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Authors: Jonathan Moeller
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hammer. Or, if we tarry too long to defeat Tarrabus, Andomhaim may be too weak to stop the Frostborn.”
“Do you suggest we march north to aid the Anathgrimm?” said Arandar. “I dislike leaving Queen Mara to face the Frostborn alone, but we dare not leave Tarrabus a free hand.”
“No,” said Calliande. “I suggest that it is time that we find allies.”
Silence answered her.
“Letters were sent,” said Prince Cadwall at last, “to both the Three Kingdoms and the Red King of the manetaurs. They helped us against the Frostborn in ancient days, and I thought they would again. Yet their kings refused to send us aid. They will not intervene in a civil war within Andomhaim.”
King Ulakhur growled. “They are faithless to abandon us in the hour of our need.”
“I doubt they see it that way, my lord King,” said Gareth. “The manetaurs and the dwarves of the Three Kingdoms have treaties with the High King of Andomhaim. At the moment, there is no High King of Andomhaim – simply a usurper without lawful claim to the title and a Prince Regent who has not yet been able to take the throne.”
“When your neighbor’s family quarrels among itself,” said Cadwall, “best to stay out of it. Likely that is how the manetaurs and the dwarves see the matter.”
“A shortsighted policy,” rumbled Dux Kors of Durandis, scratching as his tangled gray beard. “If the Frostborn devour us while we war against Tarrabus, they shall turn their wrath against the manetaurs and the dwarves next.”
“It is possible,” said Dux Sebastian of Caertigris, “that the manetaurs have their own troubles and are unable to aid us.”
They all looked at him. A year ago, Calliande knew, that would have intimidated him. Sebastian Aurelius was the youngest of the Duxi. Now he did not flinch from their gaze. A year of war had hardened him.
“What kind of troubles?” said Arandar.
“Before I left to join High King Uthanaric’s summons,” said Sebastian, “we heard reports of strife within the Red King’s court.”
“There are always reports of strife within the Red King’s court,” said Leogrance. “The manetaurs love strife and discord to a degree that humans and even orcs find frankly incomprehensible. It is their natural state.”
“You speak truly, my lord Dux,” said Sebastian, “but I think this is more serious. The Red King Turcontar is growing old, and will soon be killed and replaced by one of the more ambitious Red Princes. Factions have developed around the most powerful of the Red Princes. If it comes to a civil war among the manetaurs, they will be unable to help us.”
“Mmm,” said Kors. “There are similar rumors of strife among the dwarves.”
“Truly?” said Arandar. “I thought the dwarves never warred among themselves.”
“They do not,” said Kors, “but the dvargir have been stirring up trouble for them. Something to do with a dark elven prince or another.”
“There is something you are overlooking, my lords,” said Calliande.
They all looked at her.
“The dwarves and the manetaurs have treaties with the High King,” said Calliande, “but they joined the fight against the Frostborn at the invitation of the Keeper. My predecessors in this office convinced the manetaurs and the dwarves to march alongside the armies of the High King to drive back the Frostborn.” She took a deep breath. “I believe I can convince them to do so once more.”
The lords considered this in silence for a moment.
“How?” said Arandar at last.
“I shall persuade them,” said Calliande, “however I can. The dwarves have their stonescribes, and the manetaurs have their arbiters. Both have recorded the history of their kindreds, and they know the danger the Frostborn represent. They know that if the Frostborn destroy Andomhaim, the Frostborn will come for them next.”
“We need you here,” said Arandar. “Your spells have been invaluable against the Enlightened.”
“I will
“Do you suggest we march north to aid the Anathgrimm?” said Arandar. “I dislike leaving Queen Mara to face the Frostborn alone, but we dare not leave Tarrabus a free hand.”
“No,” said Calliande. “I suggest that it is time that we find allies.”
Silence answered her.
“Letters were sent,” said Prince Cadwall at last, “to both the Three Kingdoms and the Red King of the manetaurs. They helped us against the Frostborn in ancient days, and I thought they would again. Yet their kings refused to send us aid. They will not intervene in a civil war within Andomhaim.”
King Ulakhur growled. “They are faithless to abandon us in the hour of our need.”
“I doubt they see it that way, my lord King,” said Gareth. “The manetaurs and the dwarves of the Three Kingdoms have treaties with the High King of Andomhaim. At the moment, there is no High King of Andomhaim – simply a usurper without lawful claim to the title and a Prince Regent who has not yet been able to take the throne.”
“When your neighbor’s family quarrels among itself,” said Cadwall, “best to stay out of it. Likely that is how the manetaurs and the dwarves see the matter.”
“A shortsighted policy,” rumbled Dux Kors of Durandis, scratching as his tangled gray beard. “If the Frostborn devour us while we war against Tarrabus, they shall turn their wrath against the manetaurs and the dwarves next.”
“It is possible,” said Dux Sebastian of Caertigris, “that the manetaurs have their own troubles and are unable to aid us.”
They all looked at him. A year ago, Calliande knew, that would have intimidated him. Sebastian Aurelius was the youngest of the Duxi. Now he did not flinch from their gaze. A year of war had hardened him.
“What kind of troubles?” said Arandar.
“Before I left to join High King Uthanaric’s summons,” said Sebastian, “we heard reports of strife within the Red King’s court.”
“There are always reports of strife within the Red King’s court,” said Leogrance. “The manetaurs love strife and discord to a degree that humans and even orcs find frankly incomprehensible. It is their natural state.”
“You speak truly, my lord Dux,” said Sebastian, “but I think this is more serious. The Red King Turcontar is growing old, and will soon be killed and replaced by one of the more ambitious Red Princes. Factions have developed around the most powerful of the Red Princes. If it comes to a civil war among the manetaurs, they will be unable to help us.”
“Mmm,” said Kors. “There are similar rumors of strife among the dwarves.”
“Truly?” said Arandar. “I thought the dwarves never warred among themselves.”
“They do not,” said Kors, “but the dvargir have been stirring up trouble for them. Something to do with a dark elven prince or another.”
“There is something you are overlooking, my lords,” said Calliande.
They all looked at her.
“The dwarves and the manetaurs have treaties with the High King,” said Calliande, “but they joined the fight against the Frostborn at the invitation of the Keeper. My predecessors in this office convinced the manetaurs and the dwarves to march alongside the armies of the High King to drive back the Frostborn.” She took a deep breath. “I believe I can convince them to do so once more.”
The lords considered this in silence for a moment.
“How?” said Arandar at last.
“I shall persuade them,” said Calliande, “however I can. The dwarves have their stonescribes, and the manetaurs have their arbiters. Both have recorded the history of their kindreds, and they know the danger the Frostborn represent. They know that if the Frostborn destroy Andomhaim, the Frostborn will come for them next.”
“We need you here,” said Arandar. “Your spells have been invaluable against the Enlightened.”
“I will
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