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confidence he could muster, Morigar stood before the council and
talked about their old enemies, the Bloodhand Orc Tribe, and how it was
important that they not be given the opportunity to encroach into their lands
yet again.  He mentioned how the Kale Gen had graciously volunteered to provide
much of the combat troops, but that the Krall gen must not turn a blind eye to
this threat.  “As such,” Morigar concluded, “I will lead a group on this
dangerous task and I ask to take a contingent from the ranks of this gen with
me.”
    The
council was much less enthusiastic when Morigar spoke.  Perhaps it was the fact
that he was not immediately in line for the throne, or perhaps it was their
history together.  Durik wasn’t sure.  Whatever it was, when Morigar also asked
for a healer to be sent with his group he was met with cautious, but open,
rejection from each council member who had one.  Turning to his father for
support, Morigar received only a blank stare.  It was obvious to him that he
had no support there.  As such, Morigar began to bargain, not ask.  As the
council members sensed Lord Krall’s lack of support they were like wolves
attacking a wounded buck until, finally, Lord Krall interceded.
    “Morigar…”
he started then waited for the voices to die down.  “Morigar shall take the two
veteran scouts, Gormanor and Lemmekor of the Border Guard, and Krebbekar from
my house guard shall be his second.  Three shall be sufficient to accompany you
on this mission.”  Krebbekar, the leader of his house guard, hearing his name
called, choked on the contents of his mug and spat liquid all over those around
him.  With a very surprised look he began to pay more attention to what Lord
Krall was saying.
    It
was obvious to all present that the real intent Lord Krall had in naming those
three was that they would accomplish the mission and bring his son back to him,
no matter what his son’s actions were.  At the end of Morigar’s turn he sat
down, trying to keep some of his composure after such a railing.  It was
equally obvious by the look on Morigar’s face that he had not fully realized
before this point exactly how little credibility he had left with the other
leaders of the Krall Gen.
    Durik
looked on with an ache in his heart for the younger son of Lord Krall.  He did
not know what Morigar had done… or not done, to break the trust of the leadership
of his gen, but whatever it was, it was obvious to Durik that Morigar had not
realized before now how heavy the price would be. 
    Durik
was not the greatest judge of character, but to him Morigar had the look of
someone that had spent his credibility on frivolous things.  And now, after
stepping forward to take a place he thought rightfully his, he seemed shocked
to find his credibility gone, and the trust of all withdrawn.
    The
rest of the feast passed mostly uneventfully.  It was not long after the speeches
that Lord Krall, seeing most of Durik’s company slumping in their seats, still
hung over from the extreme effort of the day before, spared them any further
pain and stood up to leave the hall.  Everyone else got the cue and stood
shortly after him as he addressed the group.  “Again, Durik’s Company and my
old friend Khazak Mail Fist, welcome to our gen.  Please feel free to use the
resources of our gen.  May your quest be successful.”
    With
that, Lord Krall turned and walked through the door in the rear of the great
hall and was gone.  Not long after, almost the entire company was back in the
quarters and most were sound asleep.  The worries of the past few days set
aside for a time with the hope of a new day ahead of them and the security of a
community of warriors to rely on.

 
Chapter 6 – Dreams in the Night
     
    K iria knocked lightly on the inner
door of her aunt’s residence.  The guards, knowing her well from her many
visits to their gen over the years, had let her through without more than a
‘good evening, Kiria.’