OUTLANDER

 

“You played a heavy card there with the Lord Daka, my friend and now Captain.” Ruthor said as he and Dax sat in the men’s quarters that evening. “I let Ofid go to Bjalm, to see his wife and children. He will return in 4 or 5 mornings, I trust that meets with your approval.”

“Of course it does, how long has it been since he has seen them? That will give us sufficient time to prepare for our journey. I will have passage booked for us on the next ship headed for Roden. I want us to come into Pelia unannounced.”

“You wish an almost surprise encounter then?” Ruthor answers. “Ofid sees them when he can; he has a farmstead there that his family lives on, near the coast across the Strait from Vlandess.” 

“Yes I do in fact. I assume he took West with him, that should make for an interesting visit.” Dax answered with a slight smile on his face.

“I think interesting is an understatement.” Ruthor replies with a chuckle.

                                                          ****

As Ofid mounted his horse to start his ride back to Marden, he had to smile at the scene before him. His son Yestal was on the ground wrestling with West and his wife Abindal stood a few steps away, with Dena in her arms smiling back and forth at Yestal and her husband of several years.   A completely different picture, from his family’s welcome, when they first saw the almost grown wolf with him as he dismounted at arriving three days before. These visits home were far too short and infrequent; he loved his family dearly but knew his service to his Thane was what gave them the gold and silver to prosper.

“You come back to us soon my Husband, and whole, or I will never forgive you.” Abindal said to him with the glint of a tear at the corner of her eye.

“Wife, nothing will ever keep me from returning here, nothing.” Ofid said as he pulled on the horse’s reins to turn and leave.

“You, you great beast, had better protect this hulk of a man you travel with. Come back to us as well.” She replied to West while smiling at her husband and raising her hand in a gesture of goodbye.

                                                           ****

The battered form of Fargyn slumped at the oar he was now chained to. His mind never cleared of his hatred for his cousin, and now that wolf loving outlander who was responsible for him being here. One day he would find a way to escape and repay them both. The thoughts of this were what kept him from breaking and giving in to the despair, or wishing for death.

                                                     ****

“That damned tattooed weakling, why did I trust that traitor to his own family. He could not perform one simple task. Now I have to trust that another traitor will succeed.” Damna the Great was yelling at the top of his lungs as he paced back and forth in front of his opulent purple throne.

“Do you wish me to send a talking bird to Peldar my Agha, I have not heard from him in much time now. It could be he has succeeded where the Lagdian failed?” Pollocan asked in his almost whimpering tone.

“No you fool, what if that old interfering Ceric intercepted one of your creatures instead of Peldar. We cannot risk being found out until I have it. Go from me, if you do not have better advice than that.” Damna screamed at his Maji.

 “As you wish, Great One.”   Pollocan said as he bowed his head and backed away, leaving the hall.

“Calm yourself, my son.” Jamin Jaise begs of her son. “You will prevail.”

“If I do not my mother, I will make those responsible pay dearly.” The Agha of Pelia replied.

                                                          ****

Any voyage through the north end of the Strait of Vlandess could be harrowing. It was the juncture where the Sea of Storms and the Northern Sea mixed; many ships had been lost here over the centuries. This voyage was no exception as Dax, his men and animal companions were not seamen. By the time they were offshore of Wesee, everyone was ready to be back onshore, however there were still many days until they would reach Roden.

Captain Drig had anchored the ship early in the day, which was not what Ruthor and the others had become accustom to over the past weeks.

“Why have we anchored here, almost out of sight of land, Dax?” Ruthor asked his Captain and friend.

“I asked Drig to be sure we entered the port in the dark of night. We have rounded the peninsula and are in the Bay of Roden. He will up anchor so that we will dock at the pier nearest the Nofall River in the middle of the coming night. My hope is that we may disembark and make our way across the bridge of the Nofall without attracting attention. Then we can be into the foothills before dawn.” Dax told him.

“I will tell everyone, then. We can start our preparations while the ship is still sailing into the harbor.” Ruthor answered and then turned to find the other three men.

