knack for asking the right questions. Jager had questioned Tarrabus’s motives before Dun Calpurnia, and if they had realized the truth in time, Uthanaric Pendragon and his sons might not have been murdered, and the realm might still be unified.
“I don’t know,” said Ridmark at last. “Tymandain Shadowbearer must have had some reason for it, some goal, some purpose that Imaria now inherited.” He shrugged. “Perhaps the first Shadowbearer and the second are using the Frostborn the way Tymandain Shadowbearer used Mournacht, as a weapon.”
“A heartening thought,” said Jager, “possibly.”
“Why?”
“Well,” said Jager, “Mournacht ended with your axe in his skull.”
Ridmark snorted. “The Frostborn will be a greater challenge.”
“Undoubtedly,” said Jager, “but I confess it bothers me a great deal. We didn’t know why Tarrabus made so many of the decisions that he did…but then the Duxi of Calvus, Arduran, and Tarras went over to his side at Dun Calpurnia, and all was made clear. I would really wish to avoid that moment of horrifying realization again. It isn’t a pleasant sensation at all.”
“I don’t know,” said Ridmark. “Even Call…even the Keeper did not know.” Jager gave him an odd look, but Ridmark kept talking. “Ardrhythain might have known, but he didn’t tell us.”
“Not that the last archmage of the high elves has made himself particularly useful,” said Jager. “Though he did rescue us from Urd Morlemoch, I’ll give him that.”
“The high elves do not like to interfere with other kindreds,” said Ridmark. “They only created the Magistri and the Swordbearers after the Keeper traveled to Cathair Solas to beg their aid.”
“Maybe we should ask them for help,” said Jager.
“Perhaps,” said Ridmark. “Your ideas have merit. We’ll discuss them with Mara and the others tomorrow. Though given how the Prince Consort of Nightmane Forest is rumored to have a silver tongue, perhaps we’ll wind up doing you want anyway.”
“Rubbish,” said Jager, making an expansive gesture. “I don’t tell anyone what to do. I just make reasonable suggestions, and my wife and the Anathgrimm can act upon them as they please. I can hardly be blamed if they listen to me most of the time, can I? No, no.” He drew himself up. “I was but a simple halfling merchant, making my modest way in the world when I found myself swept up in momentous events not of my doing…”
Ridmark barked out a harsh laugh, almost against his will.
“Then it seems likely we shall send emissaries to the dwarves and the manetaurs,” said Ridmark.
“Damned if I know who, though,” said Jager. “Not the Anathgrimm. Zhorlacht might be able to do it, and some of the other wizards, but most of them don’t have a thought in their heads about anything other than fighting.”
“We can worry about it after the decision,” said Ridmark.
“True, true,” said Jager. “A slightly different matter. Did you know that Kharlacht has been seeing a woman?”
The change in topic threw Ridmark so thoroughly that it took him a moment to collect his thoughts.
“One of the Anathgrimm women?” said Ridmark. As far as he knew, the Anathgrimm women would only accept Anathgrimm men as husbands, preferably Anathgrimm warriors who had proven themselves in battle.
“No, they’d likely chop his head off for impudence,” said Jager. “At least, I’d hope they’d start by chopping off his head. Anyway, you remember the Vhaluuskan orcs that fled here after the Frostborn started raiding in Vhaluusk for slaves?” Ridmark nodded. “It seems he’s been seeing quite a lot of the daughter of one of the headmen.”
“He mentioned once he was betrothed before he joined Qazarl,” said Ridmark. “An orcish woman in his village. That was all, though. He never speaks of his past.”
Jager shrugged. “Maybe he decided to think about the future.”
“Maybe,” said Ridmark.
“And
“I don’t know,” said Ridmark at last. “Tymandain Shadowbearer must have had some reason for it, some goal, some purpose that Imaria now inherited.” He shrugged. “Perhaps the first Shadowbearer and the second are using the Frostborn the way Tymandain Shadowbearer used Mournacht, as a weapon.”
“A heartening thought,” said Jager, “possibly.”
“Why?”
“Well,” said Jager, “Mournacht ended with your axe in his skull.”
Ridmark snorted. “The Frostborn will be a greater challenge.”
“Undoubtedly,” said Jager, “but I confess it bothers me a great deal. We didn’t know why Tarrabus made so many of the decisions that he did…but then the Duxi of Calvus, Arduran, and Tarras went over to his side at Dun Calpurnia, and all was made clear. I would really wish to avoid that moment of horrifying realization again. It isn’t a pleasant sensation at all.”
“I don’t know,” said Ridmark. “Even Call…even the Keeper did not know.” Jager gave him an odd look, but Ridmark kept talking. “Ardrhythain might have known, but he didn’t tell us.”
“Not that the last archmage of the high elves has made himself particularly useful,” said Jager. “Though he did rescue us from Urd Morlemoch, I’ll give him that.”
“The high elves do not like to interfere with other kindreds,” said Ridmark. “They only created the Magistri and the Swordbearers after the Keeper traveled to Cathair Solas to beg their aid.”
“Maybe we should ask them for help,” said Jager.
“Perhaps,” said Ridmark. “Your ideas have merit. We’ll discuss them with Mara and the others tomorrow. Though given how the Prince Consort of Nightmane Forest is rumored to have a silver tongue, perhaps we’ll wind up doing you want anyway.”
“Rubbish,” said Jager, making an expansive gesture. “I don’t tell anyone what to do. I just make reasonable suggestions, and my wife and the Anathgrimm can act upon them as they please. I can hardly be blamed if they listen to me most of the time, can I? No, no.” He drew himself up. “I was but a simple halfling merchant, making my modest way in the world when I found myself swept up in momentous events not of my doing…”
Ridmark barked out a harsh laugh, almost against his will.
“Then it seems likely we shall send emissaries to the dwarves and the manetaurs,” said Ridmark.
“Damned if I know who, though,” said Jager. “Not the Anathgrimm. Zhorlacht might be able to do it, and some of the other wizards, but most of them don’t have a thought in their heads about anything other than fighting.”
“We can worry about it after the decision,” said Ridmark.
“True, true,” said Jager. “A slightly different matter. Did you know that Kharlacht has been seeing a woman?”
The change in topic threw Ridmark so thoroughly that it took him a moment to collect his thoughts.
“One of the Anathgrimm women?” said Ridmark. As far as he knew, the Anathgrimm women would only accept Anathgrimm men as husbands, preferably Anathgrimm warriors who had proven themselves in battle.
“No, they’d likely chop his head off for impudence,” said Jager. “At least, I’d hope they’d start by chopping off his head. Anyway, you remember the Vhaluuskan orcs that fled here after the Frostborn started raiding in Vhaluusk for slaves?” Ridmark nodded. “It seems he’s been seeing quite a lot of the daughter of one of the headmen.”
“He mentioned once he was betrothed before he joined Qazarl,” said Ridmark. “An orcish woman in his village. That was all, though. He never speaks of his past.”
Jager shrugged. “Maybe he decided to think about the future.”
“Maybe,” said Ridmark.
“And
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