Sons of Ironstorm - Book 4: Griffon's Stand

Chapter 6: The Shadow's Reach

"Knowing no bounds, the Shadow reached far;

Touching the hearts of those thought safe in their great halls.

Caring not whether they were high born or low,

All were made to fear the darkness creeping across the land.

As the horror of the Return began to chill every mortal

Birthed on the lands of Ramnor."

- from the personal journal of Morgan Galus, king of Galental

The lean and weathered Sylvasin fought the impulse to sink to his knees and bitterly weep. He had lost friends and comrades before in battle, and had been forced to push aside the loss and pain and keep going on. As a warrior in the front lines of battle, KeLarion had little choice. He had to push on or suffer their fate.

This, however, was entirely different. Never before had he lost a member of his family twice to battle, and certainly not a child. 

Yet here he was, cursed by the Maker to have lost the same child twice! And one with such promise and strength; gone with Shawn's fall was the hope of a people, of an entire mortal world. If they couldn't somehow retrieve him, somehow cheat cruel fate, then this war was over before it truly had begun.  'My eldest son!' KeLarion silently cried into the agonized depths of his mind. 'What has the Enemy done to you?'

It was only by shear force of will that the veteran of countless battles didn't sag against the nearby wall.

<<My lord?>> the captain asked, leaning towards KeLarion with concern on his face. <<Are you injured? Should I send for a healer?>>

<<No healer can save me from the pain I now feel, captain,>> KeLarion managed before straightening and pushing the man's helping hand away. <<That pain will be lessened, however, by news of whether members of the Aeshin'laur council are present in the city, along with a representative of the Redeemed.>>

<<Most members of the council have returned to their homelands to prepare for whatever fallout will come from the Wielder's expeditions,>> the captain promptly replied, obviously informed of the alliance council's movements, as he should be, being a Home Guard officer and indirectly responsible for the movements of any powerful people within city boundaries.

<<But a handful of Sovun'chul members are meeting this afternoon up on the hill to discuss trade arrangements in the aftermath of the Ka'thesck's fall at the hands of the Wielder and his Redeemed. As for actual members of the Redeemed, none remain here in Elvenfast. Any that didn't travel to the Krif or to Uepolua, were reassigned to their primary base outside of Aerlorn.>>

His heart aching like only a father's could, KeLarion still managed to push aside his silent grief enough to hazard a glance into the man's face, eyes thoughtfully narrowed. Informed he should be on the whereabouts of alliance council members, yes, but of the Redeemed as well? Tosseda must've put something in place. It was well known the city's governor still didn't trust the reconverted soldiers that once belonged to the military force that almost destroyed his city eleven cycles ago. It wouldn't be beyond him to not only keep tabs on any Redeemed while they were in the city, but to command they return to Aerlorn if they had no business being there at all.

<<Then perhaps you can arrange to have a runner sent to the hill to find out exactly which Sovun'chul members are there in that trade meeting. And, if you've any men to spare, one through the Redeemed portal to Aerlorn, to see who's in command there and to enquire if they have any troops to spare.>>