The Will Of The Kings.

Chapter 31, Gathering strength Part 1.

 The Captain had returned with Firminors body. The loss of their King had forced them to call off the chase and the lords of the Southmen would have to return home to ensure Firminors heir would not be challenged, or to make a bid for the throne themselves, as the case may be. The news came as a heavy blow.

Borrock sat heavily on the Throne in the tower. Sansarris was with him. The Southmen lords were already leaving. They went with their warriors although they had given their word that they would return. King Gants had smiled at the news, and began to scheme as he walked the halls of his palace.

Borrock sat thinking. Since he had taken Farnbreth, the city had presented nothing but problems. The calling out of the priests continued. It had soon become clear that their conversion would be long and bloody, so it seemed that the Gods fought on. People returned, but crime was rife, and his new wardens struggled with the economy of the vast city. People said the harvest would be poor, but he thought it too early to tell. Following the culling of the Farnbreth elite he had made sure everything was done to placate the population, but still the problems and the clear distance from their new rulers was evident. King Gants was doing his job and stopping open revolt, but he was not a popular King. With him, had come the new taxes, although forced on him by the lesser Kings, the population's new burden reflected badly on him. Borrocks position, the lesser Kings position had only been maintained through presence of arms.

Before the great battle, Borrock commanded over ten thousand warriors. More than King Roahna could muster, and that did not count the Dalon. Now the Dalon had left. They had completed their side of the bargain, and they had gone to the lands granted to them, east of Farnbreth along the borders of the mountains. The Dalon could not have stayed long amongst men without slaughter. The Sarris had suffered on the field; their light arms had not been suited to the crushing, restrictive punishment. Sansarris had committed his remaining warriors of the Sarris to guard only. They would not march out to open war, and now the Southmen had left. Under a third of the warriors who stood on the field now remained to control a nation. A nation close to rebellion. King Gants with his guard remained a threat, as did the Farnbreth warriors who had retreated south after their defeat away from Borrocks victorious army and the nightmare of the Dalon, and the book. Borrok was nervous, they stood on the edge of a vast pit and too easily they could fall in to it.

He looked for guidance from Sansarris, "can we control them?" he asked.

"For now" Sansarris replied "but we will need more men, and before the Southmen are due to return"

Borrock stood, "our allie" he said referring to King Gants, "is a thorn in our side"

Sansarris watched him "indeed, but we needed him then and we need him now".

Borrock, paced the throne room, "an allie who plans to destroy us" he hissed, "When the time comes he will be put to the sword"

"And I will strike the blow" Sansarriss added "but we must hold the leash on him for now" He was nervous and uneasy. Since the loss of Firminor he had been on his own. It stuck in his throat but Sansarris could see no other obvious option. "recall the Dalon" He said firmly.

Borrock looked at him and both held each other's gaze. Sansarris and Firminor would never have marched with the Dalon. Borrock had deceived them. Sansarris would remind him of that, but Borrocks gamble had paid off, Farnbreth was theirs. Sansarris feared the Dalon, the creatures that even now would slaughter them as quickly as any other. Borrock had less fear of them. To Borrock they were simple creatures, although dangerous, and he knew how to bring them on side.

 "it will cost land, and they may not come" Borrock said,

Sansarris knew it, "we have land" he said "we have a country to divide, but don't let them have any of the city".