chronicler

168. Dust

Dust

Southern Wastelands

A desolate region lay between the South Cities along the coast of the Mydlonde Sea and the Langstan to the north. The people of Alcázar called it a desert in memory of the great dunes south of the Mydlonde Sea, whereas the Mearcians styled it as the southern wastelands. It rained only scarcely, and the ground swallowed all water greedily until nothing remained; no rivers or brooks flowed through the wastelands. It was rocks and cliffs with barely a bl...

167. Wellspring

Wellspring

North of Alcázar

Once they could no longer be seen from the city walls, the fleeing pair turned away from the main road. Instead, they rode at a slower pace through the farmlands surrounding Alcázar; most of it was occupied by fruit trees able to survive the long summers with little rain. When they had not seen another living being for a while, Brand halted the horse.

“We should walk a while. We have already exhausted our steed, galloping while carrying tw...

166. Honey and Oil

Honey and Oil

Alcázar

The princess, the prisoner, and their horse hastened away from the palace. With pained expression and some difficulty, Brand got on the horse, sparing his leg. He pulled Jana up behind him, and they rode away. Few were on the streets at night, especially in the north-western part around the Kabir’s palace; they passed through what seemed an empty and eerie city.

Once they had distance between themselves and any possible pursuers, Brand steered th...

165. An Orchard Meeting

An Orchard Meeting

Alcázar

At night, the palace was quiet, but not empty. Guards patrolled the corridors. The Kabir and the hāgib might both work late, either together or apart. Sometimes, men or women would sneak from one chamber to another, carrying out activities best hidden from the light of day.

Tonight, Salim was among those walking the hallways. He made no attempt to hide himself; he walked, calm and casual, progressing through the palace. Wearing the Kabir’s ...

164. When Hel Approaches

When Hel Approaches

Alcázar

Once more, Salim stood outside Jana’s chamber as he had done each morning for five years. Once the attendant had helped the lady and left, he stepped inside. He did not have to make his presence known; she immediately turned to look at him. “Salim,” she called out, sounding apprehensive. “I have something we need to discuss, and I am aware you will not be happy about it.”

His breath came like a growl through his throat.

She ra...

163. An Even Table

An Even Table

Alcázar

Morning was announced in the dungeon by a bowl of cold gruel pushed through the hatch into Brand’s cell. He had no spoon and had to use his fingers instead.

“He has a fine new coat of fur, but the mouse is back in his cage,” squealed Imad from the other side of the door. He was standing on his toes, peering through the barred window. “Eat, eat and grow fat, my little mouse.”

Brand finished his meal, ignoring the torturer peeping at ...

162. Strings

Strings

Alcázar

Seeing Brand disarm himself, several things happened at once. The crowd reacted with a multitude of emotions. The guards swarmed forward to seize Brand. Jalil got on his feet, staring at the prisoner with undisguised hatred. 

“Prince Jalil!” The voice of the Kabir cut through the noise, and the courtiers became silent. “Prince Saif,” the ruler added. “With me. Guards, take the prisoner to a cell where he may rest.” The Kabir rose from hi...

161. A Worthy Spectacle

A Worthy Spectacle

Alcázar

“Explain how you could be so careless to let a prisoner die.” Jalil’s voice was calm, but he spoke with a clenched jaw.

“There are marks from fingers around his neck,” Imad explained. He was sweating despite the room being cold. “The northerner must have strangled him.”

“Preventing him from talking,” Jalil sneered. He grabbed Majid’s hair, pulling his head up.

“With respect, sidi, I don’t believe he had anyt...

160. A Measure of Mercy

A Measure of Mercy

Alcázar

“How is your progress?” Jalil’s mother stared at him under her heavy eyelids.

“The prisoners are breaking,” he claimed. “They will lead me to the remaining spies soon enough.”

“In other words, you have made no progress.” There was a steel edge in her voice.

“I am sure Saif is no further along than me! This takes time,” he complained.

“You should aim at being better than Saif, not his equal,” she told...

159. Prisoner

Prisoner

Alcázar

The Kabir of Alcázar was lord of the city and its highest authority in all matters. His rule was undisputed, as long as trade flowed; when that was the case, all the merchant houses bent to his will, paid tribute, and supplied him with all he needed. Should the opposite ever happen, he would be in danger of being deposed; the very thing he had done to his own father, the previous Kabir, when Alcázar had been weakened by costly wars and dwindling trade. The ...

