Radha went further. “It is said that far in the past the Protectorate were allowed to grow in numbers, power and wealth. Slowly the power corrupted and a civil war ensued. In fear, the armies of the world gathered against the survivors of that civil war. Everything that we were was almost lost forever but a few survived and began again.”
“The risk is the religious leaders of the world,” continued Meuric. “Only the head of orders are privy to our actual existence. If they hear that we have gathered in one spot they must assume the worst. By the decree of the old laws they would have every right to gather the armies of the world against us.”
“One thing at a time,” muttered Petros. “First and foremost is the warning to the Council. Next is the gathering of those of us that are still alive⦠if any.” He paused and composed himself. “I ask a favour of you both. If Zuleika is there and well, tell her I think of her constantly and hope to be with her again soon.” He sighed deeply. “The two of you must go now. You know our route. Maybe the Council can find a way to track the others without the use of the Link.”
“You will be two swords down,” commented Meuric.
“In the grand scheme of things two more swords will not make a bit of difference,” responded Petros. “The men we have are than enough to defend Abram but the two of you might make the difference rescuing others of the Protectorate that are still alive.” He looked to the Daw'ra man. “What do you think?”
After a moment's hesitation, “Agreed.”
The Knight Captain smiled. “Good. You were going anyway.”
After saying their goodbyes, Meuric and Radha veered their mounts off to the northeast. They did not look back. As was their way, they focused solely on the mission at hand.
“Do you know where you want to start?” asked Radha after a short distance.
The Daw'ra man nodded. “Is Baldwin still a Knight Protector of Gahp'ryel?” Radha nodded. “Then we go first to locate the Harbinger of Death before we make our way to Wardens Keep.”
As they rode, Meuric wondered about Ladra and his insistence over the years on protecting the boy. He wondered if the supposed Oak Seer and companion to Faeder would agree with their course of action.
LV
From a hilltop in the distance Faeder and Ladra watched the goings of the Rabi'a villagers, now disguised in the garb of simple peasant folk. In silence, they observed the wagon train of the village proper as they made their way to the east and into the Great Wood. The view of the land depressed him. Great swathes of the forest had already been cut away to reveal the grassy plains that lay below them.
To the north, they watched a much smaller party make their way in the direction of Open Folly and towards the safety of the Kel'akh Nation though they had many leagues to cover before getting there. After a short while, they noticed that two of the riders split from Abram's group.
“It is Meuric and Radha,” stated Ladra.
Faeder nodded. “They hope to recruit surviving Knights of the Protectorate and warn those at Wardens Keep.”
An image burst into the deity's mind. It was that of the standing armies of man and the Conclave, accompanied by the New Gods, moving against the might of the Dark Ones. Overhead Junives watched all. He recalled the vision of himself warning that this was the wrong path to take. He shuddered.
“Perhaps I should open another Doorway Narration,” suggested Ladra. “They will not make it to Wardens Keep on time if at all. They certainly will not be able to save any further Knight Protectors.”
Faeder shook his head and made a show of sniffing the air. “Can you not feel it?” Ladra shook his head. “There are markers set around the land to warn of any magick with our signature. Your Doorway Narration into Rabi'a must have alerted Malitia. She must have recognised the magick as belonging to you. Our very presence here and now may very well be compromised. We cannot help them at this time. We should go.”
Ladra stared hard at his companion. “As you say, my Lord King,” he muttered guardedly.
Faeder refused to look directly at the mortal, convinced he would discover the lie if he did so. He could feel Ladra's eyes boring into him, sense his magickal attempt to pierce his barriers and probe his mind to determine the truth. As powerful a mortal as Ladra was, he had of course no chance of doing so. He made a mental note to lay down a narration around this area later in case the mage decided to return at a future stage to
investigate. Junives forgive me, muttered Faeder silently to himself, the Protectorate must not be allowed to unite.
At a word of magick, the chief deity of the New Gods and the mortal with powers similar to his own promptly vanished.
EPILOGUE
“And so here we are now,” continued Meuric. “Three weeks on and we now stand on a forestry hilltop overlooking the border of Gahp'ryel.”
Dervla aimed a smile over Meuric's shoulder. “I like her. She is good for you.”
At some point during his rendition, Radha had woken and entered. The Daw'ra man had been completely oblivious to her so engrossed was he with his storytelling. He had even completely missed that the sun had risen. The spirit stood and turned to leave the way she had come through the forest.
“Wait,” Meuric called after her. “You can see things from the other side. Tell me, Dervla, can I avoid my fate?”
The shade smiled sadly at him. She reached out and lightly touched his cheek. Bright blue energy sparkled at their connection. “I am sorry, my sweet husband, but Fari has already decided your fate.”
Dumbly Meuric nodded. “Then I will make you proud of me at the end, just as much as you and Judoc honoured me.”
Dervla smiled then and turned to leave.
“Wait,” called out Radha. The shade paused and turned. “Meuric told me of the vision of your death. He said how you charged into the ranks of the enemy without pause. Did you see the face of the Dark Druid as you charged?”
Dervla seemed to hesitate before nodding. “I did.”
“Then can you not tell us who the Dark Druid is?” asked the female protector of Kel'akh.
The shade smiled sheepishly. “I do not need to, Radha. Meuric already knows who he is.”
At that, she faded from view.
THE END
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BEGINNINGS: Part Two
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