at the door, Aswick stayed them both. “A moment, please. I have something for you both to wear to the meeting.”
He opened the door, and nine dwarves walked in carrying various pieces of armor.
“What’s that for?” Miceral asked.
“Khron ordered this be given to you both before the meeting.”
“Khron?” Farrell asked. “Why would He want us, me in particular, to wear armor to this meeting?”
“Because, my dear child, you both must be properly attired when you are announced to
the other kings as the new kings of Trellham and high kings of the dwarves.”
Chapter Seventeen
Farrell stared at Miceral in shock. “High kings of the dwarves?”
“Do the other kings know what Khron intends?” Miceral asked.
Aswick smiled and nodded slowly. “They do.”
“What was their reaction to a Muchari and a human being named kings of Trellham and ultimately high kings?” Miceral’s question suggested he knew the answer.
“Much as you suspect. Horror, disgust, anger, shock, outrage, and more. None of it positive.” Aswick continued to smile, looking more pleased than Farrell wished. “It is, however, difficult to argue with a stern and disapproving thirty-foot avatar telling you this is His will.”
“I decline to be king of Trellham.” Farrell turned away to avoid the shocked-looking dwarves around him.
“You cannot decline,” Aswick called after him. “It is the will of Khron.”
“Yes, I can.” Farrell spun about. “I don’t want to be king, not of the dwarves, not of Yar-del, not of anywhere. Why can’t the Six leave me alone?” Aswick stood in stunned silence. Finally he turned toward Miceral.
“I’m sorry, Father.” Miceral shook his head. “I decline as well.”
“How can this be?” Aswick asked when he found his voice. “Khron was clear—He even used your names. You and Farrell are the new kings of Trellham.”
“No, Father Aswick, I am not.” Farrell’s heart pounded in his chest, making it hard for him to remain calm. “With no disrespect to you or any other dwarf, I do not want to be king of Trellham, and I do not feel compelled to accept it as decided.”
“Do you doubt that I’m repeating Khron’s will?” Aswick’s jovial mood disappeared.
“No, Father. I’m certain you heard correctly.” Farrell chose his words carefully to avoid insulting Aswick and all dwarves. “Perhaps Khron selected us because He expected we wanted the position. Or maybe He had hoped we’d just accept it, but I don’t have time to be king of Trellham.”
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