158. The Tower of Justice

The Tower of Justice
Alcázar

It was dawn by the time the guards reached the Tower of Justice with their captives. As they crossed the maswar, the empty square was contrasted by the imposing structure looming above their heads. They entered the tower and found the entire ground floor was one hall. A score of guards sat scattered around the locale, passing the time. There was also a simple cooking hearth, where a pot boiled merrily. 

“Get the night warden,” said one o...

157. Fires in the Night

Fires in the Night

Alcázar

At noon, the thief, the champion, and the knight met in the same place as before. Yawning a few times, Jawad pointed at the table. “Dress yourself,” he told Brand. “Get rid of all your shiny metal bits.” 

“My sword stays,” he replied curtly. “But I have brought leather strips to cover the hilt and pommel.”

“You’re not entirely fresh in the net.” Jawad smiled sardonically.

“As I mentioned, this will not ...

156. Night Labour

Night Labour

Alcázar

Beyond the southern gate in Alcázar lay the slums known as Almudaina. Each morning, once the gates opened, the residents of this area shuffled into the city to beg, steal, or seek work as day-labourers. Like a caravan of poor and dirty people, usually dressed in little more than rags, they moved through the city, branching into different directions. Some sought the warehouse districts, others went to the harbours, selling the strength of their hands and back...

155. The Prince and the Atheling

The Prince and the Atheling

Alcázar

A caravan approached Alcázar from the north. While not unheard of, these were rare; most goods entered the city through one of the harbours or else by caravan from the east. Its origin was the city of Maleth, which lay up the coast towards Adalmearc. Maleth served as a minor port for ships that for one reason or another did not wish to unload their goods in Alcázar; the same held true for passengers seeking to enter Alcázar over land rat...

153. Bargains Made

Bargains Made

Silfrisarn

The fair at Silfrisarn was the largest of its kind in northern Adalrik, and it had taken place for centuries. At first, it had simply been for iron merchants to purchase ore from the mines of Isarn. Being placed between the copper veins of Vidrevi and the tin mountains of Heohlond, the fair had a natural location to facilitate trade of these metals as well. Wool, always the biggest trade of the realm, became part of the fair also, and many other items ...

152. The Might of Wyrmpeak

The Might of Wyrmpeak

Wyrmpeak

The cave lay before them. The darkness inside prevented them from seeing its depth. From his pack, Jorund pulled out torch and tinderbox, lighting a flame. “Both of you stay behind me at all times,” the Dwarf impressed upon his companions. “If we come across anything, anything at all, you both run like Hel is hunting you, and you don’t stop. You keep running out of this valley and south. Understood?” He stared at them with sharp eyes. They ...

151. The Crossing

The Crossing

Wyrmpeak

The Mihtea roared past them, strengthened by all the waters of the mountain’s summit melted by summer sun. It was some hundred feet from bank to bank in this particular place, and it flowed with a swift current. 

“Can either of you swim?” asked Jorund. Both his companions shook their heads. “Couple of land-legs,” he muttered. “We’ll need to find somewhere to ford it. Either of you, find me a long stick.” While they did as bid, h...

150. A Beacon in the Dark

A Beacon in the Dark
Wyrmpeak

The second morrow after the decision had been made, the small expedition left the Citadel. Despite his day of recovery, Jorund grumbled at the early hour and exertion, but his words held little sting. He wore a great pack on his back, easily carrying twice as much as his young companions tallied together. They seemed mute in demeanour and made no replies to Jorund’s remarks. By the time they had traversed the Arnsweg, he lost interest in conversation...

149. A Prince and his Quill

A Prince and his Quill

Middanhal

Next day, Egil sat alone in the scriptorium when he heard the door open. “Kate?” he questioned.

“Not quite,” Godfrey replied, entering the library hall.

Egil stuck his head out from the adjacent room. “You’re here! I haven’t seen you in months!”

“I’ve been busy. Is your master present?”

Egil looked towards a closed chamber door. “He is in his room. He doesn’t leave it anymore, reall...

148. Where Power Presides

Where Power Presides

Middanhal

In the study of the dragonlord, the ruler of Adalrik toiled away daily. While the common people assumed that power resided with the lord protector, Jarl Valerian of Vale, most residents at court were wise to the truth; his brother was not only the Kingmaker, but also the man making all decisions of import. Because of this, there was a crowd every day outside his wing in the palace, and even in the long summer days, Konstans worked from dawn until...

147. Restoration

Restoration

Middanhal

About a month after they left Hareik, the double walls of Middanhal rose in the horizon to meet them. They had encountered the first Order patrol a few days prior; unlike in the lands of Isarn, the soldiers simply let them pass. As they came closer to the city, they met several more contingents of Order troops and even mercenaries. Damien scowled upon seeing the latter, which they hardly seemed to notice; thus, without further incidents, the pair reached ...

146. Root and Sword

Root and Sword

Isarn

Damien rubbed his eyes. When he was done, he still saw an empty spot where Gunvor had gone to rest. Her belongings were not to be seen either. With some difficulty, he got on his feet and limped around the remains of the campfire. There was an impression in the ground where she had lain, and footsteps led back towards the road.

Damien turned around; as he collected his own things, he noticed a long branch placed next to where he had slept. It could serve...

145. The Tale of Sir Damien

The Tale of Sir Damien

Isarn

On the first morning in Adalrik, Damien woke to find himself alone. It took him a while to notice this. He stretched and rubbed his eyes, drinking greedily from their water skin. He only realised her bedroll was empty after getting up and glancing towards where Gunvor had lain herself to sleep. For a moment he stood with obvious confusion on his face; he used one foot to prod the empty bedroll. Only fabric and the dirt underneath met his movement.<...

144. Rotten Berries

Rotten Berries

Eastern Vidrevi

The odd pair had not come far from Hareik before the bickering began.

“Why would you only pack water?” Damien’s voice was indignant.

“It’s good enough for Austre’s trees, it’s good enough for us.” The words were spoken through a clenched jaw.

“Wine. Spirits. Ale. Even that honey water you moss-lickers call mead would suffice. You could have chosen any of these possibilities!”

“If you are so concerned ...

143. Under the Hill

Under the Hill

The Alfskog

While an unlikely pair ambled southward, Godfrey left Hareik on a northward course. He travelled along a near empty road; nothing but small villages scattered around the endless forests of Vidrevi lay north of Hareik. The only other travellers were the occasional peddlers, supplying the villages with finer fabric, spices, or bronze items in exchange for furs. Moving with his customary haste, it took only a week before Godfrey was so far north, he no long...

142. Broken Swords

Broken Swords

Hareik

One month after parting ways with Brand, Godfrey walked on the Kingsroad that connected Adalrik with Vidrevi. It ran from Middanhal north-west to Silfrisarn and continued further west in the shadow of the Weolcan Mountains until it reached Trehaf by the sea. Before that, one branch went directly north towards Hareik, the capital of Vidrevi. It was this path that Godfrey followed. Ahead of him, the city rose in the distance. Even from afar, he could spot th...

141. Niðheim

Niðheim

The Reach

Far to the south-east of Rund lay a solitary peak. It had many names in the tongues of the outlanders, Elves, or Dwarves. Among the Mearcians, it was known of old as Niðheim, though none of their tribes had ever beheld this mountain with their own eyes. To them, it was a name of legends, long since faded from memory. To the outlanders, it was the dwelling of their living god. 

Because of this, the mountain was sacred and forbidden. This did not m...

140. Seal and Seat

Seal and Seat

Southern Hæthiod

The Mearcians continued their march until nightfall. Despite the miles they had traversed, the Langstan remained empty; the Order only maintained control further west. Using its ancient stonework for their own purpose, they erected primitive tents made from spears and cloak placed against the wall.

In the middle, Brand held council. He sat on a tree stump, occasionally rubbing his leg; it had been a long march with an injured thigh. His li...

139. What is Written

What is Written

The Reach

More than a month after his arrival in Rund, Godfrey sat enjoying food and drink at one of its many taverns. Manzik’s room had long since been reclaimed by the shahrban’s offices and delegated to another, more faithful servant, leaving Godfrey homeless. Since then, he had drifted from place to place, avoiding the shadow warriors and blackboots pursuing his trail.

Surprise filled his face as he looked up to see not one, but two blackboots app...

138. Rage

Rage

The Reach  

Before sunrise, fourteen men and women chosen by Doran stood assembled in the Mearcian camp. Along with Matthew and Leofric, they gathered around Brand. The group was mixed and representative of the band as a whole, consisting of a few kingthanes and other drakonians, some highlanders and heathmen, and even a daleman. All of them wore the red colours of the Anausa and their shields.

“Our goal is to clear three watchtowers east of the crossing. Thi...