Kingdoms of Caelum; Autumn of the War Queen

Chapter 29

"I did as you said. Now, do you have it?" Lofaid growled.

He hated meeting with Ragan: the man was dangerous, but it was a necessary evil and, although Ragan's ambitions seemed beyond realistic, he had succeeded in the first vital steps, just like he had planned twelve moons ago when he had first approached Lofaid. He had promised the Blood Stone and the promise of a power beyond belief, and it seemed he had honoured these promises.

"A fitting place," Ragan smiled, looking around the tavern. He had acknowledged the name. The humour wasn't lost on him.

"Quite. Do you have it or not?" Lofaid hissed sourly.

"Yes. And the head?" Ragan replied, his smile suddenly gone and the hint of a threat hung around his words.

"The head is on a spike in my garden. You are welcome to collect it."

Ragan nodded, he felt nothing for the death of Dalbet. He had been a weak man and had been lured too easily into his plans by greed.

"Very well."

Ragan placed his gloved hand into his cloak and pulled out a golden chain. Its pendent shimmered in the dim light.

"How?" Lofaid stuttered. He was almost foaming at the mouth, his heartbeat racing; he could almost feel the magic it was capable of. Now it was his. A perfectly cut Blood Stone. He snatched it from Ragan's clutch and turned his back from the tavern, cupping the stone secretly and examining every inch of it.

"How did you do this Ragan?"

Ragan leaned back in his chair and took a sip from the tankard.

"I came across it a few years ago when my brother's wife died. It has taken me this long to decide how to use its values to their full potential."

Lofaid placed the chain and stone deep inside his own cloak, and pulled his hood further over his face.

"Your plan to acquire the virtue of sovereignty is dangerously insane, you do know this don't you?"

"And yet I am almost there," Ragan quipped, "Besides it is firmly our plan now don't you think? Dalbet's head will be sent back to Thurlstone, you will alert Lubon that there is talk of an attack on those precious mines of his, and order an army to march to Gaar... Thurlstone will fall before winter has ended."

"It is a big gamble," Lofaid grumbled, but Ragan shook his head.

"You are forgetting the Rakshashas. I will make sure the job is done properly."

"And what if they don't show?"

"They will," Ragan answered bluntly, "I have not sent prisoners for months and neither have you. Once Dalbet was convinced he was part of my plan, he made the same arrangements. They will be at the Lunar Agora to buy slaves"

Lofaid nodded and sat quiet for a moment. He knew this was madness, and it was about to get madder. Thurlstone could fall. The ploy to acquire the unspoken 'virtue of sovereignty' that had caused so many wars and seen two Kingdoms fall, could actually happen again. Lofaid felt the weight of the Blood Stone in his pocket, this was all madness, but this was all so possible too. If Thurlstone did indeed fall, he would have to murder Lubon and possibly his own sister Annisana, and that would be tricky. But, if he could, if he could believe in Lubon's demise, the next step would be to make an alliance with Roskilde, and together they would face the wrath of the Rakshashas. With Lubon's famous and historic Blood Stone that was so delicately engraved in the blue sword, and with the new one that pressed against his chest, he believed that magic could once again return to Caelum; he could be the most powerful Elf to have ever lived. He could control armies, they would have the water of eternal youth from Lieulf, and Lofaid could re-colonise Fortis to a Dark Elf only Kingdom, like it used to be. Riches and wealth beyond his wildest dreams and the possibilities were endless. Through enough lust it could be achieved.

In the heavy aired room Ragan had watched the elf's mind work, like grey cogs in a tired machine. He needed Lofaid to throw all he had into this now. At the right moment Ragan let his oily voice interrupt Lofaid's thoughts.

"The virtue of sovereignty is mine for the taking, and you Lofaid, will rule beside me."