Our Little Gods 0.1: ATACHEREL, the Other Side of the Coin.

CHAPTER XVII

"They have destroyed a village one day off the Ignaien Piedmont on the former imperial road." Patil was saying her face grave.

"So far down the War Lords' territory?" Atacherel wondered, "How did they do it?"

"They have used a small party: ten, fifteen at the most, but more than that they used power that has been forbidden since the unification of the three churches."

"What was it?"

"They burned it. Even the stones took fire. They melted the very skin from the body of the men and many died in their very beds."

"Who did the village belonged to?"

"The War Lord is called Beterel. He is one of the few that came in reply to the invitation from Arcros to the peace conference."

"Can we tell if they could have know of that conference and if this could be some form of intimidation?"

"We can't. The conference is not really a secret but it hasn't been long in the making. The speedy victory of Arcros in the region of the Lordless Nameless Towns and the Veviensis' intervention to bring life back to the area have greatly impressed most of our new neighbors."

"I suppose we should be weary of spies, now more than ever since they have started attacking us, it makes sense that they would want to know what our response is going to be."

"And what is our response going to be?" Patil asked as if she was both exited with the prospect and scared with the implications.

"As you know, I am just back from the palace, well in fact I was at the assembly adjudicating on all things related to the communities of Rehevïmes and Natabs living by the lake. Its powers have recently been expanded to rule over all Rehevïmes and Natabs willingly at the service of the Veviensis." Patil nodded to signify that she knew what he was talking about.

"We decided that it was in the common interest if the Conference in Haven is successful that we moved troops in the heart of the Dead Lands. If we obtain that the War Lords will not impede us or gather forces against us," Atacherel stood up and took Patil to a table on which a large map of the Maharaïa was spread. It showed the austral reach of what had once been Rabatea all the way to the bottom part of the Triadic Sea. He pointed at an empty place in the Dead Lands and finished saying, "There is where we should make camp. It offers possibilities to block advancing armies both from Keteb and from Taleb and possibly spot any advancing party coming through Barag Forest and the Gers Hills."

"There is an empty square drawn there on that spot," Patil said as she frowned and bend over the map."

"Scouts have spotted the remains of a town in this area. We might be able to exploit whatever is left to secure the camp and build towers."

"When were you in the palace last, Sir?"

"Ten days ago, why do you ask?"

"The attack on the village happened when I was by the lake. I am cousin to one of the woman that work in the archives searching for the map, you know."

Atacherel nodded.

"She told me that the Emissary saw the attack and she went to Haven to meet with the War Lords that were there. She remembered her saying that this attack was only the premise of something much larger. Something that she feared she would not be able to contain."

"Then maybe the war we all feared but prepared for is upon us after all." Atacherel said gravely as he sat down by the map.

Patel smiled brightly and whispered:

"Maybe it is time to jump the ship."

***

Four days later a large Rehevîme carriage pulled to a rattling stop in the front courtyard of the main shipyard of Canem where Atacherel was inspecting the plans for new ships to be built in the coming months. The man was surrounded with captains and yard masters, ship builders and models made of carefully carved wood, there were large plans hanging from the ceiling but light came from windows opened hight in the walls all around the room. The door was suddenly opened and slammed shut immediately and voices were raised on the other side. Atacherel asked Patil to investigate but before she had the time to walk three paces in the direction of the door it was flung open and Fallen Orodes strode in followed by a second Rehevîme and two Natabs of importance or so their robes suggested.