Peritus had been battlechief to Aquilus, Nathair’s father. He had been openly disapproving of Nathair’s shield wall and new strategies for battle. Partly because of this he had found his standing in Tenebral shifting as Nathair set about acquiring his own circle of trusted supporters. Peritus was not one of them, though up until now Nathair had not doubted his loyalty to the crown.
‘I worry about the affairs in Tenebral,’ Lykos said. ‘Sometimes these situations require a firm hand, and I suspect your mother is not in the right frame of mind to deal with unruly barons resolutely. Since your father died, she has not been the same, I hear.’
‘I know.’ Nathair bowed his head. ‘I had hoped that leaving her as regent in my absence would help, pull her out of her grief, her introspection.’ He crushed the letter in his hand. ‘I will not have men take advantage of her kind nature. Or challenge me.’
‘The Jehar would willingly cut any rot from your kingdom,’ Sumur said. ‘We are not afraid to do what must be done.’
‘I do not doubt it,’ Nathair said, ‘but I have only just called the Jehar here – I would have you and your warriors about me.’ He looked at Veradis. ‘I will think on this. Hard decisions may need to be made.’
Hard decisions about my father? My brothers? A seed of worry took root in Veradis’ heart.
‘Calidus has told me much of what has occurred in Forn,’ Nathair said, clearly wanting to change the subject. ‘Much good has happened, not least the discovery of the starstone axe.’
All eyes turned to Alcyon, who had unslung the axe from his back and leaned it against the table.
‘It is an extraordinary blessing,’ Calidus said. ‘With it our position is strengthened. It gives us greater security once we have the cauldron.’
‘What do you mean?’ Nathair asked.
‘This axe is one of the Seven Treasures, its blade forged from the same fabric as the cauldron, the same as the other Treasures. It is alien, powerful; when the Treasures are in close proximity, their power is increased. The cauldron’s power will be enhanced by the presence of the axe.’
‘This cauldron has been a part of my dreams for so long,’ Nathair mused. ‘I do not doubt its importance, but I have wondered. What power does it hold? Why is it so important in the war against Asroth and his Black Sun?’
Calidus looked at Nathair, the silence growing. Then he spoke. ‘The Seven Treasures are not of this world,’ he said. ‘They all are linked to the Otherworld, the cauldron most of all. It holds the power to bridge this world of flesh and the Otherworld.’
Veradis thought about that. The hairs on his arm goose-bumped. ‘For what purpose?’
‘To bring my kin across the veil. To bring the Ben-Elim to this world of flesh. With their help we will be invincible; we will crush the Dark Sun and establish Elyon’s kingdom forever.’
A silence fell upon the room.
‘That is what I have hoped for, strived for,’ Nathair said, his expression one of ecstasy. ‘Is that not so, brother?’ he said, clapping Veradis across the shoulder. ‘To put the world right, to see our labour and hard choices justified.’
‘Aye, Nathair,’ Veradis said.
‘There is something else that I have discovered, which you should know,’ Calidus resumed. ‘The cauldron can be destroyed, but only if all the Treasures are gathered together. So, possessing the axe is a double surety for us. While we have it the cauldron cannot be harmed.’
‘That is good to know,’ Nathair said.
‘So our task to find the cauldron can proceed.’
‘Evnis has confirmed that it is in Murias,’ Nathair said.
‘That is rare and useful knowledge.’ Calidus looked at Evnis with renewed interest.
‘I have had cause to study the Benothi giants,’ Evnis said. ‘And I have had small dealings with the Benothi in the past. They have confirmed to me that the cauldron is kept in Murias.’
Calidus nodded. ‘Then we must hasten there.’
‘Not yet,’ Nathair said. ‘I am as eager as you, Calidus, to fulfil this task that Elyon has set us. But there is work to be done here, first. Great gains for the alliance can be made.’
When you say alliance, I think you mean empire, Veradis thought, remembering Aquilus’ council and the following argument between Aquilus and Nathair. After witnessing first-hand the discord between the kings of the Banished Lands, Veradis knew Nathair’s dream to build an empire made perfect sense. An empire was simpler in concept. One ruler, less diplomacy and politicking, and that appealed to Veradis. But the reality was never as simple: to see an empire would mean kings bowing to Nathair, and that was about as likely as the Black Sun walking into their meeting and surrendering. So the only other option was war – death and slaughter on a unimaginable scale. Now that thought did not appeal. But what else could be done? Asroth would destroy every soul that drew breath in the Banished Lands: men, women, children. In that light warriors fighting and dying seemed more bearable. It is for the greater good.
Veradis’ head was starting to ache with the enormity of all that was happening, as if they were walking a narrow bridge across a great chasm, and one misstep could send them hurtling to their doom. He shook his head.