‘He was seen?’
‘Humans have some gifted trackers and your brother was not adept at hiding his passage. A Ranger of Natal came across his tracks and was curious enough to follow them, even though he could not recall who made them just moments after seeing your brother. And when he saw your brother establish a rift—’
‘Rift?’ said Gulamendis.
‘His way home.’
‘We call it a portal,’ said the Demon Master.
‘Ah,’ said Tomas. ‘That is when your brother revealed himself.
Alystan was already near King Dolgan’s village, and from there he came to see my Queen. You can imagine the concern the appearance of an elf such as yourself might provoke.’
At the mention of Dolgan, Gulamendis’s features darkened. ‘We’ve had issues with the dwarves in the past, and they have never come to an easy conclusion.’
Tomas’s eyes narrowed. ‘Dolgan is among my oldest friends, a dwarf of gentle heart and iron resolve. I have placed my life in his trust on more than one occasion and he has proven stalwart. I trust him as I trust few others.’
Gulamendis inclined his head slightly as if to say it was of no serious concern.
Tomas said, ‘So, to the heart of it then . . . Why have you come here?’
‘To seek an alliance should the demons arrive and to help you understand that while you and your lady command our respect, that is all; obedience will not be offered.’
It was Tomas’s turn to indicate that this was not important to him. ‘Your ancestors fled before the one whose armour I wear took to the skies and told all below that they were now free.
‘We seek dominion over no one. For reasons lost in antiquity the moredhel have declared us their enemies, so we defend ourselves when they venture south, but any among them who choose to return to their ancestral home are always welcome. Many among us spent their youth in the north. We welcomed the ocedhel from across the sea, yet many remained, unwilling to join us. We have no issue with them. And when we discovered the anoredhel endured to the south, again we claimed no sovereignty.’
‘The Sun People?’ asked Gulamendis. ‘I have not heard of them.’
‘The protectors of the Quor and Sven’gar-ri.’
Again he gave Tomas a questioning look. ‘I should know these names, but I do not.’
‘A matter for another time,’ said Tomas. ‘Very well, your position is clear. You seek our help but do not wish to serve anyone. As we have no wish for your service, we are in accord.’ His expression reinforced his next utterance. ‘But any attempt by your Clans of the Seven Stars to assume dominion over others will be thwarted.
‘Not only will I draw my sword, I will call upon my allies.’
‘Dwarves? Humans?’
‘Stout warriors and powerful sorcerers, Gulamendis. Do not let your history blind you to this fact that they are your equal in many ways,’ he thought of Pug, ‘and some will prove your betters.
‘Consider this a caution. Midkemia may be your ancestral Home, but it is home to many others, descendants of those who came here during the Chaos Wars and their claim is perhaps more enduring than yours. Your ancestors left, while theirs stayed.
‘But any differences between our people must be put aside until after the Demon Legion has been dealt with. We will not trouble you so long as you do not trouble us, but should the day come when we are opposed, then I will be without pity.’ His expression left Gulamendis’ in no doubt that it wasn’t an idle threat. The Demon Master said, ‘I, and a few others, knew this world would be different than what we might wish it to be.
But the Regent Lord and those priests, magicians, and soldiers who make up the Regent’s Meeting, will not so easily come to understand that accommodations must be reached. Were you to bring them here, as you have had me come, they would see it as a challenge, a threat, and one to be answered and swiftly.
‘The Clans of the Seven Stars cannot endure here unless we make changes and reach agreement with the other races on this world. We need a change in leadership to achieve that goal.’
‘Treason,’ said Tomas.
‘Reason,’ said Gulamendis. ‘The strengths of our race are also weaknesses, for we had never been vanquished until we met the demons. It is inconceivable to us that another mortal race might be our equal, let alone our superior.
‘It would be better if we were able to consider a different perspective when the time came for us to seek aid.’ He looked one more time at the grove. ‘We must return here and take what lessons we have forgotten, Tomas.’ He then looked at the warleader and said, ‘Just as some of your people must come and learn from us. Only that way can conflict be avoided.’
‘That sounds promising,’ said Tomas. ‘Little else of what you said does.’
‘I understand.’
‘Come,’ said Tomas, ‘we must travel.’