“I would’ve never expected it of him, I admit, but he came here in the middle of night, insisting that I listen and listen quickly. He set out the parameters of what you required and what he felt was necessary for the good of our homeland.”
Golgren was still puzzled. “I had hoped … I had hoped to cross paths with Sir Stefan on my way here.”
“You missed him by two days and a night. He was adamant about the fact that he had another mission to fulfill.” The elder knight grew somber. “His brief but poignant farewell leaves me fearful that he believes that he will not survive his other task.”
Golgren downed the rest of his own wine. “My respect for Sir Stefan is great. I will honor him always.”
“Thank you.” Setting down his mug, Sir Augustus rose. “He spoke very well of you, though he gave me some warning, naturally. Give me your oath that you’ll behave yourself, and I’ll have the shackles taken off permanently.”
“It is to my benefit to keep peace with you, Sir Augustus Rennert. I will do nothing to make you regret my presence.”
“Spoken as I expected, after how Stefan described you!” The human chuckled. “You are nothing like the stories we’ve heard in Solamnia.”
Setting down his own mug, the half-breed also stood. “No, you are wrong. I am very much like the stories that you have heard, Sir Augustus Rennert. Very much.”
The knight’s humor faded. With a curt nod, he indicated the bedroll. “I’ll have another of these brought in here. It should go without saying-but I’ll say it anyway-that there’s only one place you’re truly safe in this camp and that’s in my presence.”
“I understand.”
“I hope to have word tomorrow on the final decision. I’ve sworn to my nephew, though my superiors don’t know this, that if the pact is rejected, you’ll go free without hindrance. I’ll have a horse and two days’ rations given to you, and that should suffice.”
“Once more, you have my gratitude,” Golgren quietly replied.
“Thank me not. Thank Stefan. He insisted that for all of us it was better to do it this way. I don’t know why, but you’ve touched him in a manner I could’ve never believed possible, and that’s also the reason I deem it safe for you to sleep here unbound.”
Golgren only bowed his head. His mind raced, reviewing all he had learned and how it would determine his next step. Yet there were two factors that continued to muddy his concentration. The first and most obvious was Stefan Rennert’s part in everything.
Stefan Rennert had been dead by the time he had supposedly returned there, through miraculous means of transportation, to convince his uncle of the necessity of the alliance. Not for a moment did Golgren doubt what Idaria had told him concerning the knight’s slaying at the hands of the gargoyle king’s monstrous followers. Yet … the young knight had evidently appeared there.
And that, to Golgren, suggested one thing: Kiri-Jolith.
A guard entered with another bedroll for the half-breed. The fabric was frayed, the material was faded from use, and there was a slight hint of horse smell, but Golgren paid none of that any mind. He was caught up in thinking of the bison-headed deity. What further part the god of just cause intended to play there, Golgren yearned to know. Perhaps Kiri-Jolith desired to gain some prominence over the ogres; either that or the god intended to spread the influence of the Solamnics over Golgren’s realm.
If that were the case, the deposed Grand Khan intended to disappoint him.
“I’ll be ordering extra guards around the tent,” Sir Augustus informed Golgren, interrupting his reverie. “Not to keep you in, but to ensure that others stay out. The men will all be chosen for their trustworthiness.”
Golgren smiled slightly, revealing his filed tusks. He knew that doing so lessened the elf part of his appearance. “Are not all knights trustworthy?”
The commander took some slight umbrage. “All knights are indeed trustworthy, but not all prisoners are the Grand Khan Golgren.”
Golgren bowed as if complimented. He then took to the bedroll. Although the day was not quite over, it behooved him to rest or, at least, to pretend to do so. Besides, he had nowhere else to go and had to wait, good or ill, for Solamnia’s response.
“There will be food at sunset,” his host informed him. “Something a little better than the meals you received on your way here but still simple fare. In the meantime, is there anything you desire?”
They were treating him very well, considering. Yet it was clear that, if Solamnia chose not to accept the pact, there was a good chance that some eager young knight might take a swipe at Golgren’s head before Sir Augustus could guarantee him safe passage away from that place.
“There is nothing. I thank you for your hospitality.”
Augustus shook his head. “Again, thank me not. This is all due to Stefan and how dear I hold not only his word, but his life, ogre.”
With that, the commander gave Golgren a curt bow and departed the tent. Not for a moment did the half-breed consider rising and inspecting the map or anything else. It was quite likely that eyes were watching him for just that sort of transgression. Any act that hinted at distrustful behavior might ruin what hopes Golgren nurtured for the pact.
He thought again of Sir Stefan Rennert and the young Solamnic’s impossible feat. However, thinking of Rennert reminded him of his elf slave.
Stefan, who was dead, had reached his people’s encampment. Idaria, whom the half-breed had last seen alive, had not, even with the gargoyle Chasm to act as her winged steed and guardian.
Where was the elf, then?
Golgren ground his teeth. What could have happened along the way that Chasm had not been able to prevent? Unfortunately, the half-breed could think of many dangers, two in particular that were likely. One was the sinister figure who claimed to have been responsible for spawning Golgren himself, who seemed to trail him everywhere. However, it made no sense for the creature who had released her-as Golgren, like Tyranos, believed-to let her go then recapture her so immediately.
That left Safrag, who possessed the Fire Rose and who, very possibly, knew that Golgren was among the living.
Safrag had Idaria. Golgren felt it with certainty.
Safrag had his Idaria.
Although Safrag did not actually have Idaria in his clutches, she was not all that far away from him. Accompanied by Chasm and guided by Stefan, she journeyed into a dark, silent forest. The place unusually frightened her, and it had only a little to do with the lack of any songbirds or insects. No, the very forest itself felt utterly wrong, unnatural.
“What have they done to it?” she breathed.
“Made it much like themselves,” Stefan replied. He, too, did not seem entirely of the mortal plane, but at least she trusted him. Idaria drew courage and strength from his presence and likely the blessing of his patron deity, Kiri-Jolith. That the god had brought Stefan back from certain death was surely a great miracle. Indeed, it gave her hope they might yet succeed in her quest to save her people.
Even though Stefan himself did not boast of certainty, Idaria had hope. The elf was willing to take whatever risk necessary. If the other slaves were not rescued, they would face a dire fate. At the very least, the Titans desired fresh blood for their spells. They would likely experiment in sinister fashion on those they held captive. Idaria had witnessed the sorcerers’ handiwork in the past, and the nightmares remained with her yet.
She clutched her hands to her chest as a chill ran through her that had nothing to do with the damp, cool air. Early on, the elf had found it odd that the air could be damp and cool while at the same time so stifling. Once more, the oddity could only be the work of the Titans.
And thinking of the Titans, she wondered about Golgren. He had expected her to journey to the Solamnics. Even though Stefan had assured her that he had already taken the proper steps in that direction, Idaria felt guilty. She was absolutely certain that Golgren, assuming he regained his throne, intended to keep his promise to release her people. Yet when the knight had offered her the opportunity to journey with him, the elf had turned away from Golgren’s mission with little hesitation. In her heart, she wondered if the Grand Khan was more capable of staying true to his word than she was.