Sons of Ironstorm: Book 5 - Griffon's War

Chapter 8: At the Enemy's Gates

"Untouched by the ravages of the Crimson Empire,

The eastern continents of Hydrai and Uepolua

Were refuges for the elven people of the East.

Here they weathered the initial attacks of the Kaal Eran

And quickly rebuilt the cities they lost.

Isolating themselves from the wars of Reutha,

And thinking themselves finally safe from the Shadow."

 - From a Var Ethisdil report of war readiness of the Hydran and Uepoluan kingdoms

<<The northern part of Uepolua?>> Shalindria repeated a moment or two later, her dark eyes peering hard at the map. She then looked around the circle of expectant faces before finishing with Shawn.

<<Yes, I am familiar with it, my lord husband,>> she continued on to say, her words sending a ripple of relief through everybody else. <<My family had merchant interests in the southern kingdoms of Hydrai that extended into northern Uepolua via Merisin reef runners of Clan Silverwave that plied the trade routes between the two continents. As the eldest daughter, I was expected to be familiar with our business operations. So I visited our holdings in Tavrintha, the largest of the northern cities, several times over the cycles.>>

She reached out with a slender finger, even in its gauntlet, and touched a spot on the coast.

<<Tavrintha.>> Sliding south, she touched another spot. <<Avram Nar.>> Then, just north of where Shawn's dowsing had put the demon base: <<Kaer Sunce Lano.>>

The Tower of the Sun and Moon. Shawn frowned. A poetic name for a place that was now surely overrun with demons.

<This place, this Kaer Sunce Lano; is it a big city?>> he asked. Her eyes back on him, the dark-skinned, tattooed sylvasin maiden nodded.

<<The Tower, as the locals call it, is the trade hub for the northwestern portion of the continent,>> she explained. <<As such, it is home to guild halls, merchant supply depots, bureaucratic offices, embassies, and markets. When I visited four cycles ago, my last to the Tower, it boasted a population of nearly seventy thousand people.>>

That elicited a low whistle of astonishment from Banik.

<<That's nearly double the population of Aerlorn,>> he noted, looking at Shawn, who nodded.

<<Likely because they hadn't faced war in a very long time,>> Dezi suggested, earning herself an agreeing nod from Shalindria.

<<Peace and prosperity are the watchwords of Uepolua,>> she added. <<The major kingdoms long ago decided fighting over resources was pointless and signed long-standing treaties that basically demilitarized the entire continent.>>

<<As I said,>> Banik growled. <<The fools weren't prepared.>>

<<Definitely not,>> Shiana said, frowning. <<Even when you and Tenne had the Redeemed on the beach maneuvering and practicing, the handful of border guards assigned to watch you, stared as if you were a performing circus. Like they had never actually seen soldiers marching in formation.>>

Shawn made a curt gesture with his hand.

<<We can castigate the Uepoluans later about their failures,>> he grimly suggested. <<I think they've paid a heavy enough price for their lack of foresight!>>