Chaos of Choice: Book Six - Chapter Nine

 

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Chapter Nine

 Year 3634, the Seventh Age, the fifty-second day of Spring

“I was there in the crowd as the warrior Lieut disappeared into the great pillar of light,” Lyinar the troubadour said and everyone in the tavern listened intently to her every word. “Dhror and Melenduil turned their attention to all that were watching and said: Remember this day, and remember that it was Lieut, Vythe, Fairris and Bārdin who stopped the Goddess from destroying the world, not The Five. Someone shouted from the crowd: Praise Dhror and Melenduil, the true Gods. Praise Lieut and his companions. Similar cheers and praises echoed from the crowd and I could see a slight smile come to Dhror and Melenduil’s faces.

“Seeming satisfied Dhror and Melenduil took each other by the hand and walked into the light and vanished. Cautiously I walked into the plaza in front of the ruined Sect of Antōre along with Ty’far, Jar’nesh and many others. We had thought to honour the dead, but when we looked there were no bodies to be buried. The corpses of Fairris, Vythe, Bārdin and Kreha the Goddess had vanished also.”

Lyinar finished her recount of the events and all the halflings in the barroom of the Crystal Ale in Old Nobbin on the Grassy Downs gave her a round of applause.

“Why did Lieut have to die?” a young Halfling asked as she sat on the floor in front of Jar’nesh along with half a dozen other children.

“I don’t know,” Lyinar replied honestly, “Sometimes these things just happen I suppose. But although he and his friends may be dead, their memory and story will live on through song and poem. And besides, I doubt he, or the others are really dead. I think Dhror and Melenduil saved them and rewarded them with an afterlife filled with joy.”

“No matter how many times I hear that tale I will never get tired of it,” the Halfling Barlow spoke up, “You know I fought with Vythe, Fairris and Bardin on the Morrow Plains.”

“We have heard that story over a thousand times Barlow,” another Halfling jested and many chuckled.

“Lady Jar’nesh, Lady Ty’far, Lady Lyinar,” a young girl called out, raising her hand as if she were answering a question in school. “What happened to the rifts in the sky? And what about the Goddess? Her body was also gone, why did that happen?”

“One question at a time,” Ty’far laughed, “Dhror and Melenduil were able to close both of the rifts in the sky. But sometimes you can still see a thin crack running across the heavens.”

“Word is, it’s still a bit open over that city Gun dürin,” another Halfling added, “Now there is a cursed palce if ever there was one.”

“As for the Goddess, I don’t know,” Jar’nesh said to the young Halflings, “But from the crater where Kreha died a great and ancient tree grew, maturing and growing to its full height in under a year, and still it stands in that plaza bearing the delicious white fruit. A Gonatieth tree some claim it to be, which used to grow in number in Gornl before the seventh realm was destroyed and the tree wiped out.”

“Wait, what about Lieut’s brother Raith?” a youngster called out, “I wanna knw what happened to Raith. And what about Raermin and Fluna? And, and Baelor, and Xanthia, and Kil’dar and the High Commission?”

“I don’t really know,” Jar’nesh replied with a shrug and a slight laugh, “But I have heard tales that Raith sails the Gornl Sea with Elza. They are the bane of all pirates and the Lords of the lands commissioned them to sail south to the Southern Kingdoms and bring back word of what is there.”

“As for the others,” Lyinar added, “Raermin returned to The Port and took control of the Cardonian house. Fluna stayed by his side and it seems that for the time being the conflict between the ruling house of Varrintine and Cardonian has stopped. Baelor still rules over Cientrasis, and the trade routes through the deserts are profitable. Princess Xanthia still lives in Crydon and is a vocal activist from equal rights for all races. Although, such discrimination has become a thing of the past. The High Commission have continued on much as they always have, but the chairman Starak died just last year and they have yet to announce a new chairman. Word is that Kil’dar is interested in the position, but he has been quite occupied with organising us of Grey Company.”

“Wait, go back to Lieut’s story,” a young boy said unhappily, “Did they rebuild the Sect in Sparren?

“No,” Lyinar shook her head, “After what had happened the following of The Five almost vanished and Dhror and Melenduil are worshiped as the true Gods they are. As for the Sect, what was remaining of it was pulled down and in its place was built four tall statues in memory of Lieut, Fairris, Vythe and Bārdin.”

“Daddy, can we go to Sparren to see them?” the young boy turned to his father with excitement causing all the other young Halflings to do the same.

“I think it is past time you children were in bed,” Barlow said loudly making his and the other children to groan in protest.

But the Helfling youngsters did not argue the point and after saying farewell to Lyinar, Jar’nesh and Ty’far they gave their fathers a hug and raced out the doors of the Crystal Ale.

With Lyinar’s tale finished most of the halflings went back to their own conversations, but Barlow came over and took a seat at Lyinar, Jar’nesh and Ty’far’s table.

“I am glad that you three dealt with the problem in the Woodwater Forest,” Barlow remarked, “Our lands feel a great deal safer once again. Here is the payment we agreed upon, and a little extra for the grand tale.”

Barlow handed Jar’nesh a bag of coins and she thanked him.

“I don’t think I did much to help,” Lyinar said with a sheepish smile.

“You did well Lyinar,” Jar’nesh said, “And remember you were able to pass the trial to join the Grey Company. You are very talented with magicks, and don’t forget that.”

Lyinar smiled, “I prefer to sing songs and write poems then fight monsters, to be honest.”

“And you weave a good tale too,” Barlow said and the Lithinüer smiled widely.

“I never met Lieut,” Barlow remarked his eyes going distant, “But I will surely miss the others, a fine group of friends they were. Such sadness filled me when word came of their deaths.”

“I don’t think they are dead, not really,” Ty’far said with a smile, “Though I will miss Fairris dearly I believe she is happy where Dhror and Melenduil took her and the others. You never know, perhaps one day they will return to M’Aierth when we need them most.”

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THE END

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