“Make sure all our provisions are tied down well on that packhorse. Once we are out of the foothills and into The Waste, there will be nothing to hunt for food. I want to avoid any Sand Walkers if possible as well.” Dax added before he was out of earshot.

It was a near moonless night, Captain Drig succeeded in docking at the pier without incident. Dax and his entourage were off the ship and gone, before the harbor watch came down the pier and boarded to see who was foolish enough to come into port at such a late hour.

Making their way through the outskirts of Roden’s streets and across the bridge was not as easy. A few people were about, but seemed little interested in men on horseback, with what they thought were dogs heading out on a hunting trip. The patrol on the bridge, however, did stop them to ask a few questions. Although they were skeptical, it was too late for them to be away from their warming fire too long, and allowed the hunting party to pass. Besides why stop a bunch of fools leaving the city instead of trying to enter, at this late hour.

A full, long day on the trail and they were almost out of the foothills. Now, they dismounted to make a camp, tomorrow they would be in The Waste. None of Dax’s men had ever seen, much less crossed, this vast desert. Once camp was set up, the horses watered and fed grain, it was time to eat a meal themselves.

“Darma, hunt.” Dax said to the wolf, who then turned obligingly and headed into the dark, followed by her pack.

“Why send her off tonight, Dax?” Vlad asked.

“This will be the last night for them to roam and kill, for fresh warm meat. By tomorrow we will be too far into the waste for that.” Dax answered.

“I see, and for how long will we be in that desert?” Vlad queried.

“Many days, it could quite possibly take half a turning of the moon, before we reach Pelia, if we are lucky.” Dax answered.

“Lucky you say, what do we face here, in a sea of sand?” Ofid now asked.

“There is more to this sea of sand than most men know. For one I would like to avoid contact with any Sand Walkers. Second there are the Monitor Lizards; two tons of leathery lightning, to be careful of; every living thing here is dangerous, if not deadly.” Dax said.

“As if, just the sand and no water, were not enough.” Ofid replied rather matter of factly.

“Let us eat then and find some sleep for the night.” Ruthor said.

While they ate Dax told Ruthor and the rest more about the desert. Such as there was water, in the form of small pools called Oasis’s, a couple of these even had communities. These communities had buildings made out of adobe bricks, and water was their main commodity, but they were unknown to most men since the Sand Walkers were usually the only men who traveled the open Waste. The Sand Walkers rode hump backs rather than horses, but not to let the hump backs strange appearance give them the wrong impression; these humpbacks were more suited for the desert than horses. Also the Sand Walkers themselves were strong men from generations of life in The Waste and they were allied to Pelia, even though mainly by convenience, in truth.

They would travel mainly in the early hours; from before dawn to before the sun reached its zenith, then rest until dusk. At dusk they would travel again, the daytime temperatures here cooked men’s bodies. He warned them that they would see strange untrue apparitions as if there were great bodies of water on the horizon where there were none. There were more animals here as well, but most were dangerous and deadly, the desert was not a place to let ones guard down. 

Then there were two more facts he wanted them to know; first, the Walking Dunes, here there were mountains of sand that constantly moved with the winds. Then there was the Dry Sea of Lost Souls where even the sand was missing, dried parched earth, where even the Sand Walkers did not go. No man had been known to cross it and live, it was a place of legend to the Sand Walkers, they had a saying “Walk only on the sand” to frighten their children.

As the conversations went on, Darma and her pack returned to the camp. Dax told everyone to sleep while they could but set no watch, as the wolves would alert them far before anyone or anything could approach them.

An hour before dawn all were up, mounted, and moving into the desert. For three days and nights they saw no one, then on the fourth day, there was a caravan of Sand Walkers moving parallel to them and just within sight, to the west. Dax had the men dismount and wait, in hopes of remaining unseen. This time the ploy seemed to have worked.

On the next day they had come to the edge of the Dry Sea of Lost Souls and at the searing part of the day made camp to rest. They mounted up at dusk, but instead of moving along the edge in the sand, Dax started across the hard baked sandless terrain. As he did Ruthor spoke up immediately.

“Dax, where is it we are headed?” He asked.

“We are going straight across this sandless waste.” Dax replied

“But you told us, no man is known to ever go into this area and come out alive.” Ruthor said emphatically.

“You are right, that is what I said. But I did once before, it is just that no one knows that. I used it as my escape route, when I left Pelia a few years ago. I was alone then, so know man knows that I did it.” Dax answered.

“But how then did you do it, when no other had before, may I ask?” Ruthor asked his friend.

“I knew I had a way, to not get lost in there that other men of the land did not. I had my dragon, whose magic is known only to some of the men in the north of Tripolia.” Dax told him.

“You mean that same one you used to evade the Marauders when we were close to Steldar?” Ruthor remembered the occasion where Dax had helped Captain Drig.

“Yes that same one, I was taught its magic long ago. As we travel over the next few days, I will show you how it works, just in case. Now let us ride more than talk, be very alert though, there are things here who walk about at night and sleep during the day.” Dax answered as he turned his attention forward and pulled the dragon effigy from under his shirt watching it sway, then settle into a stationary position, as he surveyed the stars above the horizon.

That night every time they stopped, while Dax repeated his observations, he had Ruthor do the same things he did. Each time they discussed what Dax was looking at until Ruthor had at least a rudimentary understanding of how to use the effigy.

“But how does this small dragon of metal know where it points.” Ruthor asked.

“I am not totally sure, but when Freyjin gave it to me, she said the stone was magic and if let free, always pointed to the North Sea. Her father had been a marauder and then her brother after him, they both had died and she inherited the effigy. She was very fond of my father, but the ore of the stone did not interest him. She gave it to me and taught me how to use it, before my father got the urge to move on in his quest to reproduce the metal that his dirk, now mine, was made of.“ Dax explained.

“Magic always leaves me with hair standing at the back of my neck. I would rather deal with things of this world, them I know how to defeat or accept. But I am grateful for the knowledge of this one my Captain.” Ruthor replied with deep respect.

“At sometime soon I would like the others to know some of its workings as well. There may come a time when we can use such knowledge.” Dax told Ruthor.

“I agree, the more we all know, the better we are as a unit.” Ruthor answered.

“Dax, what are those?” Vlad interrupted in a hushed but urgent tone. And as Dax with Ruthor turned his direction, they saw he was pointing toward their flank, into the deep dark night.

Darma was stopped and turned toward the same direction issuing a low threatening growl. South and West’s neck hairs were bristled straight out from their skin, while Vlad and Ofid’s horses were snorting nervously.

“Do not look at them and do not slow your pace, we must maintain our ride as if we have seen or heard nothing.” Dax said in almost a silent whisper.

“But, what are they Dax?” Vlad asked again quietly, even as he did what Dax had just said.

“They are the real secret here. They are the reason no man returns who enters this Dry Sea. If one of us falters, we will all be in grave peril.” Dax answered.

All five men, wolves and horses continued on, just as Dax told them. But the yellow eyes in the dark, never seemed to waver in paralleling their flank. For hours this ethereal procession continued without change. Then, as the first streaks of an amber dawn slowly crept into the eastern sky, shadows began to dissipate where the yellow eyes had been. 

As the dawn became full morning, Ruthor and the others searched with their eyes in all directions, seeing nothing but waste and harsh landscape. Dax did not slow his horse as if they were going to make camp before the blistering heat of the desert was upon them.

“We will not rest this day, we are going to change our course more to the south though than I had planned.” Dax told everyone sitting more turned in his saddle so all would hear him.

“We follow as you lead Dax. But will you tell us what the yellow eyes are and why you say they are the real secret here?” Ruthor asked as he started to move up beside Dax’s horse.

“Do not move to my side my friend, all of you stay in single file, one behind the other, the wolves will then stay right beside each of you. We cannot make to wide a track.” Dax commanded. “If we can make enough distance this day on this new course, it might be that they will have a harder time in locating us this night. At the suns zenith we will stop in place just long enough to water our animals, eat of provisions and then continue on. They sleep during the day and are only out during the cooler night time.”

“But what are they, Dax? Are they people or animals?” Ruthor asked.

“Both and yet neither I guess. They just are, and it is my fervent hope that we are not forced to find out for sure. I spotted them at night, when I crossed here before, but was lucky enough to avoid contact directly. I did find a man just before he died, who said he had escaped them after being held prisoner for a couple of moons. He was running from Jav and did not know about the legend of this place. He had been stripped of all his clothing, he had been tortured and pieces of his flesh removed while he was a prisoner. He said the creatures ate what pieces they cut from his body.” Dax stopped his explanation and turned to look at his effigy while watching the horizon. Then he nudged his horse to continue on.

No one said anymore for quite a while, they just followed Dax’s lead in silence and their own contemplation.

While they were watering the horses and wolves, they heard as well as felt a deep rumble in the ground beneath their feet. Cran turning in the direction behind them, noticed movement. Everyone turned to try and make out what the huge blurred forms might be, but the heat currents at that distance obscured their vision.

“Monitors, they are the largest of lethal inhabitants that live in this place. Mount up, we can escape them, they are massive but slow. Their teeth and claws carry poison that is deadly to any living creature.” Dax told his men.

“Beings that eat men, giant behemoths that shake the ground and whose touch is deadly, I for one am ready to be shed of this place. I agree let us be away and back in the sand.” Ofid said as he mounted his horse.

Vlad shook his head, patted South’s shoulder and mounted as well, looking over his own shoulder toward the rumble that kept getting louder as the leathery giants came nearer. 

The five men and their animal companions did not stop again until it was well into the moonless night. The men slept for a short while trusting the wolves to alert them of any sound better than they could hear in the bleakness around them. It was East lying next to Cran who raised the alarm first, neck hairs bristled and growling menacingly.

Suddenly all the wolves were on their feet, deep guttural threatening growls coming from each of them, then howling into the night lethal warnings. The horses were straining at their hobbles and neighing with uncontrollable fear. Dax and his men jumped to their feet crouched with weapons in their hands ready to defend themselves against whatever the wolves had sensed.

 The yellow eyes were back, but they were pouncing in on Dax and his men at an instant, leaping through the ebony air surrounding them. They were huge cats the size of the wolves, with golden fur and collars about their necks of leather. Lions that none of the men had ever seen, and there were men attacking with them. Men yelling with swords and spears, men they could kill.

Arrows did no good in the dark, even Cran used his blade. East caught the first lion by the throat in his viselike jaws tearing at its bulging vein. Vlad swung his blade into one of the first men to come near him, opening the man’s stomach and sending blood raining everywhere. Ruthor was stabbed in the thigh by one with a spear but retaliated and stood his ground slashing the man’s throat.  Dax stabbed another that Darma knocked to the ground, driving his dirk into the man’s gullet and turning the blade. The melee sent blood everywhere soaking into the parched ground beneath their feet and raining all about the night air.

Screams of agony and death, yells of bloodlust amid the howls and growling of wolves and lions permeated the night. One of the horses fell, a cat straddling its back tearing at its flesh unable to escape with its legs hobbled. The other horses were thrashed about, in frenzied jumps and jerking to free themselves but unable to do so.

Ofid was cut twice; once to the bicep and another to his back, as he was attacked by two men at the same time. West and South took another lion down jointly. Although they had initially been surprised and outnumbered the fight was turning in the favor of Dax and his men. As suddenly as they had been assaulted, the attackers started to flee back into the night, their remaining cats running with them.

All five men were injured, West had a gash on his muzzle and one horse was bleeding at his shoulders profusely. But all in all they had prevailed and in surveying the area around them there were three dead lions and four dead or severely wounded attackers. The one wounded and bleeding attacker was bound up and his comrades piled near him with the dead lions. The wolves stood in front of the man growling deeply.

Dax and his men bound one another’s own wounds, while keeping a vigilant eye into the night around them, the first faint light starting to break on the far eastern horizon. Vlad built a small fire and stoked it to high heat then put his sword into it so he could cauterize the wounds of the pack horse and West. Then after he reheated the blade, each mans more serious wounds received the same treatment, to stop any bleeding.

“So it was the lion’s eyes we saw in the night, not these who attack with them. They are nothing more than men, hard looking men with their olive skin, but still just men.” Ruthor said.

“Men do not butcher other men to feed their animals, or themselves. They are animals, no better than the lions they hunt with.”  Ofid replied.

“What do we do now Dax?” Ruthor asked.

“Burn all the dead, men and animals. Leave this wretch tied here, to watch and die, or live as fate allows. We mount up as soon as we are done and make as much distance as we can before any of their confederates return, if they return, which I think they will.” Dax answered. “We will continue in the direction of the Walking Dunes. Then we make for Pelia to the south of there, once we are out of here we will return to traveling more at night and enter the city during darkness.”

“And once we are there, what then?” Ruthor inquired.

“I know someone we can seek shelter with, until we go to Damna the Great’s palace for an audience. We will wait until the day many come to the Purple Throne Room; for audiences, airing legal disputes and the like.” Dax answered. “That will be our best chance of presenting ourselves as Thane Erik’s emissaries unannounced.”

“I see, then I will get everyone to start loading the horses. We are all ready I think.” Ruthor said as he stood and began seeing to the preparations to leave.

As the five men with their wolves and horses were almost beyond the horizon, the only thing they could see behind them, other than this parched landscape, was the billowing black smoke from the fire they had sat just before leaving.

Two days later they were back riding in the sands of The Waste. A few more days and they were into The Walking Dunes and had turned more to the south. It took them several days to cross the Walking Dunes. It was precarious going up and down mountainous dunes at times, then traveling with their faces and those of their horses covered, when the winds blew the sands so thick and hard, that they could tell why this area was called “The Walking Dunes”. In all this time they saw not one single Sand Walker, much less a caravan.

A couple of days after leaving the Walking Dunes, they saw a faint glow on the southern horizon as they rode in the night. The glow was of Pelia in the far distance.

“We will ride a while yet tonight, and then make camp until just after dusk tomorrow. But no campfire tonight, I do not want to take a chance we will be spotted. We have been lucky so far, we are too far away to enter the city tonight.” Dax told everyone as they rode. “When we are camping nearer the city tomorrow night I will go in, alone at first, make sure we can stay with Asbydahl, and then I will come back to bring you all into the city, undetected by Damna’s forces.”

                                                              ****

“How long do you think Dax and his men will be away this time my brother? It has already been two turnings of the moon since their ship left port.” Mejara asked of her brother during their evening meal.

“At least the same amount of time yet to come, if there were or are no difficulties, longer if there are. Why do you ask, do you feel something is amiss?” Ceric answered and asked.

“No, nothing I sense, just a question really. I find it odd only, that you and the Thane would trust such a recent comer into our midst with these types of journeys in the name of Marden.” She answered.

“Not just in our name, sister, Dax has his own reasons for taking these missions. Which is one of the reasons Lord Daka still does not truly trust him. I am not sure he fully trusts those with him any longer either. That pairing of his men with dire wolves disturbs many.” Ceric says.

“But not you, I take it?” She asks.

“Yes even me, somewhat, a new fold in the garment I had not expected. I think Dax will add many new folds. The difference here is that I do trust him, he is not fully transparent and yet I see blatant honesty in him. He will complete this latest task, as he did the last one, any repercussions I cannot foretell as yet.” Ceric answered.

                                                                           ****

As the watchman walks the planks, in between the two rows of oarsmen in the bowels of the Lagdian ship he sees the same looks that are always there, on their faces. Either they stare blankly (as if in a dense fog), or hatred and insolence looks back at him. But this traitor, Fargyn is different and in his own way even more dangerous. Because there is nothing revealed in his eyes, absolutely nothing.

That is why the watchman turns and bends down after passing him this night. Then he leans just close enough for only the traitor to hear his whisper.

“You, I watch more than any of these mongrels, cur. Know this, I and my relief watch you closer than any, the slightest move out of you appearing to be insolent, or an attempt at anything and we will deal you more pain, than you have ever known.” The watchman warns menacingly.

“Someday seadog, you eat all of your curses and threats. On that day I will rejoice.” Fargyn says at lower than a whisper.

The watchman stands to his feet, lifts his whip in the air and lashes down on Fargyn’s shoulder and back six excruciating times, bringing blood oozing from the cuts to his already battered skin.

                                                                        ****

Dax returned two hours before the first graying of dawn streaked the sky. At first he told the men how they would find the house and out buildings of Asbydahl, by taking the alleys and back streets. Then he and Ruthor led off a few paces ahead of the others, Vlad and Cran would come in second with Ofid and the pack horse entering last. Each group walked cautiously to avoid creating any undue noise or attention, but keeping the pair in front of them in sight at all times, just in case a need arose. Once at the structures, they stabled their horses and secreted them inside with their gear. Then the wolves and men quietly entered the back of the house.

“Asbydahl, this is Ruthor and over there are Vlad and Cran, that other one is Ofid. Men this is Asbydahl, a friend for a very long time.” Dax introduced all now standing in the house. “And these are our companions; Darma and her brood, North, South, East and West.”

“My Dax, men I have had here from time to time, as you well know, but I have never seen so many fine dire wolves kept as pets before.” Asbydahl said in welcome. “You are all quite welcome here and you men too.” She continued with mirth in her voice. Asbydahl was an attractive woman, strong looking and of middle years with a long black hair and deep devilish eyes.

“They are more than pets Asbydahl; they are our companions and comrades in arms. The Thane Eric now calls us all “The Wolf Pack”.” Dax told her with a hint of pride in his voice.

“I can see why he does, and why you have pride my young friend. Do you also keep the memento that I gave to you before we last parted?” She asked.

“Of course, and that is one reason I wished to see you before we go to speak with Damna the Great. You told me to always keep it and its power would keep me in luck. Now I hear it is one of the two things he wants of mine. It did not once belong to him did it my friend?” Dax asked.

“Never, but I had heard he now knows of it and wants it for himself. Dax, Damna is the last man in our world who should ever possess the effigy, the last man.” Asbydahl answered without the slightest hint at deception. “Have you ever tried to do more than just appreciate its beauty and be thankful of its gift?”

“No, but what more would there be to do with a carved token, such as it is? Does it possess some hidden magic that you did not tell me about?” Dax asked the woman almost questioning some ulterior motive in the gift from so long ago.

“The gift was for you only and with no hidden agenda, but not everyone sees the same object the same way. Damna sees opportunity in many things that are not his to own or wield.” She answered. “Now, you men rest and I will prepare some food. You can stay safely here until day after tomorrow when The Great Damna holds court for all again.”

Dax and his men spent the next day preparing themselves; clothes and cloaks were brushed off, after being unpacked from the pack horse’s bags, their horses gear cleaned and polished, men shaved their face hair into presentable fashion, all was made ready for a display of show.

“This Asbydahl is a fine woman, Dax. She would make a fine, strong wife for some man?” Ofid said as he mended a seam at his tunics shoulder seam.

“She did, many years ago; he died in Damna’s guard. Asbydahl herself was and is a respected midwife to many, but most of all Damna’s harem.” Dax replied.

“Yes, well Ofid thinks all men should take wives. I myself cannot see limiting myself to just one for life.” Vlad added to the conversation.

“I was like that once Vlad, as you well remember. Before I met my Abindal and she blessed my life. I am just saying that Asbydahl appears to have feelings for Dax and that she would make a fine wife.” Ofid retaliated.

“Every man must make his own choices, you two. I agree as to her worth, but for me, a wife is not in my plans. My history with women has been one of disappointing them all in one way or the other eventually. So you two do what is best for you and I will continue in my own way, with making it a consideration. No offence meant to either of you, of course.” Dax told them both, closing that discussion.

On the next day as the sun was just past its zenith, all five men, their horses and wolves rode into the street and proceeded to Damna the Great’s palace. Heads of people along their route turned with mouths agape at the spectacle of the unusual small procession. As they reached the steps up and into the great building, two guards stepped forward with spears clutched, to demand their purpose. However, the combination of the large dire wolves’ baring teeth and the five armed men on horseback put them both at a disadvantage.

“We are emissaries from Thane Erik Throgmarden and have business with your king, on his behalf. So send someone to announce us if you wish, but we are entering, past you or over you, and now.” Dax commanded the two.

Without pausing he and the men continued to ride between them and through the massive opened double doors without as much as even dismounting. Once into the high arched corridor, Dax’s men fell into a phalanx position, with each man’s wolf walking directly in front of his horse. The sounds of the horse’s hooves on the pavement was almost deafening in its echo.

People in the corridor separated and rushed to the side walls in fear, soldiers were too slow and unaccustomed to such an occurrence, to react in time and bar their entry right through the next set of ornate high copper clad doors into the main chamber. Once in there, soldiers and guards assembled rapidly to defend their king, Damna the Great, who was seated on his opulent purple throne.

Damna jumped to his feet instantly with Pollocan cowering mostly to his rear. Jamin Jaise remained seated to his left.

“What is the meaning of this, who dares to barge into my throne chamber on horses and with dire wolves? Charge them you fools; you outnumber them ten to one. Guards!” He shouted.

Dax halted with Darma standing just below his horse’s head. His men did the same in unison, everyone’s hands atop their own weapons, except Dax who spoke. “Be careful, Damna the Great. We are emissaries come from Thane Erik Throgmarden and he has a question for us to discern of you.”

“Emissaries do not come armed and unannounced into my throne room, you dog. I know you, Dax, and you are not of Marden. I will have you drawn and quartered for this outrage.” Damna shouted.

Two guards moved to a challenging stance forward, but the wolves in unison hunched to leap and bared fangs through deep guttural growls.

“Hold Darma, Your Highness, you sent armed mercenaries into Marden to kill or capture me and my property. I am a Captain in Thane Erik’s service, much as I was once in yours. He takes offence in those activities, and as such has recently bade my men and I assist King Amish Magdar in crushing that rebellion. However, only after we were certain it was you that hired them. Now he demands assurances that such incursions will not happen again.” Dax states to the irate man.

“Demands he says, who is he to demand anything of me, I am Damna the Great. I will have you killed right here and now. You have what is mine and I will have it back and your head.” Damna yells back.

Dax takes his old disk of office to Damna and throws it to the floor at Damna’s feet. “There is the only thing that you could possibly call yours. Think carefully now, before one man of yours can move, much less do any harm, our wolves will be on you and tearing both your and Pollocan’s throats out. Death will gain you nothing and it is not what we came here for, but it is as sure as the sun in the sky if you persist.”

“My son, you know this man, he never threatens, he acts. I am not ready to mourn you.” Jamin Jaise pleaded in hushed tones.

Damna sneers in her direction, and glances back toward Pollocan behind him before surveying the rest of those in his chamber. “Well Maji, can you do nothing then, either.”

“No, my great one, I believe as your mother, our terrible death would be assured at the fangs of those beasts before our men could prevent it.” Pollocan answered.

“It seems I am surrounded by cowards, since your departure Captain of Marden. But there was another article I sought besides this bauble. What of it?” Damna asked.

“As I have said, that which is at your feet is all that you can claim as yours. Keep it and your word to give up this quest, now. I will see if that is enough for my Thane Erik in this matter. But know this, attack us now that you know we are in his service and he will send others to avenge us. Thousands of others and your word will mean nothing.” Dax replies vehemently.