continued. “And without Wrothgaar, the Northmen would not be so… shall we say… civilized.”
Wrothgaar broke out into laughter. “My father keeps them in line,” he said. “We can’t forget his leadership.”
“I am thankful for his leadership,” Eamon replied. “And his friendship. From what I hear, the lands to the north of Gallot have been built up quite well. Three villages so far?”
“Yes,” Wrothgaar replied, stuffing bread into his mouth. “Full stonework and fortifications, thanks to the help of the Druaga and the priests of Tel Drakkar.”
“Ah, yes,” Eamon added. “Speaking of which, Dael tells me that Khalid has embarked on an important quest alongside the Dragon. We should all wish them well on their journey.”
“Where did they go?” Angen asked.
“Khalid simply said, ‘into oblivion,’ according to Dael. I am not quite sure what he meant, but we all know the Dragon.”
“And if I know Khalid,” Azim said. “It probably involves stealing something... or someone.”
“You may be right,” Eamon replied, laughing.
“I have no time for thieves,” Ferrin joked, winking at Azim.
The knights chuckled, knowing full well that Ferrin was, and had been for some time, the Grandmaster of the Thieves’ Guild. Though, of late, the need for their skills had waned, the guild still operated in the trade business. Their skills at negotiation and spotting a scam were unmatched. Besides, their training was conducive to the development of the woodland warriors, most notably the Rangers.
“Your Majesty,” a voice said from outside the door.
Eamon motioned for the young messenger to enter. “What is it?” he asked.
“Lord Maedoc has arrived, Sire.”
“Ah!” Eamon exclaimed, standing. “Show him in.”
Before the messenger could turn to leave, Maedoc entered. He was dressed in his usual blue robes, his hair tied back in a gray tail, and his beard wild and unkempt.
“Maedoc!” Eamon greeted him. “It’s good to see you. You don’t visit often enough. Please join us.”
Maedoc smiled, sliding a chair next to the king.
“I have come to deliver news of the mainland,” Maedoc said, grabbing a plate and clearing his throat as a servant served him food. “I have spotted what appears to be some kind of blockade in the shipping lanes between Eirenoch and Cereta. A line of Jindala ships is heading this way.”
Eamon nodded, finishing his mouthful of food. “Do they appear to be assembled for an attack?”
Maedoc shook his head. “Not likely,” he replied. “They are ill-equipped for a land assault. I would say they are merely preventing us from launching our own attack on the mainland.”
“Once our ships are prepared to sail,” Angen interrupted. “They’ll mow through them like a shark through guppies.”
“That’s what I fear,” Maedoc said. “The Jindala know that we are allied with the pirates and the Radja. Why they would assemble a simple blockade is beyond me.”
Brianna cleared her throat. “It’s a ruse, likely,” she said. “Something to distract us while The Lifegiver sends something here under our noses.”
Ferrin nodded. “It’s a good tactic,” he said. “And a familiar one. The Lifegiver sent the Enkhatar around the south end of the island while we were all focused on the Prophet’s arrival here in Faerbane.”
“What else is there to send?” Daryth asked. “We’ve already stood against the Enkhatar, and Jodocus destroyed the Devourer.”
“The Lifegiver now has the Sword of Sulemain,” Azim reminded them. “So there will be another beast to deal with.”
“Yes, yes…” Maedoc said. “Sulemain will lead the Enkhatar. But I doubt he will come here. The Enkhatar will be needed in other places. The majority of nations have rebelled and are building their forces to attack. Even now, Cereta rallies its people to line the borders. The Jindala have been expelled from Anwar.”
“How did that happen?” Eamon asked.
“Another
Wrothgaar broke out into laughter. “My father keeps them in line,” he said. “We can’t forget his leadership.”
“I am thankful for his leadership,” Eamon replied. “And his friendship. From what I hear, the lands to the north of Gallot have been built up quite well. Three villages so far?”
“Yes,” Wrothgaar replied, stuffing bread into his mouth. “Full stonework and fortifications, thanks to the help of the Druaga and the priests of Tel Drakkar.”
“Ah, yes,” Eamon added. “Speaking of which, Dael tells me that Khalid has embarked on an important quest alongside the Dragon. We should all wish them well on their journey.”
“Where did they go?” Angen asked.
“Khalid simply said, ‘into oblivion,’ according to Dael. I am not quite sure what he meant, but we all know the Dragon.”
“And if I know Khalid,” Azim said. “It probably involves stealing something... or someone.”
“You may be right,” Eamon replied, laughing.
“I have no time for thieves,” Ferrin joked, winking at Azim.
The knights chuckled, knowing full well that Ferrin was, and had been for some time, the Grandmaster of the Thieves’ Guild. Though, of late, the need for their skills had waned, the guild still operated in the trade business. Their skills at negotiation and spotting a scam were unmatched. Besides, their training was conducive to the development of the woodland warriors, most notably the Rangers.
“Your Majesty,” a voice said from outside the door.
Eamon motioned for the young messenger to enter. “What is it?” he asked.
“Lord Maedoc has arrived, Sire.”
“Ah!” Eamon exclaimed, standing. “Show him in.”
Before the messenger could turn to leave, Maedoc entered. He was dressed in his usual blue robes, his hair tied back in a gray tail, and his beard wild and unkempt.
“Maedoc!” Eamon greeted him. “It’s good to see you. You don’t visit often enough. Please join us.”
Maedoc smiled, sliding a chair next to the king.
“I have come to deliver news of the mainland,” Maedoc said, grabbing a plate and clearing his throat as a servant served him food. “I have spotted what appears to be some kind of blockade in the shipping lanes between Eirenoch and Cereta. A line of Jindala ships is heading this way.”
Eamon nodded, finishing his mouthful of food. “Do they appear to be assembled for an attack?”
Maedoc shook his head. “Not likely,” he replied. “They are ill-equipped for a land assault. I would say they are merely preventing us from launching our own attack on the mainland.”
“Once our ships are prepared to sail,” Angen interrupted. “They’ll mow through them like a shark through guppies.”
“That’s what I fear,” Maedoc said. “The Jindala know that we are allied with the pirates and the Radja. Why they would assemble a simple blockade is beyond me.”
Brianna cleared her throat. “It’s a ruse, likely,” she said. “Something to distract us while The Lifegiver sends something here under our noses.”
Ferrin nodded. “It’s a good tactic,” he said. “And a familiar one. The Lifegiver sent the Enkhatar around the south end of the island while we were all focused on the Prophet’s arrival here in Faerbane.”
“What else is there to send?” Daryth asked. “We’ve already stood against the Enkhatar, and Jodocus destroyed the Devourer.”
“The Lifegiver now has the Sword of Sulemain,” Azim reminded them. “So there will be another beast to deal with.”
“Yes, yes…” Maedoc said. “Sulemain will lead the Enkhatar. But I doubt he will come here. The Enkhatar will be needed in other places. The majority of nations have rebelled and are building their forces to attack. Even now, Cereta rallies its people to line the borders. The Jindala have been expelled from Anwar.”
“How did that happen?” Eamon asked.
“Another